The field has been finalized for Yonkers Raceway’s $1 million International Trot, set for the afternoon of Saturday, October 10.
Creatine and Natural Herbie have been chosen as the United States representatives.
Creatine, a five-year-old son of Andover Hall, has raced abroad thus far in 2015 for Johnny and Jimmy Takter.
This season, Creatine’s wins include Hugo Abergs Memorial (Sweden) and Prix Saint Michel (Finland), as well as a second in the final of UET Masters (Belgium).
His three-season North American resume, when he was trained by co-owner Bob Stewart, included 14 wins, nine seconds and six thirds in 40 starts ($1,329,170).
Creatine’s career North American highlight was the 2013 Kentucky Futurity at the Red Mile, when he authored a 15-1 upset in a soggy 1:53.2.
As for Natural Herbie, he already impressed the local screening committee with last season’s win over a world-class field in the $250,000 International Trot Preview.
The five-year-old Here Comes Herbie gelding, the pride and joy of owner/trainer/driver Verlin Yoder, won his elimination of the Maple Leaf Trot before finishing third in the final. His career earnings are approaching $900,000. His winning time of 2:24.4 for the one and a quarter-mile distance (same of the International) was/is a world record for the distance over a half-mile oval.
The two American reps round out the stellar 10-horse field as the International returns after a two-decade hiatus
The previously-confirmed (alphabetical) attendees, with their ‘home’ countries appear below.
• BBS Sugarlight (Norway)
• Bee A Magician (Canada)
• Mosaique Face (Sweden)
• Oasis Bi (Italy)
• On Track Piraten (Sweden)
• Papagayo E (Norway)
• Rod Stewart (Italy)
• Timoko (France)
The International is part of a scheduled matinee card, with proposed first post (pending approval of the NYS Gaming Commission) of 2 p.m. It is expected that the International will head to post at roughly 3:20 p.m.
(Yonkers Raceway)