The third and final preliminary leg of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series was the feature on Monday, Dec. 9 at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Three $70,423 divisions took place, with each of those events going the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

Typhoon Banner N, driven by Matt Kakaley, won the first grouping in 1:58.4. He cut fractions of :27.2, :57.1 and 1:24.4. Its A Me Mario (Lauren Tritton) came first-up from third before three-quarters and My Ultimate Byron A (Steve Smith) raced in the pocket. Its A Me Mario made some progress while uncovered, but stalled out in the lane as Typhoon Banner N hit the mile marker in 1:51.4 and then the wire a length and a half ahead of My Ultimate Byron. Its A Me Mario had to settle for third.

An eight-year-old Bettors Delight-When Youre Hot gelding bred in New Zealand by Banner Bloodstock Ltd., Typhoon Banner N is trained by Joe Bongiorno for owners Philip Steinberg, JB Racing and Barbara Bongiorno Stb LLC. This was his 24th career win and he has now earned $398,451.

Typhoon Banner N paid $3.70 to win as the 4-5 favourite. He keyed a $20.40 exacta and a $27.40 trifecta.

In the next section, Adam Twelve (Yannick Gingras) drove on two-wide and battled for early command with Chase H Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and finally got to the top after a fast quarter of :26.2. Adam Twelve then backed down the tempo to :56.3 at the half before 3-5 favourite Seven Colors (Jason Bartlett) began a first-over move out of the third position.

Seven Colors got side-by-side with Adam Twelve as three-quarters was clicked off in 1:24.1. He sustained his bid to take a narrow advantage late on the final bend. From there, Seven Colors put Adam Twelve away for good, was clear at the 1:51.3 mile station and cruised to a 2 3/4 length decision in 1:58.3. Whats Stanley Got A (Jordan Stratton) got up for second late from Chase H Hanover (Matt Kakaley).

Trainer Andrew Harris also co-owns Seven Colors, a four-year-old son of Stay Hungry-Rainbowinthedark, with partners William Pollock and Bruce Areman. The Alan Byler-bred has a summary of 11-6-7 from 42 outings and has pocketed $1,139,494.

Seven Colors returned $3.20 to win and was atop a $15.40 exacta and an $85 trifecta.

Coaches Corner gave Bartlett a double and completed a sweep for the favourites when he took the last clash in 1:58.2. Rather than tucking into third, Bartlett kept Coaches Corner on the outside and made his way by Verdun (Pat Lachance) past the 27-second quarter-mile point. After he got control, Coaches Corner put up panels of :56.1, 1:24.2 and 1:51.3 on his way to a 1-1/2-length tally over Verdun. American Dealer N (Matt Kakaley) collected third.

A four-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin out of Carobbean Pacetry, Coaches Corner is trained by Per Engblom for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables, Coaches Corner is a 27-time winner and has banked $941,399 lifetime.

Coaches Corner paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favourite, in addition to leading an $8.50 exacta and a $107 trifecta.

Next Monday, Dec. 16, the Yonkers Raceway program will be led by the $250,000 USD MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series final, which will be held over the distance of a mile and a sixteenth. 

Live harness racing resumes at Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)