Canadian on rail for Yonkers Int’l Trot

If 3-1 morning-line favorite Marion Marauder and driver Scott Zeron have anything to say about it, they’ll be singing “O Canada” in the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the $1 million Yonkers International Trot on Saturday afternoon at Yonkers Raceway.

For the second straight year, Canada’s Marion Marauder, trained by Paula Wellwood, has drawn the rail for the 1 ¼-mile race, which features 10 trotters representing seven different countries.

“We had success [from the rail] last year and hopefully it works out again,” said Zeron, who drove Marion Marauder to a second-place finish behind Italy’s Twister Bi a year ago.

“The mile and a quarter is really great for this horse. When other horses tire, he never does. He maintains his speed and accelerates and just feels like a horse that knows exactly where the finish line is and he’s going to leave everything on the racetrack.”

Italy’s Ringostarr Treb, trained by Jerry Riordan and driven by Wim Paal, is the morning-line second choice at 4-1 from post 4.

With a victory this year, Riordan, who trained 2017 Yonkers International champ Twister Bi, would become only the third trainer ever to win the event in back-to-back fashion with different horses.

“It feels like the odds are against it happening. But I love my horse. It will be fun,” said Riordan.

The hopes of the U.S. are with the Jimmy Taktertrained Ariana G, driven by Yannick Gingras.

Ariana G, the lone mare in the field, is the 5-1 morningline third choice from post 3 and will be competing on a half-mile track for the first time in her career.

“As far as [handling the turns at] Yonkers, I don’t think it will bother her. She’s very square-gaited. She’s two-fingers to drive, so I don’t think it will bother her at all,” said Gingras.

The estimated post time for the 40th edition of the Yonkers International Trot is 3:40 p.m.