Field grows to eight for $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers Trot

The field for the $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot is almost complete after a handful of invitations were accepted this week for the September 13 event at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Six nations are now represented in the international affair that will bring together harness racing drivers, trainers and horses from all over Europe and North America.

Already announced for the MGM Yonkers International Trot were Hohneck (France), Gio Cash (Germany) and Double Deceiver (United States but racing in Sweden). They will be joined by Aetos Kronos (Sweden but racing in the U.S.), Diva EK (Italy), Gamin Jaba (France), Ideal Ligneries (France) and Powwow (Norway).

Despite competing mostly in Europe, Aetos Kronos is very familiar to those in North America who have watched him excel here as a 9-year-old this year for owners Jeffrey and Michael Snyder. The son of Bold Eagle has won six of nine starts in 2025 and recently recorded a 1:49 4/5 victory in the elimination round for the Maple Leaf Trot, establishing a new mark as the fastest trotter ever on Canadian soil.

Marcus Melander trains Aetos Kronos, a career winner of $1.5 million who will seek to increase that total dramatically in Saturday’s C$630,000 Maple Leaf Trot final at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Diva EK is a daughter of North American-based stallion Trixton and comes to the MGM Yonkers International Trot by way of Italy for trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro and owners Antonio Nucera and Effebi Srl. The 6-year-old owns a stellar record of 20 wins in 40 career starts and was a G1 winner back on May 12 in the Menhammar Copenhagen Cup.

Gamin Jaba is the second of the entrants from the barn of trainer Daniel Reden, joining the previously announced Double Deceiver in the field. A 9-year-old with $661,745 in earnings, he has 21 career wins in 81 starts despite scoring just one victory in seven tries this year.

Another French entrant is Ideal Ligneries. Winless in eight starts this year, the 7-year-old has finished second three times, including in the G II Criterium De Vitesse De Basse-Normandie on August 9 (Hohneck won) and G II Grand Prix Du Department Des Alpes on August 23 (Hohneck was sixth) for trainer/driver Jean-Phillippe Monclin. For his career Ideal Ligneries has won eight times in 59 starts and earned $879,455.

Bringing youth to the field is Powwow for trainer Jan Kristian Whaaler. The 5-year-old from Norway is a son of 2015 MGM Yonkers International Trot winner Papagayo E. He recently was a fast-closing third after a ground-saving trip in the $300,000 Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Pokal exclusively for his age group at Solvalla at 2140 meters. Owned by Tom Andersen, Powwow sports a 15-2-5-3 career record.

The eight horses above will be joined by two more trotters originating from either the U.S. or Canada and that announcement will occur prior to the draw on Monday, September 8.

The $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot will be part of a huge card on September 13 that also includes the $200,000 MGM Aria Invitational Pace and $200,000 Robert Miecuna Invitational Trot. Post time is set for 12:00 PM (EDT) and the Empire Terrace dining room with be open for a buffet lunch.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT). Exceptions to that schedule include the addition of live racing on Wednesdays, September 3 and 10. There will be no live racing on Friday, September 12.

From Yonkers Raceway