$1 Million Yonkers International Trot, Sat., Oct. 14

Saturday's $1 million Yonkers International Trot at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway Cap Giveaway to first 5,000 Fans New York?Defending champion Resolve of the United States drew post position six and is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the $1 million Yonkers International Trot set for this Saturday afternoon, October 14, at Empire City Casino-s historic Yonkers Raceway. Trainer Ake Svanstedt will drive the American flag-carrier for owner Hans Enggren. Post time is at 4:00 pm. Empire City president and CEO Tim Rooney revived the Yonkers International complete with a $1 million purse in 2015 after a 20-year hiatus. An earner of more than $2.6 million in purses lifetime on the strength of 18 wins in 39 starts, Resolve is a six-year-old son of Muscle Hill, and set a world record of 2:23:4 for the mile and a quarter distance in last year-s edition. Resolve will attempt to become the first U.S.A. representative to win back to back Internationals since Delmonica Hanover in 1973-74. Roquepine (1967-68), Ideal du Gazeau, the only three-time champion (1982-83-84) and Lutin d-Isigny ? all of France ? are the only other three to win consecutive Internationals. The star-studded Yonkers International card features a total of $3.3 million in purses buoyed by the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes ?Day? of Champions, and a pair of $250,000 Invitationals, the Dan Rooney Pace and the Harry Harvey Trot. Post time for the first race on the matinee card is at 1:00 p.m. Nine elite trotters representing seven countries ? Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy and Sweden ?will try to dethrone Resolve. The world class, 10-horse field has bankrolled $11,373,119 in total earnings on the strength of 209 victories. The Italian standout Twister Bi, trained by the Rhode Island expatriate Jerry Riordan, will start from post position four as the 4-1 second choice with Christoffer Ericsson driving. The five-year-old has 20 wins in 49 career starts, including the Group I Oslo Grand Prix in Norway in June. The ?Twister? has earned $708,328 lifetime. The second Italian flag-carrier, Oasis Bi, is the co-third choice at 5-1 on the morning line from post position two and will be driven by Kim Eriksson for trainer Stefan Pettersson. It will be the nine-year-old stallion-s third appearance in the revived Yonkers International, finishing second to Resolve last year. ?Oasis? has 18 wins in 80 lifetime starts, good for a $2,063,360 bankroll. Last year-s Trotting Triple Crown champion Marion Marauder of Canada is also listed at 5-1 from the advantageous rail post with Scott Zeron driving. The husband-wife tandem of Michael Keeling and Paula Wellwood are the trainers. The owners are Devin Keeling and his grandmother Jean Wellwood. The Yonkers-loving four-year-old has $2.2 million in lifetime earnings with 14 victories in 35 starts. Dreammoko of France drew post three and is 6-1 with Gabriele Gelmormini in the bike. The four-year-old son of champion Timoko won the Group II Prix Phaeton at Vincennes on April 8, one of his five victories in 29 career starts. The second United States representative, In Secret, is another 6-1 proposition from the dreaded eight hole for George Brennan. In Secret won six straight at Yonkers, including for Open Handicap Trots, and is the ?horse for course? for trainer Ron Burke. The five-year-old gelded son of Deweycheatumnhowe has a lifetime record of 21 wins in 74 career starts, including a .500 batting average over the Yonkers half-mile strip with a 7 for 14 record. In Secret has earned $354,385 in purses. Sweden-s On Track Piraten, like Oasis Bi is a nine-year-old warrior making his third Yonkers International appearance. He will start from the second tier post 10, and is another 8-1 shot for driver Johnny Takter, his third different reinsman in the global classic. On Track Piraten has earned $1.9 million lifetime with 37 victories in 116 career starts during an illustrious career. A multiple stakes champion, he won the Midsommarloppet on June 24, defeating the highly-acclaimed Nuncio. Midnight Hour of Finland has post seven, and is 10-1 with Ilkka Normanen in the bike. Midnight Hour won the Aby Stora Pris in Sweden in August racing three heats and winning the final in a race-off, as well as the Prix St Michel at Mikkeli in Finland in July. Shadow Woodland of Finland, drew post five, and United States sulky star Tim Tetrick will handle the 12-1 shot. The eight-year-old gelding is 25 for 64 lifetime with a $366,854 bank account. Tripolini VP of Denmark, another starting from the second tier with post position nine is listed as 15-1 on the morning line with trainer Jeppe Juel handling the reins. The seven-year-old gelding has chalked up 21 victories in 56 trips to the starting gate, earning $230,561.