Yonkers: Bargain holds on in MGM Yonkers Trot elimination

Bargain was in front throughout and held off pocket-sitter Fly By in the stretch to win Friday night's (June 21) lone $25,000 MGM Yonkers Trot elimination for 3-year-old colts and geldings at MGM Yonkers Raceway in 1:54 3/5.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Bargain shot out from post four and made the front early on the first turn with Fly By (Scott Zeron) also showing speed and finding the pocket prior to the 28 2/5 opening quarter. With no challengers on the outside after that, Gingras was able to back down the half to 57 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26, but Zeron swung Fly By to the outside midway through the far turn.

After being shown the clear racetrack, Fly By quickly moved up to battle Bargain and appeared in the lane like he was going to go past, but Bargain was game and responded to the challenge, keeping a nose in front of Fly By to the finish line. I'm Out (Tim Tetrick), who went first-over out of fourth before three-quarters, slid back down to the pylons on the last turn and wound up third, and Flying Kronos S (Ake Svanstedt) followed I'm Out's moves and checked in fourth. Duke Of Walner (Matt Kakaley) was fifth and got the remaining spot in the $300,000 final, joining bye-takers Security Protected, Sir Pinocchio and Situationship.

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A New York-sired gelding by Chapter Seven, Bargain was bred by Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew and is trained by Nancy Takter, and she also co-owns him with JAF Racing, ChristinaTakter&Anderberg, Joe Sbrocco and R A W Equine Inc. Bargain, who was second in the sire stakes final at MGM Yonkers Raceway last September, has a summary of 4-3-0 from 11 starts, has earned $207,455 and paid $10.00 to win as part of an entry with Duke Of Walner that went off at 4-1. The exacta was worth $25.80 and the trifecta kicked back $75.00.

The finals of the MGM Grand Messenger and MGM Yonkers Trot will take place on Friday, June 28 and will be joined by their companion filly events - the Park MGM for pacers and the New York New York Mile for trotters. Fans attending the races live on June 28 will be treated to an outdoor market on the track apron. An integration of the casino and track worlds will take place as patrons from both sides of the gambling world will be welcomed to enjoy special food stands, live music and other promotional items as part of a Triple Crown Fan Fest.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday live schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT), but the oval will host a Wednesday program next week on June 26.

--press release (Yonkers)--