Four $50,000 splits of the first round of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series will headline Monday's (November 24) program at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Two-time Dan Patch Award recipient Captain Albano headlines the first grouping (race three) with Todd McCarthy listed to drive the Noel Daley trainee from post four. In an appearance at Yonkers earlier this year, he was the winner of the Aria Invitational Pace on International Trot Day. His competition includes Huntinthelastdolar (post three, Jason Bartlett listed to drive for trainer Per Engblom), who won two legs and was fourth in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final back in the spring at Yonkers.
Mossdale Ben N (post seven, Jordan Stratton listed to drive for Peter Tritton), the 2025 MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion, is the big name in the second division (race five). Calicojack Hanover (post one, Daniel Dube listed to drive for trainer Luc Blais) ships south from Canada, and he was the winner of the Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup over the half-mile oval at Flamboro Downs back in May.
Coaches Corner, who was second in the final of this series a year ago, returns to Yonkers in the third flight (race seven). He'll face the likes of $1.8 million earner Desperate Man (post five, Matt Kakaley listed to drive for trainer Travis Alexander) and Verdun (post three, trainer Pat Lachance listed to drive), who was third in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final in May.
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The last section has the likes of Miki Shan N (post one, Colin Kelly listed to drive for trainer Deborah Daguet), who raced in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series earlier this year and then had a successful run through the Canadian Maritimes, including a victory in the Gold Cup & Saucer, and a 3-year-old in New York Sire Stakes runner-up Courts On Fire (post six, Yannick Gingras listed to drive). Courts On Fire is making his first start for trainer Ron Burke.
Here are the full fields for Monday's MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series action:
Division #1 (Race 3)
PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Tip Top Cat-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
2-Jamaican Rock A-Todd McCarthy-Scott Blackler
3-Huntinthelastdolar-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
4-Captain Albano-Todd McCarthy-Noel Daley
5-Nandolo N-Lauren Tritton-Shane Tritton
6-Whats Stanley Got A-Jordan Stratton-Cory Stratton
7-Funtime Bayama-Jason Bartlett-Andrew Harris
8-Soho Dow Jones A-George Brennnan-Doug Dilloian Jr.
Division #2 (Race 5)
PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Calicojack Hanover-Daniel Dube-Luc Blais
2-Soho Firestone A-George Brennan-Doug Dilloian Jr.
3-Catalpa Rescue A-Todd McCarthy-Scott Blackler
4-Always A Thrill-Colin Kelly-Nick Devita
5-Racing Rebel-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
6-Racing Rampage-Ridge Warren-Travis Alexander
7-Mossdale Ben N-Jordan Stratton-Peter Tritton
8-Redwood Hanover-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
Division #3 (Race 7)
PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Tenzing Bromac N-Ron Cushing-Heidi Cushing
2-Coaches Corner-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
3-Verdun-Pat Lachance-Pat Lachance
4-Blazing Home N-Mark MacDonald-Larry Stalbaum
5-Desperate Man-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander
6-American Dealer N-Daniel Dube-Linda Toscano
7-Sherlock N-Jim Marohn Jr.-Peter Tritton
8-Endofstory-Jason Bartlett-Doug Dilloian Jr.
Division #4 (Race 9)
PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Miki Shan N-Colin Kelly-Deborah Daguet
2-El Rey-Jason Bartlett-Andrew Harris
3-The Greek Freak-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander
4-Aye Aye Captain N-Brent Holland-Ricky Bucci
5-Spring Inhis Step A-Todd McCarthy-Jeff Cullipher
6-Courts On Fire-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
7-Captain Moore A-Matt Kakaley-Scott Blackler
8-Hemsworth N-Austin Siegelman-Jared Bako
Monday will be the first of three MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series prelims, with the second round on Monday, December 1 and the third leg on Monday, December 8. Points for the series will be earned on a 50-25-12-8-5 scale (winner gets 50 points, runner-up gets 25, etc.).
The top 10 point earners get a spot in the $250,000, 1 1/4 mile final on Friday, December 19, while the next 10 point earners go in the $75,000, 1 1/4 mile consolation on the same card. A horse must race in all three legs to be eligible for the final and the consolation for both the Trot and the Pace.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EST).
--press release (Yonkers)--