Two $75,000 USD divisions of the second leg of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series will go behind the gate on Friday night, Nov. 1 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Its Academic, who was one of the first round winners, drew the pole position in the first split (race four). Last year's Dan Patch Award winner for older trotting males, Its Academic was sixth in the Breeders Crown Open Trot final on Saturday, Oct. 26 at The Meadowlands. Yannick Gingras is listed to drive for trainer Ron Burke. Ari Ferrari J, who won the Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot at Yonkers in September, was second in his opening leg flight and eighth in the Breeders Crown Open Trot final. He will start from post five with Jason Bartlett listed to drive for trainer Tony Alagna.

Chapercraz, the other horse to tally in the initial leg of the series, will start from the outside post seven in Friday night's other section (race six). Another Gingras/Burke entrant, Chapercraz backed up his tally in the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series with another score in a "non-winners of $30,000 USD last five races" base class event at Yonkers on Oct. 24.

Here are the full fields for Friday night's races with listed driver and trainer:

MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series - Division #1 - Race 4
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Its Academic - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
2. Gaines Hanover - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
3. Diamante Trio It - Anthony Napolitano - Travis Alexander
4. Bestfriend Volo - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter
5. Ari Ferrari J - Jason Bartlett - Tony Alagna
6. Pappardelle - Joe Bongiorno - Joe Bongiorno
7. Tachyon - Jason Bartlett - Ricky Bucci

MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series - Division #2 - Race 6
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Delayed Hanover - Tyler Buter - John McDermott
2. Mississippi Storm - Brent Holland - Tom Fanning
3. Ghostly Casper - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
4. Tactical Mounds - Scott Zeron - Megan Scran
5. Djimon - George Brennan - Mark Steacy
6. Take All Comers - Jordan Stratton - Jim Campbell
7. Chapercraz - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke

The MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series prelims will conclude next Friday, Nov. 8, and the $250,000 USD final is set for Nov. 15. The third leg and the final will be conducted at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT). Tonight's (Oct. 28) program includes a $4,069.42 carryover and a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 in race five.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)