Brian McEvoy’s picks for the Yonkers Grand Circuit card

The harness racing world turns its attention to MGM Yonkers Raceway for Friday nights $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot and the $225,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals.

In the Messenger Stakes Howlenthehills and Janelle Granny were the elimination winners . Tim Tetrick has elected to opt off driving Janelle Granny and will drive Armada Hanover for Brett Pelling. George Brennan has picked up the drive for Janelle Granny. Travis Alexander trains two strong contenders in Howlenthehills and Sweet Beach Life. Travis is no stranger to the Messenger Stakes having won the finals in 2021 and 2022.

The Yonkers Trot has Security Protected (post 1) and Situationship (post 8) squaring  off in the final. Both Security Protected and Situationship received byes last week and look to be the favorites in the final. Marcus Melander (Security Protected) and Ake Swanstedt  (Situationship) are two of the best trainers in the world. Ake has won the Yonkers Trot three times and Marcus Melander has won twice.

George Brennan puts it in prospective on driving at Yonkers.

“You can’t be versatile at Yonkers. You have to be near or on the lead,” he said.

Here are Brian McEvoy’s selections for Friday’s Yonkers card. Brian also has quotes from some of the leading drivers and trainers on the night. Brian works full-time as the track handicapper at Pocono Downs.

RACE 1

6-STAY HAPPY has been dropping in class. She drops into a winning spot against a weak field.

4-COMMANDER CATHY N  finished ahead of Silky Stride in last. Could her form be returning?

3-DREAM DANCING has also been dropping in class.

RACE 2 NEW YORK NEW YORK MILE ( DIVISION 1 )

2-TACTICAL LORI is 10-1 morning line on program? She is a much improved trotter. She was most impressive in last race at Pocono Downs. Tactical Lori moved quickly to the lead and won comfortably in 153.

1-SHE SHAQ has won over $150,000 and has raced well in sire stakes action.  She is obvious choice from rail. She Shaq has never raced on a 1/2 mile track before. Ake will probably be on the lead from the rail.

5-ELOISE raced a big mile from 8 post coming home in 28.1

RACE 3

6-HALLELUJAH HANOVER went a big mile in last race. She met Morning Has Broken on May 10 and got the best of her.

4-MORNING HAS BROKEN raced 3 wide as favorite in her last race. She looks like the chalk favorite today. She has been racing against better.

2-ROCKNROLL ANNIE has raced well in last 4 races. She raced a tough trip with a first over move in her last race.

RACE 4

4-TEXSONG SOPRANO has tons of back class. He won $219,000 last year. He drops in class and has raced okay versus invitational trotters this year.

1-MAX raced a big mile from 6 post, moves to the rail. He has raced well in the 40,000 claiming level this year.

2-SEVENSHADESOFGREY raced a solid third in last race. He has been racing against better this year

RACE 5

1-FAVORITE BEACH was a pocket rocket in last race. She grabs the rail for the successful team of Aleander/Kakaley.

4-DRAGONS LUCKY LADY has been consistent performer all year. It is easy to see her beating Favorite Beach in a race where best trip wins this race.

6-LUCKY ARTIST A last two races has been her best all year, vast improvement.

RACE 6

4-SUPER GIRL came home in 27.3 to just lose. She has not been the same horse this year, but finds a soft spot.

2-JIVE DANCING A is the class horse of the race. She has raced against better. Her form has fallen off since beginning of the year.

1-MISS DOTTIE MAE finished behind super girl in last race. She moves from 5 post to the rail and needs trip to win.

RACE 7 MGM GRAND MESSENGER FINAL

4-HOWLENTHEHILLS has been super all year winning all 5 races. He had to avoid a breaker in front of him in elims and still won.  Howlenthehills scoped sick after the race and should be much better!!.

HOWLENTHEHILLS JUNE 21 REPLAY

1-ARMADA HANOVER came like hell and ran out of race track. Tim Tetrick choices to drive over elim winner Janelle Granny. If pace is hot he could win this race with her finishing kick.

6-JANELLE GRANNY had fastest winning time in the elims. He was forced three wide to lead and used hard. Brennan picks up the drive and is it great hands. No surprise if he wins this race.

