It will be an MGM Borgata Pacing Series bonanza on Monday night (March 15) at Yonkers Raceway as 40 free-for-all pacers entered for the first leg, drawing five $40,000 divisions. The MGM Borgata Pacing Series events will go as Races 3 through 7.
Let It Ride N (post 4, Dexter Dunn/"Nifty" Norman) brings his six-for-six record since coming to the United States into the first flight. To make it a perfect seven, he'll have to defeat the likes of This Is The Plan (post 1, Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke), who won the $125,000 contest for MGM Borgata Pacing Series eligibles at Yonkers on Nov. 28 last year; 2019 Breeders Crown Open Pace champion American History (post 3, Andrew McCarthy/Tony Alagna); and Rodeo Rock (post 6, McCarthy, also listed for trainer Robert Cleary), who won two legs and was second in the final of this series in 2019.
American Mercury (post 2, Andrew McCarthy/"Nifty: Norman), the winner of the Messenger final at Yonkers in 2019, makes his five-year-old debut in the second split. He will match against foes such as Lyons Steel (post 3, Austin Siegelman/Dennis Watson), who took a preliminary round of this series in 2019 in 1:50.4; and None Bettor A (post 6, Todd McCarthy/Nancy Takter), who has scored in the Open at Yonkers multiple times during his career.
None Bettor A's stablemate San Domino A (post 4, Todd McCarthy/Nancy Takter) has made plenty of appearances in the winner's circle at Yonkers after winning Opens, and he headlines the third MGM Borgata Pacing Series section. Rockapelo (post 8, George Brennan/Ron Burke) won a New York Sire Stakes final over the track back in 2018 and has gone on to have success in the Open as an aged horse. Pat Stanley N (post 5, Jordan Stratton/Shane Tritton) and Mach N Cheese (post 6, Tyler Buter/Edwin Quevedo) have also raced well at high levels in Westchester before.
Hesa Kingslayer N won an Open at Yonkers on Jan. 18, and he has the pole position for driver Jim Marohn Jr. and trainer Mike Deters in the fourth MGM Borgata Pacing Series battle. Ideal Jimmy (post 2, Brent Holland/Erv Miller) had success in this series in 2019, taking three legs and finishing fourth in the final. Ostro Hanover (post 5, Tyler Buter/Daniel Renaud) has won many times in the Open at Yonkers and was second to This Is The Plan in the $125,000 tilt for series eligibles last November. Ana Afreet N (post 7, Andrew McCarthy/Jeff Cullipher) has been sharp for an extended period of time, racing mainly at the Meadowlands.
A deep group goes in Monday's final showdown. Western Fame (post 2, Daniel Dube/Shane Tritton) won four legs and the final of this series in 2019, and also won two preliminary rounds in 2018. Backstreet Shadow (post 4, Tim Tetrick/Ron Burke) has over $850,000 in the bank and won last year's Roll With Joe final. Leonidas A (post 5, Austin Siegelman/Sheena McElhiney) won the Open at Yonkers on March 1 and picked up a Grand Circuit credit by taking the 2020 Potomac Pace. Ashley Locaz N (post 6, Dexter Dunn/Chris Ryder), who was third in the prestigious Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Cup last year, will be making his U.S. debut in this race, as well.
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series, formerly the George Morton Levy Series, has five preliminary rounds, and they will take place on March 15, 22, 29, April 5 and 12. The final is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 19.
Post time for Monday night's (March 15) program at Yonkers is 7:15 p.m. (EST).
(Yonkers Raceway)