North American News - Insider Edition 30th April

Borgata and Ursula Series Set For Showdown After Strong Prelims

The road to one of the bigger nights on the Yonkers calendar is now complete, with the preliminary rounds of both the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and MGM Ursula McIntyre Series wrapped up and attention turning firmly to finals night on May 8.

The final leg of the Borgata Series delivered exactly what it promised, high quality racing and a clear picture of the contenders heading into the decider.

Huntinthelastdolar stamped himself as a major player with a tough, grinding win, holding off strong challenges on both sides to take his division in 1:51.3. It was a performance that highlighted both his speed and resilience heading into a final of this depth.

Donegal Luther N was equally impressive, sustaining a long run on the outside before asserting control late. It was a professional effort that suggested he is peaking at the right time.

Meanwhile, after finishing high up in the table, Mossdale Ben will be looking to repeat last years Borgata final win where he came from back in the field to sweep home and win in 1:51.2

Borgata Final Standings (Top 8)

• Huntinthelastdolar – 308
• Mossdale Ben N – 300
• Redwood Hanover – 283
• Soho Firestone A – 262
• Donegal Luther N – 262
• Captain Albano – 253
• Howlenthehills – 249
• Coaches Corner – 233

It’s a deep and evenly matched lineup, and tactically the final shapes as one where positioning will be critical.

Kiwi Influence Strong In Ursula McIntyre Series

Across in the mares division, the MGM Ursula McIntyre Series has been dominated by a strong group of performers, particularly those with Southern Hemisphere roots.

Louies Girl N heads into the final as the standout after a dominant series, winning four of five legs and showing versatility with both front-running and powerful mid-race moves.

Coastal Babe N has also been ultra-consistent, while Tarapasta and Tick A Loch A add further depth to a highly competitive field .

With multiple winning chances and varied racing styles, the mares final looks just as open if not more so than the Borgata.

MGM Ursula McIntyre Series Standings (Top 8)

• 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)

Both series now take a short break this week, allowing connections to fine-tune their runners ahead of what promises to be a high-stakes, high-intensity finals night at Yonkers Raceway.

With $200,000 finals for both divisions (plus consolations), the stage is set for one of the strongest programs of the season.

Oak Grove Features Add Another Layer Of Quality

While Yonkers pauses, the spotlight shifts to Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel where the inaugural Trotting Derby and Trotting Oaks eliminations take centre stage.

The inaugural editions of the $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby, a 3-year-old open, and $300,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies, lured 19 entrants and 27 entrants, respectively, for a total of six eliminations on Monday (May 4) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel – a day featuring over $600,000 in purses.

With the top three from each elimination progressing to the rich finals on May 16, these races are far from mere lead ups, they are fiercely contested qualifiers where early speed, manners and tactical driving will all be tested.

For complete Monday Oak Grove race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Bevan Greig for Harnesslink