The field is set for the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot with reigning O'Brien Award winner Logan Park representing Canada in post position five in the 1-1/4-mile race this Saturday, Sept. 7 at Yonkers Raceway.
Logan Park, a career winner of 31 races and more than $1.35 million, is trained by the father and son team of Rob and Kyle Fellows for owners Outofthepark Stable of Rockwood, Ont., breeder Reg Higgs of Ilderton, Ont., and Arpad Szabo of Bradford, Ont. The six-year-old millionaire son of Archangel has hit the board in all 11 of his starts this year, winning seven times. In addition to winning multiple Preferreds at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Logan Park was victorious in the Earl Rowe Memorial at Georgian Downs and an elimination for the Maple Leaf Trot elimination followed by a third-place finish in last Saturday's final at Mohawk. Canada's reigning Older Trotter of the Year did compete on last year's Yonkers International undercard. He will be driven by Doug McNair of Guelph, Ont.
Another trotter in the field with Canadian ties is Its Academic, who will start from post six for owner Brad Grant of Milton. Ont. A career winner of 32 races and more than $2.6 million, the reigning U.S. Older Male Trotter of the Year finished third in his Yonkers International debut in 2022 and was fourth in last's year edition. Racing mostly stateside, the seven-year-old son of Uncle Peter is trained by Ron Burke and is one of two U.S. representatives in the field.
This past weekend's Maple Leaf Trot champion Periculum is the other and the five-year-old son of Muscle Hill will start from the trailing post 10 with Canadian-born Scott Zeron driving for trainer Marcus Melander. An 11-time winner with $863,543 earned, Periculum has faced international competition before, competing abroad in Sweden and Finland last year. He is owned by Brixton Medical Inc. of Matawan, New Jersey and Holly Lane Stud East Ltd. of Vero Beach, Florida.
The field also includes trotting mare Jiggy Jog S, who is familiar to followers of harness racing in North America and will represent Sweden from post four as the 5-2 morning line favourite. Trained by Ake Svanstedt in the U.S., the five-year-old daughter of Walner was last year's Yonkers International runner-up and is undefeated in four starts this year, including a 1:49.2 victory at The Meadowlands in the John Cashman Memorial -- the fourth fastest mile ever by a mare trotter. The reigning U.S. Older Trotting Mare of the Year boasts a lifetime record reading 22-10-2 from 39 starts with more than $2.7 million in earnings for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc. of Wrightstown, New Jersey, Steve Stewart of Paris, Kentucky, John Lengacher of Grabill, Indiana and Hickory Hollow Stables of Spencerville, Indiana.
Castor The Star (post three) and Hail Mary (post seven) will also represent Sweden.
The other international stars joining the lineup include France's Eclat De Gloire (post one) and Ideal San Leandro (post two), Italy's Vernissage Grif (post eight) and Denmark's Get A Wish (trailing post nine).
Here is a look at the field for the Yonkers International Trot:
$1 million USD MGM Yonkers International Trot
Post - Horse (Country) - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Eclat De Gloire (France) - Loris Garcia - Loris Garcia - 20-1
2. Ideal San Leandro (France) - Bjorn Goop - Richard Westerink - 20-1
3. Castor The Star (Sweden) - Mats Djuse - Jorgen Westholm - 10-1
4. Jiggy Jog S (Sweden) Dexter Dunn - Ake Svanstedt - 5-2
5. Logan Park (Canada) - Doug McNair - Rob Fellows - 6-1
6. Its Academic (USA) - David Miller - Ron Burke - 8-1
7. Hail Mary (Sweden) - Orjan Kihlstrom - Daniel Reden - 9-2
8. Vernissage Grif (Italy) - Alessandro Gocciadoro - Alessandro Gocciadoro - 7-2
9.] Get A Wish (Denmark) - Johan Untersteiner - Johan Untersteiner - 15-1
10.] Periculum (USA) - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander - 5-1
The Yonkers International will headline the Saturday afternoon program as the fifth race on the card that also includes a pair of $250,000 USD Invitationals for older horses (fields listed below) and the $1.8 million USD finals of the New York Sire Stakes. First race post time will be 12 noon EDT.
$250,000 USD Robert Miecuna Invitational Trot
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Tipsy Moni - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom
2. Ari Ferrari J - Jason Bartlett - Tony Alagna
3. Amigo Volo - Dexter Dunn - Nifty Norman
4. Venerate - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander
5. Cecil Hanover - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt
6. M Ms Dream - David Miller - Ron Burke
7. Take All Comers - Jordan Stratton- Jim Campbell
8. Stormy Kromer - Tim Tetrick - Paul Stafford
9. Nows The Moment - Mark MacDonald - Allison MacDonald
10. Black Magic - Scott Zeron - Linda Toscano
$250,000 USD Aria Invitational Pace
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Desperate Man - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
2. Energetic Hanover - Jason Bartlett - Tony Alagna
3. Whats Stanley Got A - George Brennan - Cory Stratton
4. Hellabalou - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
5. Dunkin - Tim Tetrick - Scott Di Domenico
6. Venturesome Arden N - Jordan Stratton - Ricky Bucci
7. Redwood Hanover - Dexter Dunn - Tony Beaton
8. Rocknroll Runa A - Mark MacDonald - Larry Stalbaum
9. Coaches Corner - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
10. Its A Me Mario - Lauren Tritton - Shane Tritton
A mandatory payout $1 Pick 5 wager will be offered starting in race five with the Yonkers International. The bet includes $50,000 in carryover money funded by the Standardbred Owners Association of New York. In conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program, the pool will be guaranteed at $150,000.
Those attending the races live are invited to enjoy a buffet-style meal in the Empire Terrace dining room at $80 USD per person. No reservations are required.
For Saturday's complete entries, click here.
(Standardbred Canada)