MGM Yonkers Raceway is preparing to host the first two Grand Circuit events of the 2024 harness racing calendar as the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares will get underway on Friday, March 15 and the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for free-for-allers is set to commence on Monday, March 18.
Both events feature five preliminary legs and finals on Monday, April 22. The MGM Borgata Pacing Series divisions will go for $50,000 USD each with a $200,000 USD added final, while the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series splits will carry purses of $40,000 USD to go with a $125,000 USD added final. The MGM Borgata Pacing Series consolation is guaranteed at $100,000 USD and the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at $75,000 USD.
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series nominations are headlined by Hellabalou (pictured above), who pulled off a 47-1 upset in last year's $511,000 final. There were 30 horses nominated in total and some other series eligibles include millionaire Covered Bridge, former Horse of the Year Desperate Man, multiple stakes winner Fourever Boy and 2021 Borgata champion This Is The Plan.
Additionally, this year's MGM Borgata Pacing Series final will have a "win and you're in" feature for the $125,000 USD Birthday Invitational Pace in May to celebrate 125 years of MGM Yonkers Raceway; the Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park on June 8; and the Aria Invitational at Yonkers, scheduled for Sept. 7.
As for the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, 21 pacing mares were nominated. Lit De Rose, who was a rallying second to Amazing Dream N in 2023's $328,200 final, is among those on the list, as is Racine Bell, who was the runner-up in the 2022 championship. Blue Chip Matchmaker Series veteran Karma Seelster was also nominated, as was Mikala, who won a pair of Grand Circuit stakes finals a year ago.
Entries for the first leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will be drawn on Monday, March 11 and the opening round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series will be available on Tuesday, March 12. The entry box closes at 3 p.m.
Click on the following links for the complete lists of eligible horses to the Borgata and Matchmaker.
Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday-Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m.
(Yonkers Raceway)