Lochinvar Art prevails in Borgata opener

Lochinvar Art A (Modern Art), Hellabalou (Sweet Lou), Leonidas A (Mach Three), and Idealsomemagic A (American Ideal) emerged victorious from the four $50,000 harness racing divisions of the opening round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for free-for-allers on Monday night (March 20) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Ex-Aussie champion Lochinvar Art has kept his impressive unbeaten USA harness racing record intact with an all the way win in the opening $50,000 leg of the famed Grand Circuit MGM Borgata Series held Monday (March 20) at Yonkers Raceway.

Driver Lauren Tritton, wife of trainer Shane, made it clear in the early stages that she wanted the top with the entire pacer, and scooted to ahead of affairs.

“Arty” appeared to be cruising in the first half mile, albeit a handy :57.2 seconds.

Tritton then upped the ante, pulling the ear plugs on the home corner, giving her opposition something to chase and eventually stopping the clock in 1.52.4 for the 1609m (one mile) event – his fourth in succession since starting his US career.

Trained by Shane Tritton for owner Team Tritton Inc., Lochinvar Art A, who has now been victorious in all four of his U.S. appearances, is an 8-year-old stallion. This was his 32nd career win, he has now earned $1,091,318, and he paid $2.30 to win as the 1-9 favorite. The exacta was worth $7.70 and the trifecta kicked back $20.40.

LOCHINVAR ART REPLAY

Another former Aussie Rockinwithelvis finished second, and in keeping with the Aussie flavor, the Noel Daley-trained Soaring Now, driven by Andy McCarthy, finished third. Daley and McCarthy both kicked off their careers in Australia.

The top 40 open class US horses are competing in the series to be staged over five weeks at Yonkers in New York City. The final, in six weeks, will see the top eight points scorers do battle.

The heats are worth $US 50K, with the final carrying a purse of $US 600K. A consolation event will also be conducted, worth $US 100K.

In the second division Hellabalou and driver Yannick Gingras set up shop on the point from the pole position and carved out a :27.1 opening quarter and a :56 second half with even-money favorite Jimmy Freight (Scott Zeron) in the pocket. After tucking in fourth from post seven, Anothrmastrpiece N (Bartlett) went on the march first-over out of fourth as the field went under the wire for the first time and advanced into a joint second as Hellabalou tripped three-quarters in 1:24.2.

Anothrmastrpiece N continued to pester Hellabalou on the rim on the final bend and into the lane, but Hellabalou put him away for good early in the stretch, and then was able to keep a pylon-skimming Jimmy Freight at bay as well, prevailing by a neck in 1:52.1. Backstreet Shadow (Matt Kakaley) finished full of pace from third-over and finished in third, followed by Belmont Royale N (Miller) and Anothrmastrpiece N.

The Adios champion from two years ago, Hellabalou, a 5-year-old stallion, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Eric Good, Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Larry Karr. Hellabalou is now a 19-time winner and has pocketed $556,654. Sent off as the 3-1 third choice, Hellabalou returned $8.20 to win and led a $20.40 exacta and a $45.00 trifecta.

HELLABALOU REPLAY

Leonidas A and driver Austin Siegelman), the runner-up in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final in 2022, pulled off a 10-1 upset from first-over in the third flight. 1-5 favorite Tattoo Artist (Dexter Dunn) led through opening-half stations of just 27.4 and 56.4 while Leonidas A, who was able to find a spot in fourth after floating out from post seven, tested the waters uncovered prior to the half.

Tattoo Artist maintained command through a 1:24.2 three-quarters and around the last turn, but he came up empty in the stretch as Leonidas A put him away and struck the front. From there, Leonidas A went on to score in 1:52.1 by half a length over Priceless Beach (Miller), who tracked the victor from second-over. Defending MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Funatthebeach N (Stratton) grabbed third from third-over, with American Dealer N (Joe Bongiorno) fourth and None Bettor A (Kakaley) fifth.

Matthew Medeiros trains Leonidas A, an 8-year-old gelding, for owner Jesmeral Stable. Leonidas A now has 47 career victories, a bankroll of $943,007, and he paid $23.00. The exacta and trifecta payouts were $143.50 and $772.00, respectively.

LEONIDAS A REPLAY

Monday night’s last MGM Borgata Pacing Series showdown saw former MGM Grand Messenger Stakes champion American Courage and driver Matt Kakaley tip out of third before the 27.1 quarter and take command from Semi Tough (Gingras) beyond that marker. American Courage stayed in front through a 56.1 half and a 1:24.2 three-quarters as Nandolo N (Bartlett) moved up first-over into second, with Idealsomemagic A (Stratton) following him from second-over.

American Courage was still clear around the last turn and into the stretch drive, but Stratton cut Idealsomemagic A loose three-wide, and once he saw clear racetrack, Idealsomemagic A powered home, catching American Courage and defeating him by half a length in 1:52 flat. Covered Bridge (Tyler Buter) got up for third at 31-1, Nandolo N held on for a fourth-place result, and Hemsworth N (Miller) advanced from eighth at the half to fifth at the wire.

VIP Internet Stable LLC. and Bukers Stable own the Cory Stratton-trained Idealsomemagic A, a 9-year-old gelding who returned $8.20 to win and was atop a $35.40 exacta and a $585.00 trifecta, has compiled a record of 19-18-8 from 91 lifetime tries, and he has now put away $217,566.

IDEALSOMEMAGIC A REPLAY

Wagering handle on tonight’s 12-race card was a 2023-best $1,220,269.

The MGM Borgata Pacing Series continues for four more weeks before a $200,000-added final estimated to boost the purse to $500,000 on April 24. That card will also include the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final and consolation events for both races.

MGM Yonkers Raceway will also offer the MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion a win-and-you’re-in opportunity to both the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park on June 10 and the $200,000 MGM Aria Pace at Yonkers on MGM Yonkers International Trot Day (September 23).

To complement the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, the Empire Terrace dining room will be open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays through April 24. Owners and fans are invited to attend the races and enjoy food from an ala carte menu. No reservations are required.

Starting this coming Thursday night (March 23), the Pick 5 pool at MGM Yonkers Raceway will be seeded with $10,000 and also have a guaranteed pool of $25,000. This initiative will continue on Thursdays into April and is being offered in partnership with the Standardbred Owners Association of New York as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

Stakes action will resume at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (March 24)’s 11-race program with four $40,000 sections (races two, four, six, and eight) of the second leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares. Leg one winners Amazing Dream N and Drama Act face off in race eight, and the other first round victor, Karma Seelster, competes in race six.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EST).

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink and Yonkers Raceway