The Grand Circuit

Post positions drawn for MGM Yonkers Trot, MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals

The fields are set for the Grade 2 $250,000 MGM Yonkers Trot and the Grade 2 $200,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes for 3-year-old males on Friday night (June 26) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. https://bit.ly/4w6pePH

Yonkers Raceway

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Mr Mouton ends On To Norway's 27 win streak - Harnesslink EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After failing to fire from the pocket in a third-place finish behind Super Chapter last week, Mr Mouton mounted a four-wide stretch

June 20, 2026 - Interview with Graduate Series 4YO Open Trot Winning Driver Dexter Dunn Winner: Super Chapter

June 20, 2026 - Interview with Graduate Series 4YO Open Pace 3rd Leg Winning Driver Tim Tetrick Winner: Fallout

Mr Mouton upsets in Graduate prelim; On To Norway's win streak ends at 27
by James Witherite, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After failing to fire from the pocket in a third-place finish behind Super Chapter last week, Mr Mouton mounted a four-wide stretch rally to spring a 42-1 upset with a 1:50.2 victory in his $50,000 third-round division of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters on Saturday (June 20) at the Meadowlands — and, in doing so, ended On To Norway's win streak at 27 races.

Trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt secured the pocket with Mr Mouton behind early leader Walspea (driven by Jason Bartlett) on the first turn before being relegated to third as 6-5 second choice Go Dog Go (Todd McCarthy) brushed to control just before hitting the half in :55. Just as Go Dog Go cleared, Yannick Gingras activated On To Norway first-over out of fourth, and the Indiana sensation ground forward to apply stern pressure to Go Dog Go through a :28.2 third split. Meanwhile, Mr Mouton had been shuffled back to fifth in the six-horse field, but Svanstedt was able to angle him off the pegs and point him four-wide off the turn for home.

At the eighth pole, Go Dog Go appeared to be holding his ground over On To Norway, but Mr Mouton unleashed a ferocious rally down the grandstand side, striking the front 40 yards from the winning post and prevailing by a half length. On To Norway remained strong enough to save second in his first defeat since April 3, 2025; Go Dog Go gave way and finished third.

"He's been better and better every race," said Svanstedt, who trains Mr Mouton for Knutsson Trotting, Little E LLC, Stolz Geiger, and Jorgen Sparredal Inc. "I expected a good race from him today. I didn't have any choice (but to race him from off the pace after being shuffled), but he came home fast and he fought well."

Mr Mouton, now a six-time winner from 15 starts, has increased his career earnings to $277,992. As the second-longest shot on the board, the Chapter Seven-Burberry gelding paid $87.80 to win.

Off his 1:49.3 win in second-round action, Super Chapter rode the pocket to his second victory in as many tries as a 4-year-old, rolling to an easy 1:51.1 score in the second trotting section.

Dexter Dunn pushed Super Chapter forward from the pole to protect the pocket behind 45-1 pacesetter Happy Jack B (Gingras), who controlled a soft :57.1 first half before picking up the tempo through a :27.1 third sectional. Upon cornering for home, Dunn tipped Super Chapter off the pegs, and the Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit entire shifted gears instantaneously to eclipse the tiring Happy Jack B in a matter of strides and open a quick 2-1/2 lengths to the sixteenth pole. In deep stretch, Dunn took Super Chapter in hand and measured his winning margin to three-quarters of a length. Warrior (Svanstedt) circled three-wide to take second around the one-paced Delaney Hanover (Zeron), who finished third.

"He's like driving a sports car," Dunn said of last year's richest sophomore trotter. "Once we got in the two-hole and there was no movement, I was happy to give him cover tonight. He exploded (in the stretch) like he usually does."

Marcus Melander trains Super Chapter, now a 16-time winner with $1,807,359 in the bank, for Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti and Hanover Shoe Farms. As the 1-20 favorite, Super Chapter paid $2.10 to win.

On the pacing side, Prince Hal Hanover threw down a monstrous 1:48 mile to win his division, calling all the shots through splits of :26.1, :54.4 and 1:22.2 in line to Todd McCarthy before unleashing :25.3 stretch speed to outpace second-leg winner Captain Optimistic (Scott Zeron) by a measured three-quarters of a length. Swingtown (Gingras) finished third, another 3-1/2 lengths behind, after a stagnant first-over bid through the far turn.

"I was looking for a bit of a breather in the middle half, and I thought the tempo was still pretty stable," said McCarthy, who drove the Captaintreacherous-Percy Bluechip entire for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and Prince Hal Hanover Stable. "It's always tough on a night like this; there's a little bit of a headwind here and it's been a bit tough on the leaders tonight. To come the last quarter we did was impressive."

Prior to his Graduate win, which was the 14th of his career and elevated his career earnings to $1,375,262, Prince Hal Hanover acquitted himself well against older company — rallying for second in the Grade 2 Battle of Lake Erie and finishing third in the Grade 3 Mohawk Gold Cup — and gave McCarthy plenty of optimism that his charge will hold his own in the free-for-all pacing ranks as the season progresses.

