Yonkers: Take All Comers earns millionaire status by taking MGM Grand Prix final

Take All Comers went over the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings after capturing the inaugural $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final on Friday night (November 15) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. The time for the mile and a sixteenth was 2:01 4/5.

Driven by Jordan Stratton and sent off as the 8-5 favorite, Take All Comers left out quickly from post five, but It's Academic (David Miller) also showed speed from post six, and It's Academic worked his way around Take All Comers for the top spot past the 26 4/5 quarter. Behind them, Ari Ferrari J (Jason Bartlett) landed third and Chapercraz (Yannick Gingras) found a seat on the cones in front of Delayed Hanover (Dexter Dunn).

Heading to the half, which Miller and It's Academic backed down to just 57 seconds, Ari Ferrari J was sent first-over, and that provided cover to Chapercraz and Delayed Hanover. However, Ari Ferrari J made a break entering the third turn, leaving Chapercraz first-over against fellow Ron Burke trainee It's Academic. Chapercraz made some gains on the rim as they trotted to the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, but he stalled out on the final bend.

After Chapercraz began to fade late on the far turn, that left It's Academic and Take All Comers to decide it. It's Academic came off the pylons in the stretch, and that gave Stratton the room he was looking for, but Take All Comers still had to have the trot to go with it to chase down last year's Dan Patch Award winner for older trotting males. It came right down to the final stride, but Take All Comers was able to get up and defeat It's Academic by a head, with Delayed Hanover third. Chapercraz and Pappardelle (George Brennan) rounded out the top five.

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"He leaves just as fast as a pacer, especially with the mile and a sixteenth and the extra distance to the first turn. That was the winning spot. I just needed some racing room," Stratton remarked post-race. "There was a lot of yellow (Burke horses) around me. I didn't know if I'd find room or not, but the horse dug in through the lane, and he beat a really good horse at the wire. I didn't know if I was going to get there, but he really put his head down and dug right down by the wire.

"Being the home track, it's a good feeling (to win)."

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 20th appearance in the winner's circle, has put away $1,078,866 and returned $5.50 to win. He led a $19.00 exacta and a $98.50 trifecta.

--press release (Yonkers)--