Four $50,000 Borgata Series divisions Monday

The harness racing fields for the third leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, coming up at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Monday, April 3, are set. A total of 26 horses were entered, requiring four $50,000 splits.

One of the competitors in the first division (race three) will pick up their first win in the series this year. This Is The Plan (Somebeachsomewhere, post three, Yannick Gingras) is a former MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion, and he’ll take on Nandolo N (Betterthancheddar, post four, Jason Bartlett) and Backstreet Shadow (Shadow Play, post five, Matt Kakaley).

Lochinvar Art A (Modern Art, post four, Lauren Tritton) will look to stay undefeated in the event and in the U.S. so far (five-for-five) in the second Borgata battle (race five). The 8-year-old stallion tallied last night (March 27) for trainer Shane Tritton in 1:52 4/5 over a sloppy surface.

A showdown looms in the third flight (race seven) as Tattoo Artist (Hes Watching, post one, Dexter Dunn), Hellabalou (Sweet Lou, post four, Gingras), and Leonidas A (Mach Three, post seven, Austin Siegelman) all have won a Borgata leg thus far. They’ll meet up with defending series champion Funatthebeach N (Somebeachsomewhere, post six, Stratton).

In the final section Idealsomemagic A (American Ideal, post three, Stratton), like fellow Aussie Lochinvar Art, has won both of his prelims to date. He faces Jimmy Freight (Sportswriter, post seven, Scott Zeron), another one of round two’s victors.

The MGM Borgata Pacing Series continues for three more weeks before a $200,000-added final estimated to boost the purse to $500,000 on April 24. That card will also include the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final and consolation events for both races.

MGM Yonkers Raceway will also offer the MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion a win-and-you’re-in opportunity to both the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park on June 10 and the $200,000 MGM Aria Pace at Yonkers on MGM Yonkers International Trot Day (September 23).

To complement the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, the Empire Terrace dining room will be open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays through April 24. Owners and fans are invited to attend the races and enjoy food from an ala carte menu. No reservations are required.

Starting this coming Thursday night (March 30), the Pick 5 pool at MGM Yonkers Raceway will be seeded with $10,000 and also have a guaranteed pool of $25,000. This initiative will continue on Thursdays into April and is being offered in partnership with the Standardbred Owners Association of New York as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

Stakes action will resume at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (March 31)’s 10-race program with three $40,000 sections (races three, six, and eight) of the third leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares. The second of those events features Amazing Dream N, the only two-time winner in the series in 2023, Racine Bell, who went over $1 million in career earnings with a victory a week ago, and defending champion Drama Act.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EST).

From Yonkers Raceway