The more things change, the more they look the same. Such is the case of the inaugural Ursula McIntyre Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway that commences on Friday with four $50,000 divisions in its opening round. The re-named event, formerly known as the Blue Chip-Matchmaker Series, has many familiar faces in the lineup, with last year's champion Aardie B Miki N providing Yonkers' leading trainer Per Engblom a chance to repeat. Though the name of the race has changed, six of the eight mares in last year's $490,000 final have entered for the first round. Trainer Brett Pelling had two of those mares in 2025, with multiple-leg winners Walkin On Sunshine and Rocket Deo reaching the final but not enjoying great success. Walkin On Sunshine dictated a brutal pace and eventually lost her stride while Rocket Deo put in a flat performance in a fourth-place finish. While some of the others in the four divisions spent last week either resting or racing at other locations, Pelling had his pair in action at Yonkers, and both Rocket Deo and Walkin On Sunshine were victorious in their final preps, giving Pelling positive feedback. "I didn't know what to expect from her in the stretch," Pelling said of Rocket Deo as his 5-year-old Captaintreacherous-sired mare trailed off a slow pace. "She really picked it up nicely and finished her mile." Thus far in 2026 Rocket Deo had been a bit slow in getting into form, and that surprised Pelling to a degree. "She would train great on the farm and then when we sent her to qualify, she just didn't seem to give it her all. We've made some tweaks and she's gotten better." Rocket Deo captured the $35,000 Filly and Mare Invitational at Yonkers on March 20 in 1:54, and that may set her up differently than a year ago when she entered the series only off qualifiers at the Meadowlands. A three-leg winner in the Matchmaker in 2025, Rocket Deo kicks off her stakes season from post six in the first of the four divisions. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter While Rocket Deo has been tested against the top mares in the sport, Louies Girl N (post two) has yet to race against the best horses in North America, but so too was her stablemate Aardie Miki N before dominating last year's event. Trainer Per Engblom once again finds himself with a promising mare from Down Under. Louies Girl N has won all seven of her starts since import, with six coming last year at Yonkers and the most recent a victory at Pocono on March 16 prepping for this series. Driver Jason Bartlett will guide Louies Girl N in favor of Rocket Deo, who he drove to last week's victory, and that suggests his confidence. Walkin On Sunshine won at a lower level in her Yonkers season's debut on March 20. It was the second start of the year for the Always A Virgin-sired mare and her second victory. "I was very happy with her performance," said Pelling of the wire-to-wire 1:53 2/5 victory. "Last year she had some problems not going straight, but she was perfect last Friday." Walkin On Sunshine had two wins and three seconds in the five preliminary legs in the 2025 series, and she'll kick off this year's event facing last year's champion Aardie B Miki N. Last year Aardie B Miki was the dominant of the two, but the balance of power may be shifting in 2026 with Aardie B Miki N racing actively this winter and missing a check in three of her last four starts. Perhaps post position and preparation for this series was responsible for those stats, but Aardie B Miki N (post four) has the draw advantage over her rival Walkin On Sunshine (post six) in the first round. Newcomer Coastal Babe N (post one) drew in with Aardie B Miki N and company in the fifth race and fourth division of the McIntyre. She looks to be a serious contender. Trainer Jared Bako had her ready for action when she made her North American debut at Yonkers on February 27, a 1:53 3/5 open-length score. Coastal Babe N advanced into Invitational company and won again on March 6. Conservatively driven in her March 20 outing, Coastal Babe N finished third. Leading trainer Per Engblom has a third mare with potential in this series in Bath Bomb, a beast in the Bluegrass State last year that could be primed for success in the McIntyre. A 5-year-old daughter of Lather Up, Bath Bomb drew post four in Friday's third race and will be making her season's debut following a pair of solid qualifiers at the Meadowlands. With 12 wins in 18 starts last year, Bath Bomb's brilliance in Kentucky helped her earn $375K in 2025. She did make one start over the Yonkers strip in October, winning a high-level conditioned event in 1:52 2/5 from off-the-pace while defeating a few of the mares entered this Friday. Bath Bomb drew post four and could see some solid competition right to her outside on the starting gate with Fearless Ginger (post five) and Always Bstunning N, a pair that have shown high potential. The sport's leading trainer Ron Burke is never short on talent or depth when it comes to major Grand Circuit races, and this year is no exception. In addition to Fearless Ginger, Burke will send out Seaside Diva (post two) in the fourth race division on Friday. Seaside Diva earned $295K last year and could prove even better as a 5-year-old. That certainly seems to be a strong indication given a solid third-place finish in her season's debut on March 12 in a Miami Valley featured event. Turn The Page N (post one) finished on the board in all five legs of last year's series and made the final despite not winning a leg. Driver Ron Cushing has a chance to put the 7-year-old in the winner's circle on Friday with the mare already riding a three-race win streak that includes a pair of game victories at the top class at Pocono earlier this month. The Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series has five $50,000 preliminary legs beginning Friday and continuing on April 3, April 10, April 17, April 24 before a $200,000 added final on May 8.