Trainer Marcus Melander swept the pair of $139,000 Grade 3 International Stallion Stakes divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies—sponsored by Midland Acres—on Friday (Oct. 9) at The Red Mile with two longer-priced propositions in maidens A Tale Of Kemp and Sweetest Of All.
Tag: Marcus Melander
Nix Nacken upsets in 134th Kentucky Futurity
Marcus Melander trainee Nix Nacken collected back-to-back Grade 1 victories following a win over 2026 Hambletonian winner Apex in the Canadian Trotting Classic when he sprung from a ground-saving trip and collared leg-weary rivals to win the $575,000 Grade 1 134th Kentucky Futurity—sponsored by Hunterton Farms—in a world-record equaling 1:50 mile.
Miss Jum Jabber delivers, Zephyr Kemp upsets in Kentucky Championship Series
Odds-on favorite Miss Jum Jabber uncorked a wicked final quarter to cross the line first in her $80,000 fourth preliminary division of the Kentucky Championship Series while Zephyr Kemp landed a 53-1 shocker in the $80,000 fourth preliminary division of the Kentucky Championship Series for his cohort on Sunday night (Sept. 13) at The Red Mile.
Super Chapter shines in MGM Yonkers International Trot
Super Chapter became the first horse representing the United States to win the $1 million Grade 1 MGM Yonkers International Trot since Resolve in 2016 with a powerful 2:22.3 performance for the mile and a quarter in the 2026 edition of the race on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 12) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
International Trot has worldwide appeal
Daniel Wäjersten and Björn Goop are among the Europeans to have participated in the MGM Yonkers International Trot in the past, and they are happy to once again be part of its present.
Super Chapter dominant in Maple Leaf Trot
Dexter Dunn made an authoritative brush to the lead with odds-on favorite Super Chapter heading to the half and strode confidently to a track- and Canadian-record 1:49.3 victory in the $620,000 Grade 1 Maple Leaf Trot, a trotting free-for-all event, on Saturday night (Sept. 5) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Top French yearling sale colt pointed to U.S. for trainer Marcus Melander
At the Arqana Trot sale in Deauville, which started on Wednesday (Sept, 2) top price was 500,000 Euros for a half-brother to two-time Prix d’Amerique winner Bold Eagle.
Apex a nose best in record-setting Hambletonian
Apex captured the $1 million Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian Stakes, for 3-year-old trotters, on Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Meadowlands, holding off favorite Big Ranger by a nose in a stakes-record 1:49.2.
Dunn Wins Five, Melander Wins Three in Oak Grove’s ‘Tuesday at the Trots’
Driver Dexter Dunn posted another five-win day on “Tuesday at the Trots” (July 7) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel including a sweep of the $60,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) “A” divisions for trotting 3-year-olds with a pair of Marcus Melander pupils, which were part of a three-win day for the trainer.
Dunn, Melander dominate Oak Grove ‘Tuesday at the Trots’
Driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Marcus Melander flourished on the 16-race card of racing at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday (June 23) with five wins each on the card stacked with all trotting events and 15 divisions of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS).