Post positions have been drawn for Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $500,000 Triple Crown events, set for the Saturday night (Aug. 31st). The 65th Yonkers Trot required no eliminations, as just eight 3-year-olds entered. Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade drew post position 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 three ($671,484), the latest an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The colt, has who made two half-mile-track OSS starts in his career, is owned by Determination (Serge Godin) 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), a perfect four-for-four locally, 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 ($895,996). He enters off a paid sire stakes workout last weekend at Batavia where every other horse in the field went off at triple-figures-to-one. The draw for Trot entrants, with declared drivers…1- Osterc (Dexter Dunn), 2-Soul Strong (g) (Dunn also listed), 3- Sheena’s Boy (g) (Andy Miller), 4-Gimpanzee (Brian Sears), 5- Livinonthedash (Marcus Miller), 6-Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure), 7-HL Revadon (g) (Jim Marohn Jr.), 8-No Drama Please (Jason Bartlett) (g) – gelding Messenger Stakes No. 64 for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers found elim winners Bettor’s Wish (Dunn, post one) and Aflame Hanover (Corey Callahan, post eight) starting from the pole and the polar opposite, respectively. 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, seven seconds, two thirds, $1,131,600). He has eight wins and three seconds) in 11 ’19 tries ($859,544). Chris Ryder co-owns (with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm & Bettor’s Wish Partners) and trains. The field for the Messenger (7th race)…1-Bettor’s Wish (Dunn), 2-Branquinho (Bartlett), 3-American Mercury (g) (Tyler Buter), 4-U S Captain (Bartlett also listed), 5-Reigning Deo (George Brennan), 6-Waterway (Joe Bongiorno), 7-Escapetothebeach (g) (Callahan) and 8-Aflame Hanover (g) (Callahan also listed). (g) – gelding.  Saturday night’s dozen-race card also includes companion events, the $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot (fourth race) and $122,224 Lady Maud (fifth race). Hudson Filly Trot...1-Jezzys Legacy (Buter), 2-Sexy Wow (Bartlett), 3-Golden Tricks (Andy Miller), 4-Starita (Dunn), 5-Quincy Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.), 6-Magical Beliefs (Sears), 7-Personal Paradise (Dunn also listed). Lady Maud...1-JK American Beauty (Jordan Stratton), 2-Abuelita Hanover (Andy Miller), 3-Blue Ivy (Buter), 4-Trillions Hanover (Brennan), 5-Bestseller Hanover (Bartlett), 6-Annie Hill (Sears). --press release (Yonkers)--