Sir Pinocchio became a two-time winner on harness racing's Grand Circuit this year, as the Dexter Cup champion was a front-stepping 1:54.4 winner in Friday night's (June 28) $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot at MGM Yonkers Raceway, giving him the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown.

Driver Jason Bartlett fired Sir Pinocchio out from post two and battled for early command with pole sitter and favorite Security Protected (Tim Tetrick), but that horse made a break on the opening turn, leaving Sir Pinocchio in front well before the quarter, which went on the board in just 29 seconds. Facing no outside pressure in the second quarter, Bartlett kept the tempo easy, getting to the half in just 58.3.

Passing the half-mile marker, trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt swung Situationship, who had made a break before the start but reset and sat fifth, to the outside first-over, and he came with a strong bid that carried him to within half a length of Sir Pinocchio at the 1:26.3 three-quarters. Sir Pinocchio was game, though, keeping Situationship at bay on the rim and going on to the win by half a length in 1:54.4. Situationship was second from elimination winner Bargain (Yannick Gingras). Fly By (Scott Zeron) also recovered from an early miscue to collect fourth and I'm Out (Marcus Miller), who also went off-stride from fourth before three-quarters, was fifth.

This completed a day to remember for Bartlett as he was able to get to MGM Yonkers Raceway before the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes after watching his son Kobe graduate from high school.

"I got to see him walk across the podium and receive his diploma. I made record time down here to get here just so I wouldn't miss it," Bartlett said. It was a big day for me."

While others were unable to keep trotting in both the Dexter Cup and tonight's MGM Yonkers Trot, Sir Pinocchio has kept his cool both times.

"Tonight, we had (Security Protected) beat out of there. Eddie (trainer Ed Hart) told me that he watched him warm up and he looked a little weird in the turns, so we went out of there with him in the turn, and he blew up," remarked Bartlett. "You can't really go into these races with any sort of plan or anything. They all sort of go out the window in the first eighth."

Hart trains Sir Pinocchio, a gelding by Met's Hall, for owner/breeder Carolyn Atherton. Sir Pinocchio has six wins, four seconds and two thirds from 14 appearances, has pocketed $341,853 and paid $10.80 to win as the 4-1 third choice. He was atop a $33.40 exacta and a $162.50 trifecta.

"It was a tough field. We had a good post and I was hopeful. We got a little lucky for sure," Hart stated. "He's the real deal. He's a nice horse, and he's getting better, too. He's a little better on a big track, I think.

"He has the Canadian Trotting Classic in September and a few other races. He's staked up a little bit, but no Hambletonian."

Irv Atherton represented wife Carolyn in the winner's circle ceremonies. The Athertons are from nearby Scarsdale, New York, and have enjoyed success in the sport before, but perhaps not at this level.

"He's up at Vernon next week for the Zweig. We'll go from there," Irv Atherton remarked. "We've had some really good ones, but this is a long time coming. The little guy gets to the winner's circle."

Bargain was in front throughout and held off pocket-sitter Fly By in the stretch to win Friday night's (June 21) lone $25,000 MGM Yonkers Trot elimination for 3-year-old colts and geldings at MGM Yonkers Raceway in 1:54.3.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Bargain shot out from post four and made the front early on the first turn with Fly By (Scott Zeron) also showing speed and finding the pocket prior to the 28.2 opening quarter. With no challengers on the outside after that, Gingras was able to back down the half to 57.4 and the three-quarters in 1:26, but Zeron swung Fly By to the outside midway through the far turn.

After being shown the clear racetrack, Fly By quickly moved up to battle Bargain and appeared in the lane like he was going to go past, but Bargain was game and responded to the challenge, keeping a nose in front of Fly By to the finish line. I'm Out (Tim Tetrick), who went first-over out of fourth before three-quarters, slid back down to the pylons on the last turn and wound up third, and Flying Kronos S (Ake Svanstedt) followed I'm Out's moves and checked in fourth. Duke Of Walner (Matt Kakaley) was fifth and got the remaining spot in the $300,000 final, joining bye-takers Security Protected, Sir Pinocchio and Situationship.

A New York-sired gelding by Chapter Seven, Bargain was bred by Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew and is trained by Nancy Takter, and she also co-owns him with JAF Racing, ChristinaTakter&Anderberg, Joe Sbrocco and R A W Equine Inc. Bargain, who was second in the sire stakes final at MGM Yonkers Raceway last September, has a summary of 4-3-0 from 11 starts, has earned $207,455 and paid $10.00 to win as part of an entry with Duke Of Walner that went off at 4-1. The exacta was worth $25.80 and the trifecta kicked back $75.00.

