Eliminations are not required for the MGM Yonkers Trot or the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the opening leg of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The 10 entered for the Yonkers Trot and the seven that dropped in the box for the Messenger Stakes will advance directly to the Grade 2 finals on Friday, June 26 at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Both finals will be raced at 1-1/4 miles.
The post position draws for the finals will be held on Monday, June 22. The companion filly races -- the Park MGM Pace and New York New York Mile -- will also be drawn then.
The Yonkers Trot will carry a purse of $300,000 USD and will have eight horses on the gate plus two trailers. Here are the finalists in alphabetical order:
- AI
- Ardonne
- Create Escape
- Inexpressable
- Kingmen
- Nordic Dancer S
- Requiem
- Secured
- Silverstein
- Spencer Hanover
As for the Messenger Stakes, the purse will be $200,000 USD. The finalists are as follows, again in alphabetical order:
- Al Papi
- Apocalypsebluechip
- Fragment
- Frantic Hanover
- Hunt Off The Press
- Melillo
- Mighty Matt
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)