This Is The Plan was able to overcome starting from the outside post eight with a blitz off the gate and then never let anybody get close to him after that in winning Monday night s $514,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final at Yonkers Raceway in 1:50.4.
This Is The Plan, driven by Yannick Gingras and one of three in the final sent out by trainer Ron Burke, was dispatched at odds of 11-1.
Rockapelo (George Brennan), Hesa Kingslayer N (Jim Marohn, Jr.), Mach N Cheese (Joe Bongiorno), Western Joe (Dexter Dunn), Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick), and This Is The Plan all showed speed at the start of the race, but it was This Is The Plan who was able to go from six-wide early on the bend to leading over stablemate Rockapelo by the time they entered the backstretch for the first time. Everybody else then got down to the cones except for Backstreet Shadow, who was left on the outside as the first quarter rang up in :26.4.
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Jack Pelling and Steve Smith both got hot in the cold weather at Freehold Raceway on Thursday, as they each made multiple trips to victory lane on the 10-race card.
Pelling s patience paid off for most of his winning drives. He gave Beaver Creek Misty a perfect pocket trip in Race 1 and then popped her out in the stretch for the win for owner/trainer John Urbanski. He gave a similar winning drive to Tom Lail trainee Bad Day Black Rock in Race 3. In Race 8 he came from behind to win on Beach Fire K for trainer Aaron Lambert and the late owner/breeder Robert Key.
Meladys Monet began his 12-year-old season on a winning note, taking the Preferred Handicap trot at Freehold Raceway on Friday (Jan. 15).
Making his first start since December 11, he was sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the field of eight. In the early stages, he grabbed cover from favoured The Veteran, who left to his direct inside. As soon as The Veteran cleared to the front, just before the opening quarter, Eric Abbatiello took the lead with Meladys Monet.
As they rounded the final turn, Meladys Monet continued to hold sway, but The Veteran loomed menacingly from the pocket. Entering the stretch, Dan Dube ripped The Veteran off the pylons and took his crack at the leader. However, he couldn t get by Meladys Monet, who reported home a half-length in front. The final time was 1:57.3.