Up Your Deo, fresh off a track record win in his elimination a week ago, kicked off this year’s Trotting Triple Crown with a 1:53.3 triumph for trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt in the $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot, for 3-year-old colts and geldings, on Friday night (June 30) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Author: from MGM Yonkers Raceway
Captain Batboy hits home run in Messenger
Captain Batboy and driver Jordan Stratton made every call a winning one, capturing the $250,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the first jewel of Pacing’s Triple Crown, at Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (June 30) in a sparkling 1:57.4 clocking for the 1-1/16-mile distance. A son of Captainreacherous, Captain Batboy, a winner of just $94,468 entering the race, more than doubled his earnings for owner Joseph Smith and trainer Tom Fanning.
Record handle, Davies trotters in Cumberland spotlight
Fans showed Maine harness racing some love on Friday (June 30) at First Tracks Cumberland with an all-time record handle of $265,000. In addition, trainer-driver Ivan Davies swept both divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds, with both trotters being bred by the late Mike Andrew, sired by Boy Band, and owned by Anita Anastosopolous.
Island Of The Sea, Hot Mess Express, rookies impress at Philly
Both Island Of The Sea and Hot Mess Express rode pocket trips to victory in the $16,200 featured paces on a hot Friday afternoon (June 30) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Party Queen wins Vernon feature
Party Queen (Barton Dalious) captured the $6,500 featured fillies and mares pace at Vernon Downs on Friday (June 30).
Faraldo, Kleinhans first in NAADA Trots
Joe Faraldo and Peter Kleinhans fired for the lead and kept their competition chasing to take their respective $10,000 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots, carded as non-wagering events, at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (June 29).
Dandy’s Evrlasting takes distaff pacing feature at Plainridge
Coming off a lifetime best 1:50.3 effort last week, Dandy’s Evrlasting bounced right back and won again in decisive fashion in the $25,000 featured Winners-Over Pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 29).
Youngsters raise win rates in Thursday Philly features
Younger horses were again in the spotlight on Thursday afternoon (June 29) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with three divisions of a $12,600 condition for horses on their way up the class ladder featured on the program.
Next Generation filly fields set
The fourth annual Next Generation events at Eldorado Scioto Downs will be held Saturday (July 1). First post is 5:50 p.m. with the 2-year-old filly pace going off as race three and the 2-year-old filly trot going behind the gate for race seven.