Yonkers: Coaches Corner fastest in MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series opener

Coaches Corner, the runner-up in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final earlier this year, led the way with a 1:51 mile in the first leg of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series on Monday (November 4) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. El Rey and Nandolo N won the other $50,000 divisions that took place on the program.

Driven by Jason Bartlett and racing in the second split, Coaches Corner led through fractions of 27 2/5, 56 and 1:23 3/5 on his way to a 2 3/4 length victory over a first-up Seven Colors (Jordan Stratton). Pocket-sitter Chase H Hanover (Joe Bongiorno) finished in the third position.

A 4-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin, Coaches Corner is trained by Per Engblom for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables, Coaches Corner is a 26-time winner, has earned $688,944 and paid $3.40 to win as a 3-5 favorite. He keyed a $7.00 exacta and a $21.80 trifecta.

Back in the opening tilt, El Rey (Bartlett) blasted to the front from post seven and then gave way to sit in the two-hole behind Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley), who had also shown speed from the eight-hole, past the 26 4/5 quarter. Once he had control, Desperate Man went on to reach the half in 55 4/5, but then he ended up locked in a side-by-side battle with Whats Stanley Got A (Brent Holland), who tipped first-over from fourth on the third turn, at the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters.

Desperate Man and Whats Stanley Got A continued their duel around the final bend and into the lane, as El Rey had room to tip out into a three-wide position coming off the turn. It was a calvary charge to the wire, but El Rey was able to get up at the wire, defeating a dead-game Whats Stanley Got A by a nose in 1:51 3/5. Desperate Man was third, just a neck behind the top two finishers.

Andrew Harris trains El Rey, a 4-year-old son of Captaintreacherous bred by Riverview Breeding LLC., and he also co-owns him with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. El Rey, who was coming off a third-place result in the Breeders Crown Open Pace final, made his 11th apperance in the winner's circle, has pocketed $791,451 and returned $7.80 to win as the 5-2 second choice. He was atop a $59.00 exacta and a $343.00 trifecta.

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In the night's final flight, Verdun (Pat Lachance) was going for his seventh straight victory, and he would get to the engine around Typhoon Banner N (Bongiorno) prior to the 27 2/5 quarter. Verdun then backed down the half to 57 seconds, and Nandolo N (Stratton) would get going first-up from third just after that station, tracked in the outer tier by Adam Twelve (Bartlett). Verdun and Nandolo N were nose-to-nose at the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters and remained in a tussle on the last turn as Adam Twelve angled into a three-wide position.

Nandolo N was able to finally wear down a stubborn Verdun about halfway through the stretch drive, and then he determinedly held off Adam Twelve to the wire, tallying by a nose in 1:52 1/5. Verdun had to settle for third from Typhoon Banner N.

Sent out by trainer Shane Tritton, Nandolo N is a 10-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding bred in New Zealand by Smith and Smith. The Stephen Klunowski-owned Nandolo N has a summary of 38-27-21 from 154 outings, has banked $904,571 and paid $65.00 to win as a 31-1 offering. He led a $264.00 exacta and a $1,094.00 trifecta.

Leg two of the MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series is scheduled for November 11, and then the event takes a break until round three on December 9. The $250,000 final is on December 16, and leg three and the final will be at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

As a result of Nandolo N's upset victory, the Pick 5 on the card was not hit, leading to a $10,390.12 carryover and a $25,000 guaranteed pool in that sequence on Tuesday night (November 5).

The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program. Free Harness Eye past performances for the Pick 5 will be available here. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 percent.

On Friday night (November 8), Yonkers will host the final preliminary leg of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series with two $75,000 sections (races four and six) drawn. It's Academic, who drew post one for David Miller and Ron Burke, will try to improve to three-for-three in the event in the first of those races, while Chapercraz and Take All Comers, who have one victory apiece in the series thus far, depart from posts two and five, respectively, in the other dash. Chapercraz has Yannick Gingras listed to drive for Burke, while Jordan Stratton is on Take All Comers for Jim Campbell.

The $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final is set for November 15, and both Friday night’s third round and the final will be conducted at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

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

--press release (Yonkers)--