Yonkers Raceway Saturday, April 7 hosted the a trio of $50,000 events in the fourth of five preliminary rounds in the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
Bit Of A Legend N strolled in the opening division as the decisive pari-mutual favourite. From post position two, he worked around pole-sitting Chumlee A, then strolled though a flat, 28-second opening quarter-mile and :57.2 intermission.
Long Live Rock tried a first-up move from third, but was stuck wide through a 1:25.3 third-quarter. Bit Of A Legend N opened a couple of lengths in and out of the final turn, winning by a length-and-a-quarter in a season’s-best 1:53.2. Chumlee A saved second, with Killer Martini third.
For 2016 series champ Bit Of A Legend N, a nine-year-old Down Under son of Bettors Delight owned by Von Knoblauch Stable and trained by Peter Tritton, it was his second win in four starts this season, collecting career earnings of more than $1.97 million. Driven by Jordan Stratton, he paid $2.20.
Pole-sitting favorite Somewhere in L A (Bartlett, $4.40) retook command from 96-1 rank outsider Evenin Of Pleasure right at a :26.4 opening quarter-mile, then held that one at bay through splits of :56.3 and 1:25 to win the second division in 1:53. Christen Me N was a ground-saving third.
Second- and third-choices Rockin Ron and Missile J were non-factors from first- and second-over, respectively.
For Somewhere in L A, a seven-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone and T L P & Gandolfo Stables and trained by Richard Banca, it was his fourth win in six starts this season. Driven by Jason Bartlett, he paid $4.40.
Odds-on Mach It So rebounded from a failed retake a week ago to win the final Levy split. From the pole, he played early leapfrog with defending Levy champ Keystone Velocity before posting :56.4 and 1:24.3 splits in progress to a season's best 1:53.1 mile. Mach It So held off the pocket pursuer by a length, with Bettor Memories third.
For Mach It So, a nine-year-old Mach Three gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr., he’s two for four this season/series. David Miller sat behind the $3.80 winner.
Saturday night’s $40,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by a down-the-road fave Melady’s Monet (Bartlett, $3) in 1:55.3, scoring the 50th victory of his career. The $3.00 winner was steered by Jason Bartlett.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)