Saturday, September 7, 2024

FIRST RACE POST TIME: 12:15 PM

YONKERS INTERNATIONAL TROT POST TIME: 3 PM


Saturday, September 7, 2024

FIRST RACE POST TIME: 12:15 PM    |    YONKERS INTERNATIONAL TROT POST TIME: 3 PM

Photos from the

2023 Yonkers International Trot Week

CLICK HERE

Photos from the

2023 Yonkers International Trot Week

CLICK HERE
By Yonkers Raceway Media 09 Sep, 2023
Yonkers, NY — Vivid Wise As, representing Italy in Saturday’s $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot at MGM Yonkers Raceway, took advantage of a quick start to get the lead from post one, repelled multiple challengers throughout, and drew off in the closing stages to win the race in 2:23.1 over the distance of 1-1/4 miles. Driven by Matthieu Abrivard, Vivid Wise As, racing without shoes, stepped out quickly from the pole position but was faced with immediate pressure on the outside from Fashion Frenzie (Louis-Philippe Roy), and they would trot to the quarter like that in :28.3. Meanwhile, Etonnant (Anthony Barrier) had not had a quick beginning from post two and then elected to drive on three-wide to take up the first-over position from Fashion Frenzie prior to the :57.3 half-mile point. The expected and hoped-for confrontation between Vivid Wise As and Etonnant was on from there, and Vivid Wise As used his rail position to keep Etonnant parked through three-quarters in 1:26.3. Etonnant then began to tire past that pole as It’s Academic (David Miller), hoping to bring the International Trot title to the U.S., made a three-wide charge from fourth-over that carried him into the first-over slot and alongside Vivid Wise As at the mile, which went on the board in 1:55.2. It’s Academic could not sustain his bid, though, and Vivid Wise As accelerated away from him and pocket-sitter Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn) in the final quarter en route to the victory by 2-3/4 lengths. Jiggy Jog S, who started behind Vivid Wise As in the trailing post nine, was the runner-up, and Bengurion Jet, driven by Vivid Wise As’s trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro, made it a memorable day for that barn by rallying to finish third. It’s Academic had to settle for fourth and Australia’s Aldebaran Zeus collected fifth money. “He went really fast today. He wanted to see if anyone made any moves and if anyone was going to attack, but nothing really happened, so after the first turn, he really controlled the race and did what he wanted to do all the way,” Abrivard said via interpreter Kristin Riise Ødegård. “On small tracks like this, he’s a horse that’s very difficult to get around. He knew that after he got a good post position and he got a good start that the other horses had to do a lot of work on the outside to catch him. He knew it was going to work out for him pretty quickly.” Vivid Wise As, a 9-year-old Yankee Glide stallion bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and owned by Bivans SRL and Bruni Racing Team AB, picked up his 35th win from 86 career starts and has now earned $3,626,865. He paid $7.50 to win as the 5-2 favorite and led a $56 exacta and a $646 trifecta. “He’s very happy because he’s done this job for a long time and now all of his dreams are coming true,” Gocciadoro stated via Kristin Riise Ødegård. Trainer Ake Svanstedt was pleased with Jiggy Jog S’s performance as well, saying, “I thought we would have a chance to win coming down the backstretch but when It’s Academic came at the leader the pace accelerated too fast. Still, it’s good to be second in this race.” 
By Ken Weingartner 08 Sep, 2023
Hightstown, NJ — Jiggy Jog S and driver Dexter Dunn will not be in the front row when Saturday’s $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot starts, but, of course, the only time being in front will truly matter to Dunn and the mare’s connections is when the race ends. The lone female starter in Saturday’s 10-horse event, Jiggy Jog S will leave from post nine in the second level behind eight rivals on the starting gate. Dunn, who is making his first International Trot appearance, will drive the mare for trainer Ake Svanstedt — who won the race in 2016 with Resolve — and owner Jorgen Sparredal Inc. Nine editions of the International Trot have passed since Peace Corps, in 1991, became the most recent female to win the race. Jiggy Jog S, a 4-year-old mare whose victories this season include the Graduate Series final over male rivals and the Six Pack Mares Open, is 8-1 on the morning line. France’s Etonnant, who made a break in last year’s International Trot and finished eighth, drew post two and is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s race, which will be contested at 1-1/4 miles around Yonkers’ half-mile oval. It’s Academic, who with Venerate will represent the U.S., starts from post three. It’s Academic finished third in last year’s International Trot and is the 7-2 second choice. Italy’s Vivid Wise As, a 9-year-old stallion who has earned more than $3 million lifetime, will leave from post one and is 4-1. “I’m sort of happy with the draw,” Dunn said. “You always like to be on the gate, but she’s following a good horse, so that helps. It’s always a little bit of guessing and a little bit of luck when you’re in the second tier, especially with a horse outside of you (Venerate in post 10) but I would probably rather be there than in the eight-hole. “It’s not