Get Legs rallied after working out a second-over trip and got up through the lane to win the $69,000 final of the John Brennan Trotting Series on Wednesday night (April 21) at Yonkers Raceway as the 1-9 favourite.
Starting from post six, Get Legs (Andy Miller) didn't have the quickest of beginnings, landing in sixth, but he was able to improve one spot to fifth as Look In My Eyes (Jordan Stratton) miscued on the opening turn. Meanwhile, Lady Jeter (Yannick Gingras) did have a fast start, as she blasted out from post six and established command well before the :28.4 opening quarter.
Guilty Desire (Nick Clegg), who made a brief break just prior to the start, was able to get back on stride quickly and then began a first-over move out of fourth on the second turn, giving Get Legs cover. Guilty Desire advanced into second as Lady Jeter tripped the half-mile point at :59.3, and remained in that position to the 1:28.4 three-quarters as Lady Jeter continued on the front end and gave her two-wide challenger the cold shoulder.
On the far turn, Gingras asked Lady Jeter to accelerate as Get Legs tipped out three-wide, and Lady Jeter responded as she had a couple of lengths on Get Legs turning into the lane. It was not enough, though, as despite drifting out, Get Legs was hand-driven home by Miller and surged by Lady Jeter en route to a 1-/4 length decision in 1:58.3. Tad Krazy Hanover (Scott Zeron) was third, followed by Guilty Desire and Windsong Pioneer (Brent Holland).
Julie Miller trainee Get Legs is a four-year-old son of Muscle Hill owned by Andy Miller Stable and Michael Anderson. Get Legs has compiled a record of 11-0-2 from 13 starts, and he has now pocketed $120,510. He returned $2.10 to win, place and show, and was atop a $15.00 exacta and a $94.50 trifecta.
In the $30,000 consolation event of the series, Halo Its Me (Gingras) sailed to the lead from post seven and reached the opening quarter in :28.2 before yielding to Stinglike A B K (Tyler Buter). Stinglike A B K then made a break prior to the :58.4 half, leaving Halo Its Me back on the point as Blue And Bold (Holland) briefly vacated the cones to go first-over before he went back to the inside on the third turn.
Halo Its Me got some separation on the others going towards three-quarters, which she posted in 1:28, but 3-2 favourite Hunting AS (Todd McCarthy) was making steady progress after tipping out first-up once Blue And Bold elected to drop back down to the pylons and joined Halo Its Me on the last turn. Hunting AS was able to forge his way into the lead in the stretch and then held off a determined bid by Bazillionaire (George Brennan), who surged from second-over, to win by a nose in 1:59.2. Blue And Bold wound up third.
Hunting AS is a four-year-old Lionhunter gelding trained by Jenny Melander for owners Melander Racing Inc., Clark Stables LLC., and Robert Bernaski. Hunting AS picked up his seventh career win, and he has now earned $96,956. Hunting AS paid $5.00 to win and led a $116.50 exacta and a $452.00 trifecta.
Stakes racing at Yonkers Raceway will resume on Friday, May 7 when the track plays host to the Reynolds Stakes, a Grand Circuit event for three-year-old pacers of both sexes.
(Yonkers Raceway)