Yonkers: Lit De Rose forges to Blue Chip Matchmaker Series title

Lit De Rose had to do the work from first-over but proved best through the stretch drive and won the $276,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final for older pacing mares on Monday night (April 22) at MGM Yonkers Raceway in 1:52 3/5.

The runner-up in the championship last year, Lit De Rose settled in the third spot from post one for trainer-driver Pat Lachance while Coachellabound N (driven by Yannick Gingras) and Mikala (George Brennan) looped around her. Mikala got to the top around Coachellabound N right at the 27 1/5 quarter and then backed down the half to 56 seconds while Lachance waited until late on the third turn to guide Lit De Rose off the pylons.

An advance on the rim carried Lit De Rose side-by-side with Mikala at the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and they continued to duel around the far turn as Coachellabound N waited room in the pocket and Tony's Mom (Jason Bartlett) and Dougs Babe A (Dexter Dunn) hoped to rally off Lit De Rose's cover. Lit De Rose had no intention of finishing anywhere but first, though, as she powered past Mikala for good in the lane and then kicked away late to tally by a length and three-quarters. Coachellabound N out-kicked Mikala to get second, followed by Tony's Mom and Dougs Babe A.

"She's very versatile, and she just wants to race. She just does everything, just a real nice mare," Lachance said. "It means a lot. She's nine, and she just keeps coming. She's so consistent; every week she shows up. She never throws a bad race, and I'm just super, super happy to have her.

"I didn't really want to be first-over. I would have rather been on the lead taking charge, but it worked out that way. I just wanted to make sure that they kept the fractions honest. She felt super down the backside. She rode up to Mikala, and I just sat on her. She did her job in the lane like she always does."

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Lachance said we'll have plenty more chances to see Lit De Rose at Yonkers through 2024 as he plans on keeping her based locally.

"This is the place for her. Obviously she'll get a week off and we'll just grind it out for the rest of the year," he stated. "As long as she's healthy and sound, we'll just keep going."

A 9-year-old Leader Bayama mare, Lit De Rose was bred by owner Guy Corbeil. This was Lit De Rose's 51st career victory, she has now earned $1,156,107, and she paid $4.90 to win as the 7-5 favorite. She was atop a $14.20 exacta and a $112.00 trifecta.

"He had his daughters with him tonight and he's here, so it's a special moment for them," Lachance remarked about Corbeil. "They raised her and bred her at their farm, so it's very special."

19-1 shot Jive Dancing A (Matt Kakaley) worked out a second-over trip after tucking in fifth from post eight and charged to a 1:54 1/5 win in the $100,000 consolation race. Racine Bell (Bartlett), who cut panels of 27, 56 2/5, and 1:24 4/5, wound up second and Easy To Please (Jordan Stratton) came in third.

Tahnee Camilleri trains Jive Dancing A, a 10-year-old daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven, for owners Queen Of Hearts Stables and Lav Racing Stable Inc. She made her 44th appearance in the winner's circle, pushed her bankroll to $658,277 and returned $40.80 to win. The exacta was worth $165.50 and the trifecta kicked back $594.00.

--press release (Yonkers)--