In just six weeks, many of the best trotters in the world will convene at MGM Yonkers Raceway for the 2022 Yonkers International Trot. The $1 million race, an invitation-only event, is starting to take shape.
At least two horses – Ecurie D DK and Etonnant – have officially accepted invitations into the International Trot, which is scheduled for a rare afternoon card on Oct. 15, and a number of other potential starters from around the world have expressed interest. The 1-1/4-mile race returns from a two-year COVID-related hiatus and will anchor a stellar card that includes a pair of $200,000 Invitationals for older horses, the Robert Miecuna for trotters and Aria for pacers.
Ecurie D DK stamped his ticket to represent Denmark when he stopped the timer in 1:49.1 while winning the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands back in May. Trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, Ecurie D DK burst on the scene in North America by winning the Allerage and Breeders Crown Open Trot at the tail end of 2021. His next start will come Saturday (Sept. 3) in the $610,000 Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Carrying the torch for France will be Etonnant. The 2022 Elitloppet winner has compiled four wins and three seconds in 11 starts this season for trainer Richard Westerink. Most recently he finished a close second behind Vivid Wise As at Cagnes Sur Mer in a Grade II event on Aug. 27.
This year’s Yonkers International Trot won’t be the first rodeo for either Westerink or Svanstedt. Westerink has competed in the race twice before, with Timoko earning his best finish with a second in 2015. Svanstedt sent Resolve to the post in 2016 and took home the trophy with a 2:23.4 victory, the second-fastest time in the history of a race that dates back to 1959.
As 10 horses typically line up behind the gate for the $1 million event, Racing Secretary Joe Frasure Jr. is hard at work seeking out the right mix of horses to fill out the International. In addition to luring horses from overseas, he’ll also be tasked with selecting a hometown competitor to represent the United States. Certainly the leading contender is Bella Bellini from the barn of Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman. The connections of the four-year-old have reportedly expressed interest and her credentials warrant serious consideration as she has put together a stellar 12-6-2-4 record this year.
Resolve is the lone U.S. winner of the International since the race was revived from a 19-year absence in 2015. Italy has won the race twice since, with Zacon Gio capturing the most recent edition back in 2019.
During the coming weeks, Yonkers will continue to release the names of horses invited to compete in the International. Stay tuned!
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)