The fourth leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series is set to take place on Monday (April 5) at Yonkers Raceway. A total of 20 horses dropped in the box, meaning there will be three $40,000 divisions (Races 4, 6, and 7).
After taking last night (March 29) off, round-one winner Let It Ride N (post 5, Dexter Dunn/Richard “Nifty” Norman) returns and headlines the first flight. Let It Ride N saw his undefeated streak in the United States end on March 22 when he couldn’t get involved from post 8, but he has an improved draw this time. He will be up against the likes of This Is The Plan (post 4, Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke), who has finished second in all three of his MGM Borgata Pacing Series attempts.
In the second section, Rockapelo (post 4, George Brennan/Ron Burke) will look to build on his two-straight victories in the series. Western Joe (post 7, Dexter Dunn/Chris Choate) picked up his first win in the event last night and will get another chance at Rockapelo after finishing just a nose behind him when they battled on March 22.
Leonidas A (post 4, Austin Siegelman/Sheena Mcilhiney) also bypassed the third leg, but will be back in action in Monday’s last split. Leonidas A won in the series on both March 15 and March 22, and looks to be a heavy favourite. Lyons Steel (post 2, Siegelman also listed for trainer Dennis Watson) has a win and a third-place finish in his two series attempts, and while he’ll likely need a new driver, he certainly has the credentials to threaten.
Additional stakes action at Yonkers Raceway will be held prior to the MGM Borgata Pacing Series. On Wednesday (March 31), there are four $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the John Brennan Trotting Series, with early season stars Some Chapter (Race 4, Dexter Dunn/Anette Lorentzon) and Get Legs (Race 7, Andy Miller/Julie Miller) among the entrants.
Then, on Friday (April 2), there are two $35,000 splits for the fourth round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares. Leg-one winner Blue Ivy (post 5, Tyler Buter/Todd Buter) heads the first section (Race 2), and then in the second flight (Race 3), Machnhope (post 4, Andrew McCarthy/Noel Daley), a two-time victor in the event, returns from a one-week break to battle with Snobbytown (post three, George Brennan/Ron Burke), who scored in Matchmaker action a week ago.
Yonkers races on a Monday-Friday schedule with first post at 7:15 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway)