MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series Begins Friday
The 2025 edition of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series begins on Friday, Nov. 21 at MGM Yonkers Raceway with three $50,000 USD divisions.
Antognoni S, who won the John Brennan Trotting Series final at Yonkers earlier this year, is the leading earner in 2025 in the first grouping (race five) with more than $410,000 in the bank. Co-owner Yannick Gingras is listed to drive the five-year-old Father Patrick-Bouncing Bax gelding for trainer Ron Burke. Antognoni S will face the likes of last year's MGM Yonkers Trot and New York Sire Stakes champion Sir Pinocchio (post four, Jason Bartlett), trained by Ed Hart, and $2.9 million earner Amigo Volo (post eight, George Brennan), competing from the stable of Nifty Norman.
Double millionaire Periculum (pictured above) is in the second split (race seven) with Scott Zeron listed to drive the six-year-old Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress stallion for trainer Marcus Melander. When last seen at Yonkers, Periculum was a traffic-troubled seventh in the International Trot but has a pair of wins and two seconds in stakes outings since then.
Burke and Gingras also join forces with Southwind Coors from post seven in the final section (race eight). The Walner-Southwind Cabaret gelding, who was fourth in the recent Breeders Crown, took the Invitational at Yonkers in his most recent outing on Nov. 6. He will compete against the likes of Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot runner-up Security Protected (post five, Jordan Stratton), trained by Cory Stratton, and defending series champion Take All Comers (post four, Todd McCarthy), from the Jim Campbell stable.
Here are the fields for Friday's MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series races in full:
Division #1 - Race 5
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Antognoni S - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
2. Big Box Hanover - TBA - Larry Stalbaum
3. Ultion Face S - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
4. Sir Pinocchio - Jason Bartlett - Ed Hart
5. Keg Stand - Colin Kelly - Nick Devita
6. Escaper - Brent Holland - Maria Alvarez
7. Dribbling Bi - Daniel Dube - Ron Coyne Jr.
8. Amigo Volo - George Brennan - Nifty Norman
Division #2 - Race 7
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Asteroid - Colin Kelly - Jeff Cullipher
2. Blackhawk Zette - Jordan Stratton - Robert Baggitt Jr.
3. Periculum - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander
4. Queen Of All - Austin Siegelman - Lance Hudson
5. Ari Ferrari J - Jason Bartlett - Tony Alagna
6. Khaosan Road - Daniel Dube - Ake Svanstedt
7. Cecil Hanover - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom
8. Hot Flash Kimmy - Jordan Stratton - Cory Stratton
Division #3 - Race 8
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Dire Straits - Jason Bartlett - Linda Toscano
2. Benny J - Jason Bartlett - Tony Alagna
3. Mississippi Storm - Brent Holland - Tom Fanning
4. Take All Comers - Todd McCarthy - Jim Campbell
5. Security Protected - Jordan Stratton - Cory Stratton
6. Oliver The Great - Jim Marohn Jr. - Robert Baggitt Jr.
7. Southwind Coors - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
The MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series has two additional legs after Friday, with round two on Friday, Dec. 1 and the third prelim on Friday, Dec. 8 before the final on Friday, Dec. 19. Points for the series will be earned on a 50-25-12-8-5 scale (winner gets 50 points, runner-up gets 25, etc.). The top 10 point earners get a spot in the $250,000 USD, 1-1/4 mile final, while the next 10 point earners go in the $75,000 USD, 1-1/4 mile consolation on the same card.
Additional details for the companion MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series will be distributed when the opener of that event is drawn on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)