Two $75,000 divisions of the second leg of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series will go behind the gate on Friday night (November 1) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
It's Academic, who was one of the first round winners, drew the pole position in the first split (race four). Last year's Dan Patch Award winner for older trotting males, It's Academic was sixth in the Breeders Crown Open Trot final on Saturday (October 26) at the Meadowlands. Yannick Gingras is listed to drive for trainer Ron Burke. Ari Ferrari J (post five, Jason Bartlett listed to drive for trainer Tony Alagna), who won the Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot at Yonkers in September, was second in his opening leg flight and eighth in the Breeders Crown Open Trot final.
Chapercraz, the other horse to tally in the initial leg of the series, starts from the outside post seven in Friday night's other section (race six). Another Gingras/Burke entrant, Chapercraz backed up his tally in the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series with another score in a NW30000L5 base class event at Yonkers on October 24. If Chapercraz is victorious he will go over the $1 million mark in career earnings.
Here are the full fields for Friday night's races with listed driver and trainer:
Division #1 - Race 4
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-It's Academic-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
2-Gaines Hanover-Pat Lachance-Pat Lachance
3-Diamante Trio It-Anthony Napolitano-Travis Alexander
4-Bestfriend Volo-Yannick Gingras-Nancy Takter
5-Ari Ferrari J-Jason Bartlett-Tony Alagna
6-Pappardelle-Joe Bongiorno-Joe Bongiorno
7-Tachyon-Jason Bartlett-Ricky Bucci
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Division #2 - Race 6
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Delayed Hanover-Tyler Buter-Jon McDermott
2-Mississippi Storm-Brent Holland-Tom Fanning
3-Ghostly Casper-Pat Lachance-Pat Lachance
4-Tactical Mounds-Scott Zeron-Megan Scran
5-Djimon-George Brennan-Mark Steacy
6-Take All Comers-Jordan Stratton-Jim Campbell
7-Chapercraz-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
The MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series prelims will conclude next Friday (November 8), and the $250,000 final is set for November 15. The third leg and the final will be conducted at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT). Tonight's (October 28) program includes a $4,069.42 carryover and a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 in race five.
--press release (Yonkers)--