by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Dexter Cup eliminations, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, N.J.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Freehold this week features three $16,000 Dexter Cup eliminations for 3-year-old open trotters. A total of 18 horses entered the Dexter Cup, so each elimination on Saturday (April 30) will feature six horses. The first two finishers in each elimination will return for the final. The remaining two finalists will be drawn by lot from the three horses finishing third in the eliminations.

Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: The George Morton Levy Series for open pacers and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for open pacing mares wrapped up this past weekend at Yonkers Raceway.

Odds-on favorite Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton) was the best Free-For-Aller entering and the best exiting this past Saturday night, winning the $609,000 final of the Levy.

Mike Lizzi photo

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

Bit Of A Legend N, after winning all five of his series prelims, 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 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 close to Bit Of A Legend N who maintained an open lead in and out of a 1:23.1 three-quarters.

The advantage was 1-1/2 lengths 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. Texican N (Yannick Gingras), stablemate of the winner, rallied for third, with P H Supercam and Take It Back Terry earning the minor cash.

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.

Yagonnakissmeornot (Daniel Dube), second-best in this race a season ago, rolled from off the pace Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $309,800 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker for pacing mares.

Mike Lizzi photo

Yagonnakissmeornot came from off the pace to win Yonkers Raceway’s $309,800 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker.

Unhurried early from post position four, Yagonnakissmeornot watched as Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett) was launched from behind the eight-ball. She was met by Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton), with the latter retaking before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.

Sell A Bit N continued to lead at the :55.3 half as Lady Shadow (Corey Callahan) took out of third. That one moved toward the leader while Yagonnakissmeornot had some ground to make up from second-over. A :27.4 third quarter (1:23.2) did enough to make leader and challenger a bit susceptible, though Sell A Bit N had 1-1/2 lengths in and out of the final turn. As that was happening, Yagonnakissmeornot was getting the memo and roaring through the lane. She picked off the pacesetter, whipping Sell A Bit N by a pair of going-away lengths in a life best 1:51.4. Sell A Bit N held second, with a third-over Al Raza N (David Miller) third.

For Yagonnakissmeornot , a 7-year-old daughter of The Panderosa co-owned as Allard Racing by trainer Rene Allard. Yves Sarazin and Kapildeo Singh, it was her fourth win in seven seasonal starts.

Complete recaps of the weekend races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend at Yonkers:

Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 161.5; 2. Daniel Dube – 100; 3. George Brennan – 96; 4. Jason Bartlett – 90; 5. Tim Tetrick – 69.

Trainers: 1. Peter Tritton – 134.5; 2. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 128; 3. Rene Allard – 105; 4. Ron Burke – 93; 5. Richard Banca – 42.

Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch – 134.5; 2. Bamond Racing – 75; 3t. Durazzano Stable – 35; 3t. Allard Racing – 35; 5t. Burke Racing Stable – 25.45; 5t. Weaver Bruscemi – 25.45.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at Freehold Raceway, Meadowlands Racetrack, Miami Valley Raceway and Flamboro Downs. Freehold has the Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old filly trotters and the Dexter Cup for 3-year-old open trotters on Saturday (May 7). Meadowlands Racetrack will host the Eltlopp Playoff for older trotters on Sunday (May 8), Miami Valley Raceway features the Miami Valley Distaff for older trotting and pacing mares that same day, while Flamboro Downs will host eliminations for the Confederation Cup for 4-year-old open pacers as part of their May 8 card.