"This horse has never let me down; he just does his job every time," he said. "He's really well put together, he's got a lot of size, and he's got the attitude. When the time comes, I'm sure he'll be willing to take that step."

As the 3-5 favorite, Prince Hal Hanover paid $3.20 to win.

The second pacing division saw Fallout and Tim Tetrick quarter-move to the lead at the end of a :26.4 first split from an early pocket behind Smooth Dream before yielding to Bruno No No No (Jason Bartlett) to draft behind middle splits of :53.3 and 1:20.4. Off the turn for home, Tetrick angled Fallout off the pegs to take aim at Bruno No No No, and the Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover entire sprinted to the lead at will, accelerating home 1-1/4 lengths the best for a lifetime-best 1:47.4 score. Crack Shot (Jordan Stratton) split foes in mid-stretch and closed ground steadily for second; Fifth And Five (Zeron) emerged to just nab Bruno No No No for third.

Fallout, a nine-time winner with $941,077 in the bank from 34 starts, is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, Phil Collura and Knox Services. He paid $6 to win as the 2-1 favorite.

The $250,000 (estimated) Graduate finals for each gait, both Grade 2 events, will take place Saturday, July 4.

Harness: Brandon Blvd stood tall in North America Cup From politics to harness racing, alternative views are part of the landscape. Two people can listen to the same politician or watch the same race and come away with a completely different opinion on what occurred.

GRADUATES RETURN TO ROCK THE CLOCK AT BIG M

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Despite a severe thunderstorm that made it necessary to delay the start of the races 37 minutes, a ‘wet-fast’ track at The Meadowlands last Friday (June 12) led to some drag-strip-like final times as the fastest miles of the year in the sport on the both the pace and trot were established at the mile oval.

The good news for racing fans? Those horses will all be back on the track this Saturday (June 20) at The Big M.

But back to last week. That night, the second leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-olds of each gait took to the track, with some big names putting forth some huge performances.

First up was Super Chapter, the Marcus Melander trainee who walked away with a divisional title a year ago. He made the lead while parked in :27.3 in the first of two Graduate divisions on the trot and went down the road from there for driver Dexter Dunn, blazing his final quarter in :26 to complete a lifetime-best 1:49.3 effort for the son of Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit.

He would stand alone as the fastest trotter of the year for just three races.

Indiana invader On To Norway continued to make splashy headlines over the watery racetrack, as he recorded a remarkable 27th consecutive victory in the other division for Graduate trotters. The gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act moved to the top at the half in :55.2 for Yannick Gingras, before the Ron Burke trainee finished the job with a back-half of :54.1 to equal Super Chapter’s seasonal mark with a lifetime-best clocking of 1:49.3.

“He did it pretty easy,” said Gingras. “He had plenty left (in the stretch).”

Super Chapter and On To Norway share the seasonal trotting mark, but Captain Optimistic stands alone on the pace.

A Nancy Takter trainee who was a major player on the sophomore male pacing trail a year ago, Captain Optimistic sent out word that he might be a superstar as a 4-year-old, unleashing a season’s-fastest 1:46.4 score in the second Graduate pace with Scott Zeron at the controls.

The son of Captaintreacherous-Cinamony brushed to the lead at the half in a demanding :53.2 before pacing his back half in an identical :53.2 clocking to complete the mile in an effort that lowered his previous lifetime best by one-and-one-fifth seconds.

On To Norway, Super Chapter and Captain Optimistic will all be in action Saturday night at The Meadowlands in the third leg of the Graduate Series, in what will be the final preliminaries before the $250,000 (est.) finals on Saturday, July 4.

On To Norway and Super Chapter will race in separate divisions, setting up what figures to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the year in the final two weeks down the road.

WHO’S ON THE SHOW? Brett Sturman, the handicapper and columnist from Harness Racing Update, will serve as co-host of both shows this weekend alongside regular host Dave Little from the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set.

The pregame show begins at 6 p.m.

Ken Warkentin will be in his usual spot, calling the races from the roof in the best seat in the house.

On Friday, Gary DiLeo will provide commentary and selections for FanDuel Television (FDTV) as well as providing post-race interviews.

Melissa Keith will handle FDTV on Saturday.

Breakfast with the Babies, which showcases 2-year-olds getting ready for the upcoming stakes season and beyond, takes place Friday morning at 9 a.m. Matt Zuccarello will be on hand to describe all of the action.

Come on out and grab a program and free breakfast in Trotters.

The baby races are being sponsored this year by the Tactical Landing Syndicate, Ecurie D Syndicate, and Karl Syndicate, standing at Southwind Farms of New Jersey.

If you can’t make it to the track, those races can be viewed live at playmeadowlands.com.