Though breeders hope for it every time they bring two Standardbreds together, it is rare that full brothers or sisters reach the same levels when put to the racetrack. It's so uncommon that it was somewhat shocking to witness two performances within a three-day span as MGM Yonkers Raceway kicked off its stakes campaign last Friday (March 28) and Monday (March 31). On the above dates the brother and sister act of Aardie B Miki N and Aardies Flash N captured divisions in the first legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Series, respectively. That the two rallied from off-the-pace and catapulted to victory over Yonkers' short stretch suggested the pair could be poised for much more down the road with the series final just the beginning. Trainer Per Engblom has been no stranger to the winner's circle at Yonkers over the last few years, and he's overseen the pair since they arrived on the scene for owner Mike Tanev's M T Stables Ontario. "Mike raced these horses in Australia, and it was always his intent to bring them here," said Engblom. The move to the United States wouldn't happen until the pair had raced extensively in stakes action and proven themselves enough. Aardies Flash N, the 6-year-old by U.S. standards (foaled in late December of 2019), would arrive last summer following some stakes events for 4-year-olds and above, while the mare Aardie B Miki N would complete an impressive career in Australia on November 30 against the best 3-year-old filly pacers, winning nine of her 18 starts. She arrived in the U.S. about eight weeks in advance of the opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker. While Aardie B Miki's performance in the opening leg was hardly a surprise to the betting public, the 17-1 upset of Aardies Flash N caught many off guard as original listed driver Jason Bartlett opted off for a horse with an outside draw and Jordan Stratton hopped on to get the victory. "He's shown the talent," said Engblom. "We've had some issues with sickness with him." In Monday's opening leg Aardies Flash N followed live cover and flew home to his biggest win stateside, as well as his fastest, a 1:51 2/5 effort. Aardie B Miki N came from last in a six-horse field, and despite a slow opening half had more than enough left in the tank to swallow up her rivals in a 1:53 4/5 mile. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Asked if there are similarities between the two by champion Always B Miki out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Tatijana Bromac, that answer was surprising. "They are two different types," Engblom said. "She's a much bigger horse. They both have great attitudes." Winning races, no matter in Australia or North America, is never easy and attitude is a major part in most quality horses, but Engblom suggests when it comes to the mare Aardie B Miki N there may be more. "She can go from zero to 100 in the snap of a finger," said the trainer. Engblom had to rush Aardie B Miki N along a little bit to get her prepared for the series and qualified her at the Meadowlands just six days prior to the opening leg. "We raced her off-the-pace in the qualifier and again in the first round because we really weren't sure how ready she would be," Engblom said. With a last quarter zipped in about 27 seconds and driver Jason Bartlett sitting chilly throughout the homestretch, it was evident that Aardie B Miki N was ready to handle the five mares she out-classed in her division. Engblom was with Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter during the period when world champion Always B Miki raced in the stable. Now with a stakes-winning brother-sister duo in his stable, the trainer was complimentary to what Always B Miki has accomplished off the track. "He's had some very nice horses," Engblom said, "But I don't see similarities between him and these two." Perhaps the maternal line may have something to do with that. Tatijana Bromac finished first or second 24 times in her 38-race career that concluded in 2013 before embarking on what now looks to be a sensational second career as a broodmare. Tatijana Bromac's dam Tandias Courage won 23 races in Australia and North America and was the Australian 2-year-old Filly of the Year in 2000. In addition to the brother-sister act now playing out at Yonkers, Tatijana Bromac had previously produced the 20-time winner Aardies Express, a full sister to the pair currently racing at the top level in Australia. Aardie B Miki N will still have a way to go to reach the earnings of her older sister, but if last Friday's North American debut was a hint of her talent, there's a solid chance her bankroll will increase substantially, not just at Yonkers but perhaps challenging the best mares in North America. "We've staked her to everything," said Engblom. For the moment Aardie B Miki N will likely have to race against some of the others in a strong Blue Chip Matchmaker Series to prove her worthiness in an Open Mare class that will eventually include the 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh. She's entered in the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker this Friday (April 4) and drew post five against six rivals in the last of four $50,000 divisions (race nine). Jason Bartlett, Engblom's choice, will once again drive the mare as she meets the $1.9 million former Breeders Crown champion Grace Hill (post two) for the first time. Last week Jordan Stratton subbed for Bartlett behind Aardies Flash N in the Borgata. This Monday (April 7) the track's leading driver returns to the bike but won't have the luck of the draw. Aardies Flash N landed post seven in the fifth and final $50,000 Borgata division (race nine) and will be up against two other first round winners in Verdun (post one) and Mossdale Ben N (post six). The latter of those two remains undefeated in five starts in North America this year. Engblom was more than happy with the return to Yonkers of Coaches Corner, the runner-up in last year's Borgata final. "We raced him from behind in his first start at the Meadowlands," said Engblom. "Last week he drew outside and Jason left with him. I thought he raced very well and hung in there right to the wire." Coaches Corner earned a second in the opening leg but again finds himself outside in this Monday's draw with post seven in a solid group that features Desperate Man from the pole position.