The $250,000 USD MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series final, taking place on Monday, Dec. 16 at MGM Yonkers Raceway, will feature an exciting field of contenders following the post position draw on Dec. 10.
The final major open stakes event of the 2024 North American harness racing calendar will go the distance of a mile and a sixteenth and is scheduled as Race 8 on the 11-race program.
Coaches Corner, who was the leading point-earner in the prelims, wound up with post seven in the open draw. A four-year-old Always A Virgin-Carobbean Pacetry gelding trained by Per Engblom, Coaches Corner had two victories and a second in the three preliminary rounds. He has regular driver Jason Bartlett listed again for the final. Coaches Corner was the runner-up in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final at Yonkers earlier this year.
Seven Colors, who finished second in the point standings behind Coaches Corner, had better luck in the draw, landing post two. This four-year-old son of Stay Hungry-Rainbowinthedark, trained by Andrew Harris, has surpassed $1 million in lifetime earnings, bolstered by a victory in his division of the final preliminary leg. He’ll have a new driver in the final, with Scott Zeron set to take the lines.
The full draw is as follows:
$250,000 USD MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series Final (Race 8)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Nandolo N - Lauren Tritton - Shane Tritton
2. Seven Colors - Scott Zeron - Andrew Harris
3. Adam Twelve - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom
4. El Rey - Brett Beckwith - Andrew Harris
5. Typhoon Banner N - Matt Kakaley - Joe Bongiorno
6. American Dealer N - Anthony Napolitano - Linda Toscano
7. Coaches Corner - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
8. Whats Stanley Got A - Jordan Stratton - Cory Stratton
AE My Ultimate Byron A - Steve Smith - Ricky Bucci
In addition to the rich series final, Monday night's Pick-5 wager will be seeded with $10,000 from the Standardbred Owners Association of New York and will carry a $40,000 guaranteed pool in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
Free past performances for the Pick-5 will be available at handicapping.ustrotting.com.
The Pick-5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 per cent.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway; photo of Coaches Corner from the preliminary win on Dec.9)
The MGM Grand Prix
With the exception of some Delaware Sire Stake races, The MGM Grand Prix is the final stakes race of 2024. The next stakes race in North America with a purse of $100,000 or more will be The MGM Borgata Final, also at Yonkers, in April of 2025.