Yonkers: Gingras has an "Amazing Plan" for Borgata, Matchmaker finals

Heading into last Monday's (April 17) final preliminary leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway, the 2021 winner This Is The Plan appeared destined for the consolation race. Following a sharp front-end score in the first division guided by Yannick Gingras, suddenly there was hope he could reach the $511,000 final slated for April 24.

"After the race I texted [owner] Mark [Weaver] and told him I thought we had a chance to finish ninth in the standings," Gingras said. "We knew that Jimmy Freight would be out, and I started adding up the points and figured that None Bettor A needed to win or Tattoo Artist finish second to keep us out."

Fortunately for the This Is The Plan's connections, those events did not take place and instead of racing for $100,000 in the consolation, the gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere will be making his third consecutive trip to the rich final with his driver liking his chances.

"The first week I thought he needed a start," said Gingras of the MGM Borgata debut for This Is The Plan. "The second week he was no good." The driver thought This Is The Plan was better in the third leg (April 3), where he cut the pace under rating only to be overwhelmed by Backstreet Shadow's blistering kick in the homestretch. "His blood was no good after that race," Gingras said.

When This Is The Plan finished seventh in the fourth leg it was thought his fate was sealed and the $2.9 million winner would be denied a third straight trip to the MGM Borgata championship. Last week, starting from post six with finalist Lochinvar Art A drawing the rail and sent off as the 1-2 choice, Gingras saw the old This Is The Plan take control with a sharp burst of speed and then paced home in 1:50 4/5 for his first win in five tries, and a ticket to the final.

"That was his best race by far," said Gingras of This Is The Plan. "I don't think he's the same horse he was at 4 and 5." Yet even as an 8-year-old he knows what to do and has the versatility to win big races.

In looking at the draw for Monday's $511,000 contest, carded as race nine, This Is The Plan's tactical speed could put him at an advantage. He won from post eight going wire-to-wire in the 2021 edition, but Gingras has no fantasy of that happening once again.

"Sure, I'd like it to go slow fractions with us going one-two-three around the track, but that's not going to happen for $511,000 over a half-mile track," Gingras said. "Before the draw you could have said that any of the eight horses could win. There's that much depth in this group."

After the draw, when Lochinvar Art A (post seven) and Backstreet Shadow (post eight) found the outside, it may have changed the narrative some but by no means removed those two from having a chance should the pace be swift, as it often is under these circumstances.

"I've driven Covered Bridge [post one] in the past and he can leave, and so can [Cory] Stratton's horse Idealsomemagic A [post three]," said Gingras, who hopes to give This Is The Plan a trip to the winner's circle again.

Last year's one-two MGM Borgata final finishers Funatthebeach N (post six) and Leonidas A (post four), and Hellabalou (post five) round out an impressive collection.

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While This Is The Plan wasn't at his best throughout the MGM Borgata Series, the same can't be said of Gingras's mount in the $328,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final. Amazing Dream N (post one) gives the driver a solid chance in the event for pacing mares carded as race eight.

"I think we've got a great chance," said Gingras of the Blue Chip Matchmaker final. "It was always the plan to give her a week off in the fifth leg if she had points to make the final. [Trainer] Linda [Toscano] said that she always performed better after a week off.

"It's a good spot to be with her, but there's a lot of good mares on the inside," said Gingras, referring to Racine Bell (post two), Dougs Babe A (post three) and Lucky Artist A (post four). Also in the Blue Chip Matchmaker is two-leg winner Drama Act (post six), who looks to repeat her victory for trainer Ron Burke from a year ago.

"She's got great gate speed and can finish well," said Gingras of Amazing Dream N, a 7-year-old by Bettor's Delight that captured the first three legs of the series and then was just a head shy of Dougs Babe A in round four on April 7 at Yonkers.

With three straight wins heading into the final, Dougs Babe A and driver Dexter Dunn have shown the ability to win coming from off-the-pace, as well as in front.

Last week Racine Bell was airborne in the final yards after appearing as if she had no chance on the final turn. The New York-sired 6-year-old finished a nose behind Drama Act in last year's final for driver Jason Bartlett as the betting choice.

Two-leg winner Lucky Artist A was powerful in her fifth-leg triumph, winning in 1:51 2/5 for young driver Braxten Boyd.

Rounding out the field for this year's Blue Chip Matchmaker final are Lit De Rose (post five), Incaseyoudidntknow (post seven) and Karma Seelster (post eight).

In addition to the rich series finals on Monday night at Yonkers is a quality supporting cast to the 12-race program with a $75,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker consolation going as race five, a $100,000 MGM Borgata consolation (race seven) and a $50,000 MGM Borgata consolation in race six.

First post time is 7:00 p.m.