Backstreet Shadow's 1:49.3 triumph in the first of three $50,000 flights of the fourth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 10) at MGM Yonkers Raceway gave the venerable campaigner a share of the all-age track record.

In that contest, 1-2 favourite Jimmy Freight (Scott Zeron) pressed on two-wide after leaving from post three and took command away from early leader Dean B Hanover (Jordan Stratton) past the :27 opening quarter. Jimmy Freight then hit the half in :55.2, but Backstreet Shadow (Matt Kakaley), who settled in fourth, pulled without cover just after that marker, quickly advancing to join Jimmy Freight.

Jimmy Freight couldn't withstand Backstreet Shadow's big brush and was overtaken passing the 1:22.2 three-quarters, and it was all Backstreet Shadow from there as he reported home with a 1-3/4 length victory. Jimmy Freight, Dean B Hanover, Bee Two Bee (Yannick Gingras), and Anothrmastrpiece N (Jason Bartlett) completed the top-five finishers.

The clocking matched the existing all-age track record at Yonkers first set by Theartofconfusion A on Aug. 31, 2019 and since equalled by American History (Sept. 28, 2019), Tattoo Artist (Oct. 18, 2021) and now Backstreet Shadow.

Backstreet Shadow is an eight-year-old Shadow Play gelding trained by Travis Alexander for owner Robert Di Nozzi. Backstreet Shadow, who returned $5.30 to win as the 8-5 second choice, picked up his 38th lifetime victory and he pushed his earnings to $1,407,061. The exacta was worth $8.20 and the trifecta kicked back $34.20.

Funatthebeach N (Stratton), the defending MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion, won for the second straight week by taking the next grouping in 1:50.1.

Idealsomemagic A (George Brennan) set up shop on the point in a :26.4 opening quarter, but Stratton had Funatthebeach N out and on the move first-over from the third spot well before Idealsomemagic A clicked off the :55.4 half. Idealsomemagic A continued on the engine to three-quarters in 1:22.2 and still had control around the far turn, but Funatthebeach N just kept looming in the first-up position, and despite going the wide trip, Funatthebeach N overwhelmed Idealsomemagic A in the lane and scored by a neck. Idealsomemagic A was second, with None Bettor A (Kakaley), a rallying Tattoo Artist (Dexter Dunn) and Undrthsouthrnsun N (Joe Bongiorno) filling out positions three through five.

Sent out by trainer Jeff Gillis for owner Mark Ford, Funatthebeach N is a nine-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere. He has now compiled a record of 39-11-21 from 134 career appearances, and he has pocketed $1,054,004. He paid $4.50 to win as the 6-5 favourite and was atop a $10.80 exacta and a $39 trifecta.

Covered Bridge (Tyler Buter) gave the Gillis/Ford trainer/owner combination another victory in the night's final Borgata battle and made first-over horses three-for-three overall by prevailing in 1:50.2. 

American Courage (Kakaley) moved to the outside from third before the :27 opening quarter and hit the front after that fraction, with Covered Bridge guided to the outside by Buter before American Courage got to the half in :56. Covered Bridge and American Courage locked horns in the backstretch, to the 1:23.1 three-quarters, and around the last turn, but in the lane Covered Bridge went by American Courage for good and pulled clear for a 1-3/4 length verdict. Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) was second from the pocket, while American Courage was third. Nandolo N (Jason Bartlett) checked in fourth and Rockin Withelvis A (David Miller) grabbed fifth.

A seven-year-old gelding by American Ideal, Covered Bridge made his 29th appearance in the winner's circle and he has now banked $711,270. He returned $7.50 to win as the 5-2 second choice and led a $28 exacta and a $60 trifecta.

The MGM Borgata Pacing Series prelims conclude next Monday (April 17) before a $200,000-added final estimated to boost the purse to $500,000 on April 24. That card will also include the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final and consolation events for both races.

MGM Yonkers Raceway will also offer the MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion a win-and-you're-in opportunity to both the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park on June 10 and the $200,000 MGM Aria Pace at Yonkers on MGM Yonkers International Trot Day (Sept. 23).

To complement the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, the Empire Terrace dining room will be open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays through April 24. Owners and fans are invited to attend the races and enjoy food from an ala carte menu. No reservations are required.

Also, continuing through this month, the Pick 5 pool on Thursdays at MGM Yonkers Raceway will be seeded with $10,000 and also have a guaranteed pool of $25,000. This initiative is being offered in partnership with the Standardbred Owners Association of New York as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.

Stakes racing resumes on Wednesday night (April 12) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with five $25,000 divisions of the second round of the John Brennan Trotting Series, and Friday night's (April 14) 11-race program features three $40,000 splits of the final preliminary leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).

(Yonkers Raceway)