New Zealand imports rule in final leg of MGM Ursula McIntyre Series

Coastal Babe N (Downbytheseaside) and driver Yannick Gingras went wire-to-wire in 1:52.2 in the first of three $50,000 divisions in the fifth and final harness racing leg of the MGM Ursula McIntyre Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (April 24), assuring the $200,000 added final on May 8 will be a matchup of two impressive New Zealand imports.

Coastal Babe N out-sprinted four rivals to the front on the first turn and never looked back, cutting rated fractions of 28 seconds and 56.2 for the first half-mile. Two-leg winner Tarapasta, with Matt Kakaley, advanced quickly on the backstretch to take up the chase and was able to move into the pocket past the 1:24.4 three-quarters as Rocket Deo could not keep with the pace-setter.

A final quarter sprint of 27.3 with just mild urging by Gingras assured a safe victory for Coastal Babe N, her third in just four series legs she was entered in. Tarapasta finished second, with Seaside Diva third and Aardie B Miki N, last year’s champion, fourth.

COASTAL BABE N REPLAY

Trained by Jared Bako and owned by Kap Singh Racing Stables, Stanley Klunowski, Earl Hill Jr. and Archie MacRae, Coastal Babe N was a winner for the fifth time in seven starts in 2026. As the 4-5 public choice, Coastal Babe N returned $3.90 to win and keyed a $10.18 exacta and a $49.44 trifecta.

Louies Girl N (Lord Forbes) made it four wins in five legs of the McIntyre Series and completed the Kiwi-led final match-up with a brilliant first-over power move that catapulted her to a 1:51.4 victory, equaling her career-best effort. Louies Girl N, guided by Jason Bartlett, out-sprinted pace-setter Millwood Bliss N while pacing a 26.4 final quarter in the process.

Louies Girl N left strongly from the pole but yielded to Walkin On Sunshine and Scott Zeron late on the first turn. Millwood Bliss N, a two-leg winner with Dexter Dunn, was quick to dispute the top and took over at the 27.5 first quarter marker. Millwood Bliss N cut a rated 56.3 half and was on her way to a 1:25 three-quarters when Bartlett pulled the 1-20 favored Louies Girl N and quickly challenged for supremacy.

The two mares were eye-to-eye through the final turn, but Louies Girl N disposed of the leader and cruised to victory. Walkin On Sunshine rallied for the second spot over Millwood Bliss N, with Turn The Page N fourth across the wire.

LOUIES GIRL REPLAY

Trained by Per Engblom, who is hoping to go back-to-back in this series following Aardie B Miki N’s standout effort in the 2025 edition of the race then known as the Blue Chip Matchmaker, Louies Girl N is owned by Peaceful Acres Farm. As the prohibitive favorite, Louies Girl N returned $2.10 to win and keyed a $2.90 exacta and a $8.76 trifecta.

Tick A Loch A and Jordan Stratton surprised in the final $50,000 division, and in doing so the Australian-bred locked up a spot in the final. Tick A Lock A came overland off a quick pace and collared pace-setter Bath Bomb in the final strides in a 1:52 clocking.

Silk Cloud A, the 3-5 choice with Lauren Tritton, left alertly for the lead with Bath Bomb and Andrew McCarthy to her outer flank. Silk Cloud A took over off the first turn and parked Bath Bomb to the sizzling opening fraction of 26.4. McCarthy tried to rate Bath Bomb as best he could, but the daughter of Lather Up set hot fractions of 54.4 and 1:23.2 on her own.

Stratton had Tick A Loch A on the move off the third turn, and she advanced slowly through the third quarter and then got close to Bath Bomb on the final turn. Dougs Babe A and Dexter Dunn slipped out behind the winner and tried to rally, but Tick A Loch A was determined and drove by Bath Bomb for the victory. Dougs Babe A settled for third with Silk Cloud A fourth.

TICK A LOCH A REPLAY

Tick A Loch A had bookend victories in the series, winning in round one and now the final for trainer Chris Height and owner Michael Cassalino Jr. As a 7-1 offering Tick A Loch A returned $16.56 to win, leading an exacta worth $63.18 and trifecta payout of $356. A 6-year-old by Always B Miki, Tick A Loch A has four wins in 10 starts in 2026.

With the MGM Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series prelims now complete, the mares that have unofficially advanced to May 8th’s final are:

Louies Girl N (350 points)
Tarapasta (300 points)
Coastal Babe N (275 points)
Millwood Bliss N (245 points)
Seaside Diva (245 points)
Tick A Loch A (233 points)
Silk Cloud A (225 points)
Aardie B Miki N (221 points)

That program on May 8 will also have the $200,000 (added) final of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolations for both the McIntyre and the Borgata. The field for the Borgata championship will be set after a trio of $50,000 splits on Monday (April 27).

MGM Yonkers Raceway is now operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time at 6:45 p.m. (EDT) except on Saturdays when it is 3:30 p.m. (EDT).

From Yonkers Raceway