Preliminary round action in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series ends on Monday, April 17 at MGM Yonkers Raceway with three $50,000 divisions of the fifth leg.
After taking round four off, Lochinvar Art A (post one, Lauren Tritton) is back in Monday's first grouping (race three). The eight-year-old Modern Art stallion has two wins and a second in the series thus far.
The second split (race six) looks like it could be a preview of the final as new co-track record holder Backstreet Shadow (post seven, Matt Kakaley) faces leg winner Jimmy Freight (post one, Scott Zeron) and a pair of double-leg winners in Funatthebeach N (post four, Jordan Stratton) and Idealsomemagic A (post six, George Brennan).
Last, but certainly not least, race eight's third flight has five horses -- Hellabalou (post one, Yannick Gingras), Tattoo Artist (post two, Dexter Dunn), Covered Bridge (post four, Tyler Buter), Leonidas A (post five, Austin Siegelman) and Hemsworth N (post seven, Kakaley) -- who have visited the winner's circle at some point during the 2023 edition of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series.
Once Monday's MGM Borgata Pacing Series tilts are finished, attention will shift towards the $200,000-added final estimated to boost the purse to $500,000 on April 24. That card will also include the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final and consolation events for both races.
MGM Yonkers Raceway will also offer the MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion a win-and-you're-in opportunity to both the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park on June 10 and the $200,000 MGM Aria Pace at Yonkers on MGM Yonkers International Trot Day (Sept. 23).
To complement the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, the Empire Terrace dining room will be open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays through April 24. Owners and fans are invited to attend the races and enjoy food from an ala carte menu. No reservations are required.
Also, continuing through this month, the Pick 5 pool on Thursdays at MGM Yonkers Raceway will be seeded with $10,000 and also have a guaranteed pool of $25,000. This initiative is being offered in partnership with the Standardbred Owners Association of New York as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
Stakes racing resumes on Wednesday night (April 12) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with five $25,000 divisions of the second round of the John Brennan Trotting Series, and Friday night's (April 14) 11-race program features three $40,000 splits of the final preliminary leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway)