by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Yonkers, NY — As Glidemaster and Algiers Hall battled for the lead on the backstretch during the final half-mile of the Yonkers Trot, trainer Blair Burgess had a bad feeling.

Less than a minute later, it changed to elation.

Glidemaster overtook Algiers Hall in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $728,930 Yonkers Trot by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4 and complete a sweep of the Trotting Triple Crown on Saturday night (Nov. 25) at Yonkers Raceway.

Ken Weingartner photo

It was a celebration in the winner’s circle after Glidemaster captured the Yonkers Trot.

He became the eighth horse to win the Crown. It was Glidemaster’s eighth victory in 15 races this season and boosted his seasonal earnings to more than $1.9 million — a new record for a trotter, breaking the mark previously held by 2004 Triple Crown winner Windsong’s Legacy.

Algiers Hall and driver John Stark, Jr. took the lead in the early stages of the race and led through an opening quarter of :29.2 and a half of :58.3.

George Brennan tipped Glidemaster to the outside from the No. 3 spot as the horses reached the half. He got to second on the backstretch and was even with Algiers Hall as the tandem reached the three-quarter mark in 1:26.2.

From there, it was a match race as Algiers Hall and Glidemaster separated themselves from the remainder of the field. Ira K finished third, beaten by 11 lengths.

“When he didn’t crossover on the backside I was seriously concerned,” said Burgess, who trains Glidemaster for his wife, Karin Olsson-Burgess, and father, Robert, along with Marsha Cohen and Brittany Farms.

“But he’s just a great, great horse. He dug in; I know he doesn’t know the end of a mile. Algiers Hall put up a hell of a fight. It was definitely nerve-wracking; very nerve-wracking.”

Yonkers Raceway photo

Glidemaster and George Brennan win the Yonkers Trot in 1:55.4.

Two weeks ago, Burgess trained Glidemaster at Flamboro Downs, which led to the decision to supplement the colt to the Yonkers Trot. The fee to supplement was $60,000. The Yonkers Trot marked Glidemaster’s racing debut on a half-mile oval, and made him the first Triple Crown winner since Super Bowl in 1972 to win the Crown with a half-mile track as part of the equation. Windsong’s Legacy’s sweep came on three mile tracks.

“He deserved it. He’s a tremendous horse. He just deserved the recognition,” Burgess said. “It hasn’t been done like that since 1972, with the half-mile track thrown in as a kicker there. I think it shows versatility; versatility is always nice. He even showed a little gate speed just to get that spot.”

The Yonkers Trot triumph removed the sting of a second place finish in the Breeders Crown in Glidemaster’s previous start.

“You like to go out with a win,” Burgess said. “Everybody does.”