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

Yonkers, NY — The world-class field for the 2017 Yonkers International Trot at Empire City Casino is rounding into shape.

According to race secretary Steve Starr, the list of acceptances as of this writing (alphabetically, with country) are:
Dreammoko (FRA)
Midnight Hour (FIN)
Oasis Bi (ITA)
On Track Piraten (SWE)
Resolve (USA)
Tripolini VP (DEN)
Twister Bi (ITA)

Resolve is, of course, the defending champion and world-record holder (2:23.4), with Oasis Bi and On Track Piraten finishing second and fourth, respectively. When the race was reinstituted by Yonkers in 2015, Oasis Bi and On Track Piraten wound up fourth and seventh.

The connections of Top Flight Angel, winner of the 63rd Yonkers Trot, had a standing invitation, but elected to go in the same day’s $225,000 final of the New York Sire Stakes.
Starr is going over the results of races this past weekend to finalize the 10-horse field contesting the $1 million, 1-1/4 event, set for Saturday afternoon (Oct. 14).

The $3.3 million program, by far the richest in Yonkers’ storied history, also includes the $1.8 million New York ‘Day’ of Champions and a pair of $250,000 Invitationals.

First post for the 11-race card is 1 p.m., with the layout as such:

No.-Event Post time
1-NYSS 2-year-old Colt/Gelding Pace 1 p.m.
2-NYSS 2-year-old Filly Pace 1 p.m.
3-NYSS 2-year-old Filly Trot 1:40 p.m.
4-NYSS 3-year-old Filly Pace 2 p.m.
5-NYSS 2-year-old Colt/Gelding Trot 2:20 p.m.
6-NYSS 3-year-old Colt/Gelding Pace 2:40 p.m.
7-Invitational Pace (Dan Rooney) 3 p.m.
8-Invitational Trot (Harry Harvey) 3:30 p.m.
9-International Trot 4 p.m.
10-NYSS 3-year-old Colt/Gelding Trot 4:30 p.m.
11-NYSS 3-year-old Filly Trot 5 p.m.

Notes…all finals for NYSS are at flat mile with eight starters at $225,000 each
Invitational Trot is 1-1/4 miles with 10 starters at $250,000
Invitational Pace is flat mile with eight starters at $250,000
Races eight through 11 simulcast to French-hubbed audience.

Additional information surrounding the program shall be announced when available.