Three's the Charm for Stratton in Blue Chip Matchmaker

“Three’s the Charm,” that was the case without question, for sulky star Jordan Stratton last Friday night. The Michigan-born driver proved to be a perfect match for a trio of New Zealand-bred ladies, sweeping all three third round legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series on April 1 at Yonkers Raceway.

In the first leg, For the Ladies N. lit up the tote with a $40.40 win mutual, stopping the clock in 1:53.1 as the longest shot on the board. The seven-year-old daughter of Jerome’s Jet came from last to first to win by a neck over Regil Elektra (Tim Tetrick), with Jungle Genie N. (Matt Kakaley) third, while odds on favorite Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett) faded to last.

For the Ladies N. is owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Australian-born Peter Tritton.

Friday’s second leg was a Matchmaker double for the owner, trainer and driver triumvirate, with Stratton steering Sell a Bit N. ($7.10) to her second win of the series. The six-year-old Down Under daughter of Julius Caesar downed the 3-5 favorite Venus Delight (Bartlett) by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:53.

The evening’s last of three Matchmaker legs saw even-money favorite Al Raza N. ($4.10) complete Stratton’s “hat trick.” The six-year-old mare by Gotta Go Cullect defeated Mach it a Par (George Brennan) by a half-length in 1:53. Al Raza N. is the series point-leader owned by the Durazzano Stable and trained by Agostino Abbatiello.

“For the Ladies N. was definitely helped by fast fractions and a short field,” said Stratton. “Sell a Bit N and Al Raza N always race well,” Stratton is fast becoming an honorary Kiwi. “I’ve been fortunate they haven’t drawn in against one another.”

Round four of five in the Matchmaker is slated for Friday night, April 8, and Stratton drives Sell A Bit N. in the second division, and For the Ladies N. in the third, both for the Tritton/ von Knoblauch trainer/owner tandem, with David Miller picking up the catch drive behind Al Raza N.