Either Jason Bartlett or Jordan Stratton was the winning driver in all five $50,000 divisions of the second leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 7) at MGM Yonkers Raceway as Bartlett was victorious with Its A Me Mario, Huntinthelastdolar and Coaches Corner, while Stratton guided repeaters For Once Inmy Life and Mossdale Ben N.
Coaches Corner took the fastest flight in 1:51 1/5. He yielded to sit in the pocket behind Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley) after the 27 1/5 quarter and stalked him through middle-half fractions of 55 3/5 and 1:23 3/5. Bartlett swung Coaches Corner to the outside on the last turn, and Coaches Corner, the runner-up in last year's MGM Borgata Pacing Series final, out-kicked Desperate Man in the lane to get the win by a length and a half. Desperate Man saved second from Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeorn).
A 5-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin, Coaches Corner is trained by Per Engblom for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Coaches Corner is a 28-time winner, has earned $827,194 and paid $4.70 to win as the second choice. He keyed a $6.80 exacta and a $16.80 trifecta.
Its A Me Mario and Bartlett got away third in the first split, but Bartlett moved him off the pylons before the 27 2/5 quarter and cleared after that station. From there, Its A Me Mario rang up a 56 3/5 half and a 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and a 28 second final kicker sealed the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52 1/5. Hemsworth N (Zeron) moved first-over from fourth before three-quarters, slid down into the pocket on the last turn and then gained through the stretch to get the runner-up spot and Churchviewfrankl Ir (Brent Holland) rallied from sixth to third in the last quarter.
Shane Tritton trains Its A Me Mario, a 5-year-old gelded son of American Ideal, for owner Joshua Graber. Its A Me Mario, who has 17 lifetime victories, has put away $434,938 and returned $2.30 to win as the 1-9 choice. He was atop a $4.60 exacta and a $25.00 trifecta.
Bartlett and Engblom teamed up again with Huntinthelastdolar in the second section, and he delivered in 1:52 1/5. In similar fashion to his triumph with Its A Me Mario, Bartlett settled in third in the early going but had Huntinthelastdolar off the pylons before the 27 1/5 quarter and seized control from Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano) on the way to the 56 second half-mile marker. Huntinthelastdolar kept the top spot through three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, and although Chase H Hanover gained in the stretch, it wasn't enough as Huntinthelastdolar prevailed by half a length. Ammo (Yannick Gingras) grabbed third.
Owned by E Five Racing and John Fielding, Huntinthelastdolar is a 5-year-old Huntsville gelding. He made his 14th appearance in the winner's circle, has now pocketed $770,037 and paid $3.40 to win as the favorite. The exacta was worth $4.50 and the trifecta kicked back $30.80.
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Stratton and For Once Inmy Life got to the top from the pole position in the fourth Borgata battle, and he put the 27 1/5 quarter, 56 second half and 1:23 3/5 three-quarters on the board. For Once Inmy Life successfully turned away a first-over attack from Humble A (Tim Tetrick) and couldn't be caught to the wire, tallying by a length in 1:52 1/5. Miki Shan N (Bartlett) closed from seventh at three-quarters to second at the wire with a 27 1/5 last quarter and Why Not Now (Kakaley) got third from the pocket.
For Once Inmy Life, a 5-year-old gelding by Downbytheseaside, was sent out by Cory Stratton for owner Winters Racing Stable. For Once Inmy Life now has a summary of 13-9-9 from 50 outings, has banked $441,615 and returned $4.60 to win as the favorite. He led a $30.20 exacta and a $134.50 trifecta.
In the night's final Borgata clash, Charlie May (David Miller) pressed on two-wide to the top nearing the 26 4/5 quarter while Mossdale Ben N and Stratotn got away at the back of the pack. Charlie May continued on the front-end to the half in 55 1/5 but Mossdale Ben N had already come to the outside and picked up cover from Verdun (Pat Lachance on the third turn). The ball was still in Charlie May's court at three-quarters in 1:23 1/5, but Stratton tipped Mossdale Ben N three-wide on the final bend, and behind a 27 3/5 last quarter, Mossdale Ben N vaulted to a 1 1/4 length victory over Charlie May in 1:51 3/5. Verdun was game from first-over and wound up third.
Now with 14 tallies overall and a six-for-six record in the U.S., Mossdale Ben N, a 7-year-old gelding by A Rocknroll Dance, has earned $206,519. Trained by Peter Tritton for owner PJT Investments Inc., Mossdale Ben N paid $4.60 to win as the second choice and fronted a $26.60 exacta and a $36.00 trifecta.
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series prelims run through Monday, April 28, with the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 9 where they will be joined by the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Pacing Series.
MORE SERIES ACTION ON WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY: The John Brennan Trotting Series picks back up on Wednesday (April 9) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with a trio of $30,000 splits of the second leg. Named in honor of the longtime SOA of NY horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020, the John Brennan Trotting Series will have a third round on April 16 before a $100,000 guaranteed final and $50,000 guaranteed consolation on April 23.
The Blue Chip Matchmaker Series is Friday night's (April 11) feature and will have four $50,000 divisions of the third preliminary round. Beautiful Seaside (post seven, race five) and Aardie B Miki N (post four, race six) will look to remain perfect in the series, but Beautiful Seaside is in against series winners High Flyin' Filly (post three) and Silk Cloud A (post five), while Aardie B Miki N is sure to get a test from the likes of Walkin On Sunshine (post one) and Grace Hill (post five)
PICK 5 GUARANTEED POOL BOOST ON MONDAYS & FRIDAYS: Continuing for every Monday and Friday card during the legs of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, MGM Yonkers Raceway, in conjunction with the SOA of NY, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five.
The guaranteed Pick 5 pool on Mondays is also a part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).
--press release (Yonkers)--