by Dan Poprawski, for Hawthorne Racecourse

Stickney, IL — Hambletonian winner Windsong’s Legacy will start from post position number one in Saturday’s $391,200 Yonkers Trot at Hawthorne in his quest to capture harness racing’s second leg of the Trotting Triple Crown.

It will mark the first time in Chicago harness racing history that the Hambletonian winner will appear in Chicago in an attempt to capture the second jewel of Trotting’s Triple Crown.

The draw for the Yonkers Trot was held in the winner’s circle at Hawthorne prior to the first race on Tuesday night. It was broadcast live throughout Hawthorne’s simulcast network.

The sport of harness racing has not seen a winner of Trotting’s Triple Crown since Super Bowl performed the extraordinary feat back in 1972 for driver-trainer Stanley Dancer.

When Windsong’s Legacy begins his next step in quest of trotting’s second jewel, he and driver-trainer Trond Smedshammer will have the advantage of starting from post position number one in the important test for three-year-old trotters. The son of Conway Hall hasn’t raced back since his impressive victory in the $1 million Hambletonian Final at The Meadowlands on August 7. In that race he defeated Cantab Hall by a length in 1:54¹.

Cantab Hall appears to be the chief nemesis of Windsong’s Legacy in the Yonkers Trot. Trained by Ron Gurfein, the son of Self Possessed was a perfect 10 for 10 last year on his way to capturing divisional and Trotter of the Year honors.

Cantab Hall started out this season with two straight victories, running his undefeated streak to 12, before being upset by Windsong’s Legacy in the $382,000 Stanley Dancer Final at The Meadowlands on July 9.

Off his fine second place finish in the Hambletonian, it appears Cantab Hall is ready to reestablish himself at the top of the division.

Tom Ridge was the 2-1 favorite in the Hambletonian Final, but finished a disappointing eighth. After the race trainer Jimmy Takter had minor throat surgery performed on the son of Muscles Yankee and after he trained in 1:55 a week later, Takter declared him ready to go in the Yonkers Trot. There should be no excuses this week.

Eilean Donon will be a $35,000 supplement to the Yonkers Trot after he made a break right before the start in the Hambletonian. The son of Angus Hall won an elimination heat for the Hambletonian in 1:54², but after his disappointing effort last week at Lexington, trainer Bob Stewart may be questioning whether his colt is ready for his best effort.

Completing the field for the Yonkers Trot will be an uncoupled entry of Castle Of Fortune and American Mike. Trained by Charlie Norris, the pair will be hoping to garner a nice chunk of the $391,200 pot.

Local hope Photo Color will also need his very best for Hawthorne’s leading trainer Erv Miller as the son of S J’s Photo made a break in his last start this past Sunday.

The field for Saturday’s $391,200 Yonkers Trot: