Hoolie N Hector was the only horse able to improve to two-for-two in this year's John Brennan Trotting Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway after Wednesday night's (April 12) second preliminary round.
Driven by Braxten Boyd in the night's first of five $25,000 flights, Hoolie N Hector took early command from post six, led through fractions of :28, :58 and 1:26.2, and closed in :28.4 to win by three-quarter lengths in 1:55.1 for trainer Andrew Adamczyk and owner-breeder Joseph Meaney. Hoolie N Hector, a five-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding, is now a 13-time winner in his career, paid $2.30 to win as the 1-9 favourite.
Unevergonnagethis (Jordan Stratton), a four-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass, improved from second last week to first this Wednesday by winning the next grouping in 1:55.4. He cleared C You Again DK (Scott Zeron) for the top spot beyond the :27.4 opening quarter and never looked back from there, prevailing by half a length in 1:55.4 for owner-trainer Jeff Gillis. Unevergonnagethis, the 2-1 second choice, returned $6.10 to win and made his fifth appearance in the winner's circle.
Cantstop Yankee (Tyler Buter) rebounded after tiring on the lead and then breaking a week ago to win the third split from first over in 1:55.3, just getting by leader Share The Wealth (Matt Kakaley) in the closing strides. The victor, a four-year-old Whataworkout gelding, is trained by Deborah Daguet for owner-breeder Kapildeo Singh and now has a career record of 7-2-2 from 26 starts. Dispatched at 16-1, he paid $35.40 to win.
Pappardelle (Joe Bongiorno), a four-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone, hit the front beyond the :28.2 quarter in the fourth section, kept command through middle-half stations of :57.4 and 1:26.3, and drew away to a 3-1/4 length win in 1:54.4. Jenn Bongiorno trains Pappardelle, who returned $6.90 to win as the 2-1 second choice, for owners The Delaware Group, Joe Sbrocco, JB Racing, and JAF Racing. Pappardelle posted the ninth victory of his racing career.
Four-year-old Johnny William gelding Armstead Cole (Jason Bartlett) raced in the pocket behind P L Oscar (Tyler Buter) through a :28 quarter, :57.2 half, and 1:26 three-quarters in the final Brennan Series showdown, tipped out on the final turn, and got up through the stretch drive to take a two-length decision in 1:55 for co-owner and trainer Jeff Cullipher and co-owner Pollack Racing. Armstead Cole paid $2.50 to win as the 1-5 choice and picked up his ninth win.
The John Brennan Trotting Series is for three-year-olds and older who were non-winners of six pari-mutuel races or $150,000 through Feb. 1, 2023, with winners over $250,000 as of that date not eligible. The series features one more preliminary leg on April 19 before a $79,000 final and a $35,000 consolation on April 26.
Stakes racing resumes at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night's (April 14) 11-race program with three $40,000 splits of the final leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares. The MGM Borgata Pacing Series will then continue on Monday, April 17 with a trio of $50,000 divisions of the last round.
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.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway)