$36,000 co-feature Opens at Yonkers

The spotlight will be on many of the top older pacers in harness racing as MGM Yonkers Raceway hosts two $36,000 Opens Monday night (Feb. 27).

Many of the horses in both divisions are prepping for the start of the MGM Borgata Racing Series that feature five weeks of $50,000 preliminary round competition culminating with a $500,000-pus final in April.

The first division is the 5 race where it’s a wide-open affair with three return winners in the field.

Covered Bridge (American Ideal) is the mild 4-1 race favorite from post four for driver Jordan Stratton. The seven-year-old gelding has two wins in 2023, scoring last week at Yonkers in 1:51.4.

Undefeated Australian champion, Lochinvar Art A (Modern Art), puts his two-race win streak on the line for driver Lauren Tritton, but drew the far outside post eight Monday. The million-dollar career winner is listed at 6-1 odds.

The third return winner in the field is Nicholas Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) from post seven for driver Joe Bongiorno. The seven-year-old gelding comes into the race off an impressive 1:49 triumph, the last quarter in :25.4. That was his first win in three starts this year. He is listed at morning line odds of 7-1.

Also in the field are Bee Two Bee (post 1), Lou’s Sweetrevenge (post 2), Jahan Hanover (post 3), The Ideal Dancer A (post 5) and Priceless Beach (post 6).

The 8 race second Open division will see one of two top pacers, Funatthebeach N (Somebeachsomewhere) and Idealsomemagic A (American Ideal), both put their winning streaks on the line.

Funatthebeach N is last year’s $549,000 MGM Borgata Series Final winner. The nine-year-old gelding won ten times in 2022 and is on a three-race win streak this season. He has won four straight races in five starts in 2023, all at Yonkers, and will be driven by Jordan Stratton.

Stratton had his choice of horses to drive in the race and took Funatthebeach N over Idealsomemagic A.

Idealsomemagic A is on a five-race win streak, with all five wins coming in just six starts this season. He will be driven for the first time by George Brennan.

The 3-1 race favorite is Nandolo N (Betterthancheddar) from post two for driver Jason Barlett. He is coming off a sick scratch, but prior has won two of his four starts on the year.

Leonidas A (Mach Three) is another standout horse who last year won 11 times and now sports career earnings of $882,000. He starts from post three for driver Austin Siegelman and is making only his second start this year.

Other contenders include Oakwoodnitownit Ir (post 1), Semi Tough (post 4) and Backstreet Sahdow (post 5).

For a free race program for Monday night, .