BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Tuesday, October 14, 2014—A total of sixteen 3-year-old colts and geldings, led
by Kentucky Futurity winner Nuncio, have been entered for Yonkers Raceway’s Yonkers Trot, final jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown.
The
number, which also includes New York Sire Stakes champ—and $30,000 supplemental
entrant---Gural Hanover—necessitated a pair of eliminations this Saturday
night.
The
Trot offers a total purse of $580,000, with each of this weekend’s elims going
for $40,000 each. The first four finishers in each qualify the final.
First
elim (alphabetical, not in post position order)--Datsyuk (Charlie Norris), E L
Titan (Ron Pierce), Flyhawk El Durado (Mark MacDonald), Gural Hanover (Jim
Morrill Jr.), Hillustrious (Dave Miller), King City (Dave Miller also listed),
Muscles and Spice (Brett Miller), Resolve (Corey Callahan).
Second
elim (alphabetical, not in post position order)—Amped Up Hanover (Matt
Kakaley), DD’s Hitman (Ake Svanstedt), Don Dorado (Tim Tetrick), Expressive
Action (Jason Bartlett), Journey (Dan Dube), Nuncio (John Campbell), Skates N’
Plates (George Brennan), Way Outta Here (Dave Miller)
Speaking
of Triple Crowns, the pacing version of same wraps up with the $540,000
Messenger Stakes, which saw nine 3-year-old pacers enter. Leading the way are
stakes winning All Bets Off (Art Rooney, NYSS, Millstein), Lyonssomewhere
(Cane) and McWicked (Hempt, Adios, PA Sire Stakes)
This
Saturday night, there’s a $40,000 “musical chairs” elim, with all but one horse
returning for the $500,000 final.
The
nine, again alphabetically, are…All Bets Off (Kakaley), Double Your Bet
(Kakaley also listed), Forty Five Red (Brennan), Luck Be Withyou (Tetrick),
Lyonssomewhere (Brett Miller), McWicked (Dave Miller), National Debt
(Brett Miller also listed), Stevensville (Tetrick also listed),Western Conquest
(Brent Holland).
This
is the 60th edition of Yonkers Raceway’s premier trotting event,
while it’s Messenger No. 59.
The
distaff companion stakes to the Trot and the Messenger—the $124,590 Hudson
Filly and $190,854 Lady Maud—attracted six and 11 ladies, respectively. The
Hudson is a single-dash finale, while the Maud offers two $20,000 elims this
Saturday to extract the eight finalists.
All
four stakes finals, plus the $250,000, mile-and-one-quarter International Trot
Preview, are scheduled for Saturday night, Oct. 25.
