The facts are undeniable. Let It Ride N loves racing in January.
It was Jan. 2 of last year when the Nifty Norman trainee rocked the clock in a lifetime-best 1:48.1 at The Meadowlands. On Saturday night (Jan. 9) at The Big M, he won the $31,500 Preferred for pacers to once again set the early-season fastest mile in the game after stopping the clock in 1:49.
In the abbreviated six-horse field (there was one scratch; Western Joe), the two-pronged Jenn Bongiorno-trained tandem of J M Mandamin and Vettel N were away from the gate quickly as J M Mandamin hit the quarter in :26.2. There was no action until the field approached the far turn, when the three-hole-sitting Covered Bridge moved to the outside, providing a live tow for Let It Ride N.
“With the front-end speed going like it was,” said winning driver Victor Kirby, “things worked out perfectly when I was able to pick up cover from Yannick [Gingras, driving Covered Bridge]. He carried me up to the leader.”
Kirby waited to tip off his cover with an eighth of a mile to go before Let It Ride N sailed home to an easy 1-3/4-length win — his 28th from 74 starts. Backstreet Shadow and My Pal Joe rallied well to grab the place and show spots, respectively.
The winner, a nine-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Love A Gamble, upped his lifetime earnings to $477,242 and returned $11.80 to his backers as the 9-2 fourth choice in the wagering.
NICE LEGS: Get Legs received a perfect steer from Andy Miller to go wire-to-wire in the co-featured $31,500 Preferred for trotters in 1:53.1.
The five-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Legzy set sail for the top from post three in the nine-horse field and found himself alone on the front end.
“He left really well and no one pressed him,” said Miller. “Tonight, he was good coasting along on the front.”
Miller was able to rate the middle fractions back to :57 and 1:25 after an opening panel of :27.1 to open up a 3½-length edge for the stretch drive, and had more than enough left in the tank for the Julie Miller trainee to record his 13th lifetime score from 28 outings.
Chin Chin Hall, the 2-1 favourite, went a tough trip, racing fourth-over past the five-eighths before rallying well through the stretch to get second, just three-quarters-of-a-length behind the winner. Yonkers shipper Hayek was third.
“[Get Legs] had three weeks off, so I wasn’t sure how tight he’d be,” said Andy Miller. “I saw Chin Chin Hall coming, but I thought I had enough of a jump on him.”
Gets Legs now has earnings of $185,675 and returned $8.40 to his backers as the third choice in the betting.
A LITTLE MORE: Gingras and George Brennan led the driver’s colony with three winners apiece. Gingras finished the weekend with eight winner’s circle visits. … Per Engblom and Travis Alexander both trained a pair to victory lane.
All-source handle totaled $2,630,291.
Racing resumes Friday (Jan. 14) at 6:20 p.m. (EST).
(The Meadowlands)