Yonkers: Warrawee Yang cleans up in John Brennan Trotting Series final

Warrawee Yang finished off a sweep of this year's edition of the John Brennan Trotting Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway by winning Thursday night's (May 2) $78,000 final in 1:55 2/5. This was Warrawee Yang's eighth consecutive victory overall.

Starting from post six and dispatched as the 4-5 favorite, Warrawee Yang showed speed for driver Yannick Gingras and worked up two-wide to take the top spot away from Tachyon (Jason Bartlett) right at the 28 1/5 opening quarter. Gingras then slammed on the brakes in the second quarter to reach the half in just 58 1/5, giving Warrawee Yang plenty left in the tank to rebuff a first-over bid by Resolve To Win (Tyler Buter) to the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters and around the final bend.

Resolve To Win faded late on the far turn, which gave Bartlett space to tip Tachyon to the outside for the stretch drive. He did gain some ground to the wire, but it wasn't enough, as Warrawee Yang scored by a comfortable length and a quarter. By The Book (Jay Randall) came in third, followed by Resolve To Win and Ferretti (Matt Kakaley).

A 4-year-old son of Trixton, Warrawee Yang was sent out by trainer Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He is a 16-time winner in his career, has pocketed $207,926 and paid $3.90 to win. The exacta was $11.80 and the trifecta kicked back $35.60.

Gingras and Burke also won the $35,000 series consolation #1 with 1-5 choice Sea Can in 1:54 4/5. Sea Can made a first-over move out of the fourth spot heading to the 57 3/5 half, advanced uncovered toward leader Immanuel K S (Bartlett), and then forged his way past him after the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters. Sea Can was able to clear and slide back down to the pylons on the last turn, and he sailed to the wire from there to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths over Mohatu As (Kakaley), with Cassius Hanover (Pat Lachance) back in third.

Also owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Sea Can is a 5-year-old Muscle Mass gelding. He has a summary of 13-11-3 from 50 trips behind the gate, has earned $223,649 and returned $2.60 to win. He was atop a $15 exacta and a $73.50 trifecta.

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Coventry Hall (Bartlett) was a 1:56 2/5 victor in the $25,000 series consolation #2. He was able to get to the point from post seven without much difficulty and clicked off fractions of 28 1/5, 58 1/5 and 1:26 3/5. Cal Miles N Shell (Jim Marohn Jr.) angled out of the pocket as they raced off the last turn and had dead-aim at Coventry Hall through the lane, but his rally came up half a length short. Black Tie Bash (Lachance) moved from sixth to third in the final quarter.

Per Engblom trains Coventry Hall, a 7-year-old gelded son of Cash Hall, for owner Enghavegaard Aalborg Aps. He made his eighth appearance in the winner's circle, has banked $188,518 and paid $8.10 to win as the 3-1 third choice. He keyed a $60.50 exacta and a $186.50 trifecta.

The John Brennan Trotting Series is named in honor of the longtime SOA of NY horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020. The series was for 3-year-olds and older who were non-winners of six pari-mutuel races or $200,000 through Feb. 1, 2024, with winners over $250,000 as of that date not eligible.

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

--press release (Yonkers)--