Five $50,000 USD divisions of the first leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series will be featured on Monday, March 30 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
2025 series champion Mossdale Ben N drew the outside post six for driver Jim Marohn Jr. and trainer Peter Tritton in the fourth flight (Race 6). His competition includes two-time Dan Patch Award recipient and last year's Aria Invitational Pace winner Captain Albano from inside position for Todd McCarthy and trainer Noel Daley, and recent local Invitational victor Whichwaytothebeach from the five-hole for Matt Kakaley and Travis Alexander.
Soho Firestone A made the final of the MGM Grand Prix Series at Yonkers late in 2025 and makes his first appearance of 2026 in the first grouping (Race 2) from post one for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. Also in that tilt is Celtic Spirit N, a top Open horse from Northfield who has come east into the care of trainer/driver Joe Bongiorno and has post position four.
Last year's MGM Grand Messenger Stakes champion Twisted Destiny landed post three for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Chris Ryder in the second split (Race 3). Redwood Hanover, another horse who was in the MGM Grand Prix Series final back in December, starts from post one for Bartlett and trainer Per Engblom after qualifying last Saturday at The Meadowlands in 1:50.3.
Huntinthelastdolar tops the third section (Race 4) for Bartlett and Engblom. A finalist a year ago in both the Borgata and Grand Prix finals, Huntinthelastdolar won his lone qualifier to prep for this race in 1:52.2 at The Meadowlands on March 14. He's in against former MGM Grand Messenger victor Sweet Beach Life from post four for Kakaley and Alexander, along with Verdun, the third-place finisher in last year's Borgata final, from the inside for trainer/driver Pat Lachance, and Catalpa Rescue A, who was third in the Grand Prix final and departs from post five for Scott Zeron and Scott Blackler.
Coaches Corner, who drew post six, gives Bartlett and Engblom another main contender in the last Borgata test (Race 7). Coaches Corner captured the MGM Grand Prix Series final to conclude a 2025 campaign in which he earned $967,105. His competition includes Chase H Hanover, the second-place finisher in last year's Borgata final who has drawn post five for driver Anthony Napolitano and trainer Cory Stratton, and Captain Moore A, who took the last edition of the local Invitational pace and leaves from post two for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Blackler.
The full fields for Monday's Borgata Series events as are follows:
MGM Borgata Pacing Series Division #1 (Race 2)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Soho Firestone A - Jason Bartlett - Doug Dilloian Jr.
2. Sherlock N - Jim Marohn Jr. - Peter Tritton
3. Always A Thrill - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
4. Celtic Spirit N - Joe Bongiorno - Joe Bongiorno
5. Aye Aye Captain N - Brent Holland - Ricky Bucci
6. Skylou N - Scott Zeron - Scott Blackler
MGM Borgata Pacing Series Division #2 (Race 3)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Redwood Hanover - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
2. Dele Row A - Brent Holland - Chris Height
3. Twisted Destiny - Dexter Dunn - Chris Ryder
4. Ima Perfect Choice - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
5. Heza Charttopper A - Yannick Gingras - Scott Blackler
MGM Borgata Pacing Series Division #3 (Race 4)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Verdun - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
2. Huntinthelastdolar - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
3. Endofstory - Jason Bartlett - Doug Dilloian Jr.
4. Sweet Beach Life - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
5. Catalpa Rescue A - Scott Zeron - Scott Blackler
MGM Borgata Pacing Series Division #4 (Race 6)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Captain Albano - Todd McCarthy - Noel Daley
2. Macs Marvel - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
3. Donegal Luther N - Yannick Gingras - Jared Bako
4. Matai Phil N - Brent Holland - Agostino Abbatiello
5. Whichwaytothebeach - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
6. Mossdale Ben N - Jim Marohn Jr. - Peter Tritton
MGM Borgata Pacing Series Division #5 (Race 7)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Aroda N - Lauren Tritton - Shane Tritton
2. Captain Moore A - Yannick Gingras - Scott Blackler
3. Howlenthehills - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
4. Why Not Now - Matt Kakaley - Todd Luther
5. Chase H Hanover - Anthony Napolitano - Cory Stratton
6. Coaches Corner - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series has five preliminary rounds through April 27 before the $200,000 (added) USD final and $100,000 (guaranteed) USD consolation on Friday, May 8.
In other series news, 19 horses were made eligible for this year's John Brennan Trotting Series that gets underway on April 1 and has three legs prior to the $100,000 (guaranteed) USD final and $50,000 (guaranteed) USD consolation on April 22. After being contested at the distance of a mile and a quarter in 2025, the final and consolation will go back to the standard mile distance this year.
The John Brennan Trotting Series is named in honour of the longtime Standardbred Owners Association of New York horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-through-Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m.
(Yonkers Raceway; photo of Mossdale Ben N winning the 2025 Borgata final on May 9, 2025)