Mares And Males Rebound For Second Legs Of Yonkers Series As Matchmaker And Levy Divisions Charge Onward
Spring, 2018, week two is also the time for the older pacers to engage in their second round of the season’s longest series for the two divisions. Extensive analysis, from our unique and severe point of view continues this blog for The George Morton Levy and the Blue Chip Matchmaker series at Yonkers.
MATCHMAKER MARES II
Friday, March 23 presents leg two of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for pacing mares. This week, five divisions go for $40,000 each in Races 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9.
Division one
New to the series is Wishy Washy Girl, who won a conditioner easily last week by more than 6 lengths. She picks up the rail position with division-winner Twinkle next to her. Twinkle will no doubt be a short price, especially with only six going.
If we expect any improvement while getting a good price it will be from Elliejet N. She was well supported in leg one at 5-1 and was buried on the rail when it counted most to be free to close (remember, Yonkers no longer has an open stretch lane).
Division two
Another division winner, Shartin N, looks like a favorite in leg two, sharing that stauts, most likely, with Regil Electra, who joins the series in this division and has an excellent resume at Yonkers.
The outsider with a shot here is Shesjustadelight N. She was third at 26-1 in leg one after a tough outside trip, leading the second-tier strongly. We beat her with the 47-1 shot (see division four on this program).
Division three
Sell A Bit, as the choice, is another first-leg winner back for a spin. LA Delight could go for the lead and cause a duel but the former is bound to be the top choice. Medusa was second to Sell A Bit last week and should be in the mix. With a cover trip, she could produce a mild upset. One of our choices from last week, Annabeth, will be the longest shot and certainly could be the big upset, forecast to go off higher than last week’s 23-1.
Division four
By and large, Safe From Terror had the toughest trip last week. At 28-1 she took to the outside and held sway with not-so-helpful cover to lose any chance in the stretch. Our big second last week in that same race, Motu Moonbeam N, gets the 7 hole here and is dangerous again. The crowd should lay heavily on Gina Grace N, who tried for the lead early from post 8, had to duel a bit and then collapsed. She raced better than her 20-1 odds, though and will be respected from post 3.
Division five
Lady Shadow is as much a danger and will go off as short a price as last week in the last division of the evening. Our choice last week, Mackenzie A, was horrible as the favorite and returns here at post 7, so it’s tough to take her against Lady Shadow here.
Dudesalady is the true outsider, getting third last week with a stressful overland trip. She could overcome post 6 and certainly will be an overlay considering maybe too much bet on Lady Shadow.
G.M. LEVY SERIES II
Each of the four horse-pace divisions in the series’ second leg is worth $50,000 on Saturday, March 24.
Division one
Three first-leg winners set up for this division, with Dr J Hanover on the rail, Always At My Place three posts to his right and Bit Of A Legend out there in post 8. Last year’s champ, Keystone Velocity, is in post 6 off of a gallant try on the front at 4-1; he finished fourth, caught late. We backed Bakersfield and although he made up ground he remained fifth at 23-1.
Beating the probable top three we give a shot to Chumlee A, who finished second to Mach It So (see division four on this program) at 2-1. Here, he could get a terrific trip at a much better price, downsized by the crowd due to the three other leg-one winners.
Division two
Evening Of Pleasure was second last out with an easy trip and looms dangerously here. All Bets Off was third as the favorite but must dig in from post 7 to make a true impression. We lean toward Christen Me N. Last week he was bet down to 8-5 and from post 6 here he should go off way more than than.
Division three
Missile J, tons the best, was nipped at the wire by Bit Of A Legend (tonight in division one) in leg one. Missile J could make amends from losing it all last season with big miles this year but will fool no one; he is the big favorite and rightfully so. We match him up again with Franco Rayner N, as we did last week because other than Somewhere in L.A., certainly a concern in exotics, the rest need super luck to get any rewards.
Division four
Rockin Ron will again take the most money from post 2 as the other first-leg winner, Mach It So, is weighed with post 8. We are staying out on the limb with one of our choices from last week, Luciano N. Last week he managed to finish fourth at 106-1, racing far better than those odds and two third finishers, Western Dynasty (8-1) and Long Live Rock (14-1). He may draft along Rockin Ron to pull it off. That easy a trip will help but is not a must. He is on target to upset here.
H2W Legend
Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.
H2W LIST
Buffalo
3/24/18, +RU Machin Me R5; Artacus R8
Cal-Expo
3/23/18, I Will Score R6; +Mystery Dragon R9
3/24/18, +Manifique R3; Jessesjo R4; +Mint To Cruise R5
Flamboro
3/22/18, +Gliding Senorita R10
3/24/18, +Tymal Illhavanothr R4
Fraser
3/23/18, +Risque Miss R2; +Lissoy R6; +Starry Eyes R9
3/25/18, +Chaseminkifyoudare R3; +Mr Glender R4
Freehold
3/23/18, Donnas Beach R8; Lastchancelilly R8; Duneside Life R9; Brioni R11
Meadowlands
3/23/18, Sake R3; +Wildfire R10
3/24/18, +Howsaboutakiss R5; Rockin The House R6; Century Churchill R8; +Bupa Bruiser R11
Meadows
3/24/18, Dangerwillrobinson R1
Monticello
3/22/18, Jasmine Ivy R3; Longlive Rocknroll R3
Northfield
3/24/18, Nashville Nasty R4; Lady Gisele R5
Northville
3/23/18, Motor City Steel R3; Rock It On Out R5; Tuition Money R6
3/24/18, Denver Deal R6; Little Point Sable R8
Pompano
3/25/18, +Rockntouch R5
3/26/18, Dontcloseyoureyes R9
Pocono
3/24/18, Dull Roar R11; Electric Western R13; +Verdad R14
3/25/18, +Puma Blue Chip R7
Saratoga
3/22/18, +J-S Miss Carolyn R2; +Whizzer Hanover R7
3/24/18, +Big Game R9; +Steuben Patriot R9
Woodbine
3/23/18, +Franschoek R9
ADVERTISEMENT