Yonkers: MGM Ursula McIntyre Series prelims conclude

Coastal Babe N and driver Yannick Gingras went wire-to-wire in 1:52 2/5 in the first of three $50,000 divisions in the fifth and final leg of the MGM Ursula McIntyre Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (April 24), assuring the $200,000 added final on May 8 will be a matchup of two impressive New Zealand imports.

Coastal Babe N out-sprinted four rivals to the front on the first turn and never looked back, cutting rated fractions of 28 seconds and 56 2/5 for the first half-mile. Two-leg winner Tarapasta, with Matt Kakaley, advanced quickly on the backstretch to take up the chase and was able to move into the pocket past the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters as Rocket Deo could not keep with the pace-setter.

A final quarter sprint of 27 3/5 with just mild urging by Gingras assured a safe victory for Coastal Babe N, her third in just four series legs she was entered in. Tarapasta finished second, with Seaside Diva third and Aardie B Miki N, last year's champion, fourth.

Trained by Jared Bako and owned by Kap Singh Racing Stables, Stanley Klunowski, Earl Hill Jr. and Archie MacRae, Coastal Babe N was a winner for the fifth time in seven starts in 2026. As the 4-5 public choice, Coastal Babe N returned $3.90 to win and keyed a $10.18 exacta and a $49.44 trifecta.

Louies Girl N made it four wins in five legs of the McIntyre Series and completed the Kiwi-led final match-up with a brilliant first-over power move that catapulted her to a 1:51 4/5 victory, equaling her career-best effort. Louies Girl N, guided by Jason Bartlett, out-sprinted pace-setter Millwood Bliss N while pacing a 26 4/5 final quarter in the process.

Louies Girl N left strongly from the pole but yielded to Walkin On Sunshine and Scott Zeron late on the first turn. Millwood Bliss N, a two-leg winner with Dexter Dunn, was quick to dispute the top and took over at the 27 4/5 first quarter marker. Millwood Bliss N cut a rated 56 3/5 half and was on her way to a 1:25 three-quarters when Bartlett pulled the 1-20 favored Louies Girl N and quickly challenged for supremacy.

The two mares were eye-to-eye through the final turn, but Louies Girl N disposed of the leader and cruised to victory. Walkin On Sunshine rallied for the second spot over Millwood Bliss N, with Turn The Page N fourth across the wire.

Trained by Per Engblom, who is hoping to go back-to-back in this series following Aardie B Miki N's standout effort in the 2025 edition of the race then known as the Blue Chip Matchmaker, Louies Girl N is owned by Peaceful Acres Farm. As the prohibitive favorite, Louies Girl N returned $2.10 to win and keyed a $2.90 exacta and a $8.76 trifecta.

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Tick A Loch A and Jordan Stratton surprised in the final $50,000 division, and in doing so the Australian-bred locked up a spot in the final. Tick A Lock A came overland off a quick pace and collared pace-setter Bath Bomb in the final strides in a 1:52 clocking.

Silk Cloud A, the 3-5 choice with Lauren Tritton, left alertly for the lead with Bath Bomb and Andrew McCarthy to her outer flank. Silk Cloud A took over off the first turn and parked Bath Bomb to the sizzling opening fraction of 26 4/5. McCarthy tried to rate Bath Bomb as best he could, but the daughter of Lather Up set hot fractions of 54 4/5 and 1:23 2/5 on her own.

Stratton had Tick A Loch A on the move off the third turn, and she advanced slowly through the third quarter and then got close to Bath Bomb on the final turn. Dougs Babe A and Dexter Dunn slipped out behind the winner and tried to rally, but Tick A Loch A was determined and drove by Bath Bomb for the victory. Dougs Babe A settled for third with Silk Cloud A fourth.

Tick A Loch A had bookend victories in the series, winning in round one and now the final for trainer Chris Height and owner Michael Cassalino Jr. As a 7-1 offering Tick A Loch A returned $16.56 to win, leading an exacta worth $63.18 and trifecta payout of $356. A 6-year-old by Always B Miki, Tick A Loch A has four wins in 10 starts in 2026.

With the MGM Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series prelims now complete, the mares that have unofficially advanced to May 8th's final are:

Louies Girl N (350 points)
Tarapasta (300 points)
Coastal Babe N (275 points)
Millwood Bliss N (245 points)
Seaside Diva (245 points)
Tick A Loch A (233 points)
Silk Cloud A (225 points)
Aardie B Miki N (221 points)

That program on May 8 will also have the $200,000 (added) final of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolations for both the McIntyre and the Borgata. The field for the Borgata championship will be set after a trio of $50,000 splits on Monday (April 27).

MGM Yonkers Raceway is now operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time at 6:45 p.m. (EDT) except on Saturdays when it is 3:30 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Yonkers)--