Yonkers, NY — Hunting AS was the only favorite to prevail as the John Brennan Trotting Series began with four $20,000 divisions on Wednesday night (March 31) at a soggy and sloppy Yonkers Raceway.

Driven by Todd McCarthy, Hunting AS worked out a pocket trip behind Halo Its Me (Yannick Gingras) in the third flight and watched as that foe clicked off fractions of :30.2, 1:00.1, and 1:28.3. Halo Its Me was still in command as they turned into the stretch, but McCarthy had Hunting AS finishing well two-wide and Hunting AS surged by the pacesetter on his way to a 1-1/4 length decision in 1:57.3. Blue And Bold (Jason Bartlett) finished third after sitting on the inside in fourth.

A 4-year-old gelding by Lionhunter, Jenny Melander trains Hunting AS for owners Melander Racing Inc., Clark Stables, and Robert Bernaski. Hunting AS has a record of 6-11-2 from 32 starts and he has now earned $81,956. Sent off at even-money, Hunting AS paid $4.20 to win and led an $18.40 exacta and a $112.00 trifecta.

While second-best in that split, Gingras had already collected a win in the event after he guided Lady Jeter to a 10-1 upset in the opening section. Lady Jeter went straight to the top from post five, laid down panels of :28.4, :58.2, and 1:27.4, and kicked home in :29.3 to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.2. Impulse Buy (Bartlett) was the runner-up, followed by Windsong Pioneer (Brent Holland). Heavy favorite Some Chapter (Dexter Dunn) made a break while advancing first-over on the third turn.

Lady Jeter, a 4-year-old Muscles Yankee mare, is trained by Ed Gannon Jr. for owner Zippett Racing Stable. Lady Jeter is now a seven-time winner from 37 tries and she pushed her bankroll to $98,668. Lady Jeter returned $22.00 to win and keyed a $246.00 exacta and $566.00 trifecta.

Another surprise came in the second of the four series tilts when 21-1 offering Look In My Eyes (Jordan Stratton) darted to the engine from post eight, put up stations of :29.1, :58.4, and 1:28, and couldn’t be caught in a :30 final panel, as he kept a first-over McMatters (Mark MacDonald) at bay to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:58. Manhattanup No Ice (Bartlett) wound up third from the pocket.

The second winner for sire Lionhunter, Look In My Eyes is a 4-year-old gelding bred, owned, and trained by Anette Lorentzon. Look In My Eyes picked up his seventh lifetime victory and he has now pocketed $98,215. Look In My Eyes paid $44.20 to win and was atop a $136.00 exacta and $786.00 trifecta.

Gingras then toppled the apple cart again in the final flight with 11-1 Guilty Desire in a 1:58.2 mile. Guilty Desire yielded to sit in the pocket behind 1-20 favorite Get Legs (Andy Miller) after the :29 opening quarter, but Get Legs miscued on the second turn, putting Guilty Desire back in command. He didn’t relinquish it again, as a :58.3 half and 1:28.1 three-quarters was followed by a :30.1 final panel to secure the victory. He downed a closing Bazillionaire (Austin Siegelman) by a half-length, with Get Legs recovering and finishing full of trot for third.

Betty Clegg trains Guilty Desire, a 6-year-old gelded son of Deweycheatumnhowe, for owner Nick Clegg. Guilty Desire collected his 15th career win and he has now pocketed $109,866. Guilty Desire paid $25.60, the exacta was worth $726.00 and the trifecta kicked back $1,136.00.

The John Brennan Trotting Series has two additional preliminary rounds on Wednesday (April 7) and Wednesday (April 14), and the final is scheduled for Wednesday (April 21).

As a result of all the upsets on Wednesday, there will be carryovers in both the Pick-5 and Pick-6 at Yonkers on Thursday (April 1), in addition to a guaranteed pool in the Pick-5. The Pick-5 carryover is $6,863.85, which triggered a guaranteed pool of $20,000, and the Pick-6 carryover stands at $2,928.24.

The guaranteed pool in the Pick-5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick-5, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available here. The Pick-5 and Pick-6 both have a takeout rate of 20 percent, as do the nightly Pick-4s.

Stakes action at Yonkers resumes on Friday (April 2) with two $35,000 divisions of the fourth leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares and continues on Monday (April 5) with three $40,000 splits of the fourth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for free-for-allers.