BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, August 19,
2017—Odds-on Bit of a Legend N (Jordan Stratton, $3.30) paid a price for the
lead, then made his opponents pay the price for giving it to him Saturday night
(Aug. 19th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $55,000 Open Handicap Pace.
In the hunt early from assigned post position No. 6, the 2016 George Levy
Series winner took over from 21-1 shot Caviart Luca (George Brennan) just after
a zippy :26.3 opening quarter-mile. A rated, :29.1 next substation (:55.4 half)
was going to make the people’s preference tough to catch.
Melmerby Beach (Greg Merton) and Mach it
So (Brent Holland) tried it from first- and second-over, respectively, as Bit
of a Legend N found a 1:24.2 three-quarters.
He widened to 2¼ lengths in and out of the
final turn, then held Caviart Luca at bay. The margin was measured
three-quarters of a length in 1:51.3. Bakersfield (Mark MacDonald) and Melmerby
Beach hit the line together for third, with Mach it So settling for the final
pay envelope.
For Bit of a Legend N, an 8-year-old Down
Under son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Harry von Knoblauch Stable and trained
by Peter Tritton, it was his fifth win in 17 ’17 tries. The exacta paid $33.50,
with the triple returning $89.50 (Bakersfield third) and $92 (Melmerby Beach
third).
Prior to the race, Tritton spoke of von
Knoblauch, who passed away early this month at age 90. “Harry was a gentleman
who enjoyed racing and not afraid to spend money to get good horses. His
daughters want to keep the stable going, and I’m fortunate to train for
them.”
Yonkers offers up
the sixth of eight consecutive Sunday matinees (Aug. 13th), with a
first post of 12:30 PM.
