Emily Hughes went behind the starting gate for the first time in her life on Monday and she was able to find the winner’s circle with As Yall Like It in Mohawk’s second edition of the Under Saddle Exhibition Trot.
The front-stepping four-year-old mare scored the victory in 1:58.2. Ive Got It All (Marielle Enberg) finished second and Youlneverwalkalone (Jenni Judin) was third.
“She was awesome,” said Hughes. “This is her first time behind the gate with someone riding her. This is actually her fifth time being ridden so she was really good. I couldn’t have asked her to be any better, really.”
Hughes shares ownership of As Yall Like It with her husband, Rod, who also trains the daughter of Yankee Glide, and Venture K Stable.
“Rod has driven her so he kind of gave me a little bit of the ins and outs about how to maybe ride her behind the gate and just sit, sit, sit,” she said. “She flew out of there so easily and I just waited for the turn and dropped her down to the rail. She was great the rest of the mile. Coming home I just growled at her a little and she just kept on going.”
Six trotters contested the non-wagering, one-mile dash, which went to post following the fifth race.
(WEG)