Yonkers: Posts drawn for Saturday's $1 million International Trot

Jiggy Jog, who has raced in North America throughout her career but will represent her native Sweden, drew post position four and was made the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot. The International Trot will be raced at the distance of a mile and a quarter with eight on the gate and two trailers.

A 5-year-old Walner mare who is four-for-four this year, Jiggy Jog will be driven by Dexter Dunn for co-owner/trainer Ake Svanstedt and co-owners Steve Stewart, John Lengacher and Hickory Hollow Stables. Jiggy Jog was second in last year’s edition of the MGM Yonkers International Trot.

She’ll take on nine foes from around the world, including Gennaro Riccio-owned Vernissage Grif, who is the second choice on the morning line at 7-2 from post eight for trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro, who trained the 2023 MGM Yonkers International Trot champion Vivid Wise As. A 10-year-old stallion by Varenne, Vernissage Grif won the Gran Criterium de Vitesse at Cagnes sur Mer in France earlier this year in 1:49 3/5.

Hail Mary, another Swedish representative who has won multiple Group races in Europe is the third choice at 9-2 from post seven for driver Orjan Kihlstrom and trainer Daniel Reden and Periculum, coming off a victory in the Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Marcus Melander, drew post ten and is 5-1 on the morning line.

The MGM Yonkers International Trot is race five on the 11-race program and has an estimated post of 2 p.m. (EDT). The full field with the country represented, plus listed driver, trainer and the morning line is as follows.

$1 Million MGM Yonkers International Trot - 1 1/4 miles - Race 5

Post-Horse-Country-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line

1-Eclat De Gloire-France-Loris Garcia-Loris Garcia-20-1
2-Ideal San Leandro-France-Bjorn Goop-Richard Westerink-20-1
3-Castor The Star-Sweden-Mats Djuse-Jorgen Westholm-10-1
4-Jiggy Jog-Sweden-Dexter Dunn-Ake Svanstedt-5-2
5-Logan Park-Canada-Doug McNair-Rob Fellows- 8-1
6-It's Academic-USA-David Miller-Ron Burke- 8-1
7-Hail Mary-Sweden-Orjan Kihlstrom-Daniel Reden-9-2
8-Vernissage Grif-Italy-Alessandro Gocciadoro-Alessandro Gocciadoro-7-2
9-Get A Wish-Denmark-Johan Untersteiner-Johan Untersteiner-15-1
10-Periculum-USA-Scott Zeron-Marcus Melander-5-1

On the undercard of the MGM Yonkers International Trot are two $250,000 Invitationals - the Bob Miecuna Trot in race three and the Aria Pace in race nine. The Miecuna is headlined by defending champion M-M’s Dream (post six, David Miller listed to drive for trainer Ron Burke) and in the Aria, Hellabalou (post four, Yannick Gingras listed to drive for Burke) returns to the oval where he’s won back-to-back MGM Borgata Pacing Series finals. The post draws for those races are as follows:

$250,000 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot - Race 3

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Tipsy Moni (Yannick Gingras/Per Engblom)
2-Ari Ferrari J (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
3-Amigo Volo (Dexter Dunn/Nifty Norman)
4-Venerate (Scott Zeron/Marcus Melander)
5-Cecil Hanover (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
6-M-M's Dream (David Miller/Ron Burke)
7-Take All Comers (Jordan Stratton/Jim Campbell)
8-Stormy Kromer (Tim Tetrick/Paul Stafford)
9-Nows The Moment (Mark MacDonald/Allison MacDonald)
10-Black Magic (Scott Zeron/Linda Toscano)

$250,000 Aria Invitational Pace - Race 9

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
2-Energetic Hanover (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
3-Whats Stanley Got A (George Brennan/Cory Stratton)
4-Hellabalou (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
5-Dunkin' (Tim Tetrick/Scott Di Domenico)
6-Venturesome Arden N (Jordan Stratton/Ricky Bucci)
7-Redwood Hanover (Dexter Dunn/Tony Beaton)
8-Rocknroll Runa A (Mark MacDonald/Larry Stalbaum)
9-Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom)
10-It's A Me Mario (Lauren Tritton/Shane Tritton)

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Also on Saturday will be the eight $225,000 New York Sire Stakes finals for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The sire stakes finals will go as races one and two, four, six through eight and 10 and 11. The draws for the finals shook out like this:

2-Year-Old Filly Pace - Race 1

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Chanceoflightning (Andy McCarthy/Cory Stratton)
2-The Last Martini (Jason Bartlett/Jared Bako)
3-Cowgirl Hanover (Doug McNair/Jared Bako)
4-American Beach Dream (Austin Siegelman/Ricky Bucci)
5-Blind Date Hanover (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
6-Bronx Mixer (Ray Schnittker drives/trains)
7-Send It Down Slim (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
8-She's A Streaker (Jordan Stratton/Ron Burke)
AE-Fansville (Joe Bongiorno drives/trains)

