Yonkers, NY — On Tuesday (Dec. 10), post positions were drawn for next Monday’s (Dec. 16) $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series final at MGM Yonkers Raceway. The final major open stakes event on the North American harness racing calendar for 2024, the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series final will go 1-1/16 miles and is race eight on the 11-race program.
Coaches Corner, who was the leading point-earner in the preliminary rounds, wound up with post seven in the open draw. A 4-year-old Always A Virgin gelding trained by Per Engblom, Coaches Corner had two victories and a second in the three rounds and has regular driver Jason Bartlett listed again for the final. Coaches Corner was the runner-up in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final at Yonkers earlier this year.
Seven Colors came in second in the point standings behind Coaches Corner and had much better luck in the draw as he got post two for co-owner/trainer Andrew Harris. A 4-year-old son of Stay Hungry, Seven Colors went over $1 million in lifetime earnings thanks to a victory in his division of the final leg and gets a new driver in the final as Scott Zeron is slated to steer him.
The full draw, with listed drivers and trainers, is as follows:
- Nandolo N (Lauren Tritton, Shane Tritton)
- Seven Colors (Scott Zeron, Andrew Harris)
- Adam Twelve (Yannick Gingras, Per Engblom)
- El Rey (Brett Beckwith, Andrew Harris)
- Typhoon Banner N (Matt Kakaley, Joe Bongiorno)
- American Dealer N (Anthony Napolitano, Linda Toscano)
- Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett, Per Engblom)
- Whats Stanley Got A (Jordan Stratton, Cory Stratton)
AE. My Ultimate Byron A (Steve Smith, Ricky Bucci)
In addition to the rich series final, Monday night’s Pick-5 wager will be seeded with $10,000 from the Standardbred Owners Association of New York and will carry a $40,000 guaranteed pool in conjunction with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick-5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available at handicapping.ustrotting.com. The Pick-5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20%.
Only nine cards remain in the 2024 meet at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Through Friday, Dec. 20, live racing is conducted on a Monday-through-Friday basis with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EST).