a simple race to piece together what’s going to happen and what the result is going to be. It’s a good field, a strong field. A lot can happen, especially with the extra distance around a half-mile track. It’ll be interesting.” Dunn is familiar with many of the horses in the race, including several of the overseas arrivals. He drove against Etonnant and Vivid Wise As in May’s Elitloppet in Sweden, and has watched Australia’s Aldebaran Zeus. “It’s definitely exciting to be in it, for sure,” Dunn said about his International Trot debut. “As a driver, you always want to be in the biggest races when they come around. I’ve been there a couple times and seen the race, but it will be good to compete in it for the first time. I’m very grateful.” Jiggy Jog S, a daughter of Walner -Hot Mess Hanover, has hit the board in 25 of 30 career races, winning 14 and earning $1.49 million. Her career victories include last year’s Breeders Crown for 3-year-old filly trotters, Kentucky Filly Futurity, and NY NY Mile (which she won in 1:54 at Yonkers). This season, Jiggy Jog S won her first four races before finishing second to M-M’s Dream in both the Hambletonian Maturity — by a neck at 1-1/8 miles at The Meadowlands — and Steele Memorial, also at the Big M. “I’m happy with her; she’s going great guns this year,” Dunn said. “I know she got run down at a mile and an eighth at The Meadowlands, but she wasn’t quite right that night, so I sort of disregard that. With the draw, I’m a little bit happier with having the extra distance in the race. I’m not going to have to be covering too much extra ground, especially in that first lap or so by the looks of it. “I think she can definitely compete, especially if she gets a nice enough trip. You’ve got to be in it to win it, so she’s got a chance. Luck is going to have to play a bit of a part on our side with the draw, but that’s OK. You always need luck in any race, no matter what.” * * * * * * * Ake Svanstedt is not the only trainer with a chance to pick up a second victory in the International Trot. Marcus Melander won the 2018 edition of the race with 30-1 longshot Cruzado Dela Noche, who was driven by Brian Sears. Melander and Sears return to the race this year with Venerate. Cruzado Dela Noche’s triumph was part of a memorable season for the then 26-year-old Melander, who had opened his stable at the end of 2014. He won four top Grand Circuit stakes that year — with four different horses: Cruzado Dela Noche in the International, Gimpanzee in a $600,000 Breeders Crown, Crazy Wow in the $501,270 Maple Leaf Trot, and Green Manalishi S in the $308,000 Wellwood Memorial. “It was a breakout year for me, and (the International) was the biggest win,” said Melander, who received the Rising Star Award at the completion of the campaign and in 2019 was Trainer of the Year. “It was fun.” Cruzado Dela Noche started the International Trot from post six and raced in the outer flow the entire way. Sears eventually managed to get second-over position behind Lionel, where he remained until tipping three-wide for the last quarter-mile and beating Lionel by a head. “Before the race, we probably were thinking about picking up a check,” Melander said. “There were some good horses in there. But Brian worked out a great trip, the horse was good that day, and he got up for the win. It was very exciting.” On Saturday, Venerate will start the International Trot from post 10 and is 12-1 on the morning line. The 5-year-old stallion, a son of Love You-Peaceful Kemp, won the Cutler Memorial in his 2023 debut before finishing second to It’s Academic in both the Crawford Farms Open and Cashman Memorial (by a nose). He was second in the stretch of last week’s Maple Leaf Trot, but made a break and was fourth-placed-sixth. “I don’t really know why he made that break,” Melander said. “We haven’t found anything on him. He looked good before the break. “Obviously, (post 10) is not a great number, but it could have been the eight-hole. He still can get a good position. We’ll see. It’s a great field. I think the horse is good enough to be in there, and I think he can handle the distance well. I think he’ll be all right if he can find the right position in the race. Hopefully, Brian can get him in a manageable spot.” Just like he did in the International Trot five years ago. * * * * * * * Fashion Frenzie has been a star in Canada, where he’s a two-time O’Brien Award-recipient and won 22 of 35 career races. Now, he will go international in the International Trot. The 5-year-old son of Archangel -Striking Fashion will compete for the first time outside of his homeland in Saturday’s race. Trained by Richard Moreau, Canada’s 10-time Trainer of the Year, Fashion Frenzie was sent to New Jersey-based conditioner Nancy Takter, a past U.S. Trainer of the Year honoree and the 2023 Hambletonian winner, to prepare for the International Trot. He will start Saturday from post four with driver Louis-Philippe Roy and is 20-1 on the morning line. “He’s been racing pretty good,” said Roy, a two-time Driver of the Year in Canada. “He doesn’t race that often, but so far, everything he’s had to do, he’s done it well. When he goes against Grand Circuit horses, he’s been picking up checks. He might need a little step up to beat them, but you don’t know if on the half-mile track it will be a different game.” Fashion Frenzie, who has earned more than $1 million