Yonkers, NY – Driver Jason Bartlett won three of the five $50,000 divisions of the first round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (March 30) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with Soho Firestone A, Redwood Hanover and Huntinthelastdolar. Donegal Luther N and Chase H Hanover won the remaining splits.
Soho Firestone A sat the pocket behind Always A Thrill (Matt Kakaley) through fractions of :27, :55.2 and 1:23 in the first flight and then rallied up the inside in the lane to defeat a second-over Aye Aye Captain N (Brent Holland) by a nose in 1:51.2. Sherlock N (Jim Morrill Jr.) was game from first-over and was third, just a neck behind the top two.
A 7-year-old gelding by American Ideal, Soho Firestone A was sent out by Doug Dilloian Jr. for owners David Linker, Brian Loman and Robert Venable. Soho Firestone A has a summary of 20-17-8 from 75 appearances, has put away $367,861 and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 choice. He led a $23.04 exacta and a $63.04 trifecta.
Redwood Hanover and Bartlett led their four foes to the :28.4 quarter, :57.3 half and 1:25.3 three-quarters in the next grouping and then came home in 27 seconds flat to defeat pocket-sitter Dele Row A (Holland) by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3. Twisted Destiny couldn’t gain from first-over and had to settle for third.
The victorious 6-year-old Stay Hungry stallion is trained by Per Engblom and is owned by Evans Nation with Engblom Stable LLC. and Hickory Hollow Stables. He is a 17-time winner from 67 outings, has pocketed $547,054 and returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite. He was atop a $27.28 exacta and a $73.44 trifecta.
Bartlett and Engblom also connected with Huntinthelastdolar in 1:52.1 in the third section after he put up fractions of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:24.4. Verdun (Pat Lachance) held second after a pocket trip and Catalpa Rescue A (Scott Zeron) put in a first-over grind out of fifth in the final three-eighths of the mile to get third.
Engblom sent out Huntinthelastdolar, a 6-year-old gelded son of Huntsville, for owners E Five Racing and John Fielding. Huntinthelastdolar made his 24th stop in the winner’s circle from 72 trips behind the gate, has banked $1,155,937 and paid $2.96 to win as the 2-5 favorite. He led a $7.14 exacta and a $15.76 trifecta.
Donegal Luther N (Yannick Gingras) pressed on to the top beyond the 27 second opening quarter in the fourth Borgata battle, and after a 56 second half and a 1:24.1 three-quarters, he closed in :27.4 to down defending series champion Mossdale Ben N (Jim Marohn Jr.), who had led early and then yielded to sit in the two-hole, by a length and a quarter in 1:52. 1-5 favorite Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) was unable to rally from second-over and had to settle for third in his 2026 debut.
Donegal Luther N is an 8-year-old gelded son of Bettors Creek trained by Jared Bako for the ownership group of Kap Singh Racing Stable, Stephen Klunowski and Earl Hill Jr. He has 12 wins, nine seconds and four thirds from 48 starts, has earned $146,380 and returned $7.18 to win as the 5-2 second choice. The exacta was $52.38 and the trifecta kicked back $112.12.
In the final Borgata showdown, Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano), the runner-up in last year’s final, drove on two-wide and got the lead away from Aroda N (Lauren Tritton) after a :27.3 quarter. Chase H Hanover then hit the half in :56.2 and the three-quarters in 1:23.4 as Captain Moore A (Gingras) moved up first-over from third. Chase H Hanover and Captain Moore A battled around the last turn and into the lane, with Captain Moore on a narrow advantage on the outside, but Chase H Hanover wouldn’t be denied and fought back to prevail by a nose in 1:52. Howlenthehills (Kakaley) was third and 1-2 favorite Coaches Corner (Bartlett) wound up fourth after having a third-over trip from fifth.
Cory Stratton trains Chase H Hanover, an 8-year-old gelding by Captaintreacherous, for owners El Dorado Stables and Robert Weinstein. Chase H Hanover picked up his 35th lifetime victory, has now stashed away $1,382,379 and paid $36.78 to win as a 17-1 offering. He keyed a $261 exacta and a $561.78 trifecta.
MGM Borgata Pacing Series prelims continue through Monday, April 27 before a $200,000 (guaranteed) final and a $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 8.
Stakes action continues at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Wednesday (April 1) and Friday (April 3) with the opening leg of the John Brennan Trotting Series on the former and the second round of the MGM Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series on the latter. The four opening round winners in the McIntyre – Louies Girl N, Seaside Diva, Tick A Loch A and Coastal Babe N – drew in separate races on Friday and will all therefore have a chance to improve to two-for-two.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).