The 2022 MGM Borgata Pacing Series preliminaries started with favourites going five-for-five in leg one and ended with the chalk registering a three-for-three mark in Monday's trio of $50,000 divisions of the final round at Yonkers Raceway.
Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) heads into next Monday's (April 25) $549,000 final as the horse to beat thanks to a 1:51 tally in the opening split, giving him four wins in the four legs he competed in.
Siegelman got away in the pocket with Leonidas A and watched as Dragon Said (Joe Bongiorno) parked out Semi Tough (Yannick Gingras) through fast fractions of :25.4, :53.4 and 1:22.1. Dean B Hanover (Jordan Stratton) made a three-wide move from second-over going to three-quarters, but as Semi Tough began to fade, Siegelman was able to squeeze out two-wide with Leonidas A before Dean B Hanover could get over and lock him in.
Dragon Said, Leonidas A, and Dean B Hanover battled across the track around the last turn, but at the top of the stretch, Leonidas A shook away from his rivals and went on to defeat Dean B Hanover by a length and a half. Im Sir Blake A (Marcus Miller) was third, followed by Chase H Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and Western Joe (Dexter Dunn).
The victorious seven-year-old gelding by Mach Three is trained by Sheena Cohen for owner Jesmeral Stable. Leonidas A made his 40th appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now pocketed $624,187. The 1-9 favourite, Leonidas A returned $2.20 to win.
In the second section, Jacks Legend N (Kakaley) went to the lead from post one and controlled the race through well-rated stations of :28.1, :57, and 1:24.4. Bee Two Bee (Gingras) tipped out first-over from third going to three-quarters and pressured Jacks Legend N throughout the last quarter, but Jacks Legend N was game and held him off to tally by half a length in 1:52.2. Poseidon Seelster (George Brennan) got third after a pocket trip and Splash Brother (Tyler Buter) was fourth from second-over. Whichwaytothebeach (Scott Zeron) grabbed fifth.
Trainer Josh Green also co-owns Jacks Legend N, an eight-year-old Bettors Delight gelding, with partners Rich Lombardo Racing LLC, David Kryway and Eric Good. Jacks Legend N is now a 33-time winner in his life, and he has stashed away $775,377. Dispatched at 3-5, Jack's Legend N paid $3.20 to win.
The final flight saw Tattoo Artist (Dunn) make quick work of his six rivals, dominating on the front-end in 1:51.3 romp.
Dunn put Tattoo Artist on the point straight away from post two, and he clicked off panels of :27.3, :56.1, and 1:23.2. Tattoo Artist got a gap on the rest of the field heading to three-quarters, and his margin only increased from there, as he hit the line 4-1/4 lengths ahead of Diamondbeach (Brennan). This Is The Plan (Gingras) raced in fourth for the first three-quarters of the mile and would end up finishing in third. Belmont Major N (Tyler Buter) and Ostro Hanover (Bongiorno) completed the top five finishers.
Tattoo Artist is a five-year-old Hes Watching stallion trained by Chris Ryder for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc, Frank Cannon and Diamond Creek Racing. Tattoo Artist, a co-holder of the all-age track record at Yonkers (1:49.3), has compiled a record of 22-7-7 from 52 lifetime appearances, and his earnings now stand at $1,043,527. Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, Tattoo Artist returned $3.40 to win.
In other news from the program, the recent run “Million Dollar Mondays” on the wagering front at Yonkers continued, with handle closing at $1,000,438.
Unofficially, the horses that have clinched spots in next Monday's $549,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final are:
1-Leonidas A (300 points)
2-Tattoo Artist (287)
3-This Is The Plan (264.5)
4-Jacks Legend N (262)
5-Nandolo N (250)
6-Funatthebeach N (235)
7-Pat Stanley N (225)
There is a tie for the eighth spot between Semi Tough and Poseidon Seelster at 207 points. There will be a draw between those two horses, with one going to the final and one to the consolation.
The draws for the finals of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, plus the consolation races, will take place tomorrow afternoon (April 19).
Stakes action resumes at Yonkers on Wednesday (April 20) with three $25,000 divisions of the third and final round of the John Brennan Trotting Series.
Yonkers is currently racing on a Monday-Friday live schedule with post time at 6:55 p.m.
(Yonkers)
Woodmere Stealdeal
Maritime horse Woodmere Stealdeal finished 6th and last in his division of The Borgata, at odds of 65-1. He failed to qualify for the final or for the consolation. Hopefully, he'll do better in The Confederation Cup and The Graduate, where at least he'll be facing horses of his own age.