Trainer Travis Alexander won the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final for 3-year-old male pacers at MGM Yonkers Raceway for a third time and swept the exacta in Friday night's (June 28) $225,000 edition of the first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, as Sweet Beach Life rallied past stablemate Howlenthehills for a 1:53.1 victory.

Elimination winner Janelle Granny, driven by George Brennan, went to the lead from post six and cut an opening quarter in 27.2 with Lou's World (Todd McCarthy) in the pocket, followed by elimination winner Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley) and Armada Hanover (Tim Tetrick). Janelle Granny would remained unpressured to the half in 56.2, but Kakaley guided Howlenthehills first-up shortly after that marker, and he would be tracked in the outer tier by Armada Hanover, Sweet Beach Life (Tyler Buter) and Wish You Well (Scott Zeron).

Howlenthehills made steady progress on the outside to get side-by-side with Janelle Granny at the 1:24.4 three-quarters, and their duel would continue around the final bend, with Tetrick sending Armada Hanover three-wide late on the turn and Buter fanning Sweet Beach Life out four-wide.

In the stretch Howlenthehills forged his way into the top spot as Janelle Granny tired, but Sweet Beach Life had the best kick to the wire and was up to take the race by half a length. Howlenthehills out-lasted Armada Hanover for second and Lou's World, who had to move out to get past the tiring Janelle Granny and then swung back to the inside, had to settle for fourth. Wish You Well came on to get fifth.

"They filled me in on the horse. He drove perfect, couldn't ask for more," said Buter, who picked up the drive on Sweet Beach Life when Kakaley opted to stick with Howlenthehills after he qualified both for the final. "Matt told me just keep him quiet, and he'll have a good kick coming home. He wasn't kidding. He's nice to drive, and he got the job done."

A Sweet Lou gelding bred by Sergent Stables LLC., Sweet Beach Life is trained by Alexander for owner A Sweet Beach Life Stable. He has a summary of 5-3-3 from 17 outings, has put away $189,732 and paid $15.40 to win as the 6-1 fourth choice. He keyed a $41.80 exacta and a $174.50 trifecta.

"That's pretty cool. We've always thought really highly of this colt. He just is his own worst enemy," said Travis Alexander's wife Alaina, who assists in the training of the stable. "We couldn't ask for a better drive."

Sophomore pacing fillies took to the track in the companion event to the MGM Grand Messenger, the $90,000 Park MGM Pace, and Camerican (Yannick Gingras), got up from the pocket to defeat 1-5 favorite and pace-setter Peace Talks in a 1:54.2 mile. Leanne's Choice (Marcus Miller) was third.

Ron Burke trains Camerican, a daughter of American Ideal, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Larry Karr, M1 Stable LLC. and Jack Piatt III. Bred by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., M1 Stable LLC. and Piatt, Camerican made her fifth trip to the winner's circle, has now earned $346,332 and returned $6.80 to win as the 2-1 second choice. The exacta was worth $11.80 and the trifecta kicked back $43.40.

"I drove her once last year in Kentucky and she won in 1:50.3 and I raced her in the Breeders Crown," remarked Gingras. "We got a good trip and it worked out. She finished third in the Breeders Crown last year. I don't know if she can race much better than those. She raced the best fillies in the country and finished third, so I think she's a nice horse.

"I felt really confident. I think that's her kind of trip. She likes to follow a little bit, and obviously following that one was the right one."

Race favorites Howlenthehills and Janelle Granny emerged victorious from the pair of $25,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes eliminations for sophomore colt and gelding pacers on Friday night (June 21) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Captain Skippy (Dexter Dunn) blasted to the front from the outside post seven in the opening elimination, but then he made a break on the first turn. When Captain Skippy broke, Dunn took him to the outside, but Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley) was out there, too, and Howlenthehills was forced five-wide to get around him. After moving past the confusion, Howlenthehills advanced quickly and was able to get to the top in front of Bonaparte (Andy McCarthy), who had also been bothered by the breaker, nearing the 28.2 quarter-mile station.

Howlenthehills continued on the point through fractions of 57 seconds to the half and 1:25.1 to three-quarters and got separation from his pursuers on the last turn. In the stretch Armada Hanover (Tim Tetrick) was cut loose three-wide off the dull cover of Escape To America (Jason Bartlett) and finished full of pace to the wire, but Howlenthehills had a big enough jump on Armada Hanover to hold on and get the victory by a head in 1:53.3. Lou's World (Todd McCarthy) also closed well after angling out off an inside trip and was third and Escape To America also moved on to the final.

