Yonkers, NY – Huntinthelastdolar, Donegal Luther N and Coaches Corner wrapped up the preliminaries for this year’s MGM Borgata Pacing Series with wins in Monday’s (April 27) three $50,000 divisions of the final leg.
Driven by Jason Bartlett, Huntinthelastdolar led through fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.1 in the first flight and was able to hold off a first-over Mossdale Ben N (Jim Marohn Jr.) to his outside and pocket-sitter Celtic Spirit N (Joe Bongiorno) to his inside to the wire, defeating Mossdale Ben N by a nose in 1:51.3. Celtic Spirit N wound up third.
Per Engblom trains Huntinthelastdolar, a 6-year-old gelded son of Huntsville, for owners E Five Racing and John Fielding. Huntinthelastdolar made his 26th stop in the winner’s circle from 76 trips behind the gate, has banked $1.22 million and returned $6.56 to win as the 2-1 second choice. He keyed a $13.04 exacta and a $39.86 trifecta.
In the second split, Soho Firestone A (Colin Kelly) led to the quarter in :27.1, the half in :55.3 and the three-quarters in 1:23.3, but an outer tier led by Donegal Luther N (Jordan Stratton) made steady progress on the rim, and Soho Firestone A and Donegal Luther N went into the final bend side-by-side.
On the far turn Donegal Luther N was able to sustain his bid to go by Soho Firestone A for good, and from there, Donegal Luther N was able to hold off rallying bids by second-over Redwood Hanover (Bartlett) and third-over Sweet Beach Life (Matt Kakaley), defeating the former by a neck in a 1:52 effort. Sweet Beach Life was the third-place finisher.
Donegal Luther N is an 8-year-old Bettors Creek gelding trained by Jared Bako for the ownership group of Kap Singh Racing Stable, Stephen Klunowski and Earl Hill Jr. He has 14 wins, nine seconds and five thirds from 51 starts, has earned $202,380 and paid $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice. The exacta was $16.20 and the trifecta kicked back $36.94.
The last section saw Coaches Corner (Bartlett) win in 1:51.1. He went to the front from post three, clicked off panels of :28, :56.1 and 1:23.2, and couldn’t be caught in the lane, defeating a closing Howlenthehills (Kakaley) by a length and a quarter. Pocket-sitter Aye Aye Captain N (Brent Holland) held off a charging Captain Albano (Stratton) for third.
Engblom sent out Coaches Corner, a 6-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin, for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Coaches Corner has a summary of 37-21-10 from 96 appearances, has put away $1.55 million and returned $2.46 to win as the 1-5 favorite. He led an $11.50 exacta and a $42.82 trifecta.
Unofficially, the top eight horses in the point standings at the conclusion of this year’s MGM Borgata Pacing Series prelims are:
Huntinthelastdolar (308 points)
Mossdale Ben N (300 points)
Redwood Hanover (283 points)
Soho Firestone A (262 points)
Donegal Luther N (262 points)
Captain Albano (253 points)
Howlenthehills (249 points)
Coaches Corner (233 points)
The 2026 MGM Borgata Pacing Series will end with the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 8. That program will also include the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation of the MGM Ursula McIntyre Series for older pacing mares.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time at 6:45 p.m. (EDT) except on Saturdays when it is 3:30 p.m. (EDT).