Trainer Jared Bako was looking for a few horses to race at MGM Yonkers Raceway this winter. With a stable filled with young horses, Bako wanted to be active and sought help from a former owner. "I texted Stephen Klunowski, who had horses with me a few years back," said Bako. "I asked him if he was going to have anything that could race at Yonkers." A few weeks later Klunowski sent him Coastal Babe N, a 6-year-old daughter of Downbytheseaside that had been imported. Not much time had passed before another horse came to Bako's stable from the Southern Hemisphere with Donegal Luther N arriving. Now, a few months later, Bako's additions have more than lived up to expectations and find themselves amid contenders in a pair of rich stakes events at Yonkers on Friday night (May 8). Coastal Babe N drew post six in the Grade 2 $456,000 MGM Ursula McIntyre Series final, while stablemate Donegal Luther N (post three) vies for top honors in the Grade 2 $478,000 MGM Borgata Series final. The finals, carded as race seven and eight on the Yonkers program, are both scheduled to go at the mile and one-quarter distance, and that suits Bako just fine. "I think they'll be fine going the distance," said Bako, who not only likes the distance but likes the way the races have been spread out this year. "I really like that there was a gap between the last preliminary and the final. I think it helps to get them set up just right." Coastal Babe N may have landed outside the likely prohibitive favorite Louies Girl N (post two) in the McIntyre, but Bako seemed confident that driver Yannick Gingras could put the mare into play. "Yannick's done great job educating both horses," said Bako. "Coastal Babe N can fly off the gate." Indeed, in capturing three of the four legs she competed in, Coastal Babe N was in front early on every occasion. Since arriving in North America, Coastal Babe N has won five of her seven starts and banked $120K. Bako was quick to point out that he had no input into the purchase of either finalist. "I had nothing to do with the purchase at all," said Bako. "They have a great agent that handles that." Both horses arrived ready and were able to compete at the highest level over the half-mile track at Yonkers during a grueling series. Bako, for his part, has done a superb job in keeping them fresh. "When I saw that the final was going to be at a mile and a quarter, I wanted to try to give them a week off somewhere," said Bako. "Fortunately, they both won the first two legs and we were able to skip a week." Coastal Babe N rebounded from her lone defeat in leg four of the McIntyre to score a decisive 1:52 2/5 victory on April 24, holding off multiple-leg winner Tarapasta in the stretch. Friday's McIntyre final should be a test as to which mare can go the distance, with Louies Girl N already proving she can pace a mile quickly, and for a short piece may be as quick as any horse ever to race at Yonkers. The Per Engblom-trained mare has been able to turn it on at will for driver Jason Bartlett and likely enters the final as the prohibitive favorite. Trainer Engblom has a pair, with last year's champion Aardie B Miki N (post eight) getting the worst of the draw, and, unlike a year ago, entering the final with but one preliminary leg victory. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter When Bako sat behind Donegal Luther N in a qualifier at Yonkers (March 6), he questioned whether the 8-year-old son of Bettors Creek would be good on the front-end. Donegal Luther N cut a rated pace and then was out-sprinted late. As it turns out, it was Louies Girl N that went by her male counterpart in that race. Donegal Luther N would go on to win two legs of the series on the front-end and then return in the fifth round (April 27) and win first-over. "I think both of my horses are better chasing than they are on the front-end," said Bako, who wasn't surprised with Donegal Luther N's winning effort in 1:52. Looking towards Friday's contest, Bako has plenty of respect for the quality a caliber of the field but feels his horse has shown enough to go with these. "Mossdale Ben N has been racing great, but he drew outside," said Bako. "Coaches Corner is going to be tough from the rail." Bako was also concerned with Soho Firestone A, a two-leg winner. It's a deep field that also includes Captain Albano, the lone finalist that did not have a win on the front-end throughout the series. Captain Albano drew post four and is likely looking to avenge a defeat in last year's $250,000 MGM Grand Prix final where he was the heavy favorite in the mile and one-quarter event and was overpowered late by Coaches Corner. Mossdale Ben N won last year's edition of this contest racing from off-the-pace, and that may be his fate once again having drawn post seven. The Peter Tritton-trained gelding had two wins and three seconds in the five rounds of action with Jimmy Marohn Jr. in the bike. In addition to Coaches Corner, trainer Engblom has Huntinthelastdolar (post five) and Redwood Hanover (post six) in the field of eight. Howlenthehills (post eight) rounds out the MGM Borgata field. The stakes card at Yonkers, which also includes consolations for both events, gets underway at 6:45 P.M. (EDT). Bako has about 35 horses in training at Mark Ford's center and was quite enthused with the return of Hunt Off The Press to form. "I was really happy with the way he raced in the Paul Revere at Plainridge," said Bako of the second-place finish behind the highly-regarded Brandon Blvd in the $100,000 contest on May 2. "It was a little difficult. We had some issues with him and because of his earnings weren't able to find spots to race him." The son of Huntsville won four of eight starts as one of the leading freshmen in New York. Hunt Off The Press was second in the New York Sire Stakes championship, finishing well back of Fragment from an outside post. "He's on the right track now," Bako said of Hunt Off The Press, "I'll probably race him in the Sire Stakes (May 24 Saratoga) and then go to the North America Cup." Hunt Off The Press earned $288K as a freshman while racing exclusively in New York. American Cheese, another New York-sired horse in the Bako stable, captured the Bobby Weiss final at Pocono in a career-best 1:51 1/5 clocking and will be ready for the New York Sire Stakes where she is eligible.