A New York-sired gelding by American Ideal, Howlenthehills, a Travis Alexander trainee, was bred by Crawford Farms and is owned by Symmetry Stables LLC. After going winless in eight tries as a 2-year-old, Howlenthehills is six-for-six in 2024 and has pocketed $191,981 lifetime. He paid $3.10 to win as the 1-2 choice and keyed a $13.80 exacta and a $54.50 trifecta.

In the other elimination Bet On Mac (Bartlett), Huntingforchrome (Tyler Buter) and Janelle Granny (Tetrick) were all quick off the gate. Huntingforchrome would press on around Bet On Mac before the 27.1 quarter, then yielded to sit behind Janelle Granny, who raced in the North America Cup final six nights prior, after that marker. Once in control, Janelle Granny clocked the half in 56 seconds, but would be challenged by a first-over Mr Three O Five (Yannick Gingras) on the way to the 1:24.4 three-quarters.

Janelle Granny was able to withstand Mr Three O Five's bid on the last turn, then got a bit of a gap on the others coming off the bend after putting him away for good. Sweet Beach Life (Kakaley) tracked Mr Sweet O Five from second-over and did kick home strongly after swinging to the outside, he couldn't reach Janelle Granny, coming up a neck short. Mr Three O Five hung around to get third after getting rebuffed and Wish You Well got third to grab a spot in the final.

Scott Di Domenico trains Janelle Granny, a Fear The Dragon colt bred by Larry Miller, for owner Betty Clegg. Janelle Granny has nine wins, 11 seconds and a third from 25 tries, has earned $302,186 and returned $4.10 to win as the even-money choice. The exacta was worth $16.00 and the trifecta kicked back $34.40.

The finals of the MGM Grand Messenger and MGM Yonkers Trot will take place on Friday, June 28 and will be joined by their companion filly events - the Park MGM for pacers and the New York New York Mile for trotters. Fans attending the races live on June 28 will be treated to an outdoor market on the track apron. An integration of the casino and track worlds will take place as patrons from both sides of the gambling world will be welcomed to enjoy special food stands, live music and other promotional items as part of a Triple Crown Fan Fest.

Captain Batboy hits a home run in MGM Grand Messenger final

Jul 3

Captain Batboy and driver Jordan Stratton made every call a winning one, capturing the $250,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the first jewel of Pacing's Triple Crown at Yonkers Raceway on Friday night in a sparkling 1:57.4 clocking for the mile and one-sixteenth distance. A son of Captainreacherous, Captain Batboy, a winner of just $94,468 entering the race, more than doubled his earnings for owner Joseph Smith and trainer Tom Fanning.

With 10 horses in the field the Messenger was turned into an added-distance affair, hoping to balance out the odds for the trailers. The action was hot and heavy with the longer run into the first turn as Strengthfromabove and Yannick Gingras jetted to the front followed by American Fling and top pilot Jason Bartlett. American Fling had the lead early, but Captain Batboy and Stratton used most of the quarter before clearing in a wicked opening fraction of 26 seconds.

The 7-5 favored Seven Colors pulled early on the second turn for Tim Tetrick hoping to fish out cover, and he was followed by It's a Me Mario and Bamboozler, with the latter two racing parked out from the outset. Annapolis Hanover and driver Hunter Myers saw Tetrick coming and pulled late on the second turn to challenge for the front. With all the jostling for position behind him, Stratton was able to stall the second quarter to get to the half in just 54.3, and that was too slow for some, including Strengthfromabove and Gingras, who was parallel to the ground while trying to keep his horse safely in the three-hole. Tyler Buter had even more trouble following fourth along the pylons with Thunder Hunter Joe and briefly veered off following the half but did not interfere with It's A Me Mario, with Brian Sears steering around the potential incident and losing no ground.

