Antognoni S and Coaches Corner won the $342,466 added-distance finals of the MGM Grand Prix Invitational Series on Friday afternoon, Dec. 19 at Yonkers Raceway.

Driven by co-owner Yannick Gingras, the Ron Burke-trained Antognoni S was a dominant winner in the trotting series, drawing off by 10 lengths during the extended portion of the race to complete the 1-1/4-mile final in 2:25.3 over the "good" track.

Starting from post two in the field of 10, Antognoni S settled in mid-pack early while odds-on favourite Sir Pinocchio (Jason Bartlett), Asteroid (Colin Kelly) and Cecil Hanover (Brett Beckwith) showed speed. Sir Pinocchio was in front in a :27.3 quarter, and while Asteroid was able to find a seat in the pocket, Cecil Hanover couldn't find a hole and had to remain two-wide.

Sir Pinocchio remained in front of the parked-out Cecil Hanover to the half in :57.4. The outer tier filled up behind Cecil Hanover with Antognoni S, Take All Comers (Todd McCarthy), Dribbling Bi (Daniel Dube) and Ultion Face S (Tyler Buter). There was little change to three-quarters in 1:27.4, but Gingras fired Antognoni S out three-wide beyond that marker to get around his entrymate Cecil Hanover.

After being tipped out, Antognoni S quickly trotted up to join Sir Pinocchio as they pulled away from the others. Antognoni S sustained his bid to forge his way around Sir Pinocchio beyond the 1:56.2 mile marker, and it was all Antognoni S from there as he trotted away to win by double-digit lengths. Sir Pinocchio had to settle for second, with Ari Ferrari J (Jim Marohn Jr.) getting third over Take All Comers and Asteroid.

Burke trains Antognoni S for Gingras and the other co-owners, Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Weaver Bruscemi of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and FAC Racing of Scarsdale, New York. The winner of the John Brennan Trotting Series final at Yonkers earlier this year, the five-year-old Father Patrick-Bouncing Bax gelding notched his 16th victory of the season in 24 starts and now has a career summary of 22-5-6 from 44 starts with $744,892 in earnings. 

Following a narrow defeat in leg one of this series behind Sir Pinocchio, Antognoni S was the winner in the following two preliminary rounds. He returned $3.90 to win as the second wagering choice in the final. He led a $4.84 exacta and a $39.18 trifecta.

"He was so good tonight," said Burke. "He will be in all the big races next year."

Yonkers leading driver Jason Bartlett and top trainer Per Engblom put a bow on their season by winning the pacing series final with Coaches Corner in 2:23.1 for the mile and a quarter.

Another Engblom trainee, Huntinthelastdolar (Tyler Buter), fired out from post eight and led early, but he was passed by a two-wide Calicojack Hanover (Daniel Dube) before the 28-second opening quarter, then Calicojack Hanover yielded to sit behind favourite Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) past that marker.

Captain Albano went on to the half in 57 seconds as Redwood Hanover (Yannick Gingras), another starter from the Engblom stable, began the outer flow from fourth. He was tracked by Catalpa Rescue A (Matt Kakaley), trailing tier starter Coaches Corner, Soho Firestone A (George Brennan) and Always A Thrill (Colin Kelly). Redwood Hanover could only get to Captain Albano's wheel to three-quarters in 1:26.2, though, as Catalpa Rescue A went three-wide and Coaches Corner was sent out four-wide on the way to the 1:54.4 mile marker.

Coaches Corner advanced into second on the final bend and loomed to the outside of Captain Albano in the lane as McCarthy was urging Captain Albano along. It was Coaches Corner's day, though, as he passed Captain Albano and went on to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Captain Albano had to settle for second with Catalpa Rescue A, Redwood Hanover and Soho Firestone A third through fifth.

"I'm so proud of the boys and their performances," said Engblom, who had Coaches Corner, Redwood Hanover and Huntinthelastdolar in the final. "Coaches Corner has stamina as his biggest strength and the added distance fit him perfectly. He's still sharp after a long year."

"We thought that long distance would help us considering the draw and, once again, he showed up when it mattered," said Bartlett. "This horse deserves this win and ending on a great note."

Coaches Corner, a five-year-old gelded son of Always A Virgin out of Carobbean Pacetry, is on the verge of the $2 million earnings mark for owners Jeff Fought Racing of East Bernstadt, Kentucky and Brian Carsey of Cambridge City, Indiana. Coaches Corner recorded his eighth win of the season in 27 starts, including two preliminary legs of this series, and made the 35th trip of his career to the winner's circle.  

He returned $9.16 to win as the second choice on the tote board and was atop a $17.80 exacta and an $82.96 trifecta.

Keg Stand, driven by Matt Kakaley, was brave after an extended first-over grind and was able to wear down leader Security Protected (Cory Stratton) late to win the $136,986 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series consolation in 2:30 for the mile and a quarter. Mississippi Storm (Brent Holland) rallied from second-over and also got by Security Protected at the wire to get the runner-up spot. Amigo Volo (Todd McCarthy) and Hot Flash Kimmy (Yannick Gingras) completed the top five.

Keg Stand, a six-year-old gelded son of Bar Hopping-Palm Beach Bi, was sent out by trainer Nick Devita for Delaware owners David Hamm and EVM Racing. 

He returned $8.92 to win as the second choice and keyed a $241.24 exacta and a $959.36 trifecta. Favourite Dire Straits (Jason Bartlett) broke stride and finished eighth.

The matching MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series consolation was won by Captain Moore A, who rallied by Verdun (Pat Lachance) out of the pocket in the stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 2:26.3 for Jason Bartlett. Tip Top Cat (Yannick Gingras) came in third, followed by Endofstory (George Brennan) and Sherlock N (Jim Marohn Jr.).

Captain Moore A is a four-year-old gelding by Soho Lanikai out of Out Chelsea Girl. He is trained by Scott Blackler for New York owner Chad Kowal. 

He paid $5.10 to win as the favourite and led a $17.90 exacta and a $45.36 trifecta.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway; photo of Coaches Corner winning on Dec. 19)