Yonkers: Jamieson keeping the faith with Sandbetweenurtoes in Matchmaker

Typically when a driver shows up for one drive it is a sign of confidence in the horse. For Jody Jamieson and Sandbetweenurtoes in last Friday’s Blue Chip Matchmaker series at Yonkers Raceway, that certainly was true, but the end result was far from desirable.

After quickly settling in fourth, Jamieson elected to pull Sandbetweenurtoes to vie for the lead. The pair was able to secure that coveted position just before the halfway point, but they paid a steep price having set fractions of 27 1/5 and 55 4/5, causing the 5-year-old mare to fade to seventh beaten more than 21 lengths.

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“She didn’t perform well last week and I didn’t perform well either,” said Jamieson. “It was either that (brush to the front) or be first-up. I made a decision early in the race and it just didn’t work out.”

Despite the poor finish, Jamieson is giving up his regular drives at Woodbine Racetrack on Friday night once again to drive the $528,726 career earner from post 3 in the second of a trio of $40,000 Matchmaker races, carded as raced six through eight. The veteran driver had multiple reasons for the decision.

“When you are working with good horses like her, and she is a good horse, and good people like Bradley Grant (owner), it is a small price to pay,” said Jamieson about giving up his Woodbine drives and coming to New York. “I absolutely think she can win (the final). I don’t think she would be here if they didn’t think she could win.”

The task for Sandbetweenurtoes doesn’t get any easier this week as she is surrounded by millionaires. Starting from post two is 2015 Matchmaker runner-up Yagonnakissmeornot and four-time older pacing mare of the year Anndrovette leaves from post four. Anndrovette is making her 2016 debut coming off a so-so fifth-place finish in a qualifier at the Meadowlands.

The Blue Chip Matchmaker action kicks off in race six with longshot first round winner, Mach It A Par (post 2), facing off against 2015 champion Venus Delight (post 5). The final division of the evening pits a pair of opening leg winners against each other. Al Raza N (post 4) posted the fastest winning time last week and will have to tackle early speedster Lady Shadow (post 6) in race eight.

Post time for the 12-race card at Yonkers is slated for 7:10 p.m.