Elite line ups for Grand Prix Trotting Series

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

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

Division #1 (Race 5)

PP-Horse (Sire)-Listed Driver-Trainer

1-Antognoni S (Father Patrick) -Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

2-Big Box Hanover (Uncle Peter) -TBA-Larry Stalbaum

3-Ultion Face S (Joke Face) -Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom

4-Sir Pinocchio (Mets Hall) -Jason Bartlett-Ed Hart

5-Keg Stand (Bar Hopping) -Colin Kelly-Nick Devita

6-Escaper (Muscle Hill) -Brent Holland-Maria Alvarez

7-Dribbling Bi (Cantab Hall) -Daniel Dube-Ron Coyne Jr.

8-Amigo Volo (Father Patrick) -George Brennan-Nifty Norman

Division #2 (Race 7)

PP-Horse (Sire)-Listed Driver-Trainer

1-Asteroid (Creatine) -Colin Kelly-Jeff Cullipher

2-Blackhawk Zette (Cantab Hall) -Jordan Stratton-Robert Baggitt Jr.

3-Periculum (Muscle Hill) -Scott Zeron-Marcus Melander

4-Queen Of All (Swan For All) -Austin Siegelman-Lance Hudson

5-Ari Ferrari J (Walner) -Jason Bartlett-Tony Alagna

6-Khaosan Road (International Moni) -Daniel Dube-Ake Svanstedt

7-Cecil Hanover (Chapter Seven) -Yannick Gingras-Per Engblom

8-Hot Flash Kimmy (Lookslikeachpndale) -Jordan Stratton-Cory Stratton

Division #3 (Race 8)

PP-Horse (Sire)-Listed Driver-Trainer

1-Dire Straits (Muscle Hill) -Jason Bartlett-Linda Toscano

2-Benny J (Walner) -Jason Bartlett-Tony Alagna

3-Mississippi Storm (Cantab Hall)  -Brent Holland-Tom Fanning

4-Take All Comers (Creatine) -Todd McCarthy-Jim Campbell

5-Security Protected (Father Patrick) -Jordan Stratton-Cory Stratton

6-Oliver The Great (Bar Hopping) -Jim Marohn Jr.-Robert Baggitt Jr.

7-Southwind Coors (Walner) -Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

The MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series has two additional legs after Friday, with round two on Friday, December 1 and the third prelim on Friday, December 8 before the final on Friday, December 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.

Additional details for the companion MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series will be distributed when the opener of that event is drawn on Tuesday (November 18).

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EST).

From Yonkers Raceway