Posts drawn for $1 million Yonkers International Trot

Yonkers, NY — Jiggy Jog S, who has raced in North America throughout her career but will represent her native Sweden, drew post position four and was made the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday’s (Sept. 7) $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot. The International Trot will be raced at the distance of 1-1/4 miles with eight starters on the gate and two trailers.

A 5-year-old Walner mare who is four-for-four this year, Jiggy Jog S will be driven by Dexter Dunn for co-owner/trainer Åke Svanstedt and co-owners Steve Stewart, John Lengacher and Hickory Hollow Stables. Jiggy Jog S was second in last year’s edition of the MGM Yonkers International Trot.

She’ll take on nine foes from around the world, including Gennaro Riccio-owned Vernissage Grif, who is the second choice on the morning line at 7-2 from post eight for trainer-driver Alessandro Gocciadoro, who trained the 2023 MGM Yonkers International Trot champion Vivid Wise As. A 10-year-old stallion by Varenne, Vernissage Grif won the Gran Criterium de Vitesse at Cagnes-sur-Mer in France earlier this year in 1:49.3.

Hail Mary, another Swedish representative who has won multiple Group races in Europe, is the third choice at 9-2 from post seven for driver Örjan Kihlström and trainer Daniel Redén; and Periculum, coming off a victory in the Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Marcus Melander, drew post 10 and is 5-1 on the morning line.

The MGM Yonkers International Trot is race five on the 11-race program and has an estimated post of 2 p.m. (EDT). The full field, with country represented plus listed driver, trainer and morning line, is as follows.

$1 Million MGM Yonkers International Trot – 1-1/4 miles – Race 5

1. Eclat De Gloire (France) (Loris Garcia, Loris Garcia) 20-1
2. Ideal San Leandro (France) (Björn Goop, Richard Westerink) 20-1
3. Castor The Star (Sweden) (Mats Djuse, Jorgen Westholm) 10-1
4. Jiggy Jog (Sweden) (Dexter Dunn, Åke Svanstedt) 5-2
5. Logan Park (Canada) (Doug McNair, Rob Fellows) 8-1
6. It’s Academic (USA) (David Miller, Ron Burke) 8-1
7. Hail Mary (Sweden) (Örjan Kihlström, Daniel Redén) 9-2
8. Vernissage Grif (Italy) (Alessandro Gocciadoro, Alessandro Gocciadoro) 7-2
9. Get A Wish (Denmark) (Johan Untersteiner, Johan Untersteiner) 15-1
10. Periculum (USA) (Scott Zeron, Marcus Melander) 5-1

On the undercard of the MGM Yonkers International Trot are two $250,000 Invitationals: the Bob Miecuna Trot, in race three; and the Aria Pace, in race nine. The Miecuna is headlined by defending champion M-M’s Dream (post six, David Miller listed to drive for trainer Ron Burke), and in the Aria, Hellabalou (post four, Yannick Gingras listed to drive for Burke) returns to the oval where he won back-to-back MGM Borgata Pacing Series finals. The post draws for those races are as follows:

$250,000 Robert Miecuna Invitational Trot – Race 3

1. Tipsy Moni (Yannick Gingras, Per Engblom)
2. Ari Ferrari J (Jason Bartlett, Tony Alagna)
3. Amigo Volo (Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman)
4. Venerate (Scott Zeron, Marcus Melander)
5. Cecil Hanover (Åke Svanstedt drives and trains)
6. M-M’s Dream (David Miller, Ron Burke)
7. Take All Comers (Jordan Stratton, Jim Campbell)
8. Stormy Kromer (Tim Tetrick, Paul Stafford)
9. Now’s The Moment (Mark MacDonald, Allison MacDonald)
10. Black Magic (Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano)

$250,000 Aria Invitational Pace – Race 9

1. Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley, Travis Alexander)
2. Energetic Hanover (Jason Bartlett, Tony Alagna)
3. Whats Stanley Got A (George Brennan, Cory Stratton)
4. Hellabalou (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke)
5. Dunkin’ (Tim Tetrick, Scott DiDomenico)
6. Venturesome Arden N (Jordan Stratton, Ricky Bucci)
7. Redwood Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Tony Beaton)
8. Rocknroll Runa A (Mark MacDonald, Larry Stalbaum)
9. Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett, Per Engblom)
10. It’s A Me Mario (Lauren Tritton, Shane Tritton)

Also on Saturday will be all eight $225,000 New York Sire Stakes finals for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The sire stakes finals will go as races one, two, four, six, seven, eight, 10 and 11.

For complete entries, click here.

Along with the all-stakes card on Saturday, Yonkers Raceway will be offering bettors a huge opportunity. A special mandatory payout $1 Pick-5 wager will be offered, starting in race five with the MGM Yonkers International Trot. The bet includes $50,000 in carryover money funded by the Standardbred Owners Association of New York. In conjunction with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program, the pool will be guaranteed at $150,000 and free past performances will be available here courtesy of TrackMaster.

Those attending the races live are invited to enjoy a buffet-style meal in the Empire Terrace dining room at $80 per person. No reservations are required.

MGM Yonkers Raceway will race on Tuesday through Thursday this week, then will be dark on Friday prior to Saturday’s stakes-laden program. Post time is at 7 p.m. (EDT) other than on Saturday as that card will get going at noon.