Elimination winners American Courage and Abuckabett Hanover will start from posts 6 and 8 in Friday night’s $580,000 Messenger Stakes final at Yonkers. The Messenger is the kickoff leg to the pacing Triple Crown, which includes the Cane Pace at Meadowlands and Little Brown Jug at the Delaware County Fair later this summer.

Make a Win bet on the Messenger Stakes and get your cash back, up to $10, if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd as part of our Harness Racing Money-Back Special.  

American Courage cruised to victory in his 1:50-4/5 elimination score that was just a tick off the track record. The Travis Alexander trainee has lost just once in 11 attempts. Abuckabett Hanover, an earner of more than $255,000, overcame some anxious moments on the turns in his elimination last week. A victor in 1:51-3/5, he’ll be joined Friday in the starting lineup by fellow Tony Alagna trainee Simon Says Hanover, who leaves from the inside.

Xpressbet and 1/ST harness racing analyst Al Cimaglia will have his Messenger Stakes selections available in his Friday blog. Be sure to check that out and bet with Xpressbet and 1/ST BET on the entire Yonkers 12-race card that begins at 7:15 pm ET. The co-feature is the $500,000 Yonkers Trot.


YONKERS RACEWAY // RACE 9 (9:55PM ET) // $580,000 MESSENGER STAKES // PACERS 

1. Simon Says Hanover (Scott Zeron) - 6/1
2. I’ll Drink To That (Dexter Dunn) - 4/1
3. Charlie May (Brett Miller) - 2/1
4. Chase H Hanover (Brian Sears) - 10/1
5. Mysweetboymax (Jason Bartlett) - 20/1
6. American Courage (Matt Kakaley) - 7/2
7. Highlandbeachbest (Scott Zeron) - 20/1
8. Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) - 6/1
AE. Whichwaytothebeach (Todd McCarthy)