Yonkers, NY — Twisted Destiny and driver Dexter Dunn made good on a second-over trip to capture the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (June 20). The Bettor’s Wish-sired colt was a winner for the fourth time in five starts as a sophomore this year, pacing a 1:53 mile.
Action was fast and furious on the opening bend as long shot Snack Attack and driver Joe Bongiorno raced three-wide to secure the lead coming off that turn. Scott Zeron, driving Manolete, allowed Bongiorno to clear and then marched up to gain control before the :27.3 opening quarter.
Jordan Stratton also left the gate with purpose with Fast Choice, the 9-5 favorite, and waited for the smoke to clear before taking over the top spot into the second turn. Stratton applied the brakes with Fast Choice, and the recent third-place finisher in the North America Cup waltzed to the half in :57 but gained company when Yannick Gingras pulled Jon I Love Dat to the outside and made a bold move to engage the leader.
Dunn had Twisted Destiny on the move as well, and he reached cover moving on the third turn while tracked intently by Dandy Ideal with Jason Bartlett in the bike. Fast Choice and Jon I Love Dat were on even terms while sprinting through three-quarters in 1:24.4, but Dunn was comfortable in second-over position with the Chris Ryder-trained Twisted Destiny on the bit and ready to go. Dunn called on his charge and got an instant response, moving past the leaders in early stretch and safely holding Dandy Ideal at bay under mild encouragement. Manolete and Zeron found clearance to the inside and paced strongly to finish third with Fast Choice fading to fourth but reaching the final.
Owned by Let It Ride Stables, Alberg Racing and Enviro Stables, Twisted Destiny returned $6.40 to win and keyed a $33.60 exacta and $120.50 trifecta. Let It Ride Stables, Doc’s Farm and Mr. Dana Parham bred Twisted Destiny, a son of the top race mare Tug River Princess, a daughter of Badlands Hanover.
Odds On No Limit (Matt Kakaley) and Papi’s Rocket (Yannick Gingras) blasted out of the gate from posts six and eight, respectively, with the latter hitting the front and the former landing in the pocket in the second $25,000 MGM Grand Messenger elimination. Behind that pair, Dunn took World Of Wishes to the pylons and settled in third, ahead of 2-5 favorite Thirsty Thursday.
Papi’s Rocket cut fractions of :28.2 and :56.4 before seeing much competition. Tyler Buter moved Thirsty Thursday out at the half with Holt Hanover on his back and Meltdown Monte third-over. Papi’s Rocket kept up the hot clip, pacing a :28 third quarter and easily keeping the favorite at a distance.
On the final turn, the top two separated from the rest of the field, with 6-1 shot Odds On No Limit and Kakaley proving the best in 1:52.4. Papi’s Rocket was well clear in second, with World Of Wishes winning the photo for third as Banderas and Jordan Stratton weaved through traffic and crossed the wire with crisp pace.
Odds On No Limit, a son of Sweet Lou, is trained by Travis Alexander, whose stable has sent out three of the last four winners of this event, with Sweet Beach Life winning last year’s edition. Kakaley won the Messenger in 2021 and 2022 with the Alexander trainees American Courage and Pleaseletmeknow, respectively.
Odds On No Limit is out of the Captaintreacherous-sired Odds On Clearwater and was bred by Odds On Nourrir. Odds On Racing and UFO2 share ownership. Odds On No Limit returned $15.40 to win and keyed a $100.50 exacta and $800 trifecta.
The Grade 2 $200,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final, the Grade 2 $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot final, and their companion filly races — the Grade 3 Park MGM Pace and Grade 3 New York New York Mile — are scheduled to take place June 27. No eliminations were required for the MGM Yonkers Trot; all five entrants — Chat Room, Happy Jack B, Hard Seven, Super Chapter and Variegated — advanced straight to the final.
In addition to the eliminations, the Pick-5 was not hit on the program, triggering a $6,193.75 carryover and a guaranteed pool of $20,000 in the sequence on Saturday night’s (June 21) card.
The guarantee in the Pick-5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick-5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available at handicapping.ustrotting.com. The Pick-5, which begins in race five and has a $1 minimum, has a takeout rate of 20%.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday-through-Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).