JANELLE GRANNY JUNE 21 REPLAY

Tim Tetrick expressed himself on Armada Hanover chances in the Messenger. “He has been close in every race this year. He almost beat the the undefeated horse this year last week. I hope to race off the helmet or be second over this week, said Tetrick.”

Tetrick commented on part of the reason he picked to drive Armada Hanover and not Janelle Granny. “Janelle Granny is an Ohio bred and will be heading there after this race. I will be driving Armada Hanover all year,” stated Tim.

George Brennan has some thoughts on getting the drive on Janelle Granny. “I was impressed with him last week going 3 wide to get the lead on the first turn. I am so happy to get the drive,” said George.

Travis Alexander talked about having two contenders in the final. “Howlenthehills gets better every race. He races better off the helmet. He has high speed and has grown into a better horse this year,” said Travis.

Travis made this shocking statement about Howlenthehills after his winning effort. “He scoped sick after the race. He had lots of muscus. He will be much better this week. I am super confident in winning this week,” stated Alexander.

Aleaxander also talked about his other horse in the race Sweet Beach Life. “Don’t sleep on Sweet Beach Life. He is a very high strung horse and will probably need some trip help to win,” commented Travis.

RACE 8 MGM YONKERS TROT FINAL

8-SITUATIONSHIP has drawn the outside post for the final. It is so hard to pick a trotter from 8 post at Yonkers.  Ake will have to be aggressive leaving from outside. His two races this year have been super. Two races back he came home in easy win in 26.3.

SITUATIONSHIP MAY 27 REPLAY

1-SECURITY PROTECTED has huge advantage with the rail.  He is 3 for 3 this this year with two PA Sires Stakes wins. Security Protected won over $350,000 in purses last year chasing the great Karl and T C I.

SECURITY PROTECTED MAY 31 REPLAY

2-SIR PINOCCHIO was hard used to half in 55.2 versus Situationship in elim. He is going to need a moderate pace on the lead to win.

Tetrick expressed his confidence with with Security Protected this week. “He raced really well last week. It is better to get the rail then the 8 post. He has raced against the best in Karl and T C I.  Ake’s horse will be quick getting out in the race.

RACE 9

5-P L OSCAR totally outclasses this field.  He has raced okay versus much better this year.

1-BRAVE BY DESIGN shows big improvement in last race after moving into the Alexander barn. The Walner trotter will have to prove he can step up in class and win. He was super last year winning close to $100,000 with a 153 mark.

3-STREET GOSSIP Throw out his last race from 8 post. He has raced okay at higher class this year.

RACE 10 PARK MGM FILLY PACE FINAL

2-PEACE TALKS has beat most of the horse in this race. She will be a chalky favorite. She had lead in 121.3 and faded to second off torrid pace.  Peace Talks has win in 150.4 from 7 post at Tioga, 3 races back.

PEACE TALKS JUNE 21 REPLAY

5-CAMERICAN has finished gamely behind Peace Talks in 3 races this year.  The Burke/Gingras combo will have to improve to beat the top pick.

4-PONYNAMEDWILDFIRE finished a strong second to Peace Talks on June 2nd. In last race she set wicked fractions in 25.4 and 55.3.

RACE 11 NEW YORK NEW YORK MILE (DIVISON 2)

1-R MELINA is 3 for 4 this year in stakes action.  She last by a neck after making a long first over move to the top. She has beat main contender Date Night Hanover twice this year.

R MELINA JUNE 14 REPLAY

4-DATE NIGHT HANOVER will need to improve to beat R Melina.  She has been close in two races against her.

5-DRAW THE LINE has a win and a 4th place finish in Pa Sire Stake action. How will she fair versus tougher competition?

RACE 12

6-CRAZYLAND is lightly raced this year. His last race shows him finishing a pocket sitting third.  He did finish ahead of contenders The Gruffalo and Creative Venture. He will need another good trip to win this competitive race.

2-THE GRUFFALO Throw out last two races with break and 8 post start.  He had two wins and a second before those two races.

3-CREATIVE VENTURE has been solid and hanging around at this level.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Brian McEvoy, for Harnesslink