$1,000,000 International Trot draws pair from France

The $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot would not be a true international trotting event without at least one French-bred in the mix and today (Au. 26) the track’s management team is proud to announce two harness racing additions from the country. Ideal San Leandro (Timoko) and Eclat De Gloire (Tiego D’Etang) will join the growing list for the 1 -1/4 mile event on September 7 Yonkers Raceway.

Ideal San Leandro will arrive in New York for very familiar connections as the 6-year-old is owned and trained by Richard Westerink, who has sent Etonnant, Dreammoko and Timoko to the MGM Yonkers International Trot over the last decade. The 45-year-old’s best finish came in 2015 when Timoko finished second.

“I love New York, that’s for sure,” said Westerink on returning for his third straight MGM Yonkers International Trot experience.

Although Ideal San Leandro lacks the résumé of Westerink’s previous entrants, he comes to town sharp, with a pair of wins and a second in his last three starts while racing at distances of 1.4 to 1.7 miles in France. Most recently he was second behind the favorite after showing good gate speed and leading the entire mile.

“He’s in super form but he was also good in the winter. There were drivers who didn’t trust the horse. I told them the horse was good and they just sat on the inside. I told them to stay on the lead and they wouldn’t do it. He’s really been in good form for almost six months,” said Westerink, who admits he isn’t bringing the same level of horse as in the past. “He’s tough and I trust in him but there are faster horses in the race. But when horses are in good shape there is always a chance.”

In addition to his toughness, Westerink reports that Ideal San Leandro is a smaller horse that has experience on 900 meter tracks (just over a half-mile) with right turns.

“I think he’ll be much better with the turns on the left like at Yonkers. He’s an easy horse that will love the track,” said Westerink, who has secured the services of top Swedish driver Bjorn Goop for the race.

Eclat De Gloire comes to New York with a much different profile than his French compatriot. While the 10-year-old has earnings of over 1 million Euros for trainer Loris Garcia and owner Ecurie du Vieux Chene, he’s had trouble finding the winner’s circle of late, with his last victory coming in November 2023 in an elimination for the Group I-race Paleo di Comuni.

What Eclat De Gloire lacks in 2024 achievements, he makes up for in experience, as the has competed throughout Europe and is the most experienced international half mile-track competitor in the field.

The pair of French horses join Jiggy Jog, Hail Mary and Castor The Star (Sweden), Vernissage Grif (Italy), and Get A Wish (Denmark) as starters in the September 7 event. The previously announced Capital Mail had to drop out of the race. The final three horses for the $1,000,000 race will be announced in the coming days and the draw is scheduled for early next week.

The MGM Yonkers International Trot will be the centerpiece of a spectacular afternoon card (12:15 PM EDT post time) that also features a pair of $250,000 Invitationals for older horses and the $1.8 million finals of the New York Sire Stakes.

From Yonkers Raceway