Grand Circuit spotlight on Borgata/Matchmaker final legs

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 2024 Grand Circuit season.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features two $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 12) in the fifth round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday (April 15) card at Yonkers will see three $50,000 divisions in the fifth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers.

Each series offers five preliminary rounds leading to the finales, both set for Monday (April 22).

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

Last Time: Desperate Man (Shadow Play), Pleaseletmeknow (American Ideal), and Backstreet Shadow (Shadow Play) gave driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander victories in the three $50,000 divisions of the fourth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Monday night (April 8).

In the first grouping Dunkin’ (Tim Tetrick) and Torrid Saint A (Matthew Athearn) both made breaks before the start, allowing Desperate Man to make a fairly easy lead in a :27 opening quarter. Although unchallenged, Kakaley kept the tempo pretty strong with Desperate Man, as he got to the half in :55.1 and the three-quarters in 1:23, but he had plenty left in reserve and cruised home in a :28 final quarter to tally by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:51, improving to four-for-four in the series in the process. Covered Bridge (Jordan Stratton) was up for second, followed by Idealsomemagic A (George Brennan).

Trained by Alexander for owner Kathy Cecchin, Desperate Man, who was bred by Winbak Farm, is a 6-year-old gelding. He made his 20th trip to the winner’s circle, has now banked $1,089,439 and paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

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 4-8-24):

Drivers: 1. Matt Kakaley – 78; 2. Yannick Gingras – 59.5; 3. Jordan Stratton – 53; 4. George Brennan – 49; 5. Scott Zeron – 40.

Trainers: 1. Travis Alexander – 68; 2. Cory Stratton – 43; 3. Michael Burke – 42.5; 4. Jeff Gillis – 42; 5. Linda Toscano –30.

Owners: 1. Mark Ford – 42; 2. Kathy Cecchin – 40; 3. Guy Corbeil – 27; 4t. Larry Stalbaum – 22; 4t. Betty Clegg – 22.

Looking ahead: After this weekend, Grand Circuit action will continue with the finals of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata on April 22.

by Paul Ramlow, for the Grand Circuit