Yonkers, NY – In Monday night’s (April 20) trio of $50,000 divisions of the fourth leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway, Captain Albano and Mossdale Ben N scored for the second time in the event, while Howlenthehills got his initial victory.
Captain Albano (driven by Todd McCarthy) waited in the pocket behind Sweet Beach Life (Matt Kakaley) through fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:25, and when McCarthy sent Captain Albano to the outside in the lane, he was able to out-finish the pacesetter to prevail by a neck in 1:52. Soho Firestone A (Scott Zeron) finished in the third spot.
A two-time Dan Patch Award recipient, the Noel Daley-trained Captain Albano is a 5-year-old Captaintreacherous stallion owned by Patricia Stables LLC, L. A. Express Stable LLC, Sjoblom Racing Inc. and Michael Dolan. Captain Albano is a 28-time victor from 49 outings, has pocketed $2.22 million and paid $2.72 to win as the 1-5 choice. He was atop a $9 exacta and a $23.58 trifecta.
Mossdale Ben N (Jim Marohn Jr.) backed up his triumph last Monday with another one this week, tallying in the first section in 1:52.1. He got to the lead around Donegal Luther N (Yannick Gingras) before the :27.2 quarter and continued to show the way through a :56.4 half and a 1:24.2 three-quarters as Catalpa Rescue A (Zeron) pestered him from first-up and Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett) worked out a second-over journey.
Coaches Corner was sent three-wide by Bartlett on the final bend and gained on Mossdale Ben N to the wire, but not enough, as Mossdale Ben N hit the wire a neck in front. Donegal Luther N wound up third.
An 8-year-old gelding by A Rocknroll Dance, Mossdale Ben N is trained by Peter Tritton for owner PJT Investments LLC. Mossdale Ben N has 21 wins, 14 seconds and seven thirds from 73 starts, has earned $701,329 and returned $4.64 to win as the favorite. He led a $12.94 exacta and a $39.30 trifecta.
Howlenthehills (Kakaley) won an early skirmish for command and went on to a 1:52.3 victory in the second flight. Aroda N (Lauren Tritton), Aye Aye Captain N (Brent Holland) and Howlenthehills all showed early speed, but it was Howlenthehills who touched down on the point prior to the :27.3 quarter as Aye Aye Captain N found the pocket and Aroda N landed in the three-hole.
Middle-half panels of :56.4 and 1:24.1 followed for Howlenthehills, and his :28.2 final kicker got him to the wire a length and a quarter ahead of Twisted Destiny (Dexter Dunn), who went first-up from fourth before three-quarters and then flushed out eventual third-place finisher Aye Aye Captain N from the two-hole on the final bend.
Travis Alexander sent out Howlenthehills, a 5-year-old gelded son of American Ideal, for owners M Spacc Stables, Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC, Alexander Racing Stable LLC and First Sight Stable. Howlenthehills made his 17th trip to the winner’s circle, has now put away $823,308 and paid $18.06 to win as an 8-1 offering. He keyed a $69.12 exacta and a $275.92 trifecta.
The last preliminary round in this year’s MGM Borgata Pacing Series will take place next Monday (April 27) before the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 8.
Stakes action at Yonkers continues this week with the $100,000 final and $50,000 consolation of the John Brennan Trotting Series on Wednesday (April 22) and three $50,000 divisions of the final leg of the MGM Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series on Friday (April 24).
This is the final week that Yonkers is on the Monday through Friday live racing schedule for a bit as the oval will switch to Monday-Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday slate beginning next week and continuing through the first week in June. Post time will be 6:45 p.m. (EDT) except Saturday, as those programs will kick off at 3:30 p.m. (EDT).