Yonkers: John Brennan Trotting Series final, consolation drawn

The 2025 edition of the John Brennan Trotting Series will conclude on Wednesday (April 23) at MGM Yonkers Raceway, and the fields for both the $132,000 final and $50,000 consolation are now set.

Trainers Ron Burke and Per Engblom had seven of the eight top point-earners in the event but were limited to two finalists each as part of the stakes conditions. Burke-trained Antognoni S is the only horse in the series with a chance at a sweep, but he'll have to overcome post seven with co-owner Yannick Gingras at the lines. Burke's other entrant, dual-round winner Busy Making Moni, landed post five.

As for Engblom, he has Bellissimo Face S from post one with Jason Bartlett set to drive and Green Pastures from post four with Scott Zeron on the entry sheet. Zeron is also the listed driver for Busy Making Moni.

The full field for the $132,000 final, which will be race seven on the card, is as follows:

Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Listed Trainer

1-Bellissimo Face S-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
2-Mycrownmykingdom-Brent Holland-Paul Stafford
3-Sapphirerainstar-Simon Allard-Mark Akins
4-Green Pastures-Scott Zeron-Per Engblom
5-Busy Making Moni-Scott Zeron-Ron Burke
6-Lucky Mum N-Brent Holland-Ricky Bucci
7-Antognoni S-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
8-Scottish-Yannick Gingras-Joe Bongiorno

Due to the trainer entry limit, Burke-trained Blockchain (post four) and Engblom trainees Golden Rain S (post three) and Cantstop Yankee (post eight), who had qualified for the final, ended up in the $50,000 consolation (race four). Golden Rain S and Cantstop Yankee will compete as a coupled entry.

The John Brennan Trotting Series is named in honor of the longtime SOA of NY horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020.

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FOURTH ROUNDS OF MATCHMAKER & BORGATA SERIES SET: The penultimate leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will occur on Friday night (April 18) and will have three $50,000 divisions. Aardie B Miki N, who is three-for-three in the Matchmaker so far, is taking the week off, giving mares who have been chasing her a chance at valuable points towards the May 9 final.

Four $50,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series tests will then go behind the gate on Monday (April 21). Mossdale Ben N (post five, race three) goes for his third win in the event, as do Verdun (post two, race seven), For Once Inmy Life (post three, race eight) and Coaches Corner (post six, race eight).

PICK 5 GUARANTEED POOL BOOSTED ON MONDAYS & FRIDAYS: Continuing for every Monday and Friday card during the legs of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, MGM Yonkers Raceway, in conjunction with the SOA of NY, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five.

The guaranteed Pick 5 pool on Mondays is also a part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Yonkers)--