in Canadian purses, is a two-time Ontario Sire Stakes champion and also counts the 2021 Goodtimes Stakes among his career victories. This past August, he won the Earl Rowe Memorial at five-eighths-mile Georgian Downs for the second straight year. He heads to the International Trot off a fifth-placed-fourth finish in the Maple Leaf Trot. “It’s hard to tell what will happen on the half-mile (track) with the horses coming from different countries and different types of racing, but some of the best ones drew the inside,” Roy said about the International. “I think he will like the extra distance, but he’s not the only one that will. He doesn’t really get tired, but there are other great trotters in there that don’t seem to get tired either.” Roy will be participating in the International Trot for the first time. “It’s exciting. We’re representing Canada. And it’s one of my friend’s horses, so it makes it even more exciting,” he said. The MGM Yonkers International Trot will go as race seven on the 11-race program, which also includes the $250,000 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot and $250,000 Aria Invitational Pace, as well as eight New York Sire Stakes championships. Racing begins at 12:15 p.m. Saturday at Yonkers. For free Yonkers programs, visit the Standardbred Owners Association of New York website here . Following is the International Trot field with morning-line odds, driver/trainer, and country: 1-Vivid Wise As IT (Matthieu Abrivard/Alessandro Gocciadoro), 4-1, Italy 2-Etonnant FR (Anthony Barrier/Richard Westerink), 3-1, France 3-It’s Academic (David Miller/Ron Burke), 7-2, United States 4-Fashion Frenzie (Louis-Philippe Roy/Nancy Takter), 20-1, Canada 5-Hierro Boko S (Hannu Korpi drives and trains), 8-1, Finland 6-Get A Wish DK (Bo Westergaard drives and trains), 15-1, Denmark 7-Aldebaran Zeus A (Chris Alford/Brent Lilley), 15-1, Australia 8-Bengurion Jet IT (Alessandro Gocciadoro drives and trains), 15-1, Italy 9-Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn/Åke Svanstedt), 8-1, Sweden 10-Venerate (Brian Sears/Marcus Melander), 12-1, United States
By Ken Weingartner 07 Sep, 2023
Hightstown, NJ — Seven years ago, Chris Alford had the opportunity to participate in several races during Little Brown Jug Week at the Delaware County Fairgrounds while in the U.S. on holiday. The renowned Australian driver’s return to the States this week is all business. Alford, who is approaching 8,000 lifetime victories and is the winningest driver in Australian history, will get in the sulky behind Aussie-bred Aldebaran Zeus in Saturday’s $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Aldebaran Zeus drew post seven in the 10-horse field that will go the distance of 1-1/4 miles. “It’s probably a little bit tricky,” Alford said about the 6-year-old stallion’s starting spot. “I’ll have to take a look at the form of all the other horses to know their gate speed and all that. Once I get into all that, I’ll know a bit more. “But (Aldebaran Zeus) is pretty versatile and can get off the gate pretty well. He’s raced on a half-mile track back in Victoria. He’s handy. The track won’t be a problem, I don’t think.” France’s Etonnant, who made a break in last year’s International Trot and finished eighth, drew post two for Saturday’s race and is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Anthony Barrier with drive the 9-year-old stallion for trainer Richard Westerink. It’s Academic, who with Venerate will represent the U.S., will start from post three with David Miller in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke. It’s Academic finished third from post eight in last year’s International Trot and is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line this year. Italy’s Vivid Wise As, a 9-year-old stallion who has earned more than $3 million in U.S. dollars lifetime, will leave from post one and is 4-1 for driver Matthieu Abrivard and trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro. Alford arrived in the U.S. earlier this week to prepare Aldebaran Zeus for the International Trot with trainer Brent Lilley. Aldebaran Zeus is a multiple Group 1 winner Down Under with 18 lifetime victories in 48 races. He has hit the board an additional 16 times and earned $298,503 in U.S. dollars. “He’s got real good speed, which is the main thing, I think,” Alford said about the son of Muscle Hill -Zoia Boko. “He can sort of race anywhere, though he does seem to run his best races when he’s somewhere up near the lead.” Earlier this year, Aldebaran Zeus defeated Just Believe, who was invited to represent Australia in this past May’s Elitloppet in Sweden, in the Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle. That victory gives Alford confidence Aldebaran Zeus can step up on the international stage as well. “I’m pretty sure he’ll acquit himself well,” Alford said. “Whether he can win, we’ll need a lot of luck, but I’m sure he’s good enough to be very competitive.” The 55-year-old Alford, who has captured the Australian Driving Premiership on 14 occasions, is looking forward to the opportunity as he prepares to drive in the U.S. for the second time. In 2016, he had a best finish of third among three drives at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. The drives were arranged through his friendships with drivers such as Yannick Gingras, Tim Tetrick, and Brett Miller. “I was here for