by Ken Weingartner and Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Yonkers, NY — Jimmy Takter’s three-horse entry of Senor Glide, Hard Livin, and On The Tab was made the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s (July 10) $573,770 Yonkers Trot final at Yonkers Raceway. The Yonkers Trot is the first jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown, followed by the Hambletonian (August 7 at the Meadowlands) and Kentucky Futurity (October 16 at the Red Mile). Senor Glide and Hard Livin were Yonkers Trot elimination winners last weekend.

Ray Schnittker’s two-horse entry of Big Stick Lindy and Shaq Is Back was made the 3-1 second choice.

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Yonkers PR Director Frank Drucker, Steve Jones, breeder of Shaq Is Back and Presiding Judge Robert “Cammie” Haughton take part in the draw.

Senor Glide won his Yonkers Trot elim by a head over Take My Picture in 1:58.4. He will start from post No. 1 with driver Cat Manzi. Hard Livin captured his elim by three-quarters of a length over On The Tab in 1:59.2. He drew post five and will be driven by Ron Pierce while On The Tab got post three and will be driven by David Miller.

“I love Yankee Glides,” said Takter when commenting on Senor Glide. “He was the type of horse we like, a medium-sized horse. I have Perry Soderberg who does the job for me of checking out the horses (yearlings) in the field. He went out to Fred Hertrich’s farm, saw this colt and liked him and the price was right — $35,000.

“He’s (Hard Livin) lived up to his name,” added Takter. “You can race him twice a week, really really a tough guy. He did a funny thing with me in the second turn (of the elims); he tossed his head, but he’s a nice little boy, actually. He always tries his best.

“I’ve got to say, David (driver Miller) was very excited about (On The Tab). He sat in with him, the pace was slow, but he had plenty of “go.” He could win this race, he’s raced well all over, he’s a player, this guy.

“Marcus (Johansson, his son-in-law, now recovering from an accident in a qualifier) was up to drive this horse. For him not to be here, that’s a shame, but the show goes on. (Recovery) is going to take time, he was in really bad shape (his spleen was removed) and he’s going to be on bed rest for at least three more weeks. It’s a long way back but he’s extremely lucky to survive.”

Takter won last year’s Yonkers Trot with Judge Joe.

“It’s one of those races I consider a big challenge to win,” said Takter. “I took a long time to do it (when he won in 2009 with Judge Joe). I had a lot of bad luck but I kept trying. This is one of the classiest races we have in this country, one of the oldest and so many great horses have won this. It’s also a big value for a horse to win this race. It’s considered a Group A race and it gives the horse a better chance of stallion duty in Europe.”

Shaq Is Back was second in the Dexter Cup on May 8 at Freehold Raceway and has won three of eight races this year. Shaq Is Back, who last year won a division of the Bluegrass Stakes, has eight victories in 19 career starts, banking $330,510, and has been worse than second only four times.

Big Stick Lindy has two wins in eight races this year and has won five of 19 starts during his career, earning $193,557. He won the New York Sire Stakes Fall Harvest Series at Yonkers Raceway last October.

Carnegie, who has won seven times on the New York Sire Stakes circuit during his career, got post No. 2 and was made 4-1 in the morning line.

The Yonkers Trot will be race number nine, with an approximate post time of 10 p.m. (EDT).

Here is the field, in post position order, with named drivers, trainers and morning line odds:

1. Senor Glide–-Cat Manzi–Jimmy Takter–6-5
2. Carnegie–-Stephane Bouchard–Kathleen LaMontagne–4-1
3. On The Tab-–David Miller–Jimmy Takter–6-5
4. Big Stick Lindy-–Ray Schnittker–Ray Schnittker–3-1
5. Hard Livin–-Ron Pierce–Jimmy Takter–6-5
6. Shaq Is Back-–Steve Smith–Ray Schnittker–3-1
7. Take My Picture-–Jeff Gregory–Taylor Gower–8-1
8. Waldorf Hall–-Jordan Stratton–Per Henriksen–15-1

There is a three-horse Jimmy Takter Stable entry (Hard Livin, On The Tab and Senor Glide) and a two-horse Ray Schnittker Stable entry (Big Stick Lindy and Shaq Is Back).

Owners: 1. Christina Takter, John Fielding, Frederick Hertrich III; 2. Kathleen LaMontagne; 3. Christina Takter, John Fielding, Louie Camara, Falkbolagen AB; 4. Ray Schnittker, KR Breeding, Steven Arnold, Jerry Silva; 5. Christina Takter, John Fielding, Falkbolagen AB; 6. Givemethecredit Stable; 7. Joseph Davino, Laurie Davino; 8. Steve Organ, ASA Farm.