Yonkers Trot, Messenger Stakes, Each Worth $500,000, Saturday Night (September 2) at Empire City Casino’s Historic Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS – Yonkers Raceway’s two signature races for three-year-old trotters and pacers – the Yonkers Trot and Messenger Stakes – each worth $500,000, will be contested this Saturday night,September 2, over Empire City Casino’s historic half-mile harness track.

The 63rd edition of the Yonkers Trot for sophomore colts and geldings has a field of nine, led by last week’s elimination winners Guardian Angel AS with leading driver Jason Bartlett in the sulky, and Yes Mickey, driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt, leaving from post positions four and six, respectively. The Trot, second jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown, goes as the fifth race (post time 8:35 p.m.).

The nine-horse field instead of customary eight finalists resulted after Di Oggi and Southwind Hydro finished in a dead-heat for fourth in the second of last weekend’s two elimination races.

The field for the Yonkers Trot in post position order is as follows:
1-Devious Man (Andy Miller), 2-Di Oggi (Montrell Teague), 3-Southwind Cobra (Matt Kakaley), 4-Guardian Angel AS (Jason Bartlett), 5-Southwind Hydro (Marcus Johansson), 6-Yes Mickey (g) (Ake Svanstedt), 7-Money Macintosh (Jordan Stratton), 8-Another Chapter (Dan Dube), 9-Top Flight Angel (Brian Sears, second tier).

The 62nd Messenger (race four, post time 8:15 PM) is headed by last week’s elimination winner Downbytheseaside, the Art Rooney Pace champ who matched the fastest local pacing mile of the season with a 1:51 scorcher. The colt scored by 8½ lengths in his elim for pilot Brian Sears. The Messenger is the second jewel of the Pacing Crown., also for 3-year-olds.

Here’s the field for the Messenger in post position order:
1-Mac’s Jackpot (g) (Jason Bartlett), 2-Summer Side (Tim Tetrick), 3-Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley), 4-Art Scene (Jordan Stratton), 5-Funknwaffles (g) (Corey Callahan), 6-Blood Line (Mark MacDonald), 7-Downbytheseaside (Brian Sears), 8–Henry the Dragon (Montrell Teague).

The ladies’ companion events three-year-old fillies are the $119,010 Hudson Filly Trot and $113,880 Lady Maud Pace.

The Hudson goes as the third race (post time 7:55 p.m.): 1-Dangle Then Deke (Eric Goodell), 2-Chapter Too (Jeff Gregory), 3-Lexie Marie (George Brennan), 4-Celebrity Ruth (Bartlett), 5-Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci), 6-Sunshine Delight (Brett Miller), 7-Evelyn (Andy Miller), 8-Ice Attraction (Svanstedt).

The Maud wraps the stakes portion of the evening as the sixth race (post time 8:55 PM) 1-Angel’s Pride (Kakaley), 2-Tori Hanover (MacDonald), 3-Awash (Stratton), 4-Gurl Band K (Yannick Gingras),6- Ella Christina (Tetrick), 6-Robin J (Bartlett), 7-World Apart (Bartlett also listed).

  Messenger Stakes, yonkers raceway, Yonkers Trot