2025 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series starts Friday at Yonkers
At 0h03, on March 26, 2025 • By Yonkers Raceway Media Relations
Harness racing’s Grand Circuit begins for 2025 on Friday night (March 28) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with four $50,000 divisions of the first round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for older pacing mares.
Coachellabound N (post five, Jason Bartlett listed for trainer Ricky Bucci), who was second in last year’s Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final, is among the entrants in the first section (race four). She’ll face five rivals, including Aardie B Miki N (post six, Bartlett listed for trainer Per Engblom), a Group 1 race winner in Australia who makes her U.S. debut off a strong qualifier at the Meadowlands.
Last year’s Matchmaker champion Lit De Rose (post three, trainer Pat Lachance listed to drive), headlines the second split (race six). She’ll take on the likes of Walkin On Sunshine (post five, Bartlett listed for trainer Brett Pelling), who is three-for-three in the F&M Invitational at Yonkers thus far in 2025.
Rocket Deo (post four, Bartlett listed to drive for Pelling) makes her 4-year-old debut in the third flight (race seven). Rocket Deo, whose stakes wins a year ago included the Shady Daisy on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands, is matched up against six foes, among them Silk Cloud A (post five, Jordan Stratton listed to drive for trainer Peter Tritton), a two-time runner-up in the F&M Invitational at Yonkers this year.
The last Matchmaker tilt is race eight and former Dan Patch Award winner Grace Hill (post five, Bartlett listed to drive for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.) headlines the field of seven. Looking to defeat her will be the likes of Ohio Sires Stakes champion Seaside Diva, who makes her first start on the East Coast from post one for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke.
