Yonkers: Svanstedt stable ready to roll in International Trot, NYSS finals
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It is one year later for trainer Ake Svanstedt and his prized trotting mare Jiggy Jog. Last year at this time, following a second-tier draw, Jiggy Jog finished second behind runaway winner Vivid Wise As in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot. This year, following Tuesday's draw where she received post four, Svanstedt and Jiggy Jog appear to have found the ideal spot to take home the top prize in Saturday's classic at Yonkers Raceway.
"It's perfect," said Svanstedt when asked about the luck of the draw for the year's rich event. "She's trained well and she's coming into the race in good form."
For Jiggy Jog, it's been a perfect season thus far, with four wins in four races including multiple efforts against male competition. Unlike last year, Jiggy Jog did get a prep race for the International, winning a $100,000 Invitational on August 17 at Pocono. The timing between starts doesn't concern Svanstedt that much.
"It doesn't matter if its 30 days or 40 days between starts, she always puts in a good race," Svanstedt said.
A career winner of $2.475 million, Jiggy Jog has been a model of consistency on the racetrack, having finished first or second in 32 of her 39 career starts. The half-mile track at Yonkers shouldn't be an obstacle for the 5-year-old by Walner, having handled the track for last year's mile and one-quarter contest flawlessly and also winning over the surface as a 3-year-old.
Svanstedt hasn't seen very much difference in Jiggy Jog from her 4-year-old campaign, but that's not necessarily a bad thing given the flawless record entering the International this year.
As for the competition, Svanstedt has some concerns.
"I don't know much about the French horses," Svanstedt said. "Castor The Star (Sweden) is a good horse but he's traveling a long distance to race on a small track."
As for the others in the field, Svanstedt knows there are a host of quality performers to be concerned with.
"Logan Park is very sharp," Svanstedt said of the Canadian-based 6-year-old that finished third in last Saturday's (August 31) Maple Leaf Trot. Svanstedt has seen Logan Park leave the gate on many an occasion and knows the Robert Fellows-trained veteran could control the pace from his mid-pack post number five.
"Periculum is in good form," said Svanstedt, "But he drew a tough post." The Maple Leaf Trot winner starts from post 10 in the second tier for trainer Marcus Melander and driver Scott Zeron.
Trainer Ron Burke is hoping that It's Academic (post six) can make amends for his poor performance in the Maple Leaf Trot elimination. It's Academic finished fourth in last year's editiion the International Trot, and, along with Jiggy Jog and Get A Wish, are the lone returners from the 2023 race.
"I wasn't happy with his last start," said Burke, "Last year one time we had the same thing with him, and I went back and did the same thing I did that time because he was much better afterwards.
"I don't think you have the superstars or the depth you had last year," continued Burke, recognizing the lack of higher-rated French horses in the 2024 edition. "I'm very appreciative that we get another shot. It is the third year in a row for him and he's been competitive."
Dexter Dunn will once again be in the bike behind Jiggy Jog and will be looking for his first MGM Yonkers International Trot victory. Svanstedt both drove and trained the 2016 champion Resolve.
The International Trot card, an afternoon event that kicks off at noon on Saturday, features eight $225,000 New York Sire Stakes championship events, and Svanstedt has a host of talent on the undercard, perhaps getting him in the winner's circle prior to the fifth-race million-dollar contest.
Senorita Palema, the defending champion from last year's 2-year-old final at Yonkers, will be looking for her first win of the year in Saturday's second race, the NYSS final for sophomore trotting fillies. Senorita Palema landed post three in the field of just seven fillies.
"She raced better last time," said Svanstedt of Senorita Palema. "She's a better horse on the half-mile track than she is on the mile."
Senorita Palema cut a strong pace and was just overtaken by Sister Mary Maude in her final tune-up, a NYSS event at Batavia on August 24. R Melina (post seven) is the morning-line choice in the race.
Mister Mellby (post four) has been showing positive form improvement for Svanstedt, and he'll go in the fourth race, the $225,000 NYSS final for sophomore trotting colts and geldings.
"He was good in his last start, but he'll be facing better horses here," said Svanstedt of the Chapter Seven-sired colt that drew well but faces a daunting task on Saturday.
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MGM Yonkers Trot champion Sir Pinocchio (post eight) and Empire Breeders Classic winner Wild Ticket (post seven) have shown the ability to race at a higher level this year but may be compromised by the draw.
Svanstedt has a pair entered in the NYSS 2-year-old colt and gelding trot final carded as race eight on the 11-race program. Happy Jack B (post six) and Gangsta Talk (post seven) form a pari-mutuel betting entry with Svanstedt piloting Gangsta Talk and Tyler Buter behind Happy Jack B.
"He's the better of the two," said Svanstedt referring to Happy Jack B, a 1:54 2/5 winner in Sire Stakes action at Tioga Downs in his last start on August 4. "He's getting better with each start."
While Svanstedt likes the talent he has, he is more than aware of what's inside. "They've got to beat that horse from the rail," said Svanstedt, referring to Super Chapter, who returns from Kentucky having already qualified for the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series final at The Red Mile next week. He's returned to New York in hopes of capturing Saturday's $225,000 NY Sire Stakes final as well. Super Chapter has won three of five starts this year, including an easy 1:57 1/5 score over the Yonkers surface on July 25.
Svanstedt believes that Beautiful Sight has the talent to compete in the six-filly $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final for rookie trotters (race 10).
"She trains well and has a high capacity," said Svanstedt of the Chapter Seven-sired filly. "But she's got a temper and that cost her at Vernon where she made a break."
Beautiful Sight landed post five with morning-line favorite My Debt Collector (post one) to her inside and second choice Royal Mission (post six) to her outside.
In addition to the International and eight Sire Stakes finals, the Yonkers card also includes a pair of $250,000 Invitational events for older pacers and trotters at a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
The Bob Miecuna Trot goes as race three with last year's winner M-M's Dream as the early choice from post six. "She has been very good, but she drew a bad spot in the Maple Leaf Trot," said Burke on M-M's Dream. "I'd look for her to bounce back and be herself."
In the Aria Pace (race nine) Desperate Man will start from pole position as the morning-line favorite for trainer Travis Alexander and driver Matt Kakaley.
On the wagering front, the SOA of NY is putting up $50,000 in carryover to seed the $1 mandatory payout Pick 5. Yonkers Raceway, in conjunction with the USTA Strategic Wagering Program, is guaranteeing the pool at $150,000. The sequence starts in race five with the International Trot.