holiday when the Jug was on,” Alford said. “They said to bring my stuff and they would see if they could get me a couple of drives. It was super. The experience was great. It was a bit of fun there.” As for the chance to participate in the International Trot, Alford said, “It probably won’t really sink in until we get to Saturday, but it’s exciting. When you get to see horses from all around the world, it makes it even better.” The mysteries surrounding how the race might play out with 10 horses competing over the half-mile oval at Yonkers adds intrigue. “That’s the thing,” Alford said. “You don’t really know the horses or the drivers and their styles and what they do. You wouldn’t expect it to be just a normal Yonkers race with drivers just in single file. I think they’ll be one out all the way and moves will be coming because it’s a mile and a quarter. I think it’ll be a last-man-standing thing.” The MGM Yonkers International Trot will go as race seven on the 11-race program, which also includes the $250,000 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot and $250,000 Aria Invitational Pace, as well as eight New York Sire Stakes championships. Racing begins at 12:15 p.m. Saturday at Yonkers. For free Yonkers programs, visit the Standardbred Owners Association of New York website here . Following is the International Trot field with morning-line odds, driver/trainer, and country: 1-Vivid Wise As IT (Matthieu Abrivard/Alessandro Gocciadoro), 4-1, Italy 2-Etonnant FR (Anthony Barrier/Richard Westerink), 3-1, France 3-It’s Academic (David Miller/Ron Burke), 7-2, United States 4-Fashion Frenzie (Louis-Philippe Roy/Nancy Takter), 20-1, Canada 5-Hierro Boko S (Hannu Korpi drives and trains), 8-1, Finland 6-Get A Wish DK (Bo Westergaard drives and trains), 15-1, Denmark 7-Aldebaran Zeus A (Chris Alford/Brent Lilley), 15-1, Australia 8-Bengurion Jet IT (Alessandro Gocciadoro drives and trains), 15-1, Italy 9-Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn/Åke Svanstedt), 8-1, Sweden 10-Venerate (Brian Sears/Marcus Melander), 12-1, United States 
By Yonkers Raceway 06 Sep, 2023
France’s Etonnant ( Timoko ) drew post position two and has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Saturday’s card also includes two $250,000 Invitationals for older harness racing horses – the Robert Miecuna Trot and the Aria Pace – and eight $225,000 New York Sire Stakes finals for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. Etonnant, a former Elitloppet champion, has won six of 10 starts this year, including in 1:51.3 over the mile distance in the Prix de Washington at Enghien-Soisy Racecourse on July 15. He also won his Elitloppet elimination at Solvalla Racecourse in 1:52 before finishing fifth in the final. This will be Etonnant’s second MGM Yonkers International Trot appearance as he raced in last year’s edition but made a break and wound up eighth. “(Post) Two is a good number, maybe not such a good number for him, but we cannot be sad with post two. On the inside is a little bit scary (for his horse on a half-mile track), but I think we can handle it,” said Etonnant’s owner/trainer Richard Westerink, who finished second in the 2015 International Trot with Timoko, the sire of Etonnant. Among Etonnant’s main rivals is Vivid Wise As ( Yankee Glide ), who is the richest horse in the field with over $3.1 million in the bank and is the third choice on the morning line at 4-1. Vivid Wise As drew post one for driver Matthieu Abrivard and trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro. “Vivid Wise As is a very good horse also. He has a good draw on the inside,” added Westerink. “I hope we will have a great race and a great battle with the other horses, too.” Jiggy Jog S ( Walner ) is a familiar horse to fans and followers of harness racing in North America as she has raced here for her entire career, but she was foaled in Sweden and will represent that country on Saturday. She will start from a trailing post nine and is 8-1 on the morning line. “She’s a very, very strong filly, and we’re very pleased to have her in the barn. She loves to race and she’s fast,” offered Sarah Svanstedt, wife of trainer Ake Svanstedt. “Now she is 4 and facing a strong group of horses here, but girl power can be good. She has been going fast times and facing good horses. She’s got a strong mentality and is fast. I don’t really know if she really needs a specific way of racing. When she has her day, she’s strong and not many horses beat her. Now she has been off almost four weeks coming into this race, so we’re training her tough right now, and she’s ready to race.” Dexter Dunn will have his familiar seat behind Jiggy Jog S, and Svanstedt said of their partnership, “They are a great team together, and he loves to race her, too. They have a connection.” It’s Academic ( Uncle Peter ), who will be driven by David Miller for trainer Ron Burke, is one of two hopes for the United States in the field. The champion of this year’s Crawford Farms Open Trot, Spirit of Massachusetts and John Cashman Memorial is the second choice on the morning line at 7-2 and will depart from post three. It’s Academic, who also won the Tom Aldrich President’s Trot over the half-mile oval at MGM Northfield Park on August 12, was a fast-finishing third from the outside post eight in the 2022 MGM Yonkers International Trot. The $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot will go as race seven on the 11-race program and at a distance of a mile and a quarter. The full field with their morning line odds, listed driver/trainer, sire and country is as follows: $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot – Race 7 1-Vivid Wise As ( Yankee Glide ) Matthieu Abrivard/Alessandro Gocciadoro), 4-1, Italy 2-Etonnant ( Timoko ) Anthony Barrier/Richard Westerink), 3-1, France 3-It’s Academic ( Uncle Peter ) David Miller/Ron Burke), 7-2, United States 4-Fashion Frenzie ( Archangel ) Louis-Philippe Roy/Nancy Takter, 20-1, Canada 5-Hierro Boko S ( From Above ) Hannu Korpi drives and trains), 8-1, Finland 6-Get A Wish DK ( Wishing Stone ) Bo Westergaard drives and trains), 15-1, Denmark 7-Aldebaran Zeus A ( Muscle Hill ) Chris Alford/Brent Lilley), 15-1, Australia 8-Bengurion Jet IT ( Maharajah ) Alessandro Gocciadoro drives and trains), 15-1, Italy 9-Jiggy Jog S ( Walner ) Dexter Dunn/Ake Svanstedt), 8-1, Sweden 10-Venerate ( Love You ) Brian Sears/Marcus Melander), 12-1, United States Two races before the MGM Yonkers International Trot is the Robert Miecuna Invitational Trot, and it’s headlined by M-M’s Dream (post two, David Miller/Ron Burke). M-M’s Dream won the Hambletonian Maturity and the Steele Memorial at the Meadowlands earlier this summer, taking her mark of 1:50 flat in the latter event. She’ll face the likes of double millionaire Amigo Volo (post one, Dexter Dunn/Nifty Norman) and stablemate Hillexotic (post seven, Yannick Gingras). Ten of the sport’s best older male pacers are slated to meet in the Aria Invitational Pace (race 10). Allywag Hanover (post three, Todd McCarthy/Brett Pelling) and Bythemissal (post six, Gingras/Burke) were third and second, respectively in last Saturday’s Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine Mohawk Park and renew acquaintances here. Covered Bridge (post 10, Jordan Stratton/Jeff Gillis) has had a great year on half-mile ovals, winning the Camluck Classic, Gold Cup and Saucer, and Kane Invitational, but will have to overcome the trailing post. Both the Robert Miecuna and Aria Invitationals will be conducted at the distance of a mile and a quarter, and the full draws are as follows: $250,000 Robert Miecuna Invitational Trot – Race 5 1-Amigo Volo (Dexter Dunn/Nifty Norman) 2-M-M’s Dream (David Miller/Ron Burke) 3-Credit Con (Joe Bongiorno/Jenn Bongiorno) 4-Nows The Moment (Austin Siegleman/Allison MacDonald) 5-Take All Comers (Tim Tetrick/Jim Campbell) 6-Southwind Tyrion (Ake Svanstedt drives and trains) 7-Hillexotic (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke) 8-Logan Park (Doug McNair/Rob Fellows) 9-Just For Trix (Andy Miller/Mike Murphy) 10-Stormy Kromer (Jason Bartlett/Paul Stafford) AE-Flagman (Rick Plano drives and trains) $250,000 Aria Invitational Pace – Race 10 1-None Bettor A (Jason Bartlett/Travis Alexander) 2-Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman/Steve Finkelstein) 3-Allywag Hanover (Todd McCarthy/Brett Pelling) 4-Whichwaytothebeach (Mark MacDonald/Garry Merner Jr.) 5-Stonebridge Helios (Dexter Dunn/Ake Svanstedt) 6-Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke) 7-Linedrive Hanover (Brian Sears/Anthony Beaton) 8-Idealsomemagic A (George Brennan/Cory Stratton) 9-Poseidon Seelster (George Brennan/Nik Drennan) 10-Covered Bridge (Jordan Stratton/Jeff Gillis) AE-Natameri (David Miller/Jessica Okusko) Those three events will be joined by the annual New York Day of Champions that will crown the eight winners of the sire stakes program in the Empire State. The sire stakes finals, which all have a purse of $225,000, are races one through four, six, eight and nine and 11 on the card. The draws shook out as follows: 3YO Colt Pace presented by Blue Chip Farms – Race 11 1-Thunder Hunter Joe 2-Metal Man 3-Hurrikane Hunter 4-Taste Of Honey 5-Huntinthelastdolar 6-Goldin Greatness 7-Duval Street 8-It’s A Me Mario AE-American Fling 3YO Filly Trot presented by Allerage Farms – Race 9 1-On The House 2-Gigi Hanover 3-Royal Filly 4-Midwind Success 5-Instagram Model 6-Usosweet Blue Chip 7-Canterbury Hanover 8-Pride N Joy AE-All The Rage 3YO Filly Pace presented by Cameo Hills Farm – Race 8 1-Dame 2-Turn On The Charm 3-Windsun Tiara 4-Silky Stride 5-True Blue Hanover 6-Vivians Dream 7-Earthwindfire 8-Rock My Socks AE-Sweet Home 2YO Filly Pace presented by Winbak Farm – Race 6 1-Sea Pearl 2-Hunting Hula 3-Delightville 4-So Well Dressed 5-Blue Point 6-Bronx Barista 7-Camerican 8-Peace Talks AE-Leanne’s Choice 3YO Colt Trot presented by Crawford Farms – Race 4 1-Sevecheetah 2-Onion Gum 3-Wild Bill Kelso 4-Chapercraz 5-Crown 6-Kierkegaard K 7-Some Kinda Crazy 8-Cecil Hanover 2YO Colt Trot presented by Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program – Race 3 1-Chaplind 2-Super Duper Cooper 3-Bargain 4-Nottingham 5-Situationship 6-Wild Ticket 7-Titan Your Grip 8-Keep Asking AE-It Wasn’t Me  2YO Colt Pace presented by Genesee Valley Farm – Race 2 1-Ameritric 2-Howlenthehills 3-Huntingforchrome 4-Dealers Turn 5-Vandiemen Blue Chip 6-Boston Rocks 7-Avenger Force 8-Darius AE-Supplement Fee 2YO Filly Trot presented by Mill Creek Farm – Race 1 1-R Melina 2-Erin 3-Sister Mary Maude 4-Communion Money 5-Sadbirdstillsing 6-Senorita Palema 7-Crowbar Girl 8-Seven Year Itch AE-Hippie Shake Saturday’s program at MGM Yonkers Raceway gets underway at a special early post time of 12:15 p.m. (EDT).