The outer flow stalled as Stratton kept the motor running on Captain Batboy as he passed three-quarters in 1:22.4 and fought off pressure from Annapolis Hanover. Seven Colors came wide, as did Bamboozler for Dexter Dunn, but neither was able to fire, leaving the top three along the pylons with freedom to pace as hard as necessary. Gingras angled Strengthfromabove to the outside late on the final turn and made a race of it, but after passing the mile marker in 1:50.4, Captain Batboy still had a final sixteenth of seven seconds to his credit and held his rival at bay for the biggest win of his young career. Strengthfromabove was a clear second, with Thunder Hunter Joe pacing home well for third. American Fling, the early leader, faded to fourth, with Joemikiyoursofine never leaving the pylons and gaining the fifth check.

Pleaseletmeknow triumphs in MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final

July 1 - For the second straight year, owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables, trainer Travis Alexander, and driver Matt Kakaley won the $261,730 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway to begin the Triple Crown of Pacing for 3-year-old colts and geldings, with Pleaseletmeknow prevailing from first-up in 1:51.3.

It would be favorite Gulf Shores (Yannick Gingras) who set the pace in the event, carving out fractions of 27, 55.4, and 1:24 after going to the front from post four. Pleaseletmeknow and Kakaley grabbed a seat in fourth from post seven, went first-over after the half, and advanced into second on the way to three-quarters.

Gulf Shores managed to keep Pleaseletmeknow at bay on the last turn, but Pleaseletmeknow surged by the tempo-setter in mid-stretch and went on to tally by a length. Gulf Shores had to settle for second over Captain Cowboy (Dexter Dunn), who tipped out in the lane after a pocket trip and closed well.

"My gameplan was just to push and hope for a spot. If Yannick was getting around Dexter too easy, maybe we were going to have to push the pace a little bit, but it went the way I thought it would," remarked Kakaley. "Dexter protected the two-hole and we found a spot in fourth. I was pretty confident once we could be first-over. This colt, he doesn't give up. He's just a little fella, but he gets around a half so good. The half-mile track is probably a little bit to his advantage."

Pleaseletmeknow is an American Ideal gelding, and he has eight victories from 13 career starts. He pushed his bankroll to $362,324 and paid $9.40 to win. He was on top of a $19.20 exacta and a $50.50 trifecta.

"He's come along in a big way. Last year, he was awful training down, and we didn't stake him very much," said Alexander, who conditioned American Courage to victory in the 2021 edition of the MGM Grand Messenger. "Once he saw the starting gate he took off.

"He's got the (New York) sire stakes, he's got the race at Pocono (Max Hempt), and we might talk about taking him to the Little Brown Jug. We'll see."  

Gulf Shores, Pleaseletmeknow victorious in MGM Grand Messenger elims

Jun 25

Gulf Shores and Pleaseletmeknow will lead the field into next Friday night's (July 1) MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers after taking tonight's (June 24) $40,000 eliminations at Yonkers Raceway.

Driven by Yannick Gingras in the opening elimination, Gulf Shores left from post three and worked his way past Captain Cowboy (Dexter Dunn) to take over the lead before the 27.1 opening quarter. Gingras then hit the brakes in the second quarter and got to the half in just 57 seconds before having to pick up the tempo to 1:25 at three-quarters in order to deal with a bit of first-over pressure from Layton Hanover (Matt Kakaley).

Layton Hanover's bid ended on the final turn, and he dropped back, giving Captain Cowboy space to tip out in an attempt to chase down Gulf Shores. Captain Cowboy was able to gain, but it wasn't enough as Gulf Shores held on to prevail by a head in 1:52.4. Nautical Hanover (Todd McCarthy) sat on the cones in the three-hole and wound up third, and PJ Lou (Jason Bartlett) was able to close from last to fourth in the final quarter to secure a position in the final.

"I was very happy with him. Even with the margin, Yannick said he had plenty left," said winning trainer Brian Brown.

A Downbytheseaside colt bred by Joe Sbrocco, Joe McLead, and William Walters and owned by Country Club Acres Inc., Diamond Creek Racing, and Wingfield Brothers LLC., Gulf Shores has a record of 8-3-1 from 13 starts and has earned $543,867. He paid $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite and led an $8.90 exacta and a $19.60 trifecta.

In the other elimination, Pleaseletmeknow (Kakaley) made every call a winning one in a 1:52 performance. He blasted out from post four and made an uncontested lead after Market Based (Andy McCarthy) broke stride on the first turn. After stepping off fractions of 28.1, 57, and 1:24.2, Pleaseletmeknow remained clear in a 27.3 last quarter, tallying by 2 3/4 lengths over Hammering Hank (Dunn), who saved ground on the inside, angled out on the last turn, and out-kicked pocket-sitter Atlas Hanover (T. McCarthy) for second. Huntanover (Tyler Buter) was fourth.

