The post position draws for Friday night's (May 9) Grade 1 $516,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Grade 1 $490,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series finals at MGM Yonkers Raceway took place on Monday afternoon (May 5).
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series final goes as race eight on the program and top point earners Mossdale Ben N and Coaches Corner landed posts five and eight, respectively. Mossdale Ben N, who will be driven by Jordan Stratton for trainer Peter Tritton, and Coaches Corner, who'll have Jason Bartlett in the bike for trainer Per Engblom, didn't finish outside the exacta in the prelims, posting three wins and two seconds apiece, but Coaches Corner has the experience of racing in the Borgata final as he was second in last year's championship.
Another of 2024's finalists, Desperate Man, will depart from post seven on Friday for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander, while trainer Cory Stratton will have a pair of horses in For Once Inmy Life (post three, Dexter Dunn) and Chase H Hanover (post six, Anthony Napolitano). Engblom also has another starter in Huntinthelastdolar from post four with Yannick Gingras set to drive.
The full draw for the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final is as follows:
Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Listed Trainer
1-Verdun-Pat Lachance-Pat Lachance
2-Binge On Yankee-Scott Zeron-Jeff Gillis
3-For Once Inmy Life-Dexter Dunn-Cory Stratton
4-Huntinthelastdolar-Yannick Gingras-Per Engblom
5-Mossdale Ben N-Jordan Stratton-Peter Tritton
6-Chase H Hanover-Anthony Napolitano-Cory Stratton
7-Desperate Man-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander
8-Coaches Corner-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
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Aardie B Miki N went four-for-four in the prelims she raced in for Bartlett and Engblom in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series and then landed the coveted pole position for the final, which is race seven on the card. Leading point earner Rocket Deo has post six with Andy McCarthy to drive the Brett Pelling trainee, and Walkin On Sunshine, who concluded the prelims second in the standings, starts from post two and gives Pelling another entrant. Scott Zeron will drive Walkin On Sunshine.
The full draw for the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final is as follows:
Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Listed Trainer
1-Aardie B Miki N-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
2-Walkin On Sunshine-Scott Zeron-Brett Pelling
3-Talk Curdy To Me-Todd McCarthy-Jeff Cullipher
4-Silk Cloud A-Jordan Stratton-Peter Tritton
5-Turn The Page N-Ron Cushing-Heidi Cushing
6-Rocket Deo-Andy McCarthy-Brett Pelling
7-Beautiful Seaside-Tim Tetrick-Scott Di Domenico
8-Seaside Diva-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
Additionally, there is a $100,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series consolation (race six) and a $100,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series consolation (race five).
On the wagering front, MGM Yonkers Raceway, in conjunction with the Standardbred Owners Association of New York, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five. The guaranteed Pick 5 pool is also a part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is now operating on a Monday-Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EST).
--press release (Yonkers)--