Three winners came from a pair of $75,000 divisions of the final preliminary round of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series on Friday (November 8) at MGM Yonkers Raceway as Ari Ferrari J took the first split and then Take All Comers and Delayed Hanover dead-heated for the victory in the second flight. Both of the sections were held at the distance of a mile and sixteenth.
Driven by Jason Bartlett, Ari Ferrari J cut the 27 2/5 quarter in his race, but It's Academic (Yannick Gingras), who was trying to improve to three-for-three in the event, was out and on the move from third before that marker and took charge on the second turn. From there, It's Academic kept the top spot through a 56 3/5 half and a 1:26 3/5 three-quarters, but Ari Ferrari J was right on Gingras's helmet the whole way, and Bartlett would send him to the outside on the final bend.
It's Academic clung to a narrow advantage as they passed the mile marker in 1:55 2/5, but Ari Ferrari J had the momentum and was able to wear down It's Academic to the finish line, defeating him by half a length in 2:02 2/5. Ghostly Casper (Pat Lachance) wound up third after an unsuccessful first-over move out of third prior to three-quarters.
The winner of the Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot at Yonkers earlier this year, Ari Ferrari J, a 4-year-old son of Walner bred by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc., is trained by Tony Alagna for owner Ken Jacobs. Ari Ferrari J is an 13-time victor from 44 starts, has earned $1,115,431 and paid $7.90 to win as the 5-2 second choice. The exacta was $11.40 and the trifecta was worth $27.60.
In the other MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series clash, Take All Comers (Jordan Stratton) led the way through fractions of 26 4/5, 56 4/5 and 1:25 1/5 with Delayed Hanover (Bartlett) in the pocket and Chapercraz (Gingras) positioned third. Gingras fired Chapercraz first-over on the way to three-quarters, but he was stymied by Take All Comers on the last turn and into the lane.
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While Take All Comers was able to fend off Chapercraz, he did come off the pylons in the stretch, and that gave Bartlett room to pounce with Delayed Hanover. Once he had the space, Delayed Hanover had enough time and trot to get up and tie Take All Comers for top honors, with Chapercraz three-quarters of a length back in third. The time of 2:01 flat was just two-fifths of a second off Arch Madness's track record.
Trained by Jim Campbell, Take All Comers was bred by owner Runthetable Stables with Chelsea Batelli. The victorious 6-year-old Creatine gelding made his 19th appearance in the winner's circle, has put away $953,886 and returned $2.50 to win as the favorite. Take All Comers led a $13.40 exacta and a $34.00 trifecta.
A 6-year-old Southwind Frank stallion, Delayed Hanover, who was sent off at 16-1, is trained by John McDermott for owner Reid Wissner. He has a summary of 20-13-15 from 83 outings, has banked $746,042 and paid $10.00 to win. With Delayed Hanover on top, he keyed a $35.40 exacta and a $93.00 trifecta.
Next Friday's (November 15) program at MGM Yonkers Raceway will feature the $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final. As was the case this week, the final will be contested at a mile and a sixteenth.
On Monday (November 11), the second leg of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series will take place with three $50,000 dashes carded. The three first round winners - Coaches Corner (post two, Jason Bartlett to drive for trainer Per Engblom), Nandolo N (post three, Jordan Stratton in the bike for trainer Shane Tritton) and El Rey (post five, David Miller at the controls for trainer Andrew Harris) - all landed in the third test (race nine).
After Monday, the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series takes a break until round three on December 9. The $250,000 final is on December 16, and leg three and the final will be at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EST).
--press release (Yonkers)--