Jiggy Jog (Walner), who has raced in North America throughout her harness racing 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 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 (Varenne), 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, Vernissage Grif won the Grand Criterium de Vitesse at Cagnes sur Mer in France earlier this year in 1:49.3.
Hail Mary (Googoo Gaagaa), 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 (Muscle Hill), 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 (Sire)-Country-Driver-
1-Eclat De Gloire (Tiego d’Etang)-France-Loris Garcia-Loris Garcia-20-1
2-Ideal San Leandro (Timoko)-France-Bjorn Goop-Richard Westerink-20-1
3-Castor The Star (Maharajah)-Sweden-Mats Djuse-Jorgen Westholm-10-1
4-Jiggy Jog (Walner)-Sweden-Dexter Dunn-Ake Svanstedt-5-2
5-Logan Park (Archangel)-Canada-Doug McNair-Rob Fellows- 8-1
6-It’s Academic (Uncle Peter)-USA-David Miller-Ron Burke- 8-1
7-Hail Mary (Googoo Gaagaa)-Sweden-Orjan Kihlstrom-Daniel Reden-9-2
8-Vernissage Grif (Varenne)-Italy-Alessandro Gocciadoro-Alessandro Gocciadoro-7-2
9-Get A Wish (Wishing Stone)-Denmark-Johan Untersteiner-Johan Untersteiner-15-1
10-Periculum (Muscle Hill)-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 Robert Miecuna Invitational Trot – Race 3
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Tipsy Moni by International Moni (Yannick Gingras/Per Engblom)
2-Ari Ferrari J by Walner (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
3-Amigo Volo by Father Patrick (Dexter Dunn/Nifty Norman)
4-Venerate by Love You (Scott Zeron/Marcus Melander)
5-Cecil Hanover by Chapter Seven (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
6-M-M’s Dream by Swan For All (David Miller/Ron Burke)
7-Take All Comers by Creatine (Jordan Stratton/Jim Campbell)
8-Stormy Kromer by Dejarmbro (Tim Tetrick/Paul Stafford)
9-Now’s The Moment by Credit Winner (Mark MacDonald/Allison MacDonald)
10-Black Magic by Full Count (Scott Zeron/Linda Toscano)
$250,000 Aria Invitational Pace – Race 9
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Desperate Man by Shadow Play (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
2-Energetic Hanover by Captaintreacherous (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
3-Whats Stanley Got A by Heston Blue Chip (George Brennan/Cory Stratton)
4-Hellabalou by Sweet Lou (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
5-Dunkin by Pet Rock (Tim Tetrick/Scott Di Domenico)
6-Venturesome Arden N by Captaintreacherous (Jordan Stratton/Ricky Bucci)
7-Redwood Hanover by Stay Hungry (Dexter Dunn/Tony Beaton)
8-Rocknroll Runa A by Rock N Roll Heaven (Mark MacDonald/Larry Stalbaum)
9-Coaches Corner by Always A Virgin (Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom)
10-It’s A Me Mario by American Ideal (Lauren Tritton/Shane Tritton)
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 by Courtly Choice (Andy McCarthy/Cory Stratton)
2-The Last Martini by Huntsville (Jason Bartlett/Jared Bako)
3-Cowgirl Hanover by Huntsville (Doug McNair/Jared Bako)
4-American Beach Dream by American Ideal (Austin Siegelman/Ricky Bucci)
5-Blind Date Hanover by Huntsville (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
6-Bronx Mixer by Huntsville (Ray Schnittker drives/trains)
7-Send It Down Slim by Huntsville (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
8-She’s A Streaker by Huntsville (Jordan Stratton/Ron Burke)
AE-Fansville by Huntsville (Joe Bongiorno drives/trains)
3-Year-Old Filly Trot – Race 2
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Winning Alliance by Chapter Seven (Todd Ratchford/Matt Bax)
2-Seven Year Itch by Chapter Seven (Jordan Stratton/Vernon Beachy)
3-Senorita Palema by Chapter Seven (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
4-Sister Mary Maude by Crazy Wow (Joe Bongiorno/Ron Burke)
5-Hippie Shake by E L Titan (Mark MacDonald/Tom Corelli)
6-Sadbirdstillsing by Chapter Seven (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
7-R Melina by Chapter Seven (Tyler Buter/John Butenschoen)
3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot – Race 4
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Nottingham by E L Titan (David Miller/Jenny Melander)
2-Victor Laszlo by Chapter Seven (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
3-Super Duper Cooper by E L Titan (Yannick Gingras/John Butenschoen)
4-Mister Mellby by Chapter Seven (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
5-Fly By by Chapter Seven (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
6-Keep Asking by Chapter Seven (Tyler Buter/George Ducharme)
7-Wild Ticket by Chapter Seven (Dexter Dunn/Marcus Melander)
8-Sir Pinocchio by Mets Hall (Jason Bartlett/Ed Hart)
AE-Thinker Monkey by Chapter Seven (Scott Zeron/ Marcus Melander)
3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace – Race 6
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Ameritric by American Ideal (Jordan Stratton/George Ducharme)
2-Vandiemen Blue Chip by Huntsville (Braxten Boyd/Cameron Capone)
3-Taranaki by Huntsville (Yannick Gingras/Paul Jessop)
4-Boston Rocks by Boston Red Rocks (Jason Bartlett/Mike Deters)
5-Huntingforchrome by Huntsville (Tyler Buter/Travis Alexander)
6-Texas Hold ‘Em by Huntsville (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
7-Spring Blake by Courtly Choice (Yannick Gingras/Blake MacIntosh)
8-Howlenthehills by American Ideal (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
3-Year-Old Filly Pace – Race 7
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Camerican by American Ideal (Jordan Stratton/Ron Burke)
2-Stepabovetherest by Huntsville (Scott Zeron/Nick Devita)
3-Peace Talks by American Ideal (David Miller/Chris Ryder)
4-She’s Epic by American Ideal (Tyler Buter/Travis Alexander)
5-Avyanna by Roll With Joe (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
6-A Few Choice Words by Courtly Choice (Jim Marohn Jr./Blake MacIntosh
7-Tarrific by Huntsville (Jason Bartlett/Chris Ryder)
8-Hunting Hula by Huntsville (Mark MacDonald/Bruce Lauer)
AE1-Leanne’s Choice by Courtly Choice (Marcus Miller/Erv Miller)
2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot – Race 8
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Super Chapter by Chapter Seven (Dexter Dunn/Marcus Melander)
2-Civilian Drone by Chapter Seven (Yannick Gingras/Nancy Takter)
3-BJM’s Lil Man by Devious Man (Jason Bartlett/John Berger)
4-Karinchak by Chapter Seven (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
5-Variegated by Chapter Seven (Braxten Boyd/Marcus Melander)
6-Happy Jack B by Chapter Seven (Tyler Buter/Ake Svanstedt)
7-Gangsta Talk by Chapter Seven (Ake Svanstedt drives/trains)
8-Moonshot S by Chapter Seven (Scott Zeron/Marcus Melander)
2-Year-Old Filly Trot – Race 10
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-My Debt Collecter by Chapter Seven (David Miller/Nifty Norman)
2-DW’s Lady Diva by Devious Man (Todd McCarthy/Ed Hart)
3-Morning Angel by Chapter Seven (Bjorn Goop/Marcus Melander)
4-Calculus Risk by Devious Man (Jordan Stratton/Perry Simser)
5-Beautiful Sight by Chapter Seven (Tyler Buter/Ake Svanstedt)
6-Royal Mission by Chapter Seven (Scott Zeron/Marcus Melander)
2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace – Race 11
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Idealofaday by American Ideal (Todd McCarthy/Ed Hart)
2-Silent Weapon by Huntsville (Tyler Buter/Travis Alexander)
3-Fast Choice by Courtly Choice (Doug McNair/Jared Bako)
4-Thirsty Thursday by Huntsville (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
5-Watch My Warrior by So Surreal (Barton Dalious/Bart Dalious)
6-Courts On Fire by Courtly Choice (Yannick Gingras/Blake MacIntosh)
7-Oogleville by Huntsville (Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom)
8-Holt Hanover by Huntsville (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker)
AE-Meltdown Monte by Huntsville (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.
For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.
From MGM Yonkers Raceway
