Many of the heavyweights of harness racing clashed Monday evening at Yonkers Raceway in round two of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series.

Four divisions – each worth $50,000 – went postward with Lochinvar Art A, Jimmy Freight, Idealsomemagic A and Tattoo Artist winning their respective assignments.

Lochinvar Art A extended his winning streak to five-in-a-row thanks to a come-from-behind triumph for Team Tritton.

None Bettor A shot to the top and hammered out fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24, but he couldn’t fend off Lochinvar Art A in the closing strides.  That foe picked up cover on the way to the half, and followed that cover until late in the mile.  Lauren Tritton called on the Shane Tritton trainee to sprint late, and he complied with a :28.2 closing kick.  It was enough to earn him the neck decision over None Bettor A in 1:52.4.  Dean B Hanover was third.

"I raced this horse a lot in Australia. He knows his job," said Lauren Tritton. "I spend a lot of time with the horse and I know him inside and out. He knows what he's out there to do, and he showed that tonight.

"He's had the perfect runs so far. Fingers crossed we can keep it going."

Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the eight-year-old son of Modern Art-Ponder In Paris won for the 33rd time in his career.  The career winner in excess of $1.1 million is owned by Team Tritton Inc of Pinebush, NY.       

After a near miss in leg one of the series, Jimmy Freight responded with a decisive score in his second leg assignment over the half-miler.

Scott Zeron hustled the 4-5 favourite to the lead from Post 4, and together they wheeled through splits of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:25 before storming home in :27.2 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over American Dealer N in 1:52.2.  Backstreet Shadow rallied to take home third prize.

Brett Pelling trains the eight-year-old son of Sportswriter-Allamerican Summer for Let It Ride Stables Inc and Jimmy Freight Stable of Boca Raton, FL.  The win was his second of the season and the 35th of his career.  The $25,000 payday bumped his lifetime earnings to $1,932,410.   

Idealsomemagic A was the only non-favourite to score a leg two victory thanks to his wire-to-wire performance for Team Stratton.

Jordan Stratton powered to the motor with the Cory Stratton trainee who proceeded to steamroll through intervals of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:23.3.  He then kicked home in :27.4 to win by three lengths over Hellabalou in 1:51.2.  Race favourite Leonidas A rounded out the Trifecta ticket.

The win improved the seven-year-old son of American Ideal-Lifes Just Magic’s seasonal record to 7-1-0 from nine starts and it boosted his overall bankroll to $242,566.  The 20-time winner is owned by VIP Internet Stable LLC and Bukers Stable. 

Tattoo Artist matched the clocking of Idealsomemagic A thanks to his 1:51.2 score in the final division.

Dexter Dunn got away third with the 3-5 favourite who watched This Is The Plan drill his way to the lead from Post 7 and then whack out panels of :26.4, :55.2 and 1:23.  Dunn tipped his charge first over on the way to the three-quarter pole, and by generating a :28.2 closing quarter Tattoo Artist managed to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Priceless Beach.  Undrthsouthrnsun N was third.

Chris Ryder trains the six-year-old son of Hes Watching-Stylish Artist for Let It Ride Stables Inc, Frank Cannon and Diamond Creek Racing.  It was the first triumph of 2023 for the 31-time winner who now boasts earnings in excess of $2.2 million.

(With quotes from Yonkers Raceway)