Drivers Jason Bartlett and Jordan Stratton swept all five $71,429 divisions of the second leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday, April 7 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Bartlett’s night began with Its A Me Mario, who cleared after a :27.2 quarter and never looked back. He posted fractions of :56.3 and 1:24.1 before kicking home in :28 to secure a 1:52.1 win by three-quarters of a length. Hemsworth N (Scott Zeron) rallied into second after a pocket trip, while Churchviewfrankl Ir (Brent Holland) closed late for third.
Trained by Shane Tritton and owned by Joshua Graber of Quincy, Michigan, the five-year-old American Ideal–NF Salsa gelding earned his 17th career win and pushed his bankroll to $537,065.
Its A Me Mario returned $2.30 to win as the 1-9 favourite, keying a $4.60 exacta and $25 trifecta.
For his next Borgata win, Bartlett teamed up with the Per Engblom-trained Huntinthelastdolar, who cleared early and cut fractions of :27.1, :56, and 1:23.4. He repelled a strong stretch bid from Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano) to win by half a length in 1:52.1. Ammo (Yannick Gingras) rallied for third.
The Huntsville–Eighthunrdolarbill gelding, owned by E Five Racing of Boca Raton, Florida and John Fielding of Scarborough, Ont., has now earned $894,989 from 14 career victories.
The favourite paid $3.40 to win, with a $4.50 exacta and $30.80 trifecta.
Bartlett and Engblom struck again with Coaches Corner (pictured above), delivering the fastest mile of the night, stopping the clock in 1:51.1. Bartlett put him in the pocket behind Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley) after a :27.1 opening quarter and followed through middle-half splits of :55.3 and 1:23.3. He tipped off cover around the final turn, and the 2024 Borgata runner-up powered past late to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Desperate Man held second over Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeron).
Coaches Corner is owned by Jeff Fought Racing of Astor, Florida and Brian Carsey of Cambridge City, Indiana. The five-year-old Always A Virgin–Carobbean Pacetry gelding now has 28 wins and $1,085,327 in earnings.
He paid $4.70 to win, with a $6.80 exacta and $16.80 trifecta.
Stratton guided For Once Inmy Life to a front-end score in the fourth division, leading through splits of :27.1, :56, and 1:23.3. The Downbytheseaside–Flyme To The Moon gelding dug in late to hold off a closing Miki Shan N (Jason Bartlett) by a length in 1:52.1. Why Not Now (Matt Kakaley) got up for third from the pocket.
Trained by Cory Stratton for Winters Racing Stable of Foxboro, Massachusetts, the five-year-old now sports a 13-9-9 record from 50 starts and has earned $522,416.
He paid $4.60 to win, with a $30.20 exacta and a $134.50 trifecta.
In the final division, Charlie May (David Miller) set the early pace through fractions of :26.4, :55.1, and 1:23.1. But Mossdale Ben N, with Stratton aboard, launched a three-wide rally on the final turn and swept past with a :27.3 last quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.3. Charlie May settled for second, while Verdun (Pat Lachance) was a game third.
The A Rocknroll Dance–Mossdale Sue gelding, now six-for-six stateside, is trained by Peter Tritton for PJT Investments Inc. of Madison, Connecticut. He has earned $252,704 lifetime.
He returned $4.60 to win, topping a $26.60 exacta and $36 trifecta.
The Borgata Pacing Series continues through Monday, April 28, leading to the $200,000 USD (added) final and $100,000 USD (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 9. That same night will also feature the $200,000 USD (added) final and $100,000 USD (guaranteed) consolation of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series.
The John Brennan Trotting Series picks back up on Wednesday, April 9 at Yonkers with a trio of $30,000 USD splits of the second leg. 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 John Brennan Trotting Series will have a third round on April 16 before a $100,000 USD guaranteed final and $50,000 USD guaranteed consolation on April 23.
The Blue Chip Matchmaker Series is the Friday, April 11 feature feature and will have four $50,000 USD divisions of the third preliminary round. Beautiful Seaside (post seven, race five) and Aardie B Miki N (post four, race six) will look to remain perfect in the series, but Beautiful Seaside is in against series winners High Flyin Filly (post three) and Silk Cloud A (post five), while Aardie B Miki N is sure to get a test from the likes of Walkin On Sunshine (post one) and Grace Hill (post five).
Continuing for every Monday and Friday card during the legs of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, Yonkers, in conjunction with the SOA of NY, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five.
The guaranteed Pick 5 pool on Mondays is also a part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
Live racing continues Monday through Friday at Yonkers with a first post time of 6:45 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)