Posts drawn for MGM Yonkers Trot and MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals
At 0h33, on June 25, 2024 • By Yonkers Raceway Media Relations
On Monday afternoon (June 24) at MGM Yonkers Raceway, the post position draws took place for Friday night’s (June 28) $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot and $225,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals, the opening legs of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns.
Elimination winner Bargain landed post three in the MGM Yonkers Trot final for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Nancy Takter. Trainer Ake Svanstedt, in search of his fourth MGM Yonkers Trot title, sends out Flying Kronos S and Situationship from posts five and eight, respectively, and Marcus Melander, a two-time winning trainer in the MGM Yonkers Trot (2021 and 2023), has Security Protected from the coveted post one starting position.
Howlenthehills and Janelle Granny were the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes elimination victors, and they landed posts four and six, respectively, in the final. Janelle Granny was driven by Tim Tetrick in the elimination, but he has elected to go with Armada Hanover from post one in the final, putting George Brennan on Janelle Granny. Trainer Travis Alexander, who won the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals in 2021 and 2022, has two horses in the final in Howlenthehills, who will be driven by Matt Kakaley – the winning driver with Alexander trainees American Courage and Pleaseletmeknow in those MGM Grand Messenger finals – and Sweet Beach Life (post five), who will be driven by Tyler Buter.
In addition, there are companion events for 3-year-old fillies, a single $90,000 Park MGM Pace contest and two $55,000 divisions of the New York New York Mile for trotters. The Park MGM Pace is race ten on the 12-race program, while the New York New York splits go as races two and 11.
