There has been a change in the cast of characters for Yonkers Raceway’s upcoming $1 million International Trot.
Dreammoko, who was to represent the Netherlands, has been sidelined with a touch of a virus and won’t make the trip. In his stead, the fleet Canadian Will Take Charge has been chosen.
For Will Take Charge, it’s the culmination of a career season. The five-year-old Kadabra gelding, owned by Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont., and trained by Jeff Gillis of Mississauga, Ont., has won nine of his 20 starts and $409,965. His 1:53.2 Yonkers win in mid-September matched the track record for an aged trotting gelding. Will Take Charge’s world-record mark of 1:50.3 was trotted in the $150,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational at Harrah’s Philadelphia in late May.
“I spoke with Jeff (Gillis) and he was tickled to death,” race secretary Steve Starr has said. “The horse showed his guts when he won here, and we’re happy he’s coming back for this race.”
Will Take Charge, pictured victorious in 1:50.3 in the 2018 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational
Canada now has a pair of entrants in the International, as Will Take Charge will join last season’s runner-up, triple-millionaire Marion Marauder.
The list of the 10 world-class trotters that are set to contest the mile-and-a-quarter 40th International appears below.
Arazi Boko (Italy)
Ariana G (United States)
Cruzado Dela Noche (Sweden)
Lionel (Norway)
Marion Marauder (Canada)
Pastore Bob (Sweden)
Ringostarr Treb (Italy)
Slide So Easy (Denmark)
Up and Quick (France)
Will Take Charge (Canada)
First post for the special matinee program — which also includes the $250,000 Harry Harvey Invitational Trot and $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational Pace — will be at 1 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)