3-Year-Old Filly Trot - Race 2

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Winning Alliance (Todd Ratchford/Matt Bax)
2-Seven Year Itch (Jordan Stratton/Vernon Beachy)
3-Senorita Palema (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
4-Sister Mary Maude (Joe Bongiorno/Ron Burke)
5-Hippie Shake (Mark MacDonald/Tom Corelli)
6-Sadbirdstillsing (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
7-R Melina (Tyler Buter/John Butenschoen)

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot - Race 4

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Nottingham (David Miller/Jenny Melander)
2-Victor Laszlo (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
3-Super Duper Cooper (Yannick Gingras/John Butenschoen)
4-Mister Mellby (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
5-Fly By (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
6-Keep Asking (Tyler Buter/George Ducharme)
7-Wild Ticket (Dexter Dunn/Marcus Melander)
8-Sir Pinocchio (Jason Bartlett/Ed Hart)
AE-Crazy Brother Jim (Jim Marohn Jr./Rock Vinci)

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace - Race 6

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Ameritric (Jordan Stratton/George Ducharme)
2-Vandiemen Blue Chip (Braxten Boyd/Cameron Capone)
3-Taranaki (Yannick Gingras/Paul Jessop)
4-Boston Rocks (Jason Bartlett/Mike Deters)
5-Huntingforchrome (Tyler Buter/Travis Alexander)
6-Texas Holdem (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
7-Spring Blake (Yannick Gingras/Blake MacIntosh)
8-Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)

3-Year-Old Filly Pace - Race 7

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Camerican (Jordan Stratton/Ron Burke)
2-Stepabovetherest (Scott Zeron/Nick Devita)
3-Peace Talks (David Miller/Chris Ryder)
4-She's Epic (Tyler Buter/Travis Alexander)
5-Avyana (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
6-A Few Choice Words (Jim Marohn Jr./Blake MacIntosh
7-Tarrific (Jason Bartlett/Chris Ryder)
8-Hunting Hula (Mark MacDonald/Bruce Lauer)
AE1-Leanne's Choice (Marcus Miller/Erv Miller)

2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot - Race 8

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Super Chapter (Dexter Dunn/Marcus Melander)
2-Civilian Drone (Yannick Gingras/Nancy Takter)
3-BJM's Lil Man (Jason Bartlett/John Berger)
4-Karinchak (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
5-Variegated (Braxten Boyd/Marcus Melander)
6-Happy Jack B (Tyler Buter/Ake Svanstedt)
7-Gangsta Talk (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
8-Moonshot S (Scott Zeron/Marcus Melander)

2-Year-Old Filly Trot - Race 10

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-My Debt Collecter (David Miller/Nifty Norman)
2-DW's Lady Diva (Todd McCarthy/Ed Hart)
3-Morning Angel (Bjorn Goop/Marcus Melander)
4-Calculus Risk (Jordan Stratton/Perry Simser)
5-Beautiful Sight (Tyler Buter/Ake Svanstedt)
6-Royal Mission (Scott Zeron/Marcus Melander)

2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace - Race 11

1-Idealofaday (Todd McCarthy/Ed Hart)
2-Silent Weapon (Tyler Buter/Travis Alexander)
3-Fast Choice (Doug McNair/Jared Bako)
4-Thirsty Thursday (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
5-Watch My Warrior (Barton Dalious/Bart Dalious)
6-Courts On Fire (Yannick Gingras/Blake MacIntosh)
7-Oogleville (Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom)
8-Holt Hanover (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
AE-Meltdown Monte (Tim Tetrick/Scott Di Domenico)

Along with the all-stakes card on Saturday, Yonkers Raceway will be offering bettors a huge opportunity. A special mandatory payout $1 Pick 5 wager will be offered starting in race 5 with the MGM Yonkers International Trot. The bet includes $50,000 in carryover money funded by the Standardbred Owners Association of New York. In conjunction with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program, the pool will be guaranteed at $150,000 and free past performances will be available here courtesy of Trackmaster.

Those attending the races live are invited to enjoy a buffet-style meal in the Empire Terrace dining room at $80 per person. No reservations are required.

MGM Yonkers Raceway will race on Tuesday through Thursday this week, then will be dark on Friday prior to Saturday's stakes-laden program. Post time is at 7 p.m. (EDT) other than on Saturday as that card will get going at noon.

--press release (Yonkers)--