The 2025 edition of the John Brennan Trotting Series will conclude on Wednesday, April 23 at MGM Yonkers Raceway, and the fields for both the $132,000 USD final and $50,000 USD consolation are now set.
Trainers Ron Burke and Per Engblom had seven of the eight top point-earners in the event but were limited to two finalists each as part of the stakes conditions. Burke-trained Antognoni S is the only horse in the series with a chance at a sweep, but he'll have to overcome post seven with co-owner Yannick Gingras at the lines. Burke's other entrant, dual-round winner Busy Making Moni, landed post five.
As for Engblom, he has Bellissimo Face S from post one with Jason Bartlett set to drive and Green Pastures from post four with Scott Zeron on the entry sheet. Zeron is also the listed driver for Busy Making Moni.
The full field for the $132,000 USD final, which will be race seven on the card, is as follows:
Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Listed Trainer
1. Bellissimo Face S - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
2. Mycrownmykingdom - Brent Holland - Paul Stafford
3. Sapphirerainstar - Simon Allard - Mark Akins
4. Green Pastures - Scott Zeron - Per Engblom
5. Busy Making Moni - Scott Zeron - Ron Burke
6. Lucky Mum N - Brent Holland - Ricky Bucci
7. Antognoni S - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
8. Scottish - Yannick Gingras - Joe Bongiorno
Due to the trainer entry limit, Burke-trained Blockchain (post four) and Engblom trainees Golden Rain S (post three) and Cantstop Yankee (post eight), who had qualified for the final, ended up in the $50,000 USD consolation (race four). Golden Rain S and Cantstop Yankee will compete as a coupled entry.
The John Brennan Trotting Series is named in honour of the longtime SOA of NY horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020.
(with files from Yonkers Raceway)