Pleaseletmeknow Wins MGM Springfield Stakes Final
YONKERS, N.Y. - Pleaseletmeknow gave driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Travis Alexander, and owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stable their second significant stakes victory of the month at Yonkers Raceway by taking Friday night's (July 16) $150,000 MGM Springfield Stakes final for 2-year-old male pacers in 1:54.3.
A stablemate to MGM Grand Messenger Stakes champion American Courage, Pleaseletmeknow showed early speed from post seven and was able to tuck into the third position while Silverstone (George Brennan) blasted to the lead and carved out opening-half fractions of 27.2 and 56.1.
Kakaley had Pleaseletmeknow out and on the move first-over as the rookies raced towards the 1:25 three-quarters, with Thebiznes Bluechip (Jordan Stratton) picking up the cover to sit second-over. Pleaseletmeknow would move up to engage Silverstone on the last turn, with Thebiznes Bluechip firing three-wide, and by the time they turned for home, Pleaseletmeknow had taken over the top spot.
Through the lane Pleaseletmeknow responded when called upon by Kakakley, and he was able to keep Thebiznes Bluechip at bay to win by a length. Letmecallyouback (Joe Bongiorno) advanced from fifth to third in the last quarter, Gone Before Dawn (Austin Siegelman) checked in fourth from off-the-pace, and Silverstone had to settle for fifth after putting up the fractions.
"It was a big effort from the seven-hole. He's learning but is a professional," said Alexander. "It's nice to win these races but extra special with a homebred. We bought his mother at the Lexington sale the same day as American Courage's dam with the intentions of having their foals. It's nice when a plan works out."
Coming up next for Pleaseletmeknow will be the New York Sire Stakes at Saratoga on July 24, and he will remain in the Empire State after that, as well.
"He doesn't have anything this year outside of New York," Alexander added. "He was behind, so we staked him lightly."
A gelded son of American Ideal-I Said Please (Well Said), Pleaseletmeknow has a record of 2-1-0 from three career starts, and this win pushed his bankroll to $95,900. The 8-5 favorite, Pleaseletmeknow paid $5.40 to win and was atop an $18.80 exacta and a $59.00 trifecta.