Yonkers: Cokstile upsets in $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot

Cokstile, representing Norway and sent off at odds of 20-1, rallied off a hot tempo and drew clear in the stretch to win Saturday afternoon's $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot in 2:23 for the mile and a quarter.

Denmark's Ecurie D (Ake Svanstedt) went right to the lead from post five and led his nine rivals by open lengths through fractions of 27 4/5, 55 2/5, and 1:24, with Tycoonconwayhalldk (Kasper Foget) gapped in the pocket and Cokstile (Vincenzo Dell'Annunziata) behind him in third. The outer tier was led by a parked-out Stoletheshow (Frode Hamre), but he couldn't keep touch with Ecurie D and clogged the flow. Going to three-quarters, Tim Tetrick sent Back Of The Neck three-wide off the cover of Stoletheshow to take up the first-over position, and Cokstile would have room to slide off the pylons to follow him.

Ecurie D clung to the lead at the 1:54 2/5 mile mark, but he would be passed by both a two-wide Back Of The Neck and a three-wide Cokstile beyond that marker. Back Of The Neck and Cokstile dueled around the last turn after overhauling Ecurie D, but it was clear late on the bend that Cokstile had more to give, and he showed that in the stretch as he powered away to score by a few lengths. Back Of The Neck was second, It's Academic (David Miller) rallied from well off-the-pace for third, and Lovedbythemasses (Todd McCarthy) collected fourth. Kennedy S (Jason Bartlett) finished fifth.

"It's unbelievable for him, the owners, and the trainer. The owners, they spend money, they invested to buy this horse in Norway, Dell'Annunziata said through an interpreter. "It was an advantage for him that the race was very fast to the half-mile because he's a strong horse. When he saw that the second horse was not fresh, he moved to go behind [Back Of The Neck]. He knew here that that's the time. He pushed the horse and opened up.

"He loves New York, he loves the race, and he loves the people that organized this big race. For him, it's fantastic."

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A winner of races around the globe, including the 2020 Elitloppet, Cokstile is a 9-year-old stallion by Quite Easy and is trained by Mattia Orlando for owner Scuderia Santese SRL. Cokstile posted his 28th career victory, and he has now earned US$2,004,432. He paid $42.60 to win and keyed a $274.50 exacta and a $3,865.00 trifecta.

"We believed he could win. In the Lotteria [his last race in Italy on October 2] he had a little problem with one of his feet," said co-owner Stefano Paladini. "He never lost to Ecurie D in Europe. In the first position, he is very strong. He's an aggressive horse who likes to push and push and push. When he races in the front from the beginning, it is too much for him."

When asked about the chances Cokstile would stay in North America for any additional races, Paladini said, "This evening we will speak and maybe. We will see."

--press release (Yonkers)--