The biggest card on the harness racing calendar so far in 2023 will take place on Monday night (April 24) at MGM Yonkers Raceway as the $511,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series and $328,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series finals take place.
Twelve races were drawn in total for Monday's program and the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final will go as the ninth dash. Idealsomemagic A was the top point-earner during the five-week series and he had good fortune in the open draw, landing post three for driver George Brennan and trainer Cory Stratton. On the other hand, Backstreet Shadow, who tied the Yonkers all-age track record on April 10 with a 1:49.3 mile, was not as lucky, as he wound up with the outside post eight for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander.
This Is The Plan and Funatthebeach N, the last two winners of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final, will also compete in this year's championship. This Is The Plan landed post two for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke, while Funatthebeach N will leave from post six for driver Jordan Stratton and trainer Jeff Gillis.
The full field for the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final is as follows with listed driver and trainer:
1. Covered Bridge - Tyler Buter - Jeff Gillis
2. This Is The Plan - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
3. Idealsomemagic A - George Brennan - Cory Stratton
4. Leonidas A - Austin Siegelman - Matthew Medeiros
5. Hellabalou - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
6. Funatthebeach N - Jordan Stratton - Jeff Gillis
7. Lochinvar Art A - Lauren Tritton - Shane Tritton
8. Backstreet Shadow - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
As far as race eight's Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final goes, Dougs Babe A picked up the most points during the prelims and then drew post three for the final. Dexter Dunn will drive Dougs Babe A for trainer Nifty Norman. To her inside are multi-leg winners Amazing Dream N (Gingras/Linda Toscano) and Racine Bell (Jason Bartlett/Dave Dewhurst),and another double-leg victor Lucky Artist A (Braxten Boyd/Ricky Bucci) is to her outside. Also in the field is defending champion Drama Act, who won two preliminary rounds herself for Brennan and Burke and will depart from post six.
The full group of pacing mares will line up behind the gate as follows with listed driver and trainer:
1. Amazing Dream N - Yannick Gingras - Linda Toscano
2. Racine Bell - Jason Bartlett - Dave Dewhurst
3. Dougs Babe A - Dexter Dunn - Nifty Norman
4. Lucky Artist A - Braxten Boyd - Ricky Bucci
5. Lit De Rose - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
6. Drama Act - George Brennan - Ron Burke
7. Incaseyoudidntknow - Andy McCarthy - Les Givens
8. Karma Seelster - Matt Kakaley - Andrew Adamczyk
On the undercard, there will be two MGM Borgata Pacing Series consolations worth $100,000 and $50,000 (races six and seven) and a $75,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series consolation (race five).
To complement the series finals, the Empire Terrace dining room will be open on Monday evening. Owners and fans are invited to attend the races and enjoy a dinner buffet for $50 per person plus 20 per cent gratuity. A cash bar will also be available. No reservations are required but those interested can call 914-457-2627 for more details.
Also, continuing through May 18, 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.
Prior to the big card on Monday, Wednesday night's (April 19) action at Yonkers will include four $25,000 divisions of the final leg of the John Brennan Trotting Series.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway)
2023 Borgata
Until harness racing implements my suggestion to have a $1 million "International" race for open pacers, (since, for years, there's been one for open trotters) The Borgata is one of just 3 events for open pacers for a purse of more than $500,000. The other two are The CPD and The Breeders Crown.