Travis Alexander trains Pleaseletmeknow, an American Ideal gelding, for owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC. These are the same connections as last year's MGM Grand Messenger Stakes champion, American Courage. Pleaseletmeknow is now a seven-time winner from 12 trips behind the gate, he has now pocketed $231,459, he was dispatched at 5-1, and he returned $13.00. The exacta was worth $37.00 and the trifecta kicked back $143.00.

The open draw for the $259,230 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final will take place on Monday.

American Courage fends off Charlie May in MGM Grand Messenger

Jul 3

photos by Darragh Riordan

American Courage picked up the most significant win of his career to date by scoring a 1:51.4 decision in Friday night’s $500,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final, the first leg of the Triple Crown of Pacing for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Starting from post six over a Yonkers Raceway surface left sloppy by persistent, steady rainfall, American Courage pressed on two-wide under the direction of Matt Kakaley and forged his way by early leader Charlie May (Brett Miller) past the 27 second opening quarter. After working to get command, Kakaley was able to get American Courage a nice breather in the second quarter, as the half went on the board in 56.3.

As the colts and geldings passed the half-mile point, driver Brian Sears sent Chase H Hanover first-over from the fourth spot, and that would give a second-over trip to Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy), who was able to tuck into fifth after floating away from post eight. Chase H Hanover was able to get into second on the rim racing to the 1:24.1 three-quarters, but that was as far as he could go as American Courage repelled his bid.

On the far turn Abuckabett Hanover made a break, ending any chance he had, and then in the lane Chase H Hanover faded, giving Charlie May the path to the outside he was looking for. After getting clear, Charlie May did rally and gain, but it wasn’t enough as American Courage held sway to win by half a length. Chase H Hanover did save third, with Simon Says Hanover (Scott Zeron) and I’ll Drink To That (Dexter Dunn) completing the top-five finishers.

"He's a special colt. If they were going to duke it out a little bit, I would have just laid in there and waited, but Brett got a pretty easy lead, so I didn't want him to get soft fractions,” remarked Kakaley. “I moved to the front, and he was so strong. I kicked the plugs at the top of the stretch, and he just exploded. That's the first time I pulled the plugs all year. (Charlie May) was coming close, but I wasn't that worried."

An American Ideal colt trained by Travis Alexander for owner-breeder Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC., American Courage won for the 11th time in 12 career starts, and he has now put away $468,633. The 6-5 favorite, American Courage paid $4.50 to win. The exacta also returned $4.50, and the trifecta was worth $22.30.

"To me, it was unbelievable just because the track is horrendous and to have to work like that through the first turn to make the front. Matt had it under control - all the confidence in Matt and what he did, and the horse responded. It was a great race. Charlie May raced unbelievable,” said Alexander. “I knew (he had it) in the last turn because I saw what Matt was doing; he was jamming, making it a sprint, and I know my horse is quicker than people give him credit for. It worked out. He needed to do that with the half-mile racing, that strategy, and that's the way it went. 

"It feels good. I’m happy for the owner. He puts so much money into the game and deserves this win. This will probably be his last start at Yonkers for a while. Now we move on to bigger things. Meadowlands Pace elims next, and then away we go."

Favorites score in MGM Grand Messenger & Park MGM Pace elims

Jun 26

American Courage just missed the track record by a fifth of a second and Abuckabett Hanover overcame troubles on the turns to win the two $40,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes eliminations for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Driver Matt Kakaley had American Courage on the engine at the 27.4 opening quarter in the first elimination, and after taking command, he went on to the half in 56 seconds. It was at that point that Heart Of Chewbacca (Dan Noble) made a first-over move out of last, and that bid would carry him into second before the 1:23.4 three-quarters. However, his bid stalled on the final turn as American Courage kicked on and came home in 27 seconds to win by a length and a quarter in 1:50.4. Charlie May (Brett Miller) tucked into third from post seven, rode the rail, and rallied to finish a good second, with Chase H Hanover (Brian Sears) third and Simon Says Hanover (Scott Zeron) getting the last spot in the final.

