This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series fourth legs, MGM Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y. This is the opening event of the 2023 Grand Circuit season.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 7) in the fourth round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday (April 10) card at Yonkers will see three $50,000 divisions in the fourth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers.

Each series offers five preliminary rounds leading to the finales, both set for Monday (April 24).

Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last Time: Last year’s MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Funatthebeach N had posted a third and a fourth thus far in the 2023 edition of the event, but he scored a breakthrough 1:50.4 upset victory in the third of four $50,000 divisions of the third leg on Monday night (April 3) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. The winner’s share of the purse also made Funatthebeach N the newest millionaire in harness racing.

Funatthebeach N became the newest millionaire in harness racing. Mike Lizzi photo.

Driven by Jordan Stratton, Funatthebeach N landed in the sixth position and watched as one of last week’s MGM Borgata Pacing Series winners, Tattoo Artist (Dexter Dunn), brushed out of third going to the :27.1 opening quarter and took control after that marker. Tattoo Artist would go on to put the half on the board in :55.3, and Funatthebeach N would get going first-over before that station.

Tattoo Artist continued on the front-end through a 1:23.1 three-quarters, but Funatthebeach N continued to make steady progress on the rim and was third at that point, then advanced into second entering the last turn. Funatthebeach N wasn’t done, though, as he forged his way by Tattoo Artist late on the bend, and despite the uncovered journey, he drew off in the stretch to score by 3-1/2 lengths. Hellabalou (Yannick Gingras) was the runner-up, followed by None Bettor A (Matt Kakaley), Tattoo Artist, and Undrthsouthrnsun N (Joe Bongiorno).

Sent out by trainer Jeff Gillis for owner Mark Ford, Funatthebeach N is a 9-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere. He has now compiled a record of 38-11-21 from 133 career appearances, and he has pocketed $1,024,987. He paid $74.00 to win.

Apart from that race, the rest of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series contests on Monday night were the “Matt Kakaley Show,” as he netted a hat trick, scoring with Backstreet Shadow, Hemsworth N, and American Courage.

Backstreet Shadow is an 8-year-old Shadow Play gelding trained by Travis Alexander for owner Robert Di Nozzi. Backstreet Shadow, who returned $3.50 to win as the 3-5 favorite, picked up his 37th lifetime victory, and he pushed his earnings to $1,331,042.

Trained by Jared Bako, Hemsworth N, a 6-year-old Sweet Lou gelding, is owned by 1362313 Ontario Ltd. He made his 16th appearance in the winner’s circle in his 35th start, and he sent his bankroll to $128,011. He paid $13.40 to win as the 5-1 second choice.

Another Alexander trainee, American Courage, the 2021 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes champion at Yonkers, is owned and was bred by Fiddler’s Creek Stables. American Courage is an 18-time winner in his racing career, and he has now put away $810,472. An 8-1 offering, the 5-year-old son of American Ideal returned $18.60 to win.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website. For a list of 2023 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2023 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 4-3-23):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 62; 2. Matt Kakaley – 60; 3. Jordan Stratton – 41; 4. Scott Zeron – 30; 5. Jason Bartlett – 29.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 42; 2. Travis Alexander – 36; 3. Linda Toscano – 35; 4t. Shane Tritton – 32; 4t. Jared Bako – 32.

Owners: 1. Team Tritton Inc. – 25; 2. 1362313 Ontario Ltd. – 20; 3t. Mark Ford – 18; 3t. Robert Di Nozzi – 18; 5t. Flatland Racing – 15; 5t. The OK Corral – 15; 5t. Fiddler’s Creek Stables – 15.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with the final legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata next week. The finals for both events will be held on April 24.