Mossdale Ben N remains undefeated in the U.S., improving to five-for-five after capturing his $71,429 division of the first round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Monday, March 31.
Driven by Jordan Stratton in the fourth division, Mossdale Ben N settled in sixth early but found himself gapping cover past the :56.1 half and then forced three-wide before the 1:22.4 three-quarters. Despite the challenging trip, he managed to secure a two-wide position on the final turn and unleashed a powerful stretch drive, rallying past leader Its A Me Mario (Jason Bartlett) to win by half a length in 1:51.1. Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley) finished third.
A seven-year-old gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance-Mossdale Sue, bred in New Zealand by A.G. Affleck, Mossdale Ben N has now won 13 races and amassed $216,990 in earnings. He is trained by Peter Tritton for owner PJT Investments Inc. of Madison, Connecticut.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Mossdale Ben N paid $6.40 to win, with the exacta returning $32.20 and the trifecta $58.80.
Stratton also guided For Once Inmy Life to the fastest division win of the night, stopping the clock in 1:51 flat. After taking control from Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett) beyond the :27.2 quarter, For Once Inmy Life set fractions of :55.2 and 1:23.2 before holding off a determined Coaches Corner by half a length. Dunkin (Tim Tetrick) grabbed third.
Cory Stratton trains For Once Inmy Life, a five-year-old gelding by Downbytheseaside-Flyme To The Moon, for owner Winters Racing Stable of Foxboro, Massachusetts. Bred by Joe Sbrocco, For Once Inmy Life secured his 12th career victory and has now banked $486,702.
The 6-5 second choice, For Once Inmy Life paid $4.70 to win, with the exacta paying $10 and the trifecta $40.60.
Stratton completed a driving hat trick in the opening leg of the series with 17-1 shot Aardies Flash N, who prevailed in his division in 1:51.2. Settling in fourth, he picked up cover from Humble A (Jason Bartlett) and Wish You Well (David Miller) en route to the 1:23.2 three-quarters but was left first-over on the final turn when Humble A cleared to the front and Wish You Well ducked to the pocket. Despite the loss of cover, Aardies Flash N dug in and surged past 1-5 favourite Humble A to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Wish You Well finished third.
A six-year-old Always B Miki-Tatijana Bromac gelding, Aardies Flash N is trained by Per Engblom for owner M T Stables Ontario Inc. of Scarborough, Ontario. Bred in New Zealand by Grant Enterprises Ltd., Aardies Flash N now boasts a career record of 16-9-6 from 47 starts and earnings of $253,625.
Aardies Flash N returned $37 to win, with the exacta paying $69 and the trifecta $199.50.
Monday's first Borgata division went to Verdun and driver Pat Lachance in 1:52.1. Sitting sixth early and caught fourth-over, Lachance angled Verdun wide on the final turn, and with a strong :26.4 final quarter, he got up to win by a head over Huntinthelastdolar (Jason Bartlett). Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano), who led through fractions of :27.4, :56.2, and 1:24, settled for third.
A five-year-old Bettors Delight-Pop Goes Theweasel stallion trained by Lachance for owner Tom Ceraso Jr. of Stamford, Connecticut, Verdun was bred by Roland Trudel. This was his 23rd career win, pushing his earnings to $635,845.
Verdun paid $11.80 to win at 9-2 odds. The exacta returned $56.50, and the trifecta paid $163.
In the night’s final division, longshot Binge On Yankee defied the odds at 20-1, wiring the field in 1:53 through heavy rain. Leaving swiftly from post seven, he controlled the pace with fractions of :27.4, :57, and 1:24.4. Typhoon Banner N (Joe Bongiorno) tracked from the pocket but could not get by, finishing a neck behind in second, while Why Not Now (Matt Kakaley) claimed third.
Trainer Jeff Gillis of Fergus, Ontario, co-owns Binge On Yankee, a five-year-old Stay Hungry-Bootleg Yankee gelding, with Ellen Ott of Buffalo, New York. Bred by Charles Keller III, Binge On Yankee recorded his 14th career win and has now earned $378,287.
The upset winner returned $43.80, with the exacta paying $230.50 and the trifecta $534.
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series preliminaries continue through Monday, April 28, leading to the $200,000 USD (added) final and $100,000 USD (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 9. The Blue Chip Matchmaker Pacing Series will also conclude that night with its $200,000 USD (added) final and $100,000 USD (guaranteed) consolation.
This week, the John Brennan Trotting Series begins at Yonkers Raceway with four $30,000 USD divisions of the first leg on Wednesday, April 2. Named in honour of longtime Standardbred Owners Association of New York (SOANY) horsemen's representative, who passed away from COVID-19 complications in March 2020, the series showcases top trotters.
On Friday, April 4, the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series features four $50,000 USD divisions. First leg winners Walkin On Sunshine and Silk Cloud A will clash in the second division, while Factory Girl and Aardie B Miki N headline the third and fourth splits, respectively.
Yonkers Raceway and the SOA of NY will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool every Monday and Friday during the legs of the MGM Borgata and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series. The Monday Pick 5 is also part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.
Yonkers Raceway operates a Monday-through-Friday live racing schedule, with first post each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)