Yonkers: MGM Grand Prix divisions won by It's Academic, Take All Comers

It's Academic improved to two-for-two in the inaugural MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway with a 1:53 4/5 triumph in the first of two $75,000 splits on Friday night (November 1). Take All Comers took the other division.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, It's Academic tipped out of third coming to the 28 second opening quarter and forged his way around Ari Ferrari J (Jason Bartlett) on the second turn to take over the top spot. From there, It's Academic kept command through a 57 1/5 half and a 1:25 4/5 three-quarters, then used a 28 second final kicker to defeat Ari Ferrari J by 2 1/2 lengths. Gaines Hanover (Pat Lachance) got third.

A 7-year-old Uncle Peter stallion trained by Ron Burke and owned by Brad Grant, It's Academic won for the 34th time in his career and has now earned $2,677,823. The Dan Patch Award winner for top older male trotter a year ago, It's Academic paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite and was atop a $4.50 exacta and an $11.20 trifecta.

In the other section Take All Comers (Jordan Stratton) led through fractions of 27 3/5, 57 and 1:25, then repelled pocket-sitter and round one victor Chapercraz (Gingras) after he tipped out of the two-hole on the final bend to prevail by a length in 1:54 1/5. Chapercraz wound up second from a gaining Delayed Hanover (Bartlett).

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Trained by Jim Campbell, Take All Comers was bred by owner Runthetable Stables with Chelsea Batelli. The victorious 6-year-old Creatine gelding made his 18th appearance in the winner's circle, has put away $925,741 and returned $6.90 to win as the 2-1 co-second choice. He led a $17.00 exacta and a $159 trifecta.

The MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series prelims will conclude next Friday (November 8), and the $250,000 final is set for November 15. The third leg and the final will be conducted at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

On Monday night (November 4), the companion MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series will commence with a trio of $75,000 flights in races five, seven and nine. Entrants include MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Hellabalou, Breeders Crown Open Pace third-place finisher El Rey, Breeders Crown Open Pace runner-up Seven Colors, Coaches Corner, who was second in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final, Dan Patch Stakes winner Dunkin’ and Verdun, who has won six straight editions of the local Open Pace for 3- to 5-year-olds.

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 like in the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series, leg three and the final are a mile and a sixteenth.

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

--press release (Yonkers)--