Sired by American Ideal, American Courage is trained by Travis Alexander for owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC. American Courage made his tenth stop in the winner's circle from 11 trips behind the gate, and he has pocketed $218,633. The even-money favorite, American Courage paid $4.00 to win and keyed a $13.50 exacta and an $87.75 trifecta.

Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) was the headliner of a 1-9 entry in the second elimination, but his chances didn't look very good on the first turn as he veered to the right and lugged out several paths. Fortunately, there was nobody alongside him and McCarthy was able to bring him down to the rail in fourth as I'll Drink To That (Dexter Dunn) led the group to the 28.1 opening quarter.

I'll Drink To That stayed in charge to the 56.2 half and the 1:24.1 three-quarters, but Abuckabett Hanover was making steady first-over gains. Abuckabett Hanover did try to get out on the final bend again, but McCarthy managed to keep his charge fairly straight, and then in the lane the others were no match, as Abuckabett Hanover sailed by I'll Drink To That while in-hand, tallying by a length and a quarter in 1:51.3. I'll Drink To That held second over Highlandbeachsbest (Zeron), with Mysweetboymax (Jason Bartlett) fourth.

Tony Alagna trains Abuckabett Hanover, a Hanover Shoe Farms-bred Betting Line colt, for the partnership of Crawford Farms Racing, Alagna Racing LLC., Jablonsky Held Stable, and Barbara N. Wienick Stable. Now four-for-four as a sophomore, Abuckabett Hanover is an eight-time winner overall, and he has put away $255,021. He returned $2.20 to win and led a $2.10 exacta and an $8.10 trifecta.

Bettor's Wish & Aflame Hanover Win Elims for The 64th Messenger Stakes

Aug 25

YONKERS, NY — It was a ‘Non-Bettor’s Wish’ Saturday night (Aug. 24th) during Yonkers Raceway’s eliminations for the 64th Messenger Stakes.

Bettor’s Wish (Dexter Dunn), the lone $30,000 supplemental entrant into the second jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown, summarily disposed of his five rivals in a non-wagering elim.

A pole-sitting second early in the $40,000 off-the-card elim, Bettor’s Wish took over from American Mercury (Tyler Buter) before a 28-second opening quarter-mile. After a pedestrian, 58-second intermission, Escapetothebeach (Corey Callahan) tried it first-up from fourth.

Bettor’s Wish led through a 1:26.1 three-quarters, eventually holding off American Mercury by a half-length in 1:53.2.

Escapetothebeach backed away but held third, with Branquinho (Jason Bartlett) fourth. That quartet goes into next Saturday night’s (Aug. 31st) $500,000 finale of the Messenger. Lyons Johnnyjnr (Dan Dube) and Captain Trevor (Jordan Stratton) completed the order.

Bettor’s Wish, a Bettor’s Delight colt has hit the board in 22-of-23 career tries (13 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, $1,131,600). He now has eight wins and three seconds) in 11 ’19 tries ($859,544). Chris Ry8der co-owns (with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm & Bettor’s Wish Partners) and trains.

“He was just so great, so easy to drive,” Dunn said. “I can’t wait for next week.”

The on-the-card, $40,000 elim saw Aflame Hanover (Callahan, $6) finish what he started.

From post position No. 3, he never had an issue (:27.4, 56.3, 1:24, 1:52), whipping pocketed pole-sitter U S Captain (Bartlett) by a length-and-a-half. Waterway (Joe Bongiorno), paired with the runner-up as the 17-10 wagering choice, was a closing third, while 37-1 rank outsider Reigning Deo (George Brennan) was a ground-saving fourth to advance.

Buddy Hill (Eric Goodell) and Air Force Hanover (Stratton) were fifth and last, respectively.

For second choice Aflame Hanover, a Russell Hanover gelding co-owned by (trainer) Linda and Tony Schadel, it was his fourth (consecutive) win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $17.60, with neither triple nor superfecta wagering offered.

“He was super,” Callahan said. “He did everything I asked. His hopple hanger broke, but that didn’t bother him.”

Aflame Hanover traversed the Keystone State exclusively, only leaving (before Saturday) to finish fifth and fourth, respectively, in the elim and final of Mohawk’s North America Cup.

Open draws for next Saturday’s four-pack of stakes--$$500,000 Yonkers Trot No, 65, Messenger, $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot and $122,224 Lady Maud Pace—take place Monday afternoon (Aug. 26th).