Yonkers: Post positions set for $1,000,000 International Trot

On Tuesday afternoon (September 8), post positions were drawn for the Grade 1 $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot, the Grade 2 $200,000 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot and the Grade 2 $200,000 Aria Invitational Pace, which will all take place on Saturday (September 12) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Saturday's program has an early post time of 11:50 a.m. (EDT).

Defending champion Lexus Kody had luck on his side in the draw for the MGM Yonkers International Trot, which is Race 8 on the 11-race program and has post time at 3:23 p.m. (EDT), as he will start from post one for the second straight year. The Ron Burke trainee, who will represent Canada, will have leading driver Jason Bartlett in the bike. Burke also has 2025 MGM Grand Prix Series champion Antognoni S in the race from post nine with co-owner Yannick Gingras to drive.

Déjà vu also struck for last year's MGM Yonkers International Trot runner-up Diva Ek IT, as she landed post eight again for trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro. Also returning from last year's edition are third-place finisher Powwow NO (post seven) and Gio Cash DE (post two), who was a locked-in fourth as the favorite.

Marcus Melander also has a powerful pair in Maple Leaf Trot and John Cashman Memorial champion Super Chapter (post five) and world champion Bourbonista S (post four). Melander captured the 2018 MGM Yonkers International Trot with Cruzado Dela Noche.

The field in its entirety for the mile and a quarter event is as follows:

Grade 1 $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot - Race 8

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer

1-Lexus Kody-Jason Bartlett-Ron Burke

2-Gio Cash DE-Robin Bakker-Daniel Wäjersten

3-Hooker Berry FR-Antoine Lhéreté-Antoine Lhéreté

4-Bourbonista S-Scott Zeron-Marcus Melander

5-Super Chapter-Dexter Dunn-Marcus Melander

6-Mellby Jinx S-Daniel Wäjersten-Daniel Wäjersten

7-Powwow NO-Ake Svanstedt-Jan Waaler

8-Diva Ek IT-Alessandro Gocciadoro-Alessandro Gocciadoro

9-Antognoni S-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

10-Betting Pacer S-Björn Goop-Björn Goop

Trainers should be aware that there will be a strict detention policy in place for all the New York Sire Stakes finals, as well as the MGM Yonkers International Trot, Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot and the Aria Invitational Pace. The New York Gaming Commission will run the detention barn out of the paddock and the ship-in barn. It opens on Friday, September 11 at 9:50 a.m. (EDT) and closes promptly at 11:50 a.m. If a horse arrives late, they will be scratched.

For Saturday's wagering menu, the Standardbred Owners Association (SOA) of New York is seeding $25,000 in the Pick 5, and the guarantee for that is $100,000. The SOA is also seeding $10,000 in a special $3 minimum Pick 3 that features the Aria, Bob Miecuna, and International Trot and that pool will be guaranteed at $25,000. The guarantees are being done in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.

The Aria Invitational Pace and Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot are races six and seven, respectively, and will also be held at the distance of a mile and a quarter. In the Aria, Canadian Pacing Derby winner Best Chip landed post one, while local star Sweet Beach Life, in search of his tenth consecutive victory, starts from post seven. The Miecuna features 2025 winner Up Your Deo, who departs from post six. The fields for those races in full are below.

Grade 2 $200,000 Aria Invitational Pace - Race 6

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer

1-Best Chip-Joe Bongiorno-Joe Bongiorno

2-Go Go Grasshopper-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

3-Howlenthehills-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander

4-Fifth And Five-Scott Zeron-Enrico Robinson

5-Hemsworth N-Scott Zeron-Jared Bako

6-Coaches Corner-Jason Bartlett-Petter Engblom

7-Sweet Beach Life-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander

8-Aye Aye Captain N-Todd McCarthy-Ricky Bucci

9-Captinhammerhead A-Dexter Dunn-Scott Blackler

10-Mossdale Ben N-Jim Marohn Jr.-Peter Tritton

Grade 2 $200,000 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot - Race 7

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer

1-Southwind Coors-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

2-My Degenerate-Andy Miller-Julie Miller

3-Devilish Hill-Jason Bartlett-Petter Engblom

4-Sir Pinocchio-Jason Bartlett-Linda Toscano

5-Uncle Rat-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander

6-Up Your Deo-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt

7-Asteroid-Colin Kelly-Enrico Robinson

8-Aetos Kronos S-Dexter Dunn-Marcus Melander

9-Benjamin Hanover-Tim Tetrick-Scott Di Domenico

10-Ari Ferrari J-Tyler Buter-Peter Alagna

MGM Yonkers Raceway will have live racing Monday through Thursday and Saturday this week, with Friday (September 11) dark in preparation for the MGM Yonkers International Trot program. Beginning next week, MGM Yonkers Raceway will shift back to its Monday through Friday live schedule with first race post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).