The finals of the MGM Grand Messenger and MGM Yonkers Trot will take place on Friday, June 28 and will be joined by their companion filly events - the Park MGM for pacers and the New York New York Mile for trotters. Fans attending the races live on June 28 will be treated to an outdoor market on the track apron. An integration of the casino and track worlds will take place as patrons from both sides of the gambling world will be welcomed to enjoy special food stands, live music and other promotional items as part of a Triple Crown Fan Fest.

Up Your Deo, fresh off a track record win in his elimination a week ago, kicked off this year's Trotting Triple Crown with a 1:53.3 triumph for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt in the $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Friday night (June 30) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Starting from post two, Up Your Deo, who miscued briefly past the start in his elimination score, got away cleanly this time and settled in third behind Chapercraz (Yannick Gingras) and Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn). Chapercraz would post opening-half fractions of 28 and 57.2, with Svanstedt waiting until early on the third turn to move out first-over. Unfortunately for Svanstedt, his other horse in the race, Kierkegaard K (Mark MacDonald) went off-stride as he was flushing out Up Your Deo to follow, spoling his chances of success.

Chapercraz quickened once Up Your Deo pulled and maintained command at the three-quarters in 1:25.3, but Up Your Deo had advanced in second on the outside at that point. They would continue to race in that order around the final bend and into the stretch, and although Chapercraz was game and tried to fend off Up Your Deo, it was to no avail, as Up Your Deo sailed by halfway through the drive on his way to the win by three-quarters of a length. Chapercraz was the runner-up, with Ari Ferrari J, Devilish Hill (Andy McCarthy) and Tillio's Action (Jordan Stratton) finishing third through fifth.

Mike Lizzi Photo

"I had to ask him a little. He answered immediately, then it was an easy win," remarked Svanstedt. "I don't know the schedule right now, but I hope [he's a Hambletonian horse]. We're going for that."

Bred by co-owner Deo Volente Farms, the victorious Walner colt is also co-owned by Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc. and Van Camp Trotting Corp. Up Your Deo now has three wins, three seconds and two thirds from 12 efforts, has earned $281,487 and returned $3.40 to win as the 3-5 favorite. The exacta was worth $21.20 and the trifecta kicked back $70.00.

"The horse has come along really extremely well. He had bad luck as a 2-year-old," said Mike Gulotta of Deo Volente Farms. "We were very lucky to own a piece of this horse. I actually went to congratulate Sarah Svanstedt for buying the horse. He was a $100,000 Walner, and she said 'well, I have 20 percent left, do you want it?' and I said 'absolutely.'

"Mike Gulotta is like my brother. I invested in Deo Volente Farms and when I started watching the horse, I said this horse has talent," remarked Tom Pontone, another partner in Deo Volente. "The best part about it is we still own the mare and we still have a foal on the ground. She's pregnant now, so we hope for great things to come in years to come."

Gulotta added that Up Your Deo is heavily staked for the remainder of his sophomore campaign.

Svanstedt goes two-for-two in MGM Yonkers Trot elims

Jun 26

Up Your Deo posted a track record 1:53.1 mile and Kirkegaard K led at every call in taking the pair of $40,000 MGM Yonkers Trot eliminations for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Friday night (June 23) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Both Up Your Deo and Kierkegaard K were sent out by trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt.

Svanstedt had the 1-9 favored Up Your Deo on the gate and ready to leave at the start, with Crown to his inside with Brian Sears also on the gate and motivated, and Chapercraz to his outside, who exploded out for Yannick Gingras as the gates unfolded. Up Your Deo made a miscue but was wrestled back on-stride quickly by Svanstedt but not before ceding control to Chapercraz, who led Crown through the first turn, with Manclane and Tyler Buter settling in third and Up Your Deo fourth in line.

Gingras had Chapercraz on the lead and the son of Crazy Wow showed impressive speed, cutting the opening-half with fractions of 28 and 56.4 while Crown followed at a distance and the rest of the field gapped out to some degree. Svanstedt had to move out on the third turn to get Up You Deo into closer contention, but his job was made more difficult as Chapercraz let out a notch and blitzed the third quarter in 27.3, hitting the three-quarters in 1:24.2 with an open-lengths lead.

On the final turn Chapercraz's lead began to shorten as Crown rallied between horses and Up You Deo hit stride after coming three-deep. A blanket finish ensued, with Up Your Deo getting up on the wire ahead of the pace-setting Chapercraz, while Crown settled for third. Manclane followed in a distant fourth, but returns for the $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot final.

Owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Stables and Van Camp Trotting Corp., Up Your Deo posted just his second career victory in his 11th start. The son of Walner returned $2.30 to win as the prohibitive favorite. With Chapercraz second the exacta was worth $9.50 and Crown third completed a $17.00 trifecta.

Up Your Deo's time of 1:53.1 broke the Yonkers track mark for 3-year-old trotting colts, eclipsing the previous standard of 1:53.3 set in 2019 by Gimpanzee.

Svanstedt returned with the favorite Kierkegaard K in the second $40,000 elimination, and though there was again an inquiry after the finish, it had no impact on Kierkegaard K, who wired the field impressively, drawing clear in 1:54.3 as the 2-5 choice.

Svanstedt had Kierkegaard K on the gate and left alertly from the pole position with Tillio's Action, Devilish Hill and Ari Ferrari J all trying to leave from the outside. It was clear into the turn that Svanstedt had no interest in yielding the lead, so Devilish Hill and Andrew McCarthy took a tuck and Ari Ferrari J and Dexter Dunn took back to trail. Left on the outside was Jordan Stratton driving Tillio's Action, and he was fortunate to get into the pocket before the 27.2 quarter as Southwind Admiral and Todd McCarthy were willing to take a three-hole to follow the two favorites.

Svanstedt was looking to conserve his Chapter Seven-sired colt and managed to slow the half to 57.1 before any activity began on the outside. Kenobi and Tim Tetrick pulled out first, followed by Ari Ferrari J, but the pair had much ground to make up. Kierkegaard K was still backing the action down as Kenobi gained ground to three-quarters, which was clocked in a pedestrian 1:26.4

In the final panel Kierkegaard K got his cue to go and marched away from the pocket-sitter in the stretch, with Svanstedt demanding and getting the acceleration that would propel the colt through a 27 4/5 kicker. Tillio's Action was more than comfortable following in second, with Stratton not urging his horse, while Ari Ferrari J made up ground in the stretch to be a fast-closing third. Squeezing between horses, Todd McCarthy was able to get Southwind Admiral fourth across the line in tight quarters, but the colt made a miscue right before the line. An inquiry followed and Southwind Admiral was set back, allowing Devilish Hill to be placed fourth and earn the last berth for next week's final.

Owned by breeder Knutsson Trotting Inc., Kierkegaard K was a winner for the third straight time in 2023 without defeat. Kierkegaard K paid $2.80 to win. With Tillio's Action second the exacta was worth $10.80. Ari Ferrari J completed the trifecta of $31.

The $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot final will take place next Friday (June 30) as part of an action-packed program that will also include the $250,000 (est.) MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final, the $115,000 (est.) New York New York Mile final and the $100,000 (est.) Park MGM Pace final. The MGM Yonkers Trot and MGM Grand Messenger Stakes are the first legs of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns.

Joviality S beats the boys in MGM Yonkers Trot final

July 1 - Joviality S became the first filly since Continentalvictory in 1996 to win Yonkers Raceway's MGM Yonkers Trot, taking the $280,904 final and the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown for 3-year-olds on Friday night (July 1) in 1:53.1 to equal the track record for her division.

Driver Brian Sears had Joviality S ready to leave from post seven, and she fired right to the top, carving out fractions of 27.2, 56.4, and 1:24.4 while pursued by pocket-sitter Double Deceiver (David Miller). Those two faced off in a match race through the lane, and although Double Deceiver made some late headway, it wasn't enough, as Joviality S tallied by a length and matched Plunge Blue Chip's track record established back in 2018. Pour Mea Double (Dexter Dunn) got up for third.

"She's just so handy out on the track and lets me do anything that I want. It makes my job so much easier. She has so much talent, gets over the ground so easy, and just has a great gait to her," said Sears. "I let her roll along a little bit tonight. She felt really good getting over the track. I called on her a little bit down the lane, and she picked it up like she usually does."

With one notch in the Trotting Triple Crown now secured, the question will be if Joviality S opts to go in the Hambletonian or Hambletonian Oaks, but Sears noted she could have some additional racing to do before that.

"I really haven't talked to Marcus (trainer Marcus Melander) about it. Maybe we'll get a sire stake or two in between now and Hambletonian Day or we'll just take it from there. We'd still like to race her in New York and keep her tight," remarked Sears.

Melander trains Joviality S, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for owner Courant Inc., whose AM Bloodstock Inc. bred the filly. Joviality S has won all five of her starts in 2022, has a record of 14-2-0 from 17 lifetime tries, and has now banked $1,205,818. She paid $2.40 to win as the favorite and led an $8.00 exacta and a $23.00 trifecta.

