Canadian Will Take Charge replacing Dreammoko in International Trot
October 3, 2018,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — There has been a change in the cast of characters for the million-dollar Yonkers International Trot at Empire City Casino. Dreammoko, who was to represent the Netherlands, has been sidelined with a sore throat and won’t make the trip. In his stead, the fleet Canadian Will Take Charge has been chosen.
USTA/Ken Weingartner photo
Will Take Charge has been added to the list of starters for the Yonkers International Trot.
For Will Take Charge, it’s the culmination of a career season. The 5-year-old Kadabra gelding, owned by Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ontario, and trained by Jeff Gillis of Mississauga, Ont., has won nine of his 20 starts and $409,965. His 1:53.2 Yonkers win in mid-September matched the Raceway’s track record for an older trotting gelding, while his life-best 1:50.3 was taken in late May’s $150,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
“I spoke with Jeff (Gillis) and he was tickled to death,” race secretary Steve Starr said. “The horse showed his guts when he won here, and we’re happy he’s coming back for this race.”
Canada now has a pair of entrants in the International, with Will Take Charge joining last season’s runner-up, triple-millionaire Marion Marauder.
The 10 world-class trotters set to contest the mile-and-a-quarter 40th International are:
Arazi Boko (Italy)
Ariana G (United States)
Cruzado Dela Noche (Sweden)
Lionel (Norway)
Marion Marauder (Canada)
Pastore Bob (Sweden)
Ringostarr Treb (Italy)
Slide So Easy (Denmark)
Up And Quick (France)
Will Take Charge (Canada)
First post for the special matinee program — which also includes the $250,000 Harry Harvey Invitational Trot and $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational Pace — is 1 p.m.
For more information, please visit the International Trot’s dedicated site, www.internationaltrot.com.
- Marion Marauder tries to go ‘fourth’ for Canada in International Trot (Thursday, October 04, 2018)
The fact that Marion Marauder found himself invited to participate in the 40th International Trot was unrelated to any new North American trade agreement. He’s just pretty good. Three million dollars takes care of a lot of tariffs on any side of the border. The million-dollar Yonkers International Trot at Empire City Casino goes Saturday afternoon (Oct. 13) with first post at 1 p.m., and you couldn’t legally assemble a field of 10 world-class trotters without including Marion Marauder.
- Riordan brings Elitlopp winner Ringostarr Treb to International Trot (Friday, October 05, 2018)
Winning the Elitlopp this year with Ringostarr Treb was surreal for Jerry Riordan, but the trainer quickly realized the experience wasn’t for the claustrophobic. Just after the race, Riordan and driver Wim Paal led Ringostarr Treb up the track along the outside rail. The track apron at Solvalla is elevated from the racing surface and the thousands of fans along the fence leaned over and reached out. Their extended arms hung over the trainer, driver, and horse, enclosing them in a tunnel of humanity. The newly crowned Elitlopp winner took it all in stride.
- Foreign fleet is in for $1 million Yonkers International Trot (Friday, October 05, 2018)
Six overseas trotters have arrived in New York in advance of next Saturday afternoon’s (Oct. 13) $1 million Yonkers International Trot at Empire City Casino.