Bit Of A Legend N upends Gerrity
July 23, 2017,by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway
Saratoga, NY — Bit Of A Legend N (Bettor’s Delight) was the runner-up in the 2016 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace contested at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Peter Tritton-trained standout wound up second best to former Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit. On Saturday night (July 22), Bit Of A Legend N was dismissed at odds of 15-1 as he took part in his second consecutive $260,000 Gerrity Pace and collected the victory.
Driver Jordan Stratton sat patiently with the talented 8-year-old as a grueling pace was set. There wasn’t a dull moment throughout as top rivals were slugging it out from the word “go.” The opening quarter went in :26.4 before the first half was clocked in :54.3. The field bunched up after three-quarters in 1:21.2 and longshot Bit Of A Legend N powered up three-wide around the final turn.
From fifth at the head of the stretch to first at the wire, Bit Of A Legend stopped the timer in 1:50.3 exacting his revenge from last year’s defeat in the Gerrity with an impressive win in the ninth annual installment of the race in honor of the former Chairman of the Board at Saratoga who passed away in 2005. Mach It So, a 36-1 shot, (Dave Miller) came on for second while Boston Red Rocks (Brett Miller) earned the show spot.
Bit Of A Legend N returned $32.10 to win and led an exacta and triple that came back $1,037 and $5,295, respectively.
The 14-race program featured a track record performance by Funknwaffles (American Ideal) in the NY Sire Stakes as he became the fastest 3-year-old pacer in track history by prevailing in 1:50.4.
Also, the fastest trotting time and pacing time of the year were set on Saturday as Gural Hanover (Matt Kakaley) trotted to victory in 1:54 and Luck Be Withyou (Brett Miller) scored in 1:49.2, the third fastest time in track history on what was a sensational night of racing at Saratoga.
Live racing continues on Tuesday evening featuring New York Sire Stakes action with first post time set for 7:05 p.m.
- Sintra looks to test older foes in Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial (Thursday, July 20, 2017)
The way Jody Jamieson sees it, if stakes-winning pacer Sintra were human, he might be Mike Trout. “He’s got speed, he’s got stamina, he’s got talent,” Jamieson said. “When you add in smarts, where he’ll let you drive him how you want, that’s the total package right there. He’s a five-tool baseball player.” Sintra will get the chance to display his tools Saturday in the $260,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel.