Kiwi-bred upsets in $549,000 MGM Borgata final

New Zealand-bred Funatthebeach N, sent off at 15-1, sat off a serious battle for the lead, got into contention by following favored Leonidas A, and outkicked that rival when the chips were down to take a wild $549,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series harness racing final on Monday night (April 25) at Yonkers Raceway in 1:50.1.

Tattoo Artist (Dexter Dunn), Jack’s Legend N (Matt Kakaley), and defending series champion This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) all left hard from posts one, three, and five, respectively, with Jack’s Legend N getting past Tattoo Artist before the 26.3 opening quarter. This Is The Plan was up to immediately confront Jack’s Legend N, and although Kakaley took a big hold of Jack’s Legend N, This Is The Plan was unable to clear, and Kakaley elected to leave him out starting on the second turn.

While that was going on up front, Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) had been able to land in fifth ahead of Funatthebeach N and driver Jordan Stratton, and they would both vacate the pylons as Jack’s Legend N and This Is The Plan continued their slugfest to a 53.4 half. Leonidas A would then go three-wide on the third turn to take up the chase, while Funatthebeach N remained two-wide on the bend and then followed Leonidas A after they entered the backstretch for the final time.

Leonidas A surged up on the outside to take command before the 1:21.4 three-quarters, then crossed down to the rail heading into the last turn. Funatthebeach N was also able to get into a two-wide position after three-quarters as Jack’s Legend N backed away, boxing in Tattoo Artist and taking him out of contention.

Also facing traffic woes were Semi Tough (Joe Bongiorno), who was caught two-wide behind the tiring This Is The Plan, Nandolo N (Jason Bartlett), who couldn’t keep up with Leonidas A and Funatthebeach N after following their cover, and Pat Stanley N (Todd McCarthy), who also was stuck on the inside after trailing.

With all their rivals either spent or caught in compromising spots, Leonidas A and Funatthebeach N would face off in a match race on the far turn and into the lane. Although Leonidas A had the lead on the bend, it was clear that Funatthebeach N was going the better of the two coming into the stretch, and it would be Funatthebeach N going on to score by a length over Leonidas A. Semi Tough finally shook loose and was able to rally for third, followed by Tattoo Artist, Nandolo N, Pat Stanley N, Jack’s Legend N, and This Is The Plan.

FUNATTHEBEACH N REPLAY

“That’s really his bread-and-butter, that kind of trip right there,” said Jordan Stratton, who stuck with Funatthebeach N over his brother Cory’s horse Pat Stanley N before the last preliminary round after he showed the ability to rally past Nandolo N to win in the third leg. “In the Open prior to this series, we were trying to make him do a little more work than he’s accustomed to, coming from the outside and being first-over, but that’s just not his game. When he gets towed in second-over and fans wide off the last turn, he puts in a really good effort.

“There were no slouches in the race at all, but I was definitely happy to see the half in 53. Even halfway down the stretch, I didn’t know if I was going to stay by Leonidas A once I got by him. He’s such a tough horse. Year-in and year-out he shows up. I feel bad that he didn’t earn the win, but I’m happy I got it.”

For his part in the pace duel, Kakaley offered, “I wasn’t going to choke my horse going for $549,000.”

Jeff Gillis and Mark Ford are the winning trainer-owner combination behind Funatthebeach N, an 8-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding who they claimed for $75,000 on September 6 of last year at Yonkers. This was Funatthebeach N’s 29th lifetime tally, and he now shows a bankroll of $732,039. He paid $33.20 to win and headed a $100 exacta and a $1,034 trifecta.

Im Sir Blake A (Marcus Miller) went three-wide from second-over on the last turn and was able to get by Chase H Hanover (Kakaley) and Dean B Hanover (Stratton) late in the mile to win the $100,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series consolation by a nose in 1:51.2.

Marcus Miller’s father Erv trains Im Sir Blake A, a 7-year-old gelded son of Alta Christiano N, for owner Douglas Overhiser. Im Sir Blake A is a 20-time winner, and he has now earned $262,257. A 5-1 offering, Im Sir Blake A returned $12.20 to win and was atop a $65.50 exacta and a $194.00 trifecta.

In a $50,000 race for MGM Borgata Pacing Series eligibles, first-over attacker Diamondbeach (George Brennan) scored by a nose over pocket-sitter Ostro Hanover (Bongiorno) in 1:51.4. Captain Barbossa (Bartlett) tracked the winner from second-over and came in third.

Trainer Ricky Bucci also owns Diamondbeach, a 5-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere. He made his 11th appearance in the winner’s circle and has now put away $238,786. A 4-1 shot, Diamondbeach paid $10.60 to win. The exacta was worth $40.80 and the trifecta kicked back $247.

The handle on tonight’s 12-race program was $1,175,667.15, making this another “Million Dollar Monday” at Yonkers.

Tomorrow night’s (April 26) card at Yonkers will have a $2,231.57 carryover in the Pick 6, which starts in race three. Stakes action resumes at Yonkers on Wednesday (April 27) with the $76,000 final of the John Brennan Trotting Series. There is also a $35,000 consolation.

As a reminder, Yonkers will race on Saturday (April 30) this week, and then starting next week, live racing will switch to a Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday schedule. Post time will remain at 6:55 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

From Yonkers Raceway Media