Hat trick for Bartlett in MGM Borgata Pacing Series

For the second consecutive week, harness racing driver Jason Bartlett had a hat trick in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway, taking victories in Monday night’s (April 14) third round with Himself N (Sportswriter), Huntinthelastdolar (Huntsville) and Coaches Corner (Always A Virgin). Verdun, steered by trainer Pat Lachance, was the other winner.

Just like last Monday, Coaches Corner won the fastest and final division in 1:50.4. Coaches Corner put up fractions of 27.3, 56.2 and 1:23.3 and was able to fend off a game, first-over attack by Mossdale Ben N (Jordan Stratton), who was looking to improve to three-for-three in the event, defeating him by half a length. Why Not Now (Matt Kakaley) turned a pocket trip into a third-place result.

COACHES CORNER REPLAY

A 5-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin, Coaches Corner is trained by Per Engblom for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Coaches Corner is a 29-time winner, has earned $852,194 and paid $4.30 to win as the favorite. He keyed a $6.10 exacta and a $17.80 trifecta.

Bartlett and Engblom also connected with Huntinthelastdolar earlier on the program in 1:52.1. Huntinthelastdolar was part of a fight for the lead with pole sitter Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeron) and a three-wide Charlie May (Stratton) early on, and would press on two-wide to take control away from Charlie May beyond the rapid 26.1 quarter. Once he landed on top, Huntinthelastdolar maintained the front-end to the half in 55.1 and the three-quarters in 1:23.1, then used a 29 second final kicker to defeat a gaining Sherlock N (George Brennan) by a length and a half. Charlie May held third.

HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR REPLAY

Owned by E Five Racing and John Fielding, Huntinthelastdolar is a 5-year-old Huntsville gelding. He made his 15th appearance in the winner’s circle, has now pocketed $795,037 and returned $3.60 to win as the favorite. The exacta was worth $34.60 and the trifecta kicked back $238.50.

Bartlett and Himself N worked out a cover trip in that section and then rallied to a 1:52.3 tally. Racing Rampage (Kakaley) took the lead out of the pocket coming to the 27 second quarter-mile marker and kept to to the half in 55.2, but Act Fast (Yannick Gingras) went by him from first-over at the 1:23.4 three-quarters, leaving Hemsworth N (Zeron) first-over and Himself N behind Hemsworth N.

Hemsworth N vaulted into the lead in the stretch despite being left first-over, but he couldn’t seal the deal as Himself N surged by him and on to the victory by a neck over a charging Churchviewfrankl Ir (Brent Holland). Hemsworth N had to settle for third as the favorite.

HIMSELF B REPLAY

Himself N is an 8-year-old gelded son of Sportswriter and is co-owned by trainer Lance Hudson in partnership with William Hartt. Himself N has a summary of 22-15-7 from 72 outings, has put away $446,578 and paid $8.40 to win as the 3-1 third choice. He was atop a $41.40 exacta and a $100 trifecta.

Verdun, who won in the opening leg and then was third to Mossdale Ben N a week ago, returned to his winning ways tonight, taking the first flight in 1:51.1. Verdun led after he blasted out from post four, but he’d give way to sit in the pocket behind 2-5 favorite Desperate Man (Kakaley) coming to the 27.1 quarter.

From there, Desperate Man reached the half in 56 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:24, but Lachance swung Verdun off the pylons on the final bend, and after a brief battle, he’d go by Desperate Man. Verdun opened up to the wire after that, defeating Aardies Flash N (Bartlett) by 2 1/4 lengths as Desperate Man faded to third.

Trained by Lachance for owner Tom Ceraso Jr. Verdun, a 5-year-old Bettor’s Delight stallion, posted the 24th victory in his career, has banked $501,209 and returned $7.00 to win as the 5-2 second choice. He led a $20.60 exacta and a $25.80 trifecta.

The MGM Borgata Pacing Series prelims run through Monday, April 28, with the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 9 where they will be joined by the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Pacing Series.

SERIES EVENTS AHEAD ON WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY AS WELL:  The John Brennan Trotting Series picks back up on Wednesday (April 16) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with a trio of $30,000 splits of the final preliminary round. Named in honor of the longtime SOA of NY horsemen’s representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020, the series will conclude with a $100,000 guaranteed final and a $50,000 guaranteed consolation on April 23.

The penultimate leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will occur on Friday night and will have three $50,000 divisions. Aardie B Miki N, who is three-for-three in the Matchmaker so far, is taking the week off, giving mares who have been chasing her a chance at valuable points towards the May 9 final.

PICK 5 GUARANTEED POOL BOOSTED ON MONDAYS & FRIDAYS:  Continuing for every Monday and Friday card during the legs of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, MGM Yonkers Raceway, in conjunction with the SOA of NY, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five.

The guaranteed Pick 5 pool on Mondays is also a part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From Yonkers Raceway