Warrawee Yang finished off a sweep of this year's edition of the John Brennan Trotting Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway by winning Thursday night's (May 2) $106,849 final in 1:55.2. This was Warrawee Yang's eighth consecutive victory overall.
Starting from post six and dispatched as the 4-5 favourite, Warrawee Yang showed speed for driver Yannick Gingras and worked up two-wide to take the top spot away from Tachyon (Jason Bartlett) right at the :28.1 opening quarter. Gingras then slammed on the brakes in the second quarter to reach the half in just :58.1, giving Warrawee Yang plenty left in the tank to rebuff a first-over bid by Resolve To Win (Tyler Buter) to the 1:26.4 three-quarters and around the final bend.
Resolve To Win faded late on the far turn, which gave Bartlett space to tip Tachyon to the outside for the stretch drive. He did gain some ground to the wire, but it wasn't enough, as Warrawee Yang scored by a comfortable length and a quarter. By The Book (Jay Randall) came in third, followed by Resolve To Win and Ferretti (Matt Kakaley).
A four-year-old son of Trixton, Warrawee Yang was sent out by trainer Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He is a 16-time winner in his career and has pocketed $276,407.
Warrawee Yang paid $3.90 to win. The exacta was worth $11.80 and the trifecta kicked back $35.60.
Gingras and Burke also won the $47,945 series consolation one with 1-5 choice Sea Can in 1:54.4. Sea Can made a first-over move out of the fourth spot heading to the :57.3 half, advanced uncovered toward leader Immanuel K S (Bartlett) and then forged his way past him after the 1:25.3 three-quarters. Sea Can was able to clear and slide back down to the pylons on the last turn, and he sailed to the wire from there to prevail by 2-3/4 lengths over Mohatu As (Kakaley), with Cassius Hanover (Pat Lachance) back in third.
Also owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Sea Can is a five-year-old Muscle Mass gelding. He has a summary of 13-11-3 from 50 trips behind the gate and has earned $294,631.
Sea Can returned $2.60 to win. He was atop a $15 exacta and a $73.50 trifecta.
Coventry Hall (Bartlett) was a 1:56.2 victor in the $34,247 series secondary consolation. He was able to get to the point from post seven without much difficulty and clicked off fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:26.3. Cal Miles N Shell (Jim Marohn Jr.) angled out of the pocket as they raced off the last turn and had dead-aim at Coventry Hall through the lane, but his rally came up half a length short. Black Tie Bash (Lachance) moved from sixth to third in the final quarter.
Per Engblom trains Coventry Hall, a seven-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall, for owner Enghavegaard Aalborg Aps. The trotter made his eighth appearance in the winner's circle and has banked $197,777.
Coventry Hall paid $8.10 to win as the 3-1 third choice. He keyed a $60.50 exacta and a $186.50 trifecta.
The John Brennan Trotting Series is named in honour of the longtime Standardbred Owners Association of New York horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020. The series was for three-year-olds and older who were non-winners of six pari-mutuel races or $200,000 USD through Feb. 1, 2024, with winners over $250,000 USD as of that date not eligible.
Adamczyk, Ciuffetelli Take Yonkers NAADA Splits
Andrew Adamczyk popped pocket to hit the line first and Tony Ciuffetelli chugged down the highway with their respective trotters to take a pair of $17,945 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots.
Adamczyk guided Explosive Ridge to a 1:58.3 win in the first division. Securing the seat behind tempo-setter Skyway Professor (Joe Lee), Explosive Ridge sat poised through a clip of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:27.2 and struck coming for home. Explosive Ridge vaulted from the pocket to grab the lead and scoot clear to a 1-3/4-length win chased by Swan Hilluva Time (Tony Ciuffetelli), who moved first over to the final turn to take second. Skyway Professor faded to third and Winneress (Anthony Verruso) closed for fourth.
Adamczyk also owns and trains Explosive Ridge, a 10-year-old gelding by Explosive Matter. He won the lone division that went as a non-wagering race before the card.
Muscle Dan took the point in the second division and clung to a 1:58.3 victory for Ciuffetelli as the 7-5 favourite. Ciuffetelli sent Muscle Dan for the front from the pylon post and grabbed the lead to a :28.1 first quarter. He faced no pressure through the middle portion of the race while cutting fractions of :57.4 and 1:27.2 but spun for home on fumes. Beacon Beach (Joe Lee) came charging from first over to challenge for the lead late, but Muscle Dan hit the line in time to score a nose win. Doo Wop Kid (Alan Schwartz) took third from pocket-sitter Jive Ninety Five (Yogi Sheridan), who faded to fourth.
Ciuffetelli also trains Muscle Dan, a five-year-old gelding by Dover Dan, for owners Joseph and Albert Ciuffetelli. He paid $4.90 to win.
NAADA action shifts to Monticello Raceway next Wednesday, May 8 for the penultimate preliminary of the club’s Spring Series. Monticello will also host the series’ final leg before the final on Thursday, May 23 at Yonkers Raceway. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-
(Yonkers Raceway / NAADA)