By Yonkers Raceway Media 05 Sep, 2023
The field for the MGM Yonkers International Trot is now set with Canadian invader Fashion Frenzie taking the tenth and final spot in the 1 1/4-mile harness racing showdown. The $1,000,000 event will be race 7 on the Saturday card with an estimated post time of 3:00 PM (EDT). The post position draw for the MGM Yonkers International Trot as well as the New York Sire Stakes finals can be viewed on the Yonkers Raceway Facebook page at 5 PM local time on Tuesday, September 5.  MGM Yonkers Raceway will offer handicappers a unique opportunity during the remainder of the racing week with a special Pick 5 seeded with $15,000 on each card. Beginning on Tuesday night the Pick 5 will start with $15,000 in the pool. Should the wager be hit, a new $15,000 will be available on Wednesday evening, and so on. Should the Pick 5 go unsolved on one of the cards, 50% of the pool will carryover to the following card and the other 50% will move on to Saturday when a mandatory payout Pick 5 will be in effect. For clarity, if $10,000 is wagered on Tuesday and no one hits the bet, there will be a $15,000 carryover for Wednesday and a $11,500 will be waiting in the Pick 5 pool for Saturday’s MGM Yonkers International Trot Day card. If $25,000 is wagered on Tuesday without a winner, $17,500 will be carried over to both Wednesday and Saturday. A non-Jackpot wager offering a 20% takeout, the “Lucky” Pick 5 will be offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights (7:00 PM post) as well as Saturday afternoon (12:15 PM). The base wager amount for the bet is $5. The Pick 5 is always available on races 5 through 9 during every card and will revert to the normal .50-cent base wager on September 11.
By Yonkers Raceway Media 30 Aug, 2023
Yonkers, NY — The $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot is fast approaching and Wednesday (Aug. 30) the field swelled to nine as two United States representatives were added to the mix. It’s Academic and Venerate were invited to the Sept. 9 worldwide event and their connections have accepted the invitations from Racing Secretary Joe Frasure. It’s Academic is arguably the best older trotter in North America right now. His stakes résumé in 2023 includes victories in the Cashman Memorial, Spirit of Massachusetts and Crawford Farms Trot as he rides a five-race winning streak into Saturday’s (Sept. 2) Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Currently It’s Academic leads his division with $466,784 in earnings for owner Brad Grant and trainer Ron Burke. The 6-year-old son of Uncle Peter owns a 10-7-1-2 record in 2023. It’s Academic will be making his second start in the MGM Yonkers International Trot. He finished third in 2022 at 31-1 while closing from last in the second part of the 1-1/4 mile race. One year later, Burke is much more confident in his win chances. “Last year everything went wrong. He’s a different horse now. He was just becoming ‘It’s Academic’ last year. Now he’s tough. He just doesn’t want to lose,” said Burke, who had nothing but wonderful things to say about the entire event. “Last year I did all the things that go along with the race and I hope I get the chance to do it again this year,” continued the trainer. “It is an unbelievable experience; Thursday night at the restaurant; Friday cruising to the Statue of Liberty. It really is incredible and you appreciate how excited the people from other countries are to be here. They are way better winners and so much more fun to watch when they win than we are.” Venerate, owned by international interests (Courant Inc., Holly Lane Stud East, Kemppi Stables and Venerate Partners) and trained by Swedish import Marcus Melander, also joins the field for the MGM Yonkers International Trot as a U.S. entrant. The 5-year-old has only been to the track three times in 2023 but has a stakes win in the Cutler and a pair of runner-up finishes behind It’s Academic. “He started in the Cutler in May and there were no stakes for him in June. We entered him in a couple of overnights at The Meadowlands but they didn’t fill so we qualified him. Then he had the Crawford but we didn’t stake him to the race at Plainridge, and again the overnight didn’t fill at The Meadowlands. He raced in the Cashman but the Maple Leaf Trot didn’t require eliminations so he had to qualify again. It has been a little strange setup, but there aren’t too many stakes for the older trotters at the beginning of the season,” said Melander. While his U.S. counterpart has an extensive history of success on half-mile tracks, Venerate will make his debut on a smaller track, something Melander wasn’t concerned about ahead of the big dance. “I have a feeling he’ll go around it or I wouldn’t have accepted the invitation,” said Melander, who mentioned the Charlie Hill at Scioto on the same date as the other possibility if they were concerned about the smaller track. “We have a half-mile track at home that he trains on. I don’t see any problems going around Yonkers at this point. He’s stayed flat in all his races so far and he’s looked good. “When he was 3 he had some breaking issues, but he’s stronger now at 5 and more mature maybe.” Like It’s Academic, Venerate will start in Saturday’s Maple Leaf Trot prior to heading to Yonkers for the co-richest trotting race of the year. The grouping for the MGM Yonkers International Trot now sits at nine, with a Canadian invitee expected to round out the field prior to the draw on Sept. 5. Current invitees and their represented nations include: Get A Wish – Denmark Etonnant – France Vivid Wise As – Italy Aldebaran Zeus A – Australia Jiggy Jog S – Sweden Hierro Boko – Finland Bengurion Jet – Italy It’s Academic – United States Venerate – United States In other MGM Yonkers International Trot news, Aldebaran Zeus A qualified at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Aug. 29, finishing second in a credible 1:53.4 with a final quarter of :27.4. Bradley Chisholm was in the bike for “Nifty” Norman, who has taken over training duties while the 6-year-old son of Muscle Hill is in the U.S. Get A Wish won at Charlottenlund in Copenhagen in 1:52.4 on Aug. 27. All European horses for the race are expected to arrive at JFK Airport in New York on Sept. 3. The $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot is part of a blockbuster card that includes a pair of $250,000 Invitational races for older horses (Robert Miecuna Trot and Aria Pace) and the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes finals. Post time is 12:15 p.m. (EDT) on Sept. 9. The entire week leading up to the MGM Yonkers International Trot will have added intrigue with the normal $10,000 guaranteed Pick-5 on Monday and a special “Lucky 5” option replacing the normal Pick-5 the remainder of the racing week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday). Stay tuned for details of this can’t-miss non-jackpot wager. 
By Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent 28 Aug, 2023
The 5-year-old trotter Get A Wish (sired by Wishing Stone), who will represent Denmark in the upcoming International Trot at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Sept. 9, won in impressive style in 1:52.4f Sunday afternoon (Aug. 27) at Charlottenlund in Copenhagen. Get A Wish had trainer Bo Westergaard in the bike, who also will drive him at Yonkers. All the European trotters who will race in the International Trot leave by air on Sept. 3 from Belgium. It was Derby day at Charlottenlund and Dansk Trav Derby 2023 with a purse for the winner of $132,500, was won handily by 4-year-old Holger Danske with trainer Michael Lönborg in the bike. The Derby is raced over 3.000 meters — a little less than two miles — and the win time was 1:59f (mile rate). For trainer/driver Michael Lönborg the weekend was a tremendous success, as he not only was in the bike behind Holger Danske, but he is also the breeder. Further to that success, add a win for Lönborg in the mares Derby, Dansk Hoppe Derby, raced Saturday with Harper (sired by Broadway Hall). 
By Joseph Faraldo 21 Aug, 2023
Bengurion Jet will be coming to the USA
27 Jul, 2023
While it is unclear if Richard Westerink is familiar with the proverb “if at first you don’t succeed try, try again” he clearly lives by it. The owner/trainer will once again cross the Atlantic Ocean with €2.5 million winner Etonnant, perhaps the top horse in Europe right now, in hopes of winning the $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot. “I’ve never won a race in the U.S. and it is a dream for me,” said Westerink. “My horse is in very good shape. We were preparing for the Prix d’Amerique, but I said last year we preparing for it also and my horse got sick and didn’t race. Since the horse is fine now, it makes sense to race at Yonkers and think about the Prix d’Amerique later.” For the record, Westerink will be making his fourth trip to MGM Yonkers Raceway in search of the elusive International Trot trophy. His best finish came in 2015 when he finished second with Timoko, sire of Etonnant. Last year Etonnant was sent off as the 8-5 favorite in the MGM Yonkers International Trot won by Cokstile and was charted with a break on the fourth turn just after the three-quarter call and finished eighth. Whether or not the break in stride by Etonnant was caused by the track configuration or some confusion between horses can be debated, but Westerink seems certain of his horse’s ability to handle the tight turns of the Yonkers half-mile oval. “Maybe [the tight turns] are not his thing, but last year the race went badly for me when Back Of The Neck came out in front of him. If not for that I think we would’ve been second or third by the final turn and it is a different race. Maybe he would’ve won the race,” said Westerink. “I think he can handle the turns and it is not a problem. We won at Kouvola in Finland [June 17, 2023] and the turns there are flat and very tight. He won there in a new track record time. It seems he handles the turns easier now.” Since missing the Prix d’Amerique in January due to sickness, Etonnant has gone on a roll, winning six of eight starts at distances from one to 1.67 miles. His most recent triumph came on July 15 in the €120,000 Prix de Washington at Enghien-Soisy Racecourse in upper Normandy and Etonnant is expected to start there again this Saturday (July 29) in the €150,000 Jean-Luc Lagardere.  Westerink was hoping to arrive in the U.S. in August to compete in the John Cashman Memorial at The Meadowlands but said the cost of travel, vet and insurance – €80,000 – was simply too high. With MGM Yonkers providing guaranteed money to International shippers and with the large number of horses coming from Europe decreasing vet bills, the cost of a U.S. trip for the MGM Yonkers International was more attractive. The star-studded field for the 1 ¼-mile race is certainly living up to its name with an international flare. Etonnant (France) joins Vivid Wise As (Italy), Get A Wish (Denmark), Aldebaran Zeus (Australia) and Jiggy Jog S (Sweden) as we reach the halfway mark of attendance for the expected 10-horse Yonkers International Trot field. “I know the Australian horse and of course Vivid Wise As. We beat [Vivid Wise As] on the outside a couple of times and right now I think we can handle him,” said Westerink. The $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot will be the marquee event on a blockbuster program that includes a pair of six-figure Invitationals and the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions to honor the best 2- and 3-year-olds in the state. Post time for the special card is noon.
By Thomas Hedlund 19 Jul, 2023
Richard Westerink-trained Etonnant (Timoko) had a perfect performance in the $125,000 Prix de Washington at Enghien in Paris on Saturday (July 15) afternoon. Elitloppet winner Hohneck opened quickly for the lead, but Etonnant connected on the leader’s outside on the backstretch. Midway through the race, Etonnant was the new leader. Westerink’s trotter continued in a high pace, leaving the opponents behind him. Driver Anthony Barrier had a pleasant home stretch in the bike. Etonnant won in a new stakes record of 1:51.2 over the mile and Holger Ehlert’s Bleff Dipa finished strongly as the runner up, just ahead of Hohneck. Replay here. Etonnant’s comeback after illness during the winter meeting in Paris has been marvelous. The $125,000 Prix Kerjacques, $225,000 Prix de l’Atlantique and $180,000 Kymi Grand Prix are just some of his victories this season. Also on Saturday, but in Sweden, the $120,000 Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp was on the race card in Årjäng and Elitloppet runner up San Moteur attracted the most interest in the race, even if there were several top trotters among the opponents. Stefan Melander’s Click Bait went to the front and Björn Goop took it slowly throughout the first turn with San Moteur, but when the field had a lap to go (1 kilometer), San Moteur was on the leader’s outside and the battle began. Click Bait is a tough horse to beat over the mile, especially when he’s in front, but San Moteur pushed hard in the last turn and when the field turned for home, Goop’s trotter had an advantage. Missle Hill tried to challenge from second over and closed the gap to San Moteur, but was never really close enough that San Moteur would be beaten on a rainy day in Årjäng. He won in 1:53. Missle Hill was second and Unico Broline third.
