Freehold, NJ (My Sportsbook) - Strong Yankee, driven by Brian Sears, captured the $297,816 Yonkers Trot at Freehold Raceway. The Yonkers Trot is the second leg of trotting's Triple Crown.

This year's Yonkers Trot lacked the presence of Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo, meaning there can be no Triple Crown winner. Last year Windsong's Legacy became the first trotter to claim the Triple Crown since 1972.

Strong Yankee took advantage of morning-line favorite Ken Warkentin, breaking stride at the start. The eventual winner took the lead shortly after the start and went on to register a wire-to-wire win.

Then the three-year-old colt hit the wire five lengths to the good over Maximum Return with Med Vac finishing third in the eight horse field. The time for the one-mile was 1:56 1/5. The time matches the track record for three- year-old trotters.

Last week Strong Yankee finished second in his Yonkers Trot elimination race to Ken Warkentin. Strong Yankee is owned by Strong Yankee Stable and trained by Trond Smedshammer. Smedshammer was the trainer of Windsong's Legacy. Earlier in August, Strong Yankee finished fourth in the Hambletonian after leading for much of the race.

Strong Yankee returned $4.00, $2.40 and $2.20. Maximum Return paid $4.40 and $3.00, and Med Vac paid $5.40 for show.