Yonkers, NY – Soho Firestone A, Huntinthelastdolar and Donegal Luther N improved to two-for-two in this year’s MGM Borgata Pacing Series after victories in their respective $50,000 splits on Monday (April 6) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Captain Albano, who was third in his race a week ago, took the remaining test.
In the showdown of the night between opening-round winners Donegal Luther N (driven by Yannick Gingras) and Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano) in the final section, the former parked out the latter through fractions of :26.4, :55.2 and 1:23.4, then withstood a bid by pocket-sitter Ima Perfect Choice (Matt Kakaley) in the stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.2. Heza Charttopper A (Scott Zeron) finished in the third spot.
Donegal Luther N is an 8-year-old gelded son of Bettors Creek trained by Jared Bako for the ownership group of Kap Singh Racing Stable, Stephen Klunowski and Earl Hill Jr. He has 13 wins, nine seconds and four thirds from 49 starts, has earned $171,380 and returned $2.76 to win as the 1-5 choice. The exacta was $11.56 and the trifecta kicked back $128.02.
Back in the first flight, Soho Firestone A (Jason Bartlett) won by a head in 1:51.3 after he led at the :27.3 quarter, :56.3 half and 1:24 three-quarters. Howlenthehills (Kakaley) found room on the inside in the stretch from the two-hole but just came up short, while Matai Phil N (Lauren Tritton) angled out in the lane after an inside trip and closed with pace for third.
A 7-year-old gelding by American Ideal, Soho Firestone A was sent out by Doug Dilloian Jr. for owners David Linker, Brian Loman and Robert Venable. Soho Firestone A has a summary of 21-17-8 from 76 appearances, has put away $392,861 and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 choice. He led a $6.90 exacta and a $35.32 trifecta.
The second division saw Huntinthelastdolar and Bartlett on the front-end early, but he would be overtaken by pocket-sitter Celtic Spirit N (Joe Bongiorno) after the quarter, which went on the board in :28 flat. From there, Celtic Spirit N went on to the half in :57 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:25 while Huntinthelastdolar sat in the pocket, Always A Thrill (Kakaley) went first-up from third and defending series champion Mossdale Ben N (Jim Marohn Jr.) worked out a second-over journey.
In the lane Celtic Spirit N dug in gamely while Huntinthelastdolar rallied on the inside and Mossdale Ben N surged on the outside, and at the wire it was Huntinthelastdolar in front by a head over Mossdale Ben N in a 1:52.4 mile. Celtic Spirit N was third, just a neck behind.
Per Engblom trains Huntinthelastdolar, a 6-year-old gelded son of Huntsville, for owners E Five Racing and John Fielding. Huntinthelastdolar made his 25th stop in the winner’s circle from 73 trips behind the gate, has banked $1.18 million and returned $4.36 to win as the even-money favorite. He keyed a $7.76 exacta and a $31.26 trifecta.
Redwood Hanover and Bartlett nearly made it a clean sweep for last week’s winners but came up half a length short to Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) in the third grouping. Redwood Hanover went to the outside from the pocket before the :27.1 quarter and took command away from Sweet Beach Life (Kakaley) prior to that marker. Once he was on the point, Redwood Hanover paced to the half in :56.1 and the three-quarters in 1:23.4 as McCarthy wheeled Captain Albano first-up from fourth on the third turn.
Captain Albano ground his way into contention while uncovered and sustained his bid in the lane, wearing down Redwood Hanover late in the 1:51.4 effort. Sweet Beach Life had space on the inside in the stretch and checked 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 27-time victor from 47 outings, has pocketed $2.19 million and paid $7.46 to win as the 5-2 second choice. He was atop an $11.18 exacta and a $27.04 trifecta.
MGM Borgata Pacing Series prelims continue through Monday, April 27, before a $200,000 (added) final and a $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 8.
Stakes action continues at MGM Yonkers Raceway this week on Wednesday (April 8) and Friday (April 10) with the second leg of the John Brennan Trotting Series and the third round of the MGM Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series, respectively. There are a pair of $30,000 divisions of the Brennan while the McIntyre was split into four $50,000 races.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).