On Tuesday afternoon (September 9) at the Zero Otto Nove restaurant in Tuckahoe, New York, post positions were drawn for Saturday’s Grade 1 $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot, the Grade 2 $200,000 Aria Invitational Pace and the Grade 2 $200,000 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot. All three harness racing events will take place Saturday (September 13) at MGM Yonkers Raceway and will be raced over the distance of a mile and a quarter. Post time for the ten-race program is 12:20 p.m. (EDT).

Jiggy Jog winning last year’s International Trot (Mike Lizzy Photo)

Coming off a Canadian record 1:49.1 win in the Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on August 30, Canadian representative Lexus Kody drew post one for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke. Behind him in a trailing post nine is Maple Leaf Trot runner-up and last year’s MGM Yonkers International Trot second-place finisher Periculum, who is set to be driven by Scott Zeron for trainer Marcus Melander, while 2023 Elitlopp champion Hohneck will be next to Periculum in the second tier in post ten for driver Gabriele Gelormini and trainer Philippe Allaire. Periculum is one of two horses representing the United States in the event, while Hohneck heads a French trio.

Here is the full field with the country they’re representing, the listed driver and trainer:

$1 million USD MGM Yonkers International Trot (Grade 1) 
Post – Horse – Sire – (Country) – Driver – Trainer
1. Lexus Kody – Archangel – (Canada) – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
2. Gamin Jaba – Kesaco Phedo – (France) – Daniel Reden – Daniel Reden
3. Gio Cash – Victor Gio – (Germany) – Daniel Wajersten – Daniel Wajersten
4. Powwow – Crazy Wow – (Norway) – Bjorn Goop – Jan Kristian Waaler
5. Aetos Kronos – Bold Eagle – (Sweden) – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
6. Double Deceiver –Cantab Hall – (United States) – Orjan Kihlstrom – Daniel Reden
7. Ideal Ligneries – Repeat Love – (France) – Jean Philippe Monclin – Jean Philippe Monclin
8. Diva EK – Trixton – (Italy) – Alessandro Gocciadoro – Alessandro Gocciadoro
9. Periculum – Muscle Hill – (United States) – Scott Zeron – Marcus Melander
10. Hohneck – Royal Dream – (France) – Gabrielle Gelormini – Philippe Allaire
AE1. Southwind Coors – Walner – (United States) – TBA – Ron Burke

Post time is 12:20 p.m. for Saturday’s program at Yonkers, with the International Trot scheduled as the sixth race on the program with an estimated post time of 3 p.m.

Saturday’s undercard will include a pair of Grade 2 events with $200,000 USD purses, the Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot and Aria Invitational Pace, also 1-1/4 mile races. Those fields were also drawn on Tuesday and are listed below, with drivers to come. The Miecuna will go as race seven and the Aria will be the fifth race on the card.

$200,000 USD Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot (Grade 2)
Post – Horse -Sire- Trainer
1. Sir Pinocchio – Mets Hall – Ed Hart
2. Security Protected – Father Patrick – Marcus Melander
3. Up Your Deo – Walner – Ake Svanstedt
4. Queen Of All – Swan For All – Lance Hudson
5. Little Expensive – Muscle Hill – Julie Miller
6. Ferretti – Creatine  – Travis Alexander
7. Resolve To Win – Resolve  – Jeff Cullipher
8. Antognoni S – Father Patrick – Ron Burke
9. Ari Ferrari J – Walner – Tony Alagna
10. Ghostly Casper – Resolve  – Jared Bako

$200,000 USD Aria Invitational Pace (Grade 2) 
Post – Horse -Sire- Trainer
1. Mossdale Ben N – A Rocknroll Dance  – Peter Tritton
2. Racing Rebel – Racing Hill  – Ron Burke
3. Coaches Corner – Always A Virgin – Per Engblom
4. Dunkin – Pet Rock  – Scott DiDomenico
5. Chase H Hanover – Captaintreacherous – Cory Stratton
6. Captain Albano – Captaintreacherous – Noel Daley
7. Soho Firestone A – American Ideal  – Doug Dilloian
8. Jamaican Rock A – A Rocknroll Dance – Scott Blackler
9. Verdun – Bettor’s Delight  – Pat Lachance
10. Desperate Man – Shadow Play  – Travis Alexander
AE1. Aye Aye Captain N – Captaintreacherous – Ricky Bucci

The International Trot will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 as part of America’s Day at the Races.

The race will be part of a Cross Country Pick 5 and there will be a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool on the program in partnership with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

From Yonkers Raceway