Yonkers: Kaitlyn delivers in the clutch, advances to Blue Chip Matchmaker final

Kaitlyn came through when she needed to, winning for the first time in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares on Friday night at Yonkers Raceway and securing a spot in next Saturday night's rich final. Seaswift Joy and Apple Bottom Jeans, already multi-round winners in the event, took down the other two $40,000 splits.

With driver Matt Kakaley at the controls, Kaitlyn got away third in the second division of the night while 1-2 favorite Feelin Red Hot (George Brennan) moved to the lead at the opening quarter, which went on the board in a quick 26 4/5. Feelin Red Hot backed down the half to 56 1/5, but Kakaley fired Kaitlyn to the outside at that point, and she would advance steadily in the third quarter, getting to within a length of the leader at the 1:24 three-quarters.

Kaitlyn was able to sustain her momentum around the final bend, then kicked it into another gear in the stretch, getting around Feelin Red Hot and prevailing by a length and a quarter in 1:52 2/5. Feelin Red Hot had to settle for second, and Caviart Cherie (Joe Bongiorno) got third.

“Did not want to be first-up, but she was so good, it didn’t matter,” Kakaley said.

A 6-year-old New Zealand-bred daughter of American Ideal, Kaitlyn is trained by co-owner Richie Banca, who shares ownership with partners Barbara and James Boese. Kaitlyn, who was second to Shartin each of the last two weeks in the Matchmaker, picked up her 14th career win, and she has now earned $204,690. She was the 7-2 second choice and paid $9.00 to win.

Back in the opening flight, another New Zealand import in Seaswift Joy (Jim Marohn Jr.) worked around Camera Lady (Kakaley) for the top passing the 27 2/5 opening quarter, strolled through middle-half stations of 57 and 1:25 2/5, and went on to score by three lengths in 1:52 3/5, bagging her third Matchmaker prelim tally. Camera Lady and Delightfulmemphis (Tim Tetrick) rounded out the top-three finishers.

“She’s getting better every week,” Marohn Jr. said.

Trained by Tony Alagna, Seaswift Joy is a 6-year-old Bettor's Delight mare owned by Brad Grant. She made her 16th appearance in the winner's circle, and she has pocketed $188,859. She was the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.60 to win.

Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan) skipped last week's round after scoring two wins and a second the first three legs of the Matchmaker, and she was right back to her winning ways in the final flight, stopping the clock in 1:53. She zipped around Newborn Sassy (Tetrick) for the top spot before the 27 2/5 first quarter, went on to grab a half in 56 seconds, turned away a first-up Medusa (Jason Bartlett) at the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters, and went on to a 2 1/2 length decision. Newborn Sassy held second, followed by Magic Forces (Brennan).

“She was as good as she’s ever been,” said Callahan.

The winning 6-year-old Mr Apples mare is trained by Dylan Davis for the ownership group of Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Robert Cooper Stables LLC., and Thomas Lazzaro. She picked up her 30th lifetime win, and she boosted her bankroll to $752,222. The 1-5 favorite, she paid $2.60 to win.

With the preliminaries now in the books, the eight mares advancing to next Saturday night's final are:

Feelin Red Hot (300 points)
Seaswift Joy (287 points)
Bettor Joy (275 points)
Apple Bottom Jeans (275 points)
Shartin (258 points)
Dont Think Twice (250 points)
Kaitlyn (249 points)
Ideal Lifestyle (208 points)

--(quotes courtesy of Yonkers Raceway)--