by Frank Drucker, Yonkers Raceway Publicity Director

Yonkers, NY — Odds-on favorite Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton, $2.60, part of entry) was the best Free-For-Aller entering and the best exiting Saturday night, winning the $609,000 final of Yonkers Raceway’s George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

Mike Lizzi photo

Bit Of A Legend N was a clear cut winner in the Levy Memorial on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway.

The 29th Levy, again honoring the memory of the Harness Hall of Fame founder of Roosevelt Raceway, served as both the richest race in the history of the event and richest race of the season to date.

Bit Of A Legend N, after winning all five of his series prelims (including a track record dead-heat [with Wiggle It Jiggleit] a week ago), drew post position two in the final. He was away third early, behind pole-sitting Take It Back Terry (George Brennan) and that one’s stablemate, All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley).

All Bets Off, from post five, paid a 27-second price for the first lead. Stratton, wanting no part of a three-hole, quickly moved Bit of a Legend N to the front, finding a :55.2 intermission.

Take It Back Terry then took out of third, trying his luck down the backside the second time, with P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) happily accepting that one’s tow. However, Take it Back Terry never came that close to the Bit Of A Legend N who maintained an open lead in and out of a 1:23.1 three-quarters.

The advantage was a length-and-a-half entering the lane, and Bit Of A Legend N was about to close the sale. All Bets Off ducked in but never threatened as the people’s preference won by a length in a life-best 1:51. He also become the first Down Under winner of this event.

Texican N (Yannick Gingras), stable buddy of the winner, rallied quite nice for third, with P H Supercam and Take it Back Terry earning the minor cash. Texas Terror N (Brett Miller), Lucan Hanover (Brian Sears) and Mach it So (Tim Tetrick) rounded out the order.

The final time of 1:51 also matched Maltese Artist’s (Greg Grismore) stakes record set in 2007, when the series returned after an 11-year hiatus.

For Bit Of A Legend N, a 7-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, it was his eighth win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $4.60, with no triple wagering offered to the limited number (five) of wagering interests.

For Stratton, it was the biggest win of his career.

“He’s perfect for Yonkers, a small horse who gets around this track great.

Anything can happen when you go for this money,” Stratton said. “I let everything settle and then went to the front. He’s been great through the series and I’m just fortunate to be able to drive him.

“He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained and Jordan’s taken good care of him,” his Aussie-born trainer said, before giving a shout out to the owner (Harry von Knoblauch) who is 90-years-old and he’s on a cruise with his daughter right now. He said, ‘I wish I could get off this boat and be there.’ I told him he’d feel a lot better when he got the check.”

What’s next?

“He gets some time off, and then, since he’s not staked to very much, we’re hoping for Invitationals at other half-miles (Western Fair, Harrington, and Northfield).

The $304,500 winner’s share upped Bit Of A Legend N’s seasonal earnings to an industry best $451,250.

A $100,000 series consolation was won by death-and-taxes Wiggle It Jiggleit (Montrell Teague, $2.10) in 1:51.