Yonkers, NY – Antognoni S was a dominant winner in 2:25.3 over the mile and a quarter distance in the $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final on Friday (Dec. 19) afternoon at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by co-owner Yannick Gingras, Antognoni S settled in mid-pack early while Sir Pinocchio (Jason Bartlett), Asteroid (Colin Kelly) and Cecil Hanover (Brett Beckwith) showed speed. Sir Pinocchio was in front in a 27.3 quarter, and while Asteroid was able to find a seat in the pocket, Cecil Hanover couldn’t find a hole and had to remain two-wide.
Sir Pinocchio remained in front of the parked-out Cecil Hanover to the half in 57.4, and the outer tier would fill up behind Cecil Hanover with Antognoni S, Take All Comers (Todd McCarthy), Dribbling Bi (Daniel Dube) and Ultion Face S (Tyler Buter). There was little change to three-quarters in 1:27.4, but Gingras would fire Antognoni S out three-wide beyond that marker to get around his entrymate Cecil Hanover.
After being tipped out, Antognoni S quickly trotted up to join Sir Pinocchio as they pulled away from the others. Antognoni S sustained his bid to forge his way around Sir Pinocchio beyond the 1:56.2 mile marker, and it was all Antognoni S from there as he trotted away to win by ten lengths. Sir Pinocchio had to settle for second, followed by Ari Ferrari J (Jim Marohn Jr.), Take All Comers and Asteroid.
Ron Burke trains Antognoni S for Gingras and the other co-owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and FAC Racing LLC. Antognoni S, a 5-year-old Father Patrick gelding bred by Pellpac AB and the winner of the John Brennan Trotting Series final at Yonkers earlier this year, has a summary of 22-5-6 from 44 starts, has earned $542,861 and returned $3.90 to win. He led a $4.84 exacta and a $39.18 trifecta.
“He was so good tonight,” said Burke. “He will be in all the big races next year.”
Keg Stand (Matt Kakaley) was brave after an extended first-over grind and was able to wear down leader Security Protected (Cory Stratton) late to win the $100,000 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series consolation in 2:30 for the mile and a quarter. Mississippi Storm (Brent Holland) rallied from second-over and also got by Security Protected at the wire to get the runner-up spot. Amigo Volo (McCarthy) and Hot Flash Kimmy (Gingras) completed the top five.
Keg Stand, a 6-year-old gelded son of Bar Hopping, was sent out of Nick Devita for owners David Hamm and EVM Racing LLC. Bred by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc., Keg Stand is a 28-time winner from 97 appearances, has pocketed $959,600 and returned $8.92 to win. He keyed a $241.24 exacta and a $959.36 trifecta.