Fields drawn for MGM Borgata series opener

Yonkers, NY — A total of 38 horses were entered for the opening round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway, and they will be split into five $50,000 divisions featured on Monday’s (March 31) 12-race program.

Back-to-back series champion Hellabalou starts his quest for a three-peat from post seven for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke in the first split (race five). His competition includes Chase H Hanover (post three, Anthony Napolitano), who has been racing well in the top class at Pocono, and $2.2 million earner Charlie May (post four, David Miller, who invades from Pocono off a 1:49.1 win in his last outing.

The second section goes as race six, and Coaches Corner (post seven, Jason Bartlett) is the headliner. Coaches Corner was second in the Borgata final and the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series final in 2024 at Yonkers, and he makes his second appearance of 2025 in Monday’s tilt. He will face the likes of Dunkin’ (post two, Tim Tetrick), who won two legs and was fifth in the series final a year ago, and the razor-sharp For Once Inmy Life (post three, Jordan Stratton).

Venturesome Arden N (post seven, Bartlett) is among the horses entered in the third flight (race seven). Venturesome Arden N took a leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series last year and then came back to capture the consolation. Another horse to watch is Humble A (post eight, Bartlett also listed) as he went eight-for-eight in the U.S. last fall and enters off a victorious qualifier at Pocono.

Desperate Man (post three, Matt Kakaley), who went four-for-four in Borgata preliminaries last year but then got caught up in a duel and had to settle for third in the final, starts his 7-year-old campaign in the fourth division (race eight). He gets to face off against horses such as Mossdale Ben N (post six, Stratton), who is four-for-four in 2025, and stakes winner Combustion (post seven, Bartlett).

Veteran campaigner Rocknroll Runa A (post six, Matthew Athearn) is back in the Borgata in Monday’s final series tilt (race nine). Rocknroll Runa A captured two legs and was sixth in the final a year ago. He willl take on 2024 MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series champion Typhoon Banner N (post one, Joe Bongiorno) and stakes winner Admiral Hill (post four, Gingras).

The full MGM Borgata Pacing Series fields, with listed drivers and trainers, are as follows:

Division No. 1 (Race 5)

1. Huntinthelastdolar (Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom)
2. Sherlock N (George Brennan/Peter Tritton)
3. Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano/Cory Stratton)
4. Charlie May (David Miller/Heidi Cushing)
5. Janelle Granny (Tim Tetrick/Scott DiDomenico)
6. Verdun (Pat Lachance drives/trains)
7. Hellabalou (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
8. Carabao A (Anthony Napolitano/Lance Hudson)

Division No. 2 (Race 6)

1. Finvarra A (Brent Holland/Doug Dilloian Jr.)
2. Dunkin’ (Tim Tetrick/Scott Di Domenico)
3. Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
4. For Once Inmy Life (Jordan Stratton/Cory Stratton)
5. Hemsworth N (Scott Zeron/Jared Bako)
6. Lyons Steel (Brent Holland/José Ramos)
7. Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom)

Division No. 3 (Race 7)

1. Act Fast (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
2. Wish You Well (David Miller/Nifty Norman)
3. Aardies Flash N (Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom)
4. Himself N (Anthony Napolitano/Lance Hudson)
5. Camara Moment (Scott Zeron/Michael Fiumenero)
6. Churchviewfrankl IR (Brent Holland/Paul Stafford)
7. Venturesome Arden N (Jason Bartlett/Ricky Bucci)
8. Humble A (Jason Bartlett/Scott Blackler)

Division No. 4 (Race 8)

1. My Ultimate Byron A (Yannick Gingras/Ricky Bucci)
2. Ammo (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
3. Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
4. Its A Me Mario (Jason Bartlett/Shane Tritton)
5. Blazing Home N (Matthew Athearn/Larry Stalbaum)
6. Mossdale Ben (Jordan Stratton/Peter Tritton)
7. Combustion (Jason Bartlett/Doug Dilloian Jr.)

Division No. 5 (Race 9)

1. Typhoon Banner N (Joe Bongiorno drives/trains)
2. Hungry Angel Boy (Jason Bartlett/Nick DeVita)
3. Birthday (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
4. Admiral Hill (Yannick Gingras/Per Engblom)
5. Why Not Now (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
6. Rocknroll Runa A (Matthew Athearn/Larry Stalbaum)
7. Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeron/Jeff Gillis)
8. Miki Shan N (Jason Bartlett/Hunter Oakes)

The MGM Borgata Pacing Series prelims run through Monday, April 28. The $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation are slated for Friday, May 9, along with the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Pacing Series. The Matchmaker kicks off Friday (March 28) with four $50,000 divisions.

Additionally, in addition to those two Grand Circuit events kicking off, and in conjunction with the SOA of New York, purses at MGM Yonkers Raceway will increase by 10% starting on March 31.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).