Yonkers: Marion Marauder joins International field

Canadian standout Marion Marauder, the Yonkers Trot winner and ninth Trotting Triple Crown champion in 2016, has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2017 $1 million Yonkers International Trot on Saturday afternoon, October 14, at Empire City Casino. Finland’s Shadow Woodland has also been added, taking the field to nine.

Last year’s champion Resolve of the United States, defending his title in the 1-1/4 mile classic, heads the field. Ake Svanstedt trains and reins the American flag-carrier, who set a world record of 2:23 4/5 over Yonkers Raceway's historic strip in the 2016 edition. Hans Enggren owns the son of Muscle Hill. A second U.S.A. representative will complete the field.

The star-studded Yonkers International card features a total of $3.3 million in purses buoyed by the $1.8 million New York “Day” of Champions and a pair of $250,000 Invitationals, which will be announced in the coming days. Post time for the Yonkers International Trot is at 4:00 p.m. First post for the matinee card is at 1:00 p.m.

The elite Yonkers International field also includes a pair of two-time participants – Italy’s Oasis Bi and On Track Piraten of Sweden – with their connections hoping that “three’s the charm” this year. “Oasis” finished second last year, while “Piraten” was a fast-closing fourth. The duo was fourth and seventh, respectively, in 2015 when the International returned after a 20-year hiatus. France's Dreammoko, the fastest from the first crop of standout Timoko, and a second Italian standout Twister Bi, have also accepted invitations to participate in the 39th edition of the worldwide trotting affair. Midnight Hour of Finland and Denmark’s Tripolini VP complete the list of nine trotters whose connections have agreed to participate. The European trotters are tentatively expected to fly to New York on Wednesday, October 4.

Resolve, the millionaire 6-year-old son of Muscle Hill, will attempt to become the first U.S.A. representative to win back to back Internationals since Delmonica Hanover in 1973-74. Roquepine (1967-68), Ideal du Gazeau, the only three-time champion (1982-83-84) and Lutin d’Isigny – all of France – are the only other three to win consecutive Internationals.

Here’s the field in alphabetical order with country in parenthesis.

Dreammoko (FRA)

Marion Marauder (CAN)

Midnight Hour (FIN)

Oasis Bi (ITA)
On Track Piraten (SWE)

Resolve (USA, defending champion)

Shadow Woodland (FIN)

Tripolini VP (DEN)

Twister Bi (ITA)

-edited release (Yonkers Raceway)