Trotter looking for millionaire status

Hillexotic (Muscle Hill) is perfectly drawn to double up in Thursday’s (April 25th) $35,000 Yonkers Invitational Trot and become harness racing’s next millionaire following a triumphant return in the same class one week ago.

The seven-year-old gelded Ron Burke trainee showed he was ready for his 2024 debut after taking a six-month winter break by pushing to the front leaving the gate, touching down on the lead before reaching the quarter pole and leading all the way from there. Yannick Gingras engineered the 1:55.4 score, which was Hillexotic’s 26th win in his 67th start.

Last week’s win put Hillexotic on the doorstep of becoming a millionaire. He need only earn $2,429 to reach the magic earnings number. He drew post three in the field of six and has been installed as the 8 to 5 morning line favorite. Needing only to finish fifth or better to gain the millionaire status, he is likely a theoretical 1 to 9 shot to get it done.

Hillexotic’s biggest challenge could come from the rival that finished second to him last week, Credit Con (Credit Winner). The 23-time winner was moved first up by driver Joe Bongiorno, and he gamely held second, beaten a length by Hillexotic. The altered six-year-old Jen Bongiorno trainee would benefit if there is an early tussle for the lead.

Teamster Joe Bongiorno said Credit Con should be right there again. “He has been razor sharp, and I’m expecting another big effort from him,” he said, adding, “Burke’s (Hillexotic) is the one to beat.”

One horse that might press early to try to make front is Nows The Moment (Credit Winner) who had designs on the lead last week but was forced to abort when it became apparent that it was unlikely he would clear after Hillexotic drove for the lead between horses on the first turn.

Nows The Moment trailed in fifth for the entire mile and it’s possible that driver Jordan Stratton, who replaces Austin Siegelman, might push for the front this time when you consider that Nows The Moment was on the lead at the quarter in all of his seven starts prior to last week’s race.

The Allison Macdonald trainee is the 3 to 1 second choice in the morning line and he starts from the widest post six. He shoots for his 49th win in this 142nd start and looks to add to his earnings of more than $832,000.

Texsong Soprano (Text Me) raced well in his first try at the Invitational level last week, following Credit Con then closing well for third, only a neck shy of second. The four-year-old horse, trained by Megan Scran, is clearly improved recently, having won three straight prior to last week’s start and climbing the ladder to the top class. Regular driver and part-owner Scott Zeron again drives and Texsong Soprano leaves from the rail.

Here is the field for the $35,000 Invitational Trot which goes as race 2 in the 12-race card and is scheduled to go off at 7:20 p.m.

1. Texsong Soprano (Text Me)– Scott Zeron – 4/1

2. I Get It (Dontyouforgetit)– Matt Kakaley – 8/1

3. Hillexotic (Muscle Hill) – Yannick Gingras – 8/5

4. Swan In Motion (Swan For All)– Jason Bartlett – 9/2

5. Credit Con (Credit Winner)– Joe Bongiorno – 7/2

6. Nows The Moment (Credit Winner)– Jordan Stratton – 3/1

In the $35,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Trot, 5 to 2 morning line favorite Tipsy Moni (International Moni) looks to get back on track after breaking stride before the start in last week’s edition of this class.

Prior to that start, the Per Engblom pupil raced well against males in the Invitational Trot three times in a row, taking a win, a third and a fourth. This was after winning four in a row in the Fillies and Mares Invitational.

Tipsy Moni has taken five wins and two seconds from nine 2024 starts, all the races contested at Yonkers. The four-year-old mare gets major post relief tonight, moving from the eight-hole to post two and she will likely get an aggressive steer from her regular pilot Yannick Gingras.

Another mare that is likely to get an aggressive steer is Perfect Vixen (Muscles Yankee) who drew the rail.

Driver Matt Kakaley sent the five-year-old Jared Bako pupil down the road two starts back in this class when she started from post four. The 16-time winner registered a win, a second and a third in three tries at this level since March 14th and she will probably use rail control on the opening turn to ensure good positioning on or near the lead.

Not to be ignored is the mare that beat every one of this week’s rivals in the same class seven days ago, P L Notsonice (Kadabra). Scott Zeron gave her a perfect steer on that night, popping pocket at precisely the right time to ambush leader No Mas Drama (Kadabra) as that rival started to tire.

Zeron slingshotted P L Notsonice to the front entering the last turn and she quickly got the jump on her rivals, then drove away for a four-length win. Leaving from post four with some anticipated fast leavers inside of her, the 3 to 1 morning line second choice is unlikely to get the same pocket trip she got last week, but she is still sharp and dangerous.

Ima Diamond Babe (Guccio) is another sharp mare that figures to contend. She raced second-over last week following a rival that got parked the mile and backed up abruptly approaching the three-quarter pole. This six-year-old Brandy Wine trainee produced a strong wide brush to get second behind P L Notsonice and she could have been much closer with a better trip.

Braxten Boyd, who drove last week once again takes the lines and the mare is quoted at 5 to 1 in the morning line.

Here is the field for the $35,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Trot which is scheduled to go at 8:00 p.m. as Race 4:

1. Perfect Vixen (Muscles Yankee)– Matt Kakaley – 7/2

2. Tipsy Moni (International Moni)– Yannick Gingras – 5/2

3. Ima Diamond Babe (Guccio)– Braxten Boyd – 5/1

4. P L Notsonice (Kadabra)– Scott Zeron – 3/1

5. No Mas Drama (Kadabra)– Joe Bongiorno – 9/2

6. Lady Jeter (Muscles Yankee)– Brent Holland – 20/1

7. Hot Flash Kimmy (Lookslikeachpndale)– George Brennan – 20/1

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink