New Faces Emerge Victorious In MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series
There were no repeaters from round one in the second leg of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series on Monday night, Nov. 11 at MGM Yonkers Raceway as Adam Twelve, American Dealer N and Desperate Man got the job done in the trio of $69,444 splits.
In the first division, Adam Twelve, with Jason Bartlett in the bike, led through fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.2 on his way to a one-length victory in 1:51.3. Act Fast (Yannick Gingras) was second from the pocket and Rocknroll Runa A (Larry Stalbaum) was game from first-over and wound up in the third position.
Per Engblom trains Adam Twelve, a four-year-old gelding by Luck Be Withyou, for owners Nicholas Callahan, Yorwollahan Racing Team, Gregory Godbout and Robert Aerenson. This was his 17th career victory and he has now earned $427,553.
Adam Twelve paid $3.80 to win as the favourite. He keyed a $20.80 exacta and an $83.50 trifecta.
Typhoon Banner N (George Brennan) was on top at the :27.1 quarter, :57.2 half and 1:24.3 three-quarters in the next section. Behind him, favoured Seven Colors (Jason Bartlett) had to go three-wide from second-over coming off the third turn to get around the stalled cover of Dunkin (Jim Marohn Jr.), which gave American Dealer N (Anthony Napolitano) room to get to the outside from the pocket on the final bend.
Through the lane, Typhoon Banner N was game, but American Dealer N was able to wear him down and also held off several closers to score by a neck in 1:53. Typhoon Banner N was the runner-up and Seven Colors finished in the third position.
A seven-year-old American Ideal stallion, American Dealer N is trained by Linda Toscano for owners Enviro Stables Ltd., and Ken Jacobs. He made his 32nd appearance in the winner's circle and has now banked $886,579.
American Dealer N returned $21.40 to win as a 9-1 offering. He was atop a $164.50 exacta and a $536 trifecta.
The three opening round victors -- Coaches Corner, El Rey and Nandolo N -- all drew in the final flight, and Coaches Corner (Bartlett) led the way early before he was passed by El Rey (David Miller) beyond the :27 quarter-mile marker. Hot on El Rey's heels was Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley) and Desperate Man became the third leader en route to the :54.2 half-mile station.
Going to the 1:22.2 three-quarters, Coaches Corner swung out first-over from the third spot, but Desperate Man was determined on the front-end and hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Coaches Corner in a 1:50.4 mile. El Rey was the third-place finisher.
Former Canadian Horse of the Year Desperate Man (pictured above) is a six-year-old gelded son of Shadow Play, and Hunter Oakes is the trainer for owner Kathy Cecchin. Desperate Man posted the 27th triumph of his life and has now put away $1,909,775.
Depserate Man paid $7.10 to win as a 5-2 offering and led a $14 exacta and a $21.40 trifecta.
With two legs now complete, the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series is on a break until round three on Dec. 9. The $250,000 USD final is on Dec. 16, and leg three and the final will be at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.
On Friday night, Nov. 15, Yonkers will host the $250,000 USD MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final. That race is the eighth of 10 dashes on the program and will go a mile and a sixteenth. Here's how the field will line up:
1. Bestfriend Volo
2. Ghostly Casper
3. Delayed Hanover
4. Ari Ferrari J
5. Take All Comers
6. Its Academic
7. Chapercraz
8. Pappardelle
Yonkers is operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)