Yonkers, NY — Post positions have been drawn for Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $500,000 Triple Crown events, set for Saturday night (Aug. 31).

Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade leads a field of eight in Saturday’s Yonkers Trot.

The 65th Yonkers Trot required no eliminations, as just eight 3-year-olds entered. Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade drew post six in what was carded as the sixth race.

“It wasn’t in our original plan, but plans change,” trainer Luc Blais said. “We let him tell us what to do and he’s been training so well.”

Forbidden Trade, a son of Kadabra, supplemented to the Trot after his 2-year-old season. He has won six of his nine starts at 3 — the latest an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event at Woodbine Mohawk Park — and has banked $671,484. The colt, has who made two half-mile-track OSS starts in his career, is owned by Serge Godin’s Determination and driven by Bob McClure.

“Always such a professional,” McClure said in advance of his — and his date’s — first trip to Westchester. “Just from day one, he was mentally ahead of the other trotters.”

Defending the honor of the Empire State is Gimpanzee (Brian Sears, post four), who is perfect in four Yonkers appearances, including last season’s $225,000 New York Sire Stakes title.

The Chapter Seven colt, trained Marcus Melander for co-owners Courant Inc. and S R F Stable, has won 13 of his 15 career starts and has earned $895,996. He enters off a paid sire stakes workout last weekend at Batavia, where every other horse in the field went off at over 100-1.

The draw for Trot entrants, with declared drivers:

1. Osterc (Dexter Dunn)
2. Soul Strong (Dunn also listed)
3. Sheena’s Boy (Andy Miller)
4. Gimpanzee (Brian Sears)
5. Livinonthedash (Marcus Miller)
6. Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure)
7. HL Revadon (Jim Marohn Jr.)
8. No Drama Please (Jason Bartlett)

The 64th edition of the Messenger Stakes, which began with 12 sophomore pacers, found elimination winners Bettor’s Wish (Dunn, post one) and Aflame Hanover (Corey Callahan, post eight) starting from the pole and the polar opposite, respectively.

Rooney winner Bettor’s Wish (foreground) is the early favorite for the 64th Messenger Stakes. Mike Lizzi photos.

Bettor’s Wish, a Bettor’s Delight colt — the lone $30,000 supplement into this race — has hit the board in 22 of 23 career tries (13 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds) and has made $1,131,600. He has eight wins and three runner-up finishes in 11 seasonal tries. Trainer Chris Ryder co-owns with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and Bettor’s Wish Partners.

The field for the Messenger, which is carded as race seven:

1. Bettor’s Wish (Dunn)
2. Branquinho (Bartlett)
3. American Mercury (Tyler Buter)
4. U S Captain (Bartlett also listed)
5. Reigning Deo (George Brennan)
6. Waterway (Joe Bongiorno)
7. Escapetothebeach (Callahan)
8. Aflame Hanover (Callahan also listed)

Saturday night’s 12-race card also includes companion events: the $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot (race four) and $122,224 Lady Maud (race five).

First post is the usual 6:50 p.m.