Yonkers: Unbeaten Howlenthehills rolls into Messenger for Alexander

Trainer Travis Alexander will be in search of his third MGM Grand Messenger Stakes victory in the past four years starting on Friday night when he sends out a pair of serious contenders in two $25,000 eliminations for the sophomore pacing stakes at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Alexander had first won the leg of the Triple Crown in 2021 with American Courage and then in 2022 with Pleaseletmeknow.

This year Alexander again has a New York-bred son of American Ideal with designs on the prize as the unbeaten sophomore Howlenthehills looks for his sixth straight victory without defeat in the first of the two MGM Grand Messenger trials (race six). Winless in eight tries as a freshman, Howlenthehills has been transformed this year with five consecutive stakes victories heading into the Messenger.

"He was too fast for his own good last year," said Alexander of Howlenthehills. "He could go a 25 quarter but his legs couldn't handle it."

Now as a sophomore, Howlenthehills still has some issues with bumps in stride, but for the most part things have smoothed in such a way to make him a dominant force wherever he's entered.

"He still not perfect. He was good at Vernon, but you could still see some ripples in his gait," said Alexander.

With two Sire Stakes wins, including a 1:51 effort over the half-miler at Saratoga, Howlenthehills would seem primed for the half-mile track at Yonkers, and he's in a perfect spot having landed post two.

Howlenthehills will again be driven by regular pilot Matt Kakaley, who will also be in search of his third MGM Grand Messenger victory in the last four years.

While likely the public choice on Friday, Howlenthehills faces a solid field of seven that includes Captain Skippy from post seven for trainer Ake Svanstedt. The altered son of Captaintreacherous was lightly-raced as a freshman but has come back with a vengeance this year, with a second-place finish in the second leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono (May 18) followed by a 1:50 3/5 career-best mile in the third leg at Harrah's Philadelphia on May 26.

Armada Hanover, the half-brother to $2.2 million winner Allywag Hanover, makes his first start over a half-mile track for trainer Brett Pelling in this division. While lacking a win in his five starts this year, Armada Hanover has hit the board on four occasions, including a second behind last year's Breeders Crown champion Gem Quality in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes leg at Pocono. Armada Hanover drew post four.

Trainer George Ducharme could have a sleeper in Ameritric, who like Howlenthehills has gone from a maiden at 2 to a solid stakes performer this year. Ameritric (post six) sizzled in New York Sire Stakes action at Buffalo (June 5) with a career-best 1:52 3/5 clocking.

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Alexander will send out Sweet Beach Life in the second $25,000 MGM Grand Messenger trial (race seven), and the Sweet Lou-sired gelding landed the pole position coming off a solid prep over the Yonkers surface on June 11.

"Matt (Kakaley) had him shut down in the stretch," said Alexander of the 1:53 3/5 victory over the Yonkers surface.

Sweet Beach Life looks for his fourth win of the year in the seven-horse field but needs only a fourth-place finish to qualify for the June 28 Messenger final.

"He's his own worst enemy. He's got a world of talent, but he's hard to control," said Alexander, hopeful that Sweet Beach Life can mind his manners and move to the final.

On May 18 Sweet Beach Life put it all together in winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes contest in a career-best 1:50 4/5 clocking. On Friday he starts from post one.

Janelle Granny (post 7) is the most intriguing entry in the Messenger this year as the lone horse coming right back from last Saturday's C$1 million North America Cup to compete just six days later. The Ohio-bred by Fear The Dragon was an outsider in the Cup but clearly a major contender for trainer Scott Di Domenico, who handles the horse for owner Betty Jo Clegg. Janelle Granny was 15 times first or second in 16 starts as a freshman and has returned just as sharp as a 3-year-old.

One of last year's better New Jersey-sired freshman was Wish You Well (post four). The gelding has returned this year and has been improving with each start while lacking a win in four tries. A son of Bettor's Wish, Wish You Well earned $196K as a freshman.

Huntingforchrome also had a solid year as a freshman and has been slow to return to form, but the son of Huntsville hinted that he was back at full strength with a solid second in a New York Sire Stakes event on June 14 at Vernon Downs. Trainer Jenn Bongiorno will use the services of Tyler Buter from post five in this division.

In Friday's co-feature, eight trotters will vie for the final five spots in this year's MGM Yonkers Trot. Trainer Ake Svanstedt has won three of the last five MGM Yonkers Trots, including last year's edition with Up Your Deo. Svanstedt has a pair in Friday's MGM Yonkers Trot elimination carded as race four. Flying Kronos S (post two) and Southwind Metric (post eight) are both moving to the half-mile track following qualifying mile victories at the Meadowlands. The trainer will also have Situationship in the final as that horse was given a bye along with Security Protected and Sir Pinocchio.

Post time for the Friday card at Yonkers is 7:00 P.M. (EDT).