Yonkers, NY — This Is The Plan, Idealsomemagic A, and Covered Bridge emerged victorious from the final leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 17) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

2021 MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion This Is The Plan had a best finish of second in this year’s edition of the event coming into Monday night’s action but won the first grouping in 1:50.4.

This Is The Plan won the first grouping in 1:50.4. Mike Lizzi photo.

Driver Yannick Gingras pointed This Is The Plan right to the lead from the outside post six, and the veteran would lead the way through fractions of :27.1, :55.3, and 1:23. Lochinvar Art A (Lauren Tritton), the 1-2 favorite, tried to mount a first-over bid out of third racing to three-quarters, but he stalled out almost immediately after pulling off the pylons, which enabled This Is The Plan to remain clear to the wire, winning by 2-3/4 lengths over pocket-sitting Undrthsouthrnsun N (Joe Bongiorno). Lochinvar Art A, Dean B Hanover (Jordan Stratton), Bad Tothe Bone N (Matt Kakaley) and Belmont Royale N (David Miller) rounded out the order.

Ron Burke trains This Is The Plan, an 8-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding, for the ownership group of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Larry Karr. This Is The Plan won for the 24th time in his career, and he has now earned $2,972,317. He paid $8.00 to win as the 3-1 second choice and led a $65.00 exacta and a $298.50 trifecta.

In the second flight, Bee Two Bee (Gingras) had an uncontested lead at the :27.3 quarter, :56.3 half, and 1:23.3 three-quarters. Behind him, favorite Funatthebeach N (Stratton) pulled first-over out of third early on the final turn, with Idealsomemagic A (George Brennan), who was on the outside from fifth nearing three-quarters, fanning out three-wide once he caught Funatthebeach N.

Funatthebeach N vaulted past Bee Two Bee entering the lane and set sail for home, but Idealsomemagic A continued to close, and he would get around Funatthebeach N before the finish line, tallying by a head in 1:51.3. Backstreet Shadow (Kakaley) charged from sixth to third in the final quarter, and they were followed by Anothrmastrpiece N (Jason Bartlett), Splash Brother (Mark MacDonald), and Bee Two Bee. Jimmy Freight, who does have enough points in the bank to advance to the final, was scratched-injured from this race.

VIP Internet Stable and Bukers Stable own the Cory Stratton-trained Idealsomemagic A, a 9-year-old gelded son of American Ideal. Idealsomemagic A, who returned $6.30 to win as the 2-1 second choice and keyed a $13.20 exacta and a $30.20 trifecta, has compiled a record of 21-19-8 from 95 lifetime tries, and he has now put away $283,317.

The final division saw Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) dash to the front from post five, and he would carve out stations of :27.2, :55.4, and 1:23. Tattoo Artist (Dexter Dunn) stepped out first-up from third en route to three-quarters but his advance halted after he moved into second, sending None Bettor A (Kakaley) three-wide from second-over and Covered Bridge (Tyler Buter) four-wide from third-over on the final bend.

Leonidas A clung to his lead in the early part of the lane, but Covered Bridge was coming fast and charged into the top spot in mid-stretch. From there, Covered Bridge pulled clear to tally by a length and a half over Leonidas A, with Hemsworth N (Stratton) rolling from seventh to third in the last quarter. None Bettor A took fourth and Hellabalou (Gingras) grabbed fifth. The time of the mile was 1:50.4.

A 7-year-old gelding by American Ideal trained by Jeff Gillis for owner Mark Ford, Covered Bridge made his 30th appearance in the winner’s circle, and he has now banked $729,930. He returned $4.50 to win as the 6-5 favorite and was atop a $14.60 exacta and a $215.50 trifecta.

Unofficially, the eight horses advancing to the $500,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final are:

Idealsomemagic A (306.5 points)
Funatthebeach N (270 points)
Backstreet Shadow (261 points)
Covered Bridge (257 points)
Lochinvar Art A (237 points)
Leonidas A (237 points)
Hellabalou (230 points)
Jimmy Freight (225 points)

This Is The Plan occupies the ninth spot with 205 points, which would be important if Jimmy Freight is unable to compete in the final after being scratched Monday night.

With the prelims now concluded, the stage is set for the Monday (April 24) card that not only includes the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final, but also the $328,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final, and the consolation races for both of those events. The draw for that program will take place on Tuesday (April 18).

To complement the series finals, the Empire Terrace dining room will be open 6-10 p.m. next Monday. Owners and fans are invited to attend the races and enjoy food from an ala carte menu. No reservations are required.

Also, continuing through this month, the Pick-5 pool on Thursdays at MGM Yonkers Raceway will be seeded with $10,000 and also have a guaranteed pool of $25,000. This initiative is being offered in partnership with the Standardbred Owners Association of New York as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

Stakes racing resumes on Wednesday night (April 19) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with four $25,000 divisions of the third round of the John Brennan Trotting Series.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).