MGM Borgata and Blue Chip Matchmaker Finals

Harness Racing This Week: The MGM Borgata and Blue Chip Matchmaker Pacing series finals and consolations, MGM Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y. This is the opening event of the 2024 Grand Circuit season.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers on Monday (April 22) features the $457,000 MGM Borgata final and a $100,000 consolation in the event for open pacers and the $276,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker final and $100,000 consolation in the event for open pacing mares.

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

Last Time: Linedrive Hanover posted his third win in the prelims, while driver Jason Bartlett had a double with a pair of first-time victors in the three $50,000 divisions of the final round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 15) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

After taking last week off, Linedrive Hanover was back in action Monday night and won the final split handily in 1:51.2.

Driver Scott Zeron moved Linedrive Hanover out of the third spot late on the first turn and brushed him to the point around defending series champion Hellabalou (Yannick Gingras) at the :27.1 quarter-mile mark. It was all Linedrive Hanover after that as he coasted to the half in :56.2 and the three-quarters in 1:24.2, then sprinted home in :27 to down Hellabalou by a wrapped-up length and a quarter. Strengthfromabove (Bartlett) was the third-place finisher.

Linda Toscano sent out Linedrive Hanover, a 6-year-old Betting Line gelding, for owners West Wins Stable, McKinlay & Fielding and Mac Nichol. Linedrive Hanover is now a 17-time winner from 39 lifetime starts and has now stashed away $584,777. The 1-5 favorite, Linedrive Hanover returned $2.40 to win.

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2024, 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 2024 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 4-15-24):

Drivers: 1. Matt Kakaley – 90; 2. Yannick Gingras – 74.5; 3. Jason Bartlett – 56.5; 4. George Brennan – 54; 5. Jordan Stratton – 53.

Trainers: 1. Travis Alexander – 75; 2. Cory Stratton – 48; 3. Michael Burke – 42.5; 4. Jeff Gillis – 42; 5. Per Engblom –40.5.

Owners: 1. Mark Ford – 42; 2. Kathy Cecchin – 40; 3. Guy Corbeil – 37; 4. Betty Clegg – 24; 5. Larry Stalbaum – 22.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be held at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (April 27) with the $40,000 (est.) eliminations in the Dexter Cup for 3-year-old open trotters.

by Paul Ramlow, for The Grand Circuit