MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series gets underway Friday

The 2025 edition of the MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series begins on Friday (Nov. 21) at MGM Yonkers Raceway with three $50,000 divisions.

Antognoni S, who won the John Brennan Trotting Series final at Yonkers earlier this year is the leading earner in 2025 in the first grouping (race five). Co-owner Yannick Gingras is listed to drive the 5-year-old Father Patrick gelding for trainer Ron Burke. He’ll face the likes of last year’s MGM Yonkers Trot and New York Sire Stakes champion Sir Pinocchio (post four, Jason Bartlett listed to drive for trainer Ed Hart) and $2.6-million-earner Amigo Volo (post eight, George Brennan listed to drive for trainer Nifty Norman).

Periculum, one of the top trotters you’ll find anywhere, is in the second split (race seven) with Scott Zeron listed to drive the 6-year-old Muscle Hill stallion for trainer Marcus Melander. When last seen at Yonkers, Periculum was a traffic-troubled seventh in the International Trot but has a pair of wins and two seconds in stakes outings since then.

Burke and Gingras also join forces with Southwind Coors from post seven in the final section (race eight). Southwind Coors, who was fourth in the recent Breeders Crown, took the Invitational at Yonkers in his most recent outing on Nov. 6. He will compete against the likes of Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot runner-up Security Protected (post five, Jordan Stratton listed to drive for Cory Stratton) and defending series champion Take All Comers (post four, Todd McCarthy listed to drive for Jim Campbell).

The MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series has two additional legs after Friday, with round two on Friday, Dec. 5, and the third prelim on Friday, Dec. 12, before the final on Friday, Dec. 19. Points for the series will be earned on a 50-25-12-8-5 scale (winner gets 50 points, runner-up gets 25, etc.). The top 10 point earners get a spot in the $250,000, 1-1/4 mile final, while the next 10 point earners go in the $75,000, 1-1/4 mile consolation on the same card.

Here are the fields for Friday’s MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series races in full:

Division #1 (Race 5)
1-Antognoni S-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
2-Big Box Hanover-TBA-Larry Stalbaum
3-Ultion Face S-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
4-Sir Pinocchio-Jason Bartlett-Ed Hart
5-Keg Stand-Colin Kelly-Nick DeVita
6-Escaper-Brent Holland-Maria Alvarez
7-Dribbling Bi-Daniel Dube-Ron Coyne Jr.
8-Amigo Volo-George Brennan-Nifty Norman

Division #2 (Race 7)
1-Asteroid-Colin Kelly-Jeff Cullipher
2-Blackhawk Zette-Jordan Stratton-Robert Baggitt Jr.
3-Periculum-Scott Zeron-Marcus Melander
4-Queen Of All-Austin Siegelman-Lance Hudson
5-Ari Ferrari J-Jason Bartlett-Tony Alagna
6-Khaosan Road-Daniel Dube-Ake Svanstedt
7-Cecil Hanover-Yannick Gingras-Per Engblom
8-Hot Flash Kimmy-Jordan Stratton-Cory Stratton

Division #3 (Race 8)
1-Dire Straits-Jason Bartlett-Linda Toscano
2-Benny J-Jason Bartlett-Tony Alagna
3-Mississippi Storm-Brent Holland-Tom Fanning
4-Take All Comers-Todd McCarthy-Jim Campbell
5-Security Protected-Jordan Stratton-Cory Stratton
6-Oliver The Great-Jim Marohn Jr.-Robert Baggitt Jr.
7-Southwind Coors-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke