Yonkers: This Is The Plan heads Burke quintet in opening Borgata leg

Defending champion This Is The Plan leads a handful of horses from the powerful Ron Burke stable into action on Monday night at Yonkers Raceway in one of five $50,000 divisions in the first leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series. This Is The Plan overcame post eight in dramatic fashion to capture last year's title, and Burke is more than optimistic that the now-7-year-old can continue his form in 2022.

"I was really happy with his last qualifier," said Burke of the 1:51 2/5 performance at the Meadowlands on March 11 that was capped off with a 25 4/5 final quarter. "In the first qualifier we just wanted to get him around the track. Last time I told Yannick [Gingras] to stretch him out a bit in the last three-eighths and he did."

With an excess of $800K earned last year and over $2.5 million lifetime, This Is The Plan is the richest among the 38 entered in the opening leg, and in some ways is starting to resemble the incomparable Foiled Again.

"He's on the same trajectory as Foiled Again," Burke said. "I'm not saying he's Foiled Again, but he's gotten better each year, and it's because he's learned how to win."

In Monday's third race and first division of the Borgata, This Is The Plan will be making his first start of the year from post five and faces a very strong group of horses. Co-track record-holder American History, a former Breeders Crown champion, has prepped nicely for the series at the Meadowlands with two wins in four starts, including a 1:49 4/5 effort on February 26. The Tony Alagna-trained son of American Ideal has more than enough early speed and figures to be able to overcome post seven.

A pair of 4-year-olds are first-time Borgata contenders with Chase H Hanover (post three) and Whichwaytothebeach (post eight), a duo that changed hands over the winter and now attempt to transition from sophomore stakes action into significantly deep waters here.

Burke is hopeful that the 5-year-old campaign for Elver Hanover will be significantly better than last year for the son of Yankee Cruiser.

"He's just the perfect horse," Burke said of Elver Hanover, who prepped for the series with a pair of solid efforts at Northfield Park. "We've been pointing this horse for the series since he was a 3-year-old."

Elver Hanover (post four) will face another 5-year-old that's been improving named Dragon Said (race four). The Jenn Bongiorno-trained Dragon Said has been on the board in all three Open miles this year at Yonkers and has mastered the track, having scored in 1:49 4/5 here among 10 wins in 2021. Dragon Said starts from post five.

Burke is hopeful a different strategy will help Covered Bridge in this series.

"He's very sharp right now," Burke said. "I'm hoping we can get four starts in him over the track." The reference here is that Covered Bridge has the talent but may get worn down by the grind of half-mile track racing.

Burke is optimistic that the 6-year-old by American Ideal is sharp enough to be a major player in the series. Covered Bridge (post six) faces six others in the fifth race third division and is sandwiched between a pair of potential stars in Nicholas Beach (post four) and American Dealer N (post seven).

Nicholas Beach, a 6-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere, has limitless talent but his starts over the half-mile tracks have been limited. American Dealer N made a solid U.S. debut, scoring in 1:49 2/5 at the Meadowlands on March 5. The smallish 5-year-old is expected to handle the half-mile track with ease.

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Western Joe didn't look at his best in last week's tune-up for the Borgata, but it would be wise not to ignore the veteran performer that's closing in on $1 million in career earnings. Western Joe drew the pole position in this division.

The Burke-trained Semi Tough is going to need to be plenty tough to deal with his first-round division (race six).

"He's going to race 30-35 times and make his money," said Burke, speaking long-term rather than about Monday's predicament.

Semi Tough (post four) has power on all sides in the fourth division of the evening, with one of last year's stars Leonidas A (post one) the likely favorite. Leonidas A captured four preliminary legs of the Borgata last year but had an impossible trip in the final and finished off the board.

Captain Barbossa, the 2020 Little Brown Jug champion, may have needed some time to get acclimated after changing hands and moving into the Dan Renaud stable this year. The 5-year-old by Captaintreacherous landed post three and will be in search of his first win in 2022 in just his fourth start.

There's some serious power on the outside of the fourth division field, with co-track record-holder Tattoo Artist (post seven) and the oft-winning import Jacks Legend N (post eight) starting closest to the grandstand. Tattoo Artist has shown imposing gate speed over the Yonkers surface for trainer Chris Ryder. Jacks Legend N was a dominant force at Dover Downs late in the 2021 season and qualified back sharply on March 2 for trainer Josh Green.

Though saddled with the outside post seven in the seventh race and final Borgata division of the opening round, Bee Two Bee may be ready for a big mile.

"We bought him with this series in mind," said Burke of the 5-year-old Sunshine Beach-sired horse that joined the stable last September. "We gave him a little time to freshen up, and I think he'll be ready."

Bee Two Bee flashed high speed over the Yonkers surface, winning in 1:51 2/5 last September.

He landed post seven against a wide-open field that includes Nandolo N (post one) and the rugged veteran Lyons Steel (post six).

Burke has bounced back from some personal adversity, having hurt his ribs in a training incident last month. "I'm doing much better," Burke said. "I actually was able to sit behind five horses training today [Wednesday, March 16].

The sport's leading conditioner had to be up on his feet considering the March 15 deadline for stakes just passed. "I think we stake more than any other stable," Burke said. "We spent something like $800,000, but you have to do that if you want to make $20 million."