Yonkers: Dudesalady, Sell A Bit N come through in the clutch to make Blue Chip Matchmaker final

The field is set for the final of the 2018 Blue Chip Matchmaker for pacing mares at Yonkers after Dudesalady, Sell A Bit N, and L A Delight won the three divisions of the last preliminary round on Friday night.

Dudesalady (Tim Tetrick) came into the night 14th in the series standings, but she secured a spot in the rich final with a gutsy first-over 1:52 4/5 win in the first $40,000 split. Lady Shadow (Jason Bartlett) led the way through fractions of 27 3/5, 56 4/5, and 1:24, but Dudesalady, who had pulled to the outside from fourth before the half, wore her down in the stretch and then held off a host of closers to score by a neck. Lakeisha Hall (George Brennan) finished third after a pocket trip.

“I thought she was good last week (third), so I wasn’t surprised she dug in,” Tetrick said.

A 4-year-old mare by Shadow Play, Dudesalady is trained by Bruce Saunders for owners M And L of Delaware LLC. and Victoria Dickinson. This was her tenth career victory, and she has now earned $219,638. Sent off at 12-1, she paid $27.80 to win.

Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) was also on the outside looking in (15th) coming into the night's proceedings, but she too will be a participant in the final following a 1:53 1/5 triumph in the second flight. Starting from the pole, she clicked off panels of 27 1/5, 56 3/5, and 1:25 1/5, then used a 28 second final kicker to win by three-parts of a length over Newborn Sassy (Tetrick), who rallied from second-over. Medusa (Yannick Gingras) was third from the two-hole.

Peter Tritton trains Sell A Bit N, an 8-year-old mare by Julius Caesar, for owner Vonknoblauch Stable LLC. This was the 28th career win for Sell A Bit N, who has put away $766,506 lifetime. Sell A Bit N was the 3-1 third choice and returned $8.50 to win.

In the last section Shartin N (Tetrick) was 1-5 after three wins in three series starts, but her chances went down the drain when she broke before the start and again at the half. With the public's preference out of contention, L A Delight (Gingras) moved to the lead past Clear Idea (Mark MacDonald) at the 28 2/5 opening quarter, and then would hit the half in 57 4/5. L A Delight came under heavy pressure from a first-over Wishy Washy Girl (Bartlett) at the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters, but the pace-setter scooted away on the final bend, kicking on to prevail by a length and a half in 1:53 2/5. Clear Idea held second, with Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) third from second-over.

“Just wasn’t her night,” Tetrick said about Shartin N. “There have been times when she’s been fussy with her mouth, and I don’t know if that’s what happened. She jogged back to the paddock and seemed sound, so we have to see."

Trained by Nancy Johansson for owner Diamond Creek Racing, L A Delight is a 5-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight. This was the 25th career triumph for L A Delight, who has now banked $1,375,074. She was dispatched as the 5-2 second choice and paid $7.10 to win.

The unofficial finalists for next Saturday night's $373,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker final are: Lakeisha Hall, Shartin N, Twinkle, Motu Moonbeam N, Medusa, Lady Shadow, Dudesalady, and Sell A Bit N.

--quotes and series standings courtesy of Yonkers--