Yonkers: Shartin picks up where she left off with Blue Chip Matchmaker score

Defending Dan Patch Award winner and series champion Shartin was strong in her seasonal debut Friday night at Yonkers Raceway as the 2019 Grand Circuit schedule began with five $40,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker divisions for pacing mares.

Shartin, starting from post two in the last split, moved into the lead past the 27 4/5 opening quarter, then kept control through the 56-second half and the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters. Dont Think Twice (Jason Bartlett), who yielded the front to sit in the pocket behind the big favorite, made up some ground in the lane after coming out in the lane, but Shartin won by a comfortable half-length in 1:52 2/5. Betterb Chevron (Jordan Stratton) was the third-place finisher.

A 6-year-old daughter of Tintin In America, Shartin is trained by Jim King Jr. for owners Richard Poilucci, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Tim Tetrick LLC. This was Shartin's 27th career victory, and she has now earned $1,149,353. The 1-9 favorite, Shartin paid $2.20 to win.

Mares bred in New Zealand or Australia won four of the five sections overall, with New Zealand import Seaswift Joy (Jim Marohn Jr.) turning in the quickest win at 1:52 1/5. She took over the top spot passing the quick 26 4/5 opening quarter, but was able to back down the half to just 56 4/5. She picked up the tempo to 1:24 3/5 at three-quarters while remaining clear, then kept pocket-sitting Feelin Redhot (George Brennan) at bay to prevail by three-parts of a length. Kaitlyn (Matt Kakaley), another New Zealand-bred, finished third.

Seaswift Joy is a 6-year-old Bettor's Delight mare owned by Brad Grant. She is now a 14-time winner in her life, and she has pocketed $144,059. She was the 8-5 public choice and returned $5.50 to win.

Ideal Lifestyle, hailing from Australia, now has two wins and three seconds since being imported, as she won the lid-lifter in 1:52 3/5 for driver George Brennan. She worked her way to the top spot passing the 27 3/5 first quarter, and after middle splits of 57 2/5 and 1:24 4/5, a 27 4/5 final kicker got her to the finish line a length to the good over Twinkle (Scott Zeron). Write Me A Song (Stratton) was a first-over third.

Tahnee Camilleri owns and trains Ideal Lifestyle, a 7-year-old Western Ideal daughter. She has banked $147,636 in her time on the racetrack, and she paid $3.90 to win as the 4-5 favorite.

The lone non-favorite to prevail in Matchmaker action was Delightfulmemphis (Bartlett), who won the second test in 1:53 flat. Delightfulmemphis was fourth through opening-half stations of 27 2/5 and 56 1/5 and worked her way into contention from first-up at the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters. 2-5 favorite Bettor Joy (Tetrick), who had led since past the opening quarter, turned for home first, but Delightfulmemphis kept grinding away on the outside and got there in the last stride, winning by a nose. Magic Forces (Brennan) was a pocketed third.

Delightfulmemphis, a 6-year-old Bettor's Delight mare bred in New Zealand, is owned by Enzed Racing Stable Inc. and trained by Richard "Nifty" Norman. She made her 19th appearance in the winner's circle, and she has stashed away $363,323. The 2-1 second choice, she returned $6.60 to win.

The lone winner without an N or A behind her name was Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan), who bagged the third flight in 1:52 1/5. She cut all the fractions (28 1/5, 56 3/5, and 1:25), and rolled to a 3 1/2 length score. Rockstar Angel (Zeron) was next, followed by Queen Lostris (Mark MacDonald).

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 28th lifetime win, and she boosted her bankroll to $702,222. The 1-5 favorite, she paid $2.60 to win.