Yonkers: Harris pair seek $250K prize in MGM Grand Prix final

The new-for-2024 MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series has its $250,000 final on Monday (December 16). Following three preliminary legs, the final eight will vie for the largest purse offered during December in MGM Yonkers Raceway's history. Trainer Andrew Harris has collected a large ensemble of top older pacers, led by likely division champion Abuckabett Hanover. On Monday he'll send out stablemates Seven Colors and El Rey, with an eye on the top prize in the lucrative event.

"Kudos to (race secretary) Joe Frasure for putting this series together," said Harris following Tuesday's draw for the final. "I think it's a great addition to the stakes schedule."

The MGM Grand Prix has been quite eventful over the three elimination rounds, with the first two legs raced on November 4 and 11, and then the final preliminary contested last Monday (December 9). Finding a place on the busy schedule for older pacers may have been a challenge, but Frasure found a seam following the Breeders Crown that allowed the Potomac and FanDuel to take place, and the response was solid. Until last week's third preliminary leg there had been no repeat winners in the first six races. Only Coaches Corner (post seven for the final) was able to capture two of the three legs of the series.

In Monday's finale, all the eight horses captured a prelim, and that sets the stage for a great event, with the horses needing to go the mile and a sixteenth distance to earn the championship. Harris's pair of pacers found the luck of the draw to their benefit, with Seven Colors landing post two and El Rey post four in the field that goes as race eight on a Monday program that also features a $10,000 seeded Pick 5 pool with $40,000 guarantee starting in race five.

"Seven Colors has started to come around in his last five races," said Harris. "We've had some issues with his blood through the middle of the season that held him back."

Following a solid sophomore season where the Harris connections picked up the son of Stay Hungry towards the end of the campaign, Seven Colors has been limited to just three wins in 18 tries this season. Harris's stable finished one-two in the $600,000 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands on October 26 with Seven Colors following home Abuckabett Hanover. In three legs of the series, Seven Colors followed up a second and third in the first two legs with a dominating score in last week's final elimination leg.

"You know that's his kind of trip," said Harris, referring to the first-over journey driver Jason Bartlett sent Seven Colors on. "That's not always the preferred trip getting over this track, but it's the one that works best for him."

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The win assured Seven Colors a spot in the final, and the draw gave him post two, inside many of his chief rivals in the contest. Scott Zeron will pick up the drive with Jason Bartlett opting for the likely favorite Coaches Corner for the final.

"Scott will get along with him fine," said Harris.

Harris didn't have as much confidence in El Rey following Tuesday's draw, but that was easy to understand.

"He just raced last night and we're waiting on bloodwork to come back," said Harris, still trying to assess El Rey's sixth-place finish.

A winner in the opening leg of the series on November 4, El Rey pulled from third to challenge in Monday's race and backed up on the final turn. Harris has called on young Brett Beckwith to guide El Rey from post four on Monday.

Though drawing inside Coaches Corner, Harris wasn't certain that would be as big an edge as perceived.

"With the added distance to the first turn, Coaches Corner can get out quickly," Harris said, recognizing the combination of Bartlett's timing and Coaches Corner's quick foot as a competitive advantage for the opposing team.

Coaches Corner may not need extra help, as he proved in winning for the second time in the series last week, controlling the action for Bartlett. One of two entries from leading trainer Per Engblom's stable, Coaches Corner joins stablemate Adam Twelve (post three). Adam Twelve was used a bit in the early stages last week for driver Yannick Gingras and faded to fourth in the stretch. The 4-year-old could out-sprint rivals to his inside in the final in search of a stalking trip this week.

Outside of the solid couples from Harris and Engblom, there are four others in the field looking for major upsets, with Typhoon Banner N (post five) the most logical of the quartet. Trainer Joe Bongiorno appears to have this import peaking for the final following last week's authoritative score. An 8-year-old by Bettor's Delight, Typhoon Banner N has won eight times in his first full year for the Bongiorno stable. Matt Kakaley will drive Typhoon Banner N.

Nandolo N makes his 37th start of 2024 and may be perfectly spotted, having drawn post one with Lauren Tritton in the bike. Battle tested, Nandolo N could benefit if the pace gets too contested.

American Dealer N (post six) and Whats Stanley Got A (post eight) round out the exceptional field.

Harris said this will be the final race for both of his horses this season, and he doesn't anticipate either will be ready in time for the 2025 MGM Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers in the spring.

"I just think that series is too tough on horses," Harris said. "I'm going to point them for the Grand Circuit races."

The Monday card at Yonkers Raceway kicks off at 7:00 P.M. (ET) and features 11 races.