Seven of the eight horses in the Grade 1 $516,000 USD MGM Borgata Pacing Series final this Friday at MGM Yonkers Raceway posted at least two wins during the event’s five preliminary rounds, with three of those older male pacers notching three victories apiece.
So, it was perhaps no surprise to see five horses clustered between 5-2 and 5-1 on the morning line when the draw came out earlier this week. Mossdale Ben N, who had three wins and two seconds in the prelims, got the nod as the 5-2 pre-race choice and will leave from post five for driver Jordan Stratton and trainer Peter Tritton.
Lining up in the three spots outside of Mossdale Ben N will be, in post order, Chase H Hanover (9-2), Desperate Man (7-2) and Coaches Corner (4-1). Chase H Hanover and Desperate Man both won their two most recent starts in the series while three-time winner Coaches Corner is a neck from having a four-race win streak.
“It’s going to be a very interesting race,” said Tritton. “There are probably 15 different scenarios, it’s a lot of unknowns. I can see ways that we can get beat and ways we can win. It’s going to come down to the trip and who it works out for.”
He added with a laugh, “I don’t think anyone could be overly confident, put it that way.”
Mossdale Ben N, a seven-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance-Mossdale Sue, enters Friday’s final off a second-place finish behind Chase H Hanover in the Borgata’s last preliminary round on April 28. For the season, his first in North America, the PJT Investments-owned gelding has posted seven victories and two seconds in nine starts. His $207,129 in purses leads all pacers in North America.
“Anything can happen in these races, but he’s definitely the one I want to have in the final,” Stratton said about Mossdale Ben N, who has come from off the pace in all his starts. “He can take so much air and he loves chasing down horses. I haven’t tried him early on, but he’s been strong going forward at the wire every week. Hopefully, that sets him up good for the final.”
Stratton and Tritton teamed up to win the 2016 series, then known as the George Morton Levy Memorial Series, with Bit Of A Legend N.
“I think that as far as versatility, [Mossdale Ben N] is the best horse in the race at the moment,” said Tritton. “I’d rather we’d drawn in a little bit closer, but five is better than six, seven or eight. It’s going to be a good race.”
The Borgata final is race eight on Yonkers’ 10-race card on Friday. One race earlier, Tritton and Stratton will unite with Silk Cloud A in the Grade 1 $490,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker final for older female pacers. Silk Cloud A hit the board in all five of her preliminary rounds, winning twice. She will start from post four and is 10-1 on the morning line.
Aardie B Miki N, who was unbeaten in her four Matchmaker prelims, drew post one and is the 6-5 morning line favourite. Rocket Deo, who brings a three-race win streak to the final, is the 5-2 second choice from post six. Walkin On Sunshine, with two wins and three seconds in the series, leaves from post two and is 4-1.
Stratton and Tritton won the 2017 Matchmaker final with Mackenzie A.
“I love [Silk Cloud A],” said Stratton. “I’ve loved her for a long time. Obviously, there are a couple standouts, but I’m not going to write her off. She drew well and she’s going in sharp. It’s all systems go, hopefully.”
Silk Cloud A, a seven-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Modern Babe owned by Eric Good and David Kryway, has won 26 of 84 career races and earned $620,219. In her most recent 20 races at Yonkers, the mare has hit the board 15 times, with seven victories and five second-place finishes.
Tritton also has a finalist, Sherlock N, in the $100,000 USD Borgata consolation. He will leave from post one with driver George Brennan. The six-year-old son of Vincent-After Party had a second and a third among his five prelim starts. He is owned by PJT Investments.
“Both [Mossdale Ben N and Silk Cloud A] are going into the finals reasonably fresh,” said Tritton. “We’ve put ourselves in play for a chance. Whether it works out for us, I don’t know. But my horses are as good as they can be. We’ll just go in there and keep our fingers crossed. Probably other people will be doing the same thing.”
Racing begins at 6:45 p.m. at Yonkers. For free TrackMaster Platinum past performances, courtesy the Standardbred Owners Association of New York, click here.
(With files from USTA; photo of Mossdale Ben N winning on April 21 at Yonkers Raceway)