Mon, 11/11/2024 - 23:17

Yonkers: New faces emerge with victories in MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series

Nathan Armfield
Desperate Man won the fastest of Monday's three divisions of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series

There were no repeaters from round one in the second leg of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series on Monday night (November 11) at MGM Yonkers Raceway as Adam Twelve, American Dealer N and Desperate Man got the job done in the trio of $50,000 splits.

In the first division Adam Twelve, with Jason Bartlett in the bike, led through fractions of 27 1/5, 56 4/5 and 1:24 2/5 on his way to a one length victory in 1:51 3/5. Act Fast (Yannick Gingras) was second from the pocket and Rocknroll Runa A (Larry Stalbaum) was game from first-over and wound up in the third position.

Per Engblom trains Adam Twelve, a 4-year-old gelding by Luck Be Withyou, for owners Nicholas Callahan, Yorwollahan Racing Team, Gregory Godbout and Robert Aerenson. This was his 17th career victory, he has now earned $350,637 and he paid $3.80 to win as the favorite. He keyed a $20.80 exacta and an $83.50 trifecta.

Typhoon Banner N (George Brennan) was on top at the 27 1/5 quarter, 57 2/5 half and 1:24 3/5 three-quarters in the next section. Behind him, favored Seven Colors (Jason Bartlett) had to go three-wide from second-over coming off the third turn to get around the stalled cover of Dunkin' (Jim Marohn Jr.), which gave American Dealer N (Anthony Napolitano) room to get to the outside from the pocket on the final bend.

Through the lane Typhoon Banner N was game, but American Dealer N was able to wear him down and also held off several closers to score by a neck in 1:53. Typhoon Banner N was the runner-up and Seven Colors finished in the third position.

A 7-year-old American Ideal stallion, American Dealer N is trained by Linda Toscano for owners Enviro Stables Ltd. and Ken Jacobs. He made his 32nd appearance in the winner's circle, has banked $810,076 and returned $21.40 to win as a 9-1 offering. He was atop a $164.50 exacta and a $536.00 trifecta.

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The three opening round victors - Coaches Corner, El Rey and Nandolo N - all drew in the final flight, and Coaches Corner (Bartlett) led the way early before he was passed by El Rey (David Miller) beyond the 27 second quarter-mile marker. Hot on El Rey's heels was Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley) and Desperate Man became the third leader en route to the 54 2/5 half-mile station.

Going to the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, Coaches Corner swung out first-over from the third spot, but Desperate Man was determined on the front-end and hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Coaches Corner in a 1:50 4/5 mile. El Rey was the third-place finisher.

Desperate Man is a 6-year-old gelded son of Shadow Play, and Hunter Oakes is the trainer for owner Kathy Cecchin. Desperate Man posted the 27th triumph of his life and has now put away $1,476,274. He paid $7.10 to win as a 5-2 offering and led a $14.00 exacta and a $21.40 trifecta.

With two legs now complete, the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series is on 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.

On Friday night (November 15), Yonkers will host the $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final. That race is the eighth of ten dashes on the program and will go a mile and a sixteenth. Here's how the field will line up: 1-Bestfriend Volo, 2-Ghostly Casper, 3-Delayed Hanover, 4-Ari Ferrari J, 5-Take All Comers, 6-It's Academic, 7-Chapercraz, 8-Pappardelle.

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)--