Covered Bridge, coming off a campaign where he earned more than $566,000, took the feature, while driver George Brennan made six trips to the winner's circle on opening night of the 2024 live racing season on Monday, Jan. 22 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Jordan Stratton in the $43,243 Winners Over event, Covered Bridge showed speed to overcome the outside post eight and worked his way past Whats Stanley Got A and Joe Bongiorno after the :27 opening quarter. The race was all Covered Bridge from that point as he maintained control through the half in :55.4 and the three-quarters in 1:24.3, then kicked home in :28.2 to widen his margin to 3-1/4 lengths at the finish line in 1:53 flat. Whats Stanley Got A was second-best, followed by Lous Sweetrevenge and Yannick Gingras.
Jeff Gillis trains Covered Bridge, an eight-year-old gelding by American Ideal, for owner Mark Ford. Covered Bridge, who paid $3.40 to win and led a $12.20 exacta and a $60 trifecta, picked up his 45th career victory and has now banked $1,218,442.
As for Brennan, he had a pair of natural hat tricks in his six-bagger. He cleaned up in races four through six, prevailing with Benhope Rulz N (1:54.1) for trainer Darran Cassar and owner Windermere Stable LLC, Genius Man (1:55.2) for owner/trainer Ricky Bucci and Adam Crocker A (1:55) for trainer Scott DiDomenico and owner Dominick Pinto. Brennan then annexed the ninth dash with Pointomygranson (1:54.3) for trainer Deborah Daguet and owner P T Stable, the 10th with Rolling With Sam (1:54.2) for trainer Andrew Adamczyk and owner Morrison Racing Stables and the nightcap with Gothic Rock (1:55.4) for owner/trainer Bucci.
MGM Yonkers Raceway will have programs on Monday through Friday nights now that the meet has gotten underway, with post time at 7 p.m. (EST). Monday cards will include a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool starting in race five.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway; Photo of Covered Bridge in a previous win)