Borgata Series heads Grand Circuit Week

Harness Racing This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series fifth legs, MGM Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y. This is the opening event of the 2023 Grand Circuit season.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 14) in the fifth and final round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday (April 17) card at Yonkers will see three $50,000 divisions in the fifth and final round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers.

The top horses by points in the five preliminary rounds will be eligible for the finales, both set for Monday (April 24).

Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last Time: Backstreet Shadow’s 1:49.3 triumph in the first of three $50,000 flights of the fourth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 10) at MGM Yonkers Raceway gave the venerable campaigner a share of the all-age track record.

In that contest, 1-2 favorite Jimmy Freight (Scott Zeron) pressed on two-wide after leaving from post three and took command away from early leader Dean B Hanover (Jordan Stratton) past the :27 opening quarter. Jimmy Freight would then hit the half in :55.2, but Backstreet Shadow (Matt Kakaley), who settled in fourth, pulled without cover just after that marker and quickly advanced to join Jimmy Freight.

Jimmy Freight couldn’t withstand Backstreet Shadow’s big brush and was overtaken passing the 1:22.2 three-quarters, and it was all Backstreet Shadow from there as he reported home with a 1-3/4 length victory. Jimmy Freight, Dean B Hanover, Bee Two Bee (Yannick Gingras), and Anothrmastrpiece N (Jason Bartlett) completed the top five finishers.

The clocking matched the existing all-age track record at Yonkers first set by Theartofconfusion A on Aug. 31, 2019 and since equaled by American History (Sept. 28, 2019), Tattoo Artist (Oct. 18, 2021), and now Backstreet Shadow.

Backstreet Shadow is an 8-year-old Shadow Play gelding trained by Travis Alexander for owner Robert Di Nozzi. Backstreet Shadow, who returned $5.30 to win as the 8-5 second choice, picked up his 38th lifetime victory, and he pushed his earnings to $1,356,042.

Defending Blue Chip Matchmaker Series champion Drama Act regained winning form after finding a division without Amazing Dream N to beat in one of three $40,000 splits of the fourth leg on Friday night (April 7). With George Brennan in the bike, Drama Act scored her fifth victory in eight 2023 starts with a 1:53 mile.

With the pole position Brennan didn’t get assertive early and instead allowed Man Dontforget Me to cross over into the first turn. Delitfulcatherin N and Wahs Fire Bug N both had thoughts of getting the front at the outset, with the Jordan Stratton-driven Delitfulcatherin N going forward on the opening bend and Wahs Fire Bug N retreating after a brief leaving move. Delitfulcatherin N cleared the lead before the quarter, but within an instant Brennan moved Drama Act with purpose and took control shortly past the :26.4 opening quarter.

Sent off as the prohibitive 1-20 favorite, Drama Act was able to back the half to :56.4 before Gia’s Surreal, with Dexter Dunn, began a methodical first-over assault. Off a reasonable 1:25.1 three-quarters the outer tier disappeared into the final turn and only Delitfulcatherin N had a chance to run down the favorite.

Under left handed urging by Stratton, the 7-year-old looked to gain momentum to pass Drama Act, but Brennan’s mare had something in reserve and prevailed with a :27.4 final quarter. Delitfulcatherin N settled for second, with early leader Man Dontforget Me third.

Now with two wins and a second in four series starts, Drama Act assured herself a position in the April 24 final with the victory for trainer Ron Burke and owner The OK Corral. Drama Act paid $2.10 to win. This was Drama Act’s 34th career win, and she has now earned $892,172.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2023 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 4-10-23):

Drivers: 1. Matt Kakaley – 81; 2. Yannick Gingras – 67; 3. Jordan Stratton – 58; 4. Dexter Dunn – 36; 5. Scott Zeron – 35.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 52; 2. Travis Alexander – 50; 3. Jeff Gillis – 47; 4. Linda Toscano – 40; 5. Shane Tritton – 34.

Owners: 1. Mark Ford – 43; 2. Robert Di Nozzi – 30; 3t. Team Tritton Inc. – 25; 3t. The OK Corral – 25; 5. 1362313 Ontario Ltd. – 20.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with the finals of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata on April 24.

by Paul Ramlow, for the Grand Circuit