Yonkers, NY — Trainer Travis Alexander won the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final for 3-year-old male pacers at MGM Yonkers Raceway for a third time and swept the exacta in Friday night’s (June 28) $225,000 edition of the first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, as Sweet Beach Life rallied past stablemate Howlenthehills for a 1:53.1 victory.

Sweet Beach Life rallied past stablemate Howlenthehills for a 1:53.1 victory. Mike Lizzi photo.

Elimination winner Janelle Granny, driven by George Brennan, went to the lead from post six and cut an opening quarter in :27.2 with Lou’s World (Todd McCarthy) in the pocket, followed by elimination winner Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley) and Armada Hanover (Tim Tetrick). Janelle Granny would remained unpressured to the half in :56.2, but Kakaley guided Howlenthehills first-up shortly after that marker, and he would be tracked in the outer tier by Armada Hanover, Sweet Beach Life (Tyler Buter) and Wish You Well (Scott Zeron).

Howlenthehills made steady progress on the outside to get side-by-side with Janelle Granny at the 1:24.2 three-quarters, and their duel would continue around the final bend, with Tetrick sending Armada Hanover three-wide late on the turn and Buter fanning Sweet Beach Life out four-wide.

In the stretch Howlenthehills forged his way into the top spot as Janelle Granny tired, but Sweet Beach Life had the best kick to the wire and was up to take the race by a half-length. Howlenthehills out-lasted Armada Hanover for second and Lou’s World, who had to move out to get past the tiring Janelle Granny and then swung back to the inside, had to settle for fourth. Wish You Well came on to get fifth.

“They filled me in on the horse. He drove perfect, couldn’t ask for more,” said Buter, who picked up the drive on Sweet Beach Life when Kakaley opted to stick with Howlenthehills after he qualified both for the final. “Matt told me just keep him quiet, and he’ll have a good kick coming home. He wasn’t kidding. He’s nice to drive, and he got the job done.”

A Sweet Lou gelding bred by Sergent Stables, Sweet Beach Life is trained by Alexander for owner A Sweet Beach Life Stable. He has a summary of 5-3-3 from 17 career outings, has put away $189,732 and paid $15.40 to win as the 6-1 fourth choice. He keyed a $41.80 exacta and a $174.50 trifecta.

“That’s pretty cool. We’ve always thought really highly of this colt. He just is his own worst enemy,” said Travis Alexander’s wife Alaina, who assists in the training of the stable. “We couldn’t ask for a better drive.”

Sophomore pacing fillies took to the track in the companion event to the MGM Grand Messenger, the $90,000 Park MGM Pace, and Camerican (Yannick Gingras) got up from the pocket to defeat 1-2 favorite and pacesetter Peace Talks in a 1:54.2 mile. Leanne’s Choice (Marcus Miller) was third.

Ron Burke trains Camerican, a daughter of American Ideal, for owners Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, M1 Stable and Jack Piatt III. Bred by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable and Piatt, Camerican made her fifth trip to the winner’s circle, has now earned $346,332 and returned $6.80 to win as the 2-1 second choice. The exacta was worth $11.80 and the trifecta kicked back $43.40.

“I drove her once last year in Kentucky and she won in 1:50.3 and I raced her in the Breeders Crown,” remarked Gingras. “We got a good trip and it worked out. She finished third in the Breeders Crown last year. I don’t know if she can race much better than those. She raced the best fillies in the country and finished third, so I think she’s a nice horse.

“I felt really confident. I think that’s her kind of trip. She likes to follow a little bit, and obviously following that one was the right one.”

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT).