Leonidas A and Alexa Skye look for perfect endings in Monday’s series finals at Yonkers

Leonidas A and Alexa Skye finished the preliminary rounds of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers Raceway with equal four-for-four records, but for their respective finals on Monday night (April 19) both of them face outside draws, with Leonidas A starting from post seven and Alexa Skye beginning from post position six.

Driver Austin Siegelman raced Leonidas A from second-over in the first leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and that trip resulted in a victory, and then in his subsequent three starts in the event, which also saw Leonidas A emerge triumphant, Siegelman was more aggressive with his charge, planting him on the point before or just after the opening quarter.

While Siegelman acknowledged that stalking horses is the 6-year-old Mach Three gelding’s preferred journey, he had no issue with more aggressive handling either.

Siegelman and Leonidas A, who is trained by Sheena McElhiney for owner Jesmeral Stable, had a taste of success late last year when they teamed up to win the Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway, and while the MGM Borgata Series will be raced with the biggest purse Siegelman has competed in to date, the 29-year-old driver is heading in with a positive mindset.

“I’m confident going in. It is what it is, whether we race for $20,000 or $500,000. It’s a horse race, and (the purse) doesn’t change anything,” he said.

Alexa Skye, co-owned by trainer Jeff Cullipher in partnership with Pollack Racing LLC, came into the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series with high expectations, and she certainly delivered, winning her four appearances by 4-1/2, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, and 2-3/4 lengths. Todd McCarthy has driven her in all but two starts since Oct. 16, 2020, and he said she handled the grind of the series like a pro.

Starting from post six with all the other fancied contenders starting to her inside certainly isn’t the most ideal situation for Alexa Skye, but she has experience racing from outside posts at Yonkers before, so McCarthy is expecting her current sharp form to remain status quo.

The $232,800 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final goes as race seven on the 10-race program on Monday at Yonkers Raceway, and the $514,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final follows it in race eight. There are also consolations for both events, with the MGM Borgata Pacing Series consolation carrying a purse of $100,000 and the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series consolation going for $60,000. Post time is at 7:15 p.m.