Creatine, Natural Herbie to represent USA in International Trot
September 22, 2015,by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — The field has been finalized for Yonkers Raceway’s million-dollar International Trot, set for Saturday afternoon (Oct. 10). Creatine and Natural Herbie have been chosen as the United States representatives.
Creatine, a 5-year-old son of Andover Hall, has raced abroad thus far in 2015 for Johnny and Jimmy Takter. This season, his wins include the Hugo Abergs Memorial (Sweden) and Prix Saint Michel (Finland), as well as a second in the final of the 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. His winning time of 2:24.4 for the 1-1/4 mile distance (same as the International) was/is a world record for the distance over a half-mile oval.
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Natural Herbie won the 2014 International Trot Preview.
The 5-year-old Here Comes Herbie gelding, the pride and joy of owner/trainer/driver Verlin Yoder, won his elimination of the Maple Leaf Trot this year before finishing third in the final. His career earnings are approaching $900,000.
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, are BBS Sugarlight (Norway), Bee A Magician (Canada), Mosaique Face (Sweden), Oasis Bi (Italy), On Track Piraten (Sweden), Papagayo E (Norway), Rod Stewart (Italy)
and Timoko (France).
Again, please note the International is part of a scheduled matinee card, with proposed first post (pending approval of the NYS Gaming Commission) at 2 p.m. and the race itself going at approximately 3:20 p.m.