12 Jul, 2023
Yonkers, NY — Italy has played a prominent role in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot since the race was revived from a 19-year hiatus in 2015. First, Twister Bi arrived in 2017 and smashed the world record at the 1-1/4 mile distance and two years later Zacon Gio was equally impressive in victory. In 2023 a new player will attempt to follow in their hoof prints as top European competitor Vivid Wise As will cross the Atlantic Ocean for his chance in the New York spotlight. “Vivid has reached the right psychophysical maturity to face a long journey, and I am convinced that he has a great chance. We are always talking about the richest Italian horse after Varenne,” said co-owner/breeder Antonio Somma, who plans to attend the race at Yonkers Raceway on Sept. 9 if his work schedule permits. Known to the entire trotting world, Vivid Wise As has earned over $2.7 million while accumulating 34 wins in 84 career starts, including 18 victories at the Group 1 level. Some of his major triumphs include the Prix de France and Prix René Balliere at Vincennes in Paris, and three triumphs in the Grand Criterium de la Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur in Cagnes Sur Mer. For perspective, the Grand Criterium has been won by the likes of Etonnant, Readly Express, Bold Eagle and Timoko over the last nine years. A recent winner at 2,100 meters on June 29 (less than 100 meters under the International Trot distance of 2,011), the 9-year-old has posted a very credible three wins in nine starts this year while adding $335,076 to the coffers under the Scuderia Bivans banner.  Originally purchased for 110,000 Euros at the ITS Yearling Sale by Somma, Vivid Wise As is 100 percent American in terms of bloodlines. He is by Yankee Glide from the Cantab Hall mare Temple Blue Chip. Interestingly, Somma has already won the MGM Yonkers International Trot as the breeder of Zacon Gio but hopes Vivid Wise As can add a new honor to his mantle. “I’d like to win it as an owner. It’s a race that’s missing from my bulletin board,” said Somma. Vivid Wise As now joins Get A Wish (Denmark), Aldebaran Zeus (Australia) and Jiggy Jog S (Sweden) in the field for the International Trot. The race for older trotters will be the marquee event on a blockbuster program that includes a pair of six-figure Invitationals and the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions to honor the best 2- and 3-year-olds in the state. Post time for the special card is noon.
05 Jul, 2023
Yonkers, NY – The third invitation to the $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot has officially been extended to the connections of Jiggy Jog S. The 4-year-old mare, bred in Sweden, will carry that flag for owner Jörgen Sparredal and trainer and driver Ake Svanstedt. “It’s a great honor to be invited. It’s a well-known race in Sweden and a dream come true to have a horse good enough to race,” said Sparredal. “I live in Malta, the filly is Swedish and the breeder Norwegian. She is located in America with a caretaker from Guatemala, so she is truly international. “I have always had a dream to race trotters in America and I bought a few yearlings in 2020 that I thought had the right pedigrees,” continued Sparredal. “I decided to try my luck and Jiggy Jog S was the first horse. I tried to buy all five Walner fillies at a sale in Sweden but only managed to get two. I decided on the name Jiggy Jog before I bought the yearlings and had a plan to use that name for the best one. It’s from the 2017 Stanley Dancer race call of Walner winning. I love Walner and the way he looked.” While she represents Sweden, Jiggy Jog S has spent her entire racing career in North America competing against the best on these shores. As a 3-year-old she closed out a $924,319-winning campaign with a Breeders Crown victory and has picked up right where she left off in 2023 by visiting the winner’s circle in all three of her starts. Jiggy Jog S has increased her margin of victory in the stretch in each of her races and that leads one to believe that the added 1-1/4 distance of the MGM Yonkers International Trot will only help her cause. If nothing else, her versatility will play in her favor as she has won from on and off the pace and owns a victory over the Yonkers Raceway surface in the 2022 New York New York Mile. “It will not be easy for a 4-year-old filly but in terms of ability we fear no one,” said Sparredal. “She is versatile and very fast behind the gate if needed. She won the Breeders Crown parked first-over, Kentucky Filly Futurity wire-to-wire in 1:50 flat, and she has won many races from behind. So she has many good skills. “I’m very excited,” continued Sparredal. “This is a fantastic race and a great initiative. I wish there were more races of this kind, where the best horses from all over the world can compete against each other.” Next up for Jiggy Jog S, who joins Aldebaran Zeus and Get A Wish in the quest for the MGM Yonkers International Trot trophy, will be the $250,000 Graduate final at The Meadowlands on July 8 followed by the Hambletonian Maturity over the same surface on the 15th of the month. The $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot is slated for September 9 as part of a blockbuster program that includes a pair of six-figure Invitationals and the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions to honor the best 2- and 3-year-olds in the state. Post time for the special card is Noon. Photo: Jiggy Jog S winning at Woodbine Mohawk Park. New Image Media
Show More
Share by: