MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series set to begin Friday at Yonkers

The first leg of the new-for-2024 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series will take place on Friday night (Oct. 11) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with two $75,000 divisions.

It’s Academic, last year’s Dan Patch Award winner for older male trotters, headlines the first grouping (race five). The 7-year-old stallion by Uncle Peter won the $250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts at Plainridge Park and the $100,000 Tom Aldrich President’s Trot at MGM Northfield Park this year and has earned over $2.5 million lifetime. David Miller is listed to drive from post eight for trainer Ron Burke.

In the second split (race eight), Ari Ferrari J, who won the $250,000 Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot at Yonkers last month, drew post eight for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Tony Alagna. He’ll face the likes of Chapercraz, this year’s Hambletonian Maturity champion, who landed post six for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Burke.

Division #1 – Race 5

1-Cecil Hanover (Daniel Dube/Ake Svanstedt)
2-Take All Comers (Jordan Stratton/Jim Campbell)
3-Ghostly Casper (Pat Lachance drives and trains)
4-Diamante Trio IT (George Brennan/Travis Alexander)
5-Mississippi Storm (Brent Holland/Tom Fanning)
6-Djimon (George Brennan/Mark Steacy)
7-Delayed Hanover (Jordan Stratton/Kevin McDermott)
8-It’s Academic (David Miller/Ron Burke)

Division #2 – Race 8

1-Tachyon (Tyler Buter/Ricky Bucci)
2-Tactical Mounds (Scott Zeron/Megan Scran)
3-Bestfriend Volo (Yannick Gingras/Nancy Takter)
4-Gaines Hanover (Pat Lachance drives and trains)
5-Osceola (Jordan Stratton/Gregg McNair)
6-Chapercraz (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
7-Pappardelle (Joe Bongiorno drives and trains)
8-Ari Ferrari J (Jason Bartlett/Tony Alagna)
AE1-Khaosan Road (Daniel Dube/Ake Svanstedt)

Rounds two and three of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series are scheduled for Nov. 1 and Nov. 8, with the $250,000 final on Nov. 15. The third leg and the final will be conducted at the distance of a mile and a sixteenth.