Googoo Gaagaa in 5-horse Yonkers Trot field

Five 3-year-old colts, led by world champion Googoo Gaagaa, have been entered for the 58th edition of Yonkers Raceway's Yonkers Trot, first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown. The limited number of entrants makes the race, worth $455,594, a one-dash-for-the-cash event set for a week from Saturday night, July 7.

 

The quintet, in alphabetical order with declared drivers, are…Archangel (Jim Morrill Jr.), Googoo Gaagaa (Corey Callahan), Market Share (Jeff Gregory), Muscolo (Ray Schnittker) and Stormin Normand (Dave Palone).

 

The star of the show is, of course, Googoo Gaagaa, he of the pacing sire (Cam's Rocket) and the modest upbringing who has won 11 of his 12 career starts and $345,945. Googoo Gaagaa enters off a world-record 1:50.4 effort in last Saturday's $500,000 final of the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial at Pocono.

 

Richard Hans is Googoo Gaagaa's breeder, owner and trainer.

 

Stormin Normand, the only horse to come within earshot (a length-and-a-quarter) of "Googoo" in the Poconos, tries him again. The homebred (Fashion Farms) son of Broadway Hall, with seven wins and three seconds in 10 career tries ($430,085), is trained by Jim Campbell.

 

New York State is represented by the talented Archangel. A son of Credit Winner, has reeled of five wins in six seasonal starts without ever straying far from the Thruway. His highlight was a victory in the $233,250 final of the Empire Breeders Classic (Vernon). He was also second in last season's $175,000 final of the New York Sire Stakes and has a frosh sire stakes win over this oval. Peter Arrigenna co-owns (with Alan Hainsworth and Clare Semer) and trains Archangel, who has hit the board in 16-of-19 career race days/night ($324,305).

 

The companion event, the Hudson Filly Trot, attracted three soph fillies, making it, too, a single scrum ($185,194) event a week from Saturday. The Hudson trio is comprised of Aunt Mel (Brent Holland), Check Me Out (Schnittker) and Real Babe (Schnittker also listed).

 

Check Me Out, the millionairess ($1,233,252) daughter of Donato Hanover, was last season's divisional champion. She enters fresh off a win in the $519,400 final of Mohawk's Elegantimage, her 17th win (with three seconds) in 20 lifetime starts. Schnittker, co-owns (with Charles Iannazzo) and trains Check Me Out, who makes her small-track debut in the Hudson.