The Hilltop Helper breaks down the opening leg of the Borgata Series

The 2025 Borgata Pacing Series gets underway tomorrow night at Yonkers Raceway with 5 divisions.  The first six finishers from last year are signed up for the 2025 edition, including defending Champion HELLABALOU, winner of the last two editions of the Borgata.  As the Empire Report points out, 1/3 of HELLABALOU’s career earnings have come in the Borgata Series. 

Also returning are COACHES CORNER, who was superb throughout the 2024 series, finishing  2nd  in the Final as a 4YO, and DESPERATE MAN, who survived for third after being parked in a brutal early battle (and who came back on MGM Yonkers International Trot Day with a dominant win in the Aria Pace).

If HELLABALOU (Burke-Gingras) is to pick up a First Leg win in the Race 5 First Division, he will have to overcome the 7 hole and in so doing defeat 2 other millionaires to get the job done.  In fact, CHARLIE MAY (Cushing-D Miller), starting from Post 4, is a double millionaire coming off a sharp 1:49.1 mile at Pocono.  CHASE H HANOVER (Stratton-Napolitano), who dabbled in the MGM Grand Prix last fall, owns a win earlier this month over CHARLIE MAY and drew Post 3, inside his other millionaire boys club brethren.

The Second Division in Race 6 will be the 2025 Yonkers debut for COACHES CORNER (Engblom-Bartlett), who starts from post 7.  COACHES CORNER was also second in 4 Legs (1 Leg win) last year and was also second in the Aria on MGM Yonkers International Trot Day and second in the MGM Grand Prix at Yonkers last December, an incredible job by his connections keeping him in form for the long year.  Now coming off a well-deserved rest, with only 1 qualifier and 1 start (a useful Swamp tightener), COACHES CORNER will take on the likes of DUNKIN’ (DiDomenico-Tetrick)(Post 2), the winningest horse in North America in 2023 and a 2-time leg winner in last year’s series, as well as PLEASELETMEKNOW (Alexander-Kakaley)(Post 3), the 2022 Messenger winner.  And they will all be facing FOR ONCE INMY LIFE (Stratton-Stratton) (Post 4) who has 3 wins and 3 2nds in 6 2025 starts, with the last 2 seconds coming vs. MAD MAX HANOVER at The Swamp.  His last race was at The Swamp on 5/8, but he has since posted a crisp qualifying win at Pocono with Scott Z aboard.

The Third Division in Race 7 looks to be an intriguing affair, with last year’s Consolation Winner, VENTURESOME ARDEN N (Bucci-Tetrick)(Post 7), taking on another horse who enjoyed great success at the Hilltop last year, HIMSELF N (Hudson-Napolitano)(Post 4).  But all eyes will likely be focused on the outside with the return of HUMBLE A (Blackler-Bartlett)(Post 8) who was 7-7 at the Hilltop last year while impressively ascending the class ladder and then finished off his year with a sharp score at The Swamp.  Returning to the races off of a pair of Pocono qualifiers, expect big things in the series from one of the 16 down under combatants who have signed up for the series.

Race 8’s Fourth Division is headlined by last year’s third-place finisher, DESPERATE MAN (Alexander-Kakaley)(Post 3), whose parked 3rd place finish in last year’s Final was followed by an incredible 3rd place finish in the Battle of Lake Erie after he broke at the beginning of the race.  But another heavyweight will be behind the gate, down under contestant MOSSDALE BEN N (P Tritton-Stratton)(Post 6).  MOSSDALE BEN N is 4-4 in North America as he went from the N/W $10,000 ranks on up to the Invitational level.  His connections have done the almost unthinkable Borgata sweep before (BIT OF A LEGEND N in 2016), and you can expect MOSSDALE BEN N to be heard from early and often in the 2025 Series.

Finally, Race 9’s Fifth Division includes another down under star who is undefeated in North America (2-2), MIKI SHAN N (Oakes-Bartlett)(Post 8), who was able to overcome the 8 hole just last Tuesday to pick up his second straight stateside win, albeit both at the N/W $20,000 level.  The invader will face TYPHOON BANNER N (Bongiorno doing both the training and driving)(Post1), who concluded his 2024 campaign by winning the MGM Grand Prix at Yonkers in December, as well as ADMIRAL HILL (Engblom-Gingras)(Post 4), making his 2025 debut after winning his last 4 starts of 2025 (the last a YR Invitational at 2-5).

The trainers are apparently as excited as us bettors for this year’s edition as nominations spiked from just 30 last year to 42 this year.

All divisions in the Borgata series eliminations go for $50,000, with 4 more legs on Mondays 4/7, 4/14, 4/21 and 4/28.  Points will be awarded on a 50-25-12-8-5 basis.

The Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, sponsored by one of New York’s true showplace farms, has produced exciting action over the years, including last year’s Final in which LIT DE ROSE, trained and driven by Pat Lachance, was the Blue Chip Champion. The 10YO Hilltop favorite is back in this year, as is last year’s runner up, COACHELLABOUND N, trained by Ricky Bucci.

The Blue Chip Matchmaker, also saw a significant increase in nominations this year with 33 nominations compared to last year’s 21, an over 50% increase.

Last Friday was the First Leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker, with four divisions going to post, and Yonkers’ top connections – Per Engblom and Jason Bartlett – made a big statement in the opening Division.  AARDIE B MIKI N, the 3-5 choice, made her NA debut (off a single qualifier at The Swamp) a winning one.  Following the cover of, COACHELLABOUND N, AARDIE B MIKI N, already a winner of over $150k before beginning her North American career, cruised past the leader and would be second place finisher, TALK CURDY TO ME, in 1:53.4.

The Second Division featured a gal who was already quite familiar with the Yonkers Winners Circle, Brett Pelling’s WALKING ON SUNSHINE, the 1-5 favorite.  Jason Bartlett (who else?) wasted no time in assuming command with the 5YO mare and stopped the timer in 1:52.1 in picking up her 4th 2025 win in 4 starts, the other 3 all coming in Yonkers Invitationals.

The 6th Race Third Division was won by, SILK CLOUD A, going out for connections very familiar with making noise in Yonkers’ marquee spring events, Peter Tritton and Jordan Stratton.  Many time Invitational/Open winner at the Hilltop, SILK CLOUD A sat the pocket and launched her bid around favorite ROCKET DEO, who had worn down early leader LLOYD’S LOVE.  Final time was 1:53.

The Fourth and Final Division in the 8th Race saw the Yonkers return of Dan Patch winner and near double millionairess, GRACE HILL, who was made the 1-2 favorite by the betting public.  However, it was BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE, going out for the always formidable team of Scott Di Domenico and Tim Tetrick, following the cover of runner up UPTOWN HANOVER, who closed powerfully in a 27.3 last quarter to blow by the early leaders, also winning in 1:53 flat. Early leader, SEASIDE DIVA, tired to 4th while GRACE HILL, getting belated clearance, finished 3rd up the inside.

4 more legs (on the 53rd anniversary of Title 9, all divisions this year are going for the same as the boys - $50,000) for the Blue Chip Matchmaker (4/4, 4/11, 4/18, and 4/25).

The Finals of the Borgata ($200,000 added) and Blue Chip Matchmaker (also $200,000 added, up from $125,000 last year) are slated for Friday, May 9, allowing for a brief respite for the combatants before the lucrative Finals.  The winner of the Blue Chip Matchmaker will also secure a free breeding to either AMERICAN COURAGE, CANNIBAL, SHADOW PLAY or SUNSHINE BEACH.

Join us for the May 9 Finals for dining in the Empire City Terrace, the best spot to view the best older males and mares in racing.

The 6-step recipe to success at Yonkers (in addition to the Hilltop Helper (which will be available Monday morning):

1. Get your free program for all of the legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and Borgata (and thanks to the SOANY every night of racing at Yonkers).  Available at the SOANY website.

2. Get the always valuable (yet somehow free thanks to the SOANY and MGM) Empire Report, the best handicapping resource available in racing (standardbred or thoroughbred).  It provides an analysis of each horse in the upcoming races, as well as a recap of the performance of each horse who races at Yonkers.  It identifies false favorites and live longshots – the keys to winning!

3. More handicapping help – as well as always entertaining banter – is available throughout the series on the In The Money Podcast, with Edison Hatter, Mike Pribozie and Ray Cotolo.  This week’s show can be found at Harness Players Podcast March 26 Fraser/Borgata Series Leg 1, with Mike and Ray offering their insights into tonight’s all-Borgata Pick 5.

4. Bet at empirecitybets.com and get 8% platinum rewards on all Yonkers wagers (except place and show), as well as gold (5%), silver (3%) and bronze (1%) rewards on over 100 other tracks.

5. But wait, there’s more!  IN ADDITION TO the 8% rebate on all wagers (except place and show), bettors who wager on Yonkers on empirecitybets.com will be paid a 10% bonus on their winnings on all wagers (except place and show)!  You do the math:

  8% reward on wagers (whether losing or winning) + 10% bonus on winnings = BET AT EMPIRECITYBETS!!!!!

6. And don’t forget the $10,000 Pick 5 guarantee every Monday at Yonkers Raceway starting in Race 5.

Good luck everyone!