Yonkers, NY — The third and final leg of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series was the feature on Monday night (Dec. 9) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Three $50,000 divisions took place, with each of those events going 1-1/16 miles.
Typhoon Banner N, driven by Matt Kakaley, won the first grouping in 1:58.4. He cut fractions of :27.2, :57.1 and 1:24.4 while Its A Me Mario (Lauren Tritton) came first-up from third before three-quarters and My Ultimate Byron A (Steve Smith) raced in the pocket. Its A Me Mario made some progress while uncovered but stalled out in the lane as Typhoon Banner N hit the mile marker in 1:51.4 and then the wire 1-1/2 lengths ahead of My Ultimate Byron. Its A Me Mario had to settle for third.
An 8-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding bred in New Zealand by Banner Bloodstock Ltd., Typhoon Banner N is trained by Joe Bongiorno for owners Philip Steinberg, JB Racing and Barbara Bongiorno Stb LLC. This was his 24th career win, he has now earned $341,735, and he paid $3.70 to win as the 4-5 favorite. He keyed a $20.40 exacta and a $27.40 trifecta.
In the next section, Adam Twelve (Yannick Gingras) drove on two-wide and battled for early command with Chase H Hanover (Kakaley) and finally got to the top after a fast quarter of :26.2. Adam Twelve then backed down the tempo to :56.3 at the half before 3-5 favorite Seven Colors (Jason Bartlett) began a first-over move out of third.
Seven Colors got side-by-side with Adam Twelve as three-quarters was clicked off in 1:24.1 and then sustained his bid to take a narrow advantage late on the final bend. From there, Seven Colors put Adam Twelve away for good, was clear at the 1:51.3 mile station, and cruised to a 2-3/4-length decision in 1:58.3. Whats Stanley Got A (Jordan Stratton) got up for second late from Chase H Hanover.
Trainer Andrew Harris also co-owns Seven Colors, a 4-year-old son of Stay Hungry, with partners William Pollock and Bruce Areman. The Alan Byler-bred has a summary of 11-6-7 from 42 outings, has pocketed $1,017,629, and returned $3.20 to win. He was atop a $15.40 exacta and an $85.00 trifecta.
Coaches Corner gave Bartlett a double and completed a sweep for the favorites when he took the last clash in 1:58.2. Rather than tucking into third, Bartlett kept Coaches Corner on the outside and made his way by Verdun (Pat Lachance) past the :27 quarter-mile point. After he got control, Coaches Corner put up panels of :56.1, 1:24.2 and 1:51.3 on his way to a 1-1/2-length tally over Verdun. American Dealer N (Kakaley) collected third.
A 4-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin, Coaches Corner is trained by Per Engblom for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables, Coaches Corner is a 27-time winner, has banked $726,444 and paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite. He led an $8.50 exacta and a $107.00 trifecta.
Next Monday’s (Dec. 16) program at MGM Yonkers Raceway will be led by the $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series final, which will be held at 1-1/16 miles.
Only nine cards remain in the 2024 meet at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Through Friday, Dec. 20, live racing is conducted on a Monday-through-Friday basis with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EST).