by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY – Fifteen 3-year-olds -14 colts and one gelding – have been entered for the Yonkers Trot at Yonkers Raceway, second jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown.

The 53rd edition of the Trot carries a total purse of $724,770, with a pair of $40,000 elimination races this Saturday night determining the eight qualifiers (first four from each elim) for next Saturday night’s $644,770 final.

The first elimination is led by Swedish-owned Adrian Chip, who drew the inside post position for Swedish trainer/driver Robert Bergh.
Adrian Chip, one of seven sons of Andover Hall in the Yonkers Trot, won his Hambletonian elimination before finishing second in the $1.5 million final. He has five wins and a pair of seconds in seven seasonal starts, with earnings of $542,519.

Quite Easy, who has banked more than $190,000 this season and in excess of $400,000 in his 19-race career, drew post position No. 4 for trainer/driver Jimmy Takter.

The second Trot elimination has Green Day, the lone gelding—and lone $60,000 supplemental entrant—leaving from the inside starting locale.

The son of Enjoy Lavec, trained by Jim Raymer and driven by Catello Manzi, has won seven of his 13 races and more than $221,000 this season. Green Day wound up fourth in last week’s $30,000 Open Handicap Trot, taking on older foes from an eight-hole.

His biggest win to date was the $338,000 final of the Nevele Pride in late June at Monticello.

Nate K (Yannick Gingras, post 3), The Liquidator (Jeff Gregory, post 5) and Primary AS (Trond Smedshammer, post 6) each won their respective $75,000 Colonial divisions this past Sunday at Chester. Primary AS has four victories in seven ’07 tries ($167,125).

Hambletonian winner Donato Hanover was eligible to the Yonkers Trot, but his connections opted not to enter.

The fields for Saturday night’s Yonkers Trot eliminations, with declared driver:

First elimination (8th race); 1-Adrian Chip, Robert Bergh; 2-Sullivan’s Travels, Greg Grismore; 3-Too Salty, Jeff Gregory; 4-Quite Easy, Jimmy Takter; 5-Cayenne Turbo, Jim Meittinis; 6-Stargate Hanover, Andy Miller; 7-Up Front Larry, Driver TBA.

Second elimination (9th race); 1-Green Day, Catello Manzi; 2-Got That Look, Tim Tetrick; 3-Nate K, Yannick Gingras; 4-Anderberg, George Brennan; 5-The Liquidator, Gregory; 6-Primary AS, Trond Smedshammer; 7-Up Front Ben, Driver TBA; 8-Manfinity, Manzi also listed.