Posts drawn for MGM Yonkers Trot & MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals

The fields have been drawn for the finals of the MGM Yonkers Trot and MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, the first leg of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crown, which will take place on Friday (July 1) at Yonkers Raceway.

In the MGM Yonkers Trot, elimination winners Joviality S and Justice didn't have luck on their sides in the open draw, with Joviality S landing post seven and Justice post eight. Joviality S, who is undefeated in four starts this year and recently topped the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings, will be driven by Brian Sears for trainer Marcus Melander and owner Courant Inc., while Justice, who sent his bankroll over $250,000 with his elimination score, will have trainer/co-owner Ake Svanstedt at the lines for partners Little E LLC., Torbjorn Swahn Inc., and Myfab Inc.

The MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final will see elimination winners Gulf Shores and Pleaseletmeknow depart from posts four and seven, respectively. Gulf Shores, the runner-up in last year's Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace final, has Yannick Gingras in the bike for trainer Brian Brown and owners Country Club Acres Inc., Diamond Creek Racing, and Wingfield Brothers LLC., and Pleaseletmeknow, who won the MGM Springfield Stakes final at Yonkers in 2021, will be steered by Matt Kakaley for trainer Travis Alexander and owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC.

Here are the full fields with listed drivers and trainers:

$259,230 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes Final (Race 8)

1-Nautical Hanover (Todd McCarthy/Tony Alagna)
2-Huntanover (Tyler Buter/George Ducharme)
3-Captain Cowboy (Dexter Dunn/Ake Svanstedt)
4-Gulf Shores (Yannick Gingras/Brian Brown)
5-Atlas Hanover (Todd McCarthy/Tony Alagna)
6-Boston (Joe Bongiorno/Jennifer Bongiorno)
7-Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
8-PJ Lou (Jason Bartlett/Mark Harder)

$280,904 MGM Yonkers Trot final (Race 9)

1-Brave By Design (Joe Bongiorno/Jennifer Bongiorno)
2-Robertsin (George Brennan/Nik Drennan
3-Double Deceiver (David Miller/Carter Pinske)
4-Saverio Hanover (Dexter Dunn/Ron Coyne Jr.)
5-Pour Mea Double (Dexter Dunn/Lucas Wallin)
6-Slay (Tim Tetrick/Tony Alagna)
7-Joviality S (Brian Sears/Marcus Melander)
8-Justice (Ake Svanstedt trains/drives)

Also drawn were the companion Park MGM Pace and New York New York Mile for 3-year-old pacing and trotting fillies. Those events with listed drivers/trainers are as follows. There are two entries (1/1A & 2/2A) in the Park MGM Pace, so be sure to note the difference in post position versus head number.

$80,790 Park MGM Pace (Race 6)

3-Wine N Dine Me (Tim Tetrick/Scott Di Domenico)
1-Nadina Hanover (George Brennan/Nifty Norman)
4-Wickedly Innocent (Todd McCarthy/Nancy Takter)
2-Fly Like An Angel (Scott Zeron/Linda Toscano)
2A-Madeira Hanover (Yannick Gingras/Linda Toscano)
5-Lightning Leia (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
1A-Gotthegreenlight (Jason Bartlett/Nifty Norman)
8-Lee Loo (Tim Tetrick/Tony Alagna)

$102,164 New York New York Mile (Race 7)

1-What Should I Goo (Joe Bongiorno/Jennifer Bongiorno)
2-Cash Infusion (Yannick Gingras/George Ducharme)
3-Gettinmystepsin (Andy Miller/Julie Miller)
4-HL Revina (Harry Landy trains/drives)
5-Little Pink Lies (Ake Svanstedt trains/drives)
6-Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn/Ake Svanstedt)
7-Quick Bet (Mattias Melander/Marcus Melander)
8-Peyton Hanover (Tim Tetrick/Marcus Melander)

Friday night's 11-race card at Yonkers begins at 6:55 p.m.