The post position draws for the $516,000 USD MGM Borgata Pacing Series and $490,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker Series finals took place on Monday, May 5. The Grade 1 stakes will be contested on Friday, May 9 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

The MGM Borgata Pacing Series final goes as race eight on the program and top point earners Mossdale Ben N and Coaches Corner landed posts five and eight, respectively. Mossdale Ben N, who will be driven by Jordan Stratton for trainer Peter Tritton, and Coaches Corner, who'll have Jason Bartlett in the bike for trainer Per Engblom, didn't finish outside the exacta in the prelims, posting three wins and two seconds apiece, but Coaches Corner has the experience of racing in the Borgata final as he was second in last year's championship.

Another of 2024's finalists, Desperate Man, will depart from post seven on Friday for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander, while trainer Cory Stratton will have a pair of horses in For Once Inmy Life, starting from post three with Dexter Dunn in the bike, and Chase H Hanover, who drew post six with Anthony Napolitano listed to drive. Engblom also has another starter in Huntinthelastdolar from post four with Yannick Gingras set to drive.

The full draw for the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final is as follows:

Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer  
1. Verdun - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
2. Binge On Yankee - Scott Zeron - Jeff Gillis
3. For Once Inmy Life - Dexter Dunn - Cory Stratton
4. Huntinthelastdolar - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom
5. Mossdale Ben N - Jordan Stratton - Peter Tritton
6. Chase H Hanover - Anthony Napolitano - Cory Stratton
7. Desperate Man - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
8. Coaches Corner - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom

Aardie B Miki N went four-for-four in the prelims she raced in for Bartlett and Engblom in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series and then landed the coveted pole position for the final, which is race seven on the card. Leading point earner Rocket Deo has post six with Andy McCarthy to drive the Brett Pelling trainee, and Walkin On Sunshine, who concluded the prelims second in the standings, starts from post two and gives Pelling another entrant. Scott Zeron will drive Walkin On Sunshine.

The full draw for the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final is as follows:

Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer  
1. Aardie B Miki N - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
2. Walkin On Sunshine - Scott Zeron - Brett Pelling
3. Talk Curdy To Me - Todd McCarthy - Jeff Cullipher
4. Silk Cloud A - Jordan Stratton - Peter Tritton
5. Turn The Page N - Ron Cushing - Heidi Cushing
6. Rocket Deo - Andy McCarthy - Brett Pelling
7. Beautiful Seaside - Tim Tetrick - Scott Di Domenico
8. Seaside Diva - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke

Additionally, there is a $100,000 USD MGM Borgata Pacing Series consolation (race six) and a $100,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker Series consolation (race five).

On the wagering front, Yonkers, in conjunction with the Standardbred Owners Association of New York, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five. The guaranteed Pick 5 pool is also a part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.

Yonkers is now operating on a Monday-Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway; photo of Coaches Corner winning on April 7)