Joviality S, Justice impress in MGM Yonkers Trot elims

Jun 25

Heavily-favored Joviality S and Justice didn't disappoint in the pair of $40,000 MGM Yonkers Trot eliminations for 3-year-olds on Friday night (June 24) at Yonkers Raceway, scoring gate-to-wire victories.

The lone filly in the MGM Yonkers Trot, Joviality S (Brian Sears) was in command through fractions of 28.1, 58.2, and 1:25.4 in the first elimination, successfully dealt with a wide first-over bid from Dover In Motion (Jordan Stratton) in the middle-half of the mile, and held serve over a closing Pour Mea Double (Dexter Dunn) to score by a length and a quarter in 1:54. Slay (Tim Tetrick) was up for third, and Brave By Design (Joe Bongiorno) was placed from fifth to fourth after Dover In Motion made a late break and was lapped-on at the wire.

"She was a little bit aggressive tonight," remarked Sears. "She finished within herself, and I was very happy with her. The track wasn't like the first night she raced here; it was a little cuppy inside."

Marcus Melander trains Joviality S, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for owner Courant Inc., whose AM Bloodstock Inc. was the breeder. Joviality S is four-for-four in the win column this year, she has 13 career victories from 16 appearances, and she has now earned $1,065,366. She paid $2.10 across-the-board as the 1-9 favorite and was atop a $12.80 exacta and a $63.00 trifecta.

Justice (Ake Svanstedt) trotted to the front from post four in the other elimination and was unchallenged through stations of 29.2, 58.2, and 1:26. Pocket-sitter Double Deceiver (David Miller) took a two-wide shot at Justice in the lane, but Justice had plenty left and scored by a length and a quarter in 1:54.1. Robertsin (George Brennan) followed in the three-hole and held third over Saverio Hanover (Dunn).

A Chapter Seven colt, Justice is trained by Svanstedt and also co-owned by him in partnership with Little E LLC., Torbjorn Swahn Inc., and Myfab Inc. Justice, bred by Diamond Creek Farm, has three triumphs in four starts in 2022, has tallied six times in eight lifetime starts, and pushed his bankroll to $252,130. The 3-5 choice, Justice returned $2.90 to win and keyed a $4.30 exacta and an $11.40 trifecta.

Johan Palema leads 1-2 finish for Svanstedt in MGM Yonkers Trot

Jul 3

photos by Darragh Riordan

Johan Palema and driver Yannick Gingras captured the $500,000 MGM Yonkers Trot, the first jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters, on Friday night with a virtuoso wire-to-wire performance, winning in 1:55 over a rain-soaked surface at Yonkers Raceway.

Johan Palema, one of three finalists from the Ake Svanstedt stable, worked his way to the top from stablemate Ambassador Hanover off the first turn, as second choice Ahundreddollarbill settled in third, with Mon Amour and In Range following the top three to the 28.2 opening quarter.

Gingras rated the pace nicely but shortly before the half of 58 seconds, Johan Palema took off from the pocket-sitter, as well as the rest of the field. Ahundreddollarbill was forced to pull from third and go without cover, but he found the sledding a bit too tough as Johan Palema blitzed the third quarter in 27.2. The third quarter sprint kept In Range from gaining second-over, but driver Tim Tetrick was able to get his horse to make up ground inside as Mon Amour made a miscue.

Gingras hardly moved a muscle through the final turn as the others battled for minor honors, and the son of Bar Hopping cruised across the wire with a 29.3 final quarter. In Range skimmed the pylons but fell a nose short of second, with Ambassador Hanover and Svanstedt holding the place spot. Ahundreddollarbill faded to fourth, with Ethan T Hanover the final check-getter.

"I got an easy front," said Gingras following the race. "They let me steal a half in 58 seconds. At that point, come and get me."

Seven tried but none were up to the task. 

Owned by Bender Sweden Inc., Johan Palema, one of four horses in the field sired by first-cropper Bar Hopping, won for the third time in four starts in 2021, adding the win to his elimination score seven days earlier. As the favorite, Johan Palema returned $3.90, $2.60, and $2.30 across the board. Runner-up Ambassador Hanover paid $4.10 and $3.10, and In Range returned $4.60 to show. The exacta was worth $12 and the triple paid $65.50. 

Johan Palema is a Hambletonian eligible.

"He can go with the top horses," said Gingras. "I'm not sure if he can cut it on the big track, but he's very handy." 

The $1 million Hambletonian is slated for August 7 at the Meadowlands.