Yonkers: Stratton hopes for luck on power-packed Saturday undercard

Driver Jordan Stratton has had a solid season thus far, and on Saturday he hopes to continue that run on the stakes-filled undercard at Yonkers Raceway on $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot Day. Stratton will need to start from the second tier with the multiple stakes-winning Covered Bridge in the $250,000 Aria Invitational Pace, carded as race 10 of the 11 on the afternoon program.

"I was really impressed with the way he came back to win the Kane [August 26] at Batavia," said Stratton of Covered Bridge, a 7-year-old gelding that has won 14 of 27 starts this year and pushed his bankroll above seven figures. "What impressed me most about that night was how good he looked and felt before the race. It's a 20 hour ship and [trainer] Jeff [Gillis] and his team did a great job."

Covered Bridge had returned from Prince Edward Island where he captured the Gold Cup & Saucer for Stratton, taking an elimination on August 12 in 1:51 2/5 and coming back on August 19 with a spectacular 1:50 3/5 off-the-pace score with Stratton at the controls. He started from the second tier then, and on Saturday Covered Bridge once again landed in-behind the front tier, with post 10 in a stellar field.

"I would say I don't think we've ever had an Invitational at Yonkers with the depth and power in this field," said Stratton of the competition Covered Bridge will meet in the Aria. "It's going to be tricky from the second tier and a lot will depend on what kind of pace they set. Last year it looked like there was going to be a hot pace but then things settled down."

Stratton's reason for some optimism is the presence of some serious quality in the 10-horse gathering that will go one and one-quarter miles. Bythemissal, a winner in 20 of 25 of his career starts, including the 2022 Little Brown Jug, returns to the half-mile track after getting nipped last Saturday (September 2) in the Canadian Pacing Derby. Bythemissal drew post six.

Allywag Hanover finished third in the very same Canadian Pacing Derby while without much clearance for most of the stretch run. The 6-year-old lacks half-mile track experience but finds himself with a good draw, landing post three.

Stratton showed some respect for Stonebridge Helios (post five), the Graduate Series champion, but also wondered how the track will suit him.

"He's a big horse. I wonder how he'll get around the half-miler," said Stratton.

Stratton has some live mounts as well on the New York Sire Stakes finals part of the program. The top state-sired 2- and 3-year-old male and female pacers and trotters are featured in eight of the 11 races, with $225,000 on the line in each contest and a host of competitive races.

"I was really looking forward to Camerican," said Stratton. "But she drew post seven and it's going to be tough from out there."

In race four, the $225,000 NYSS final for juvenile pacing fillies, Stratton will hope for some racing luck with the Ron Burke-trained Camerican, a daughter of American Ideal.

"We're outside So Well Dressed (post four) and Bronx Barista (post six), so I'm probably going to have to work out a trip," Stratton stated.

So Well Dressed is a four preliminary-leg winner and Bronx Barista won three legs of the Sire Stakes. The well-matched group has talent on the inside of the gate, with Sea Pearl (post one) a three-leg winner and Delightville (post three) on the board in four of her five lifetime starts.

The $225,000 NYSS final for sophomore colt and gelding trotters goes as race six on the program. Stratton has sat behind Onion Gum (Chapter Seven) in his last two wins, the most recent a Sire Stakes score on July 31 at Monticello.

"I know Onion Gum comes off a scratch line," said Stratton, "But Lucas [Wallin] does a great job and I'm sure he'll have him ready."

The inside draw could help Onion Gum's chances, with Chapercraz (post four) and Cecil Hanover (post eight), two of the more dominant sophomores on the Sire Stakes circuit, drawing to his outside.

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In race eight, the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old filly pacers, Stratton thinks he's got a shot if things go the right way.

"She was actually very good last time," Stratton said of Silky Stride (post four). "She came first-over into Twin B Joe Fresh and was solid to the wire."

Silky Stride went overland in a 54-flat final half in that mile at Tioga Downs on August 27.

"It helps that Earthwindfire drew outside," added Stratton.

A winner in seven of her eight starts this year before losing to the aforementioned Twin B Joe Fresh, Earthwindfire drew post seven with Jack Pelling again in the bike for trainer Brett Pelling. With rival Twin B Joe Fresh racing in Kentucky this weekend, Earthwindfire looks for her first New York Sire Stakes championship after serving as bridesmaid in 2022.

Stratton sits behind Taste Of Honey (post four) in the 11th race, the sophomore colt and gelding pace $225,000 Sire Stakes final.

"We're going to need them to mix it up a bit, but I think he can get a piece," Stratton said of Taste Of Honey, who must contend with a strong inside draw as favored Thunder Hunter Joe (post one) and Metal Man (post two) meet up with Huntinthelastdolar (post five) in what could be a contentious battle for the top.

The one and one-quarter mile Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot drew 10 horses as well and has been tabbed as race five on the program. The race will feature one of the top trotting mares in North America this season in M-M's Dream (post two) from the Ron Burke stable. The Indiana-bred mare defeated International contender Jiggy Jog S when the mares met on the last two occasions at the Meadowlands, with M-M's Dream scoring in the Hambletonian Maturity on July 15 and then the Steele Memorial on August 5 over the mile strip.

"She's really been a big surprise. I only got to drive her once last year, but she's definitely moved it to another level as a 4-year-old," said M-M's Dream's driver David Miller, who felt the half-mile track wouldn't be an issue. "I've only raced her on big tracks, but I talked to Ronnie [Burke] about it, and he said she has trained on a smaller track than a half, so we are thinking she should be just fine."

Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt could have the main threat in this field with Southwind Tyrion (post six) looking for his third win in his last four starts. The son of Muscle Hill is a 5-year-old with only 19 career starts and is fresh off a 1:50 4/5 score in a $100,000 invitational at Pocono on August 19.

First post for the afternoon International Trot program is scheduled for 12:15 P.M. (EDT).