Mossdale Ben N gave trainer Peter Tritton and driver Jordan Stratton their second MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion together after he won Friday's (May 9) Grade 1 $516,000 final at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Tritton and Stratton also captured the 2016 final, when it was known as the George Morton Levy Series, with Bit Of A Legend N.
The 4-5 favorite, Mossdale Ben N was unhurried in the early stages and watched as Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeron), For Once Inmy Life (Dexter Dunn) and Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano) traded the top spot in the early stages, with Chase H Hanover the last to the top after the 26 4/5 quarter-mile marker. The outer flow then developed on the second turn as Verdun (Pat Lachance) and Huntinthelastdolar (Yannick Gingras) pulled in front of Mossdale Ben N, briefly putting him three-wide before he settled into a third-over position.
Chase H Hanover hit the half in 55 3/5 and was able to repel Verdun's first-over attack to three-quarters in 1:23, but Stratton had Mossdale Ben N on a three-wide advance as that clocking went on the board. Mossdale Ben N continued his march on the last turn as Verdun was able to drop into the pocket ahead of a fading For Once Inmy Life, and then Mossdale Ben N overtook Chase H Hanover in the upper part of the stretch. Chase H Hanover was game to the wire and tried to battle back, but Mossdale Ben N hit the wire a length ahead of him in a 1:51 2/5 performance. Verdun wound up third, followed by Huntinthelastdolar and Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett).
"With all the discussion (about the early speed in the field), Pete never put any pressure on me. He said 'whatever I want to do with him.' He had a lot of confidence in me even in the series, racing him a little conservative with our eye on the prize here," Stratton remarked. "This is the race we've been pointing for, so I wasn't just going to sit home and come flying late.
"He was great. His caretaker Smiley (Quinteros), he took care of Bit Of A Legend N, too, and he does a phenomenal job. He's kind of under the radar and doesn't get a whole lot of press, but he's one the best guys I know."
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A 7-year-old gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance bred in New Zealand by A.G. Affleck, Mossdale Ben N is a 16-time winner overall and has earned $514,519. Trained by Tritton for owner PJT Investments Inc., Mossdale Ben N paid $3.80 to win as the and led a $40.60 exacta and a $132.00 trifecta.
"I thought I was getting too old, but I've still got a couple left in me," Tritton joked, while also crediting Quinteros for his work with Mossdale Ben N. "Jordan's always gotten me out of trouble. I get a lot of help from the family, and it's great to win for them all."
The $100,000 consolation also went to a Kiwi as Hemsworth N (Dunn) followed Why Not Now (Matt Kakaley) from second-over, and despite losing the cover on the final bend, he vaulted past Why Not Now in the lane to tally by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 3/5. Aardies Flash N (Bartlett) collected third.
Jared Bako trains Hemsworth N, an 8-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou, for 1362313 Ontario LTD. He made his 29th appearance in the winner's circle, has now pocketed $562,651 and returned $13.40 to win. He keyed a $111.00 exacta and a $1,197 trifecta.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).
--press release (Yonkers)--