A pair of Swedish breds – Jiggy Jog and Castor The Star – have received the fourth and fifth invitations for the $1 million USD MGM Yonkers International Trot. The 1-1/4 mile event is slated for Sept. 7 over the historic oval at Yonkers Raceway.
Jiggy Jog S, of course, needs no introduction to those in North America as she is the reigning Dan Patch Older Trotting Mare of the Year in the United States and is currently undefeated in three 2024 starts. Her recent 1:49.2 victory at The Meadowlands in the John Cashman Memorial versus male competition was the fourth fastest mile ever by a mare trotter.
Bred in Sweden but exported to the U.S. to race, Jiggy Jog has accumulated 21 wins in 38 career starts while earning north of $2.65 million. In 2023 she finished second behind Vivid Wise As in the MGM Yonkers International Trot and went on to win the Breeders Crown a month later.
Earlier this year Jiggy Jog was sold, but she remains under the care of trainer Ake Svanstedt, who co-owns with Steve Stewart, John Lengacher and Hickory Hollow Stables. The five-year-old daughter of Walner is scheduled to compete Saturday in the $100,000 USD Sebastian K Invitational at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania with regular driver Dexter Dunn in the bike.
Unlike her fellow Swedish flag carrier, Castor The Star has been racing in his homeland and is riding a two-race winning streak. Most recently on Aug. 10, the six-year-old son of Maharajah captured the Åby Sprint Grand Prix at the distance of 1,640 metres (just over one mile).
Trained by Jörgen Westholm for owner Team Westholm AB, Castor The Star has three victories in nine tries this year and a strong 14 wins from 46 starts for his career.
Jiggy Jog and Castor The Star join Capital Mail (Italy), Get A Wish (Denmark) and Hail Mary (Sweden) as starters in the MGM Yonkers International Trot. Further starters will be announced in the coming days.
The Yonkers International Trot will be the centerpiece of a spectacular afternoon card (12:15 p.m. EDT post time) on Sept. 7 that also features a pair of $250,000 USD Invitationals for older horses and the $1.8 million USD finals of the New York Sire Stakes.
(Yonkers Raceway)