Saratoga Harness: Bit Of A Legend N goes for the Gerrity repeat Saturday
Bit Of A Legend N will be in a more favorable role when he takes on seven others in Saturday’s 10th annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace at Saratoga Harness. The defending champion sent off at odds of 15-1 in 2017, will likely be among the favorites in the $260,000 contest, race seven of a dozen on the program.
“I was looking to get a race for him last Saturday at The Meadowlands but it didn’t fill,” said Peter Tritton, Bit Of A Legend N’s trainer. “I trained him up pretty good though and I expect he’ll be fit for Saturday.”
Tritton has done a lot right since the son of Bettor’s Delight first made headlines in the States back in 2016. The gritty stallion has shown a flair for the dramatic, but for the most part has been both determined and consistent while raced with regularity.
[DRF HARNESS LIVE: Watch the $260,000 Gerrity Memorial and entire Saratoga card LIVE with real-time analysis from the DRF Harness team.]
Despite not competing in three weeks, Bit Of A Legend N is right at home on the half-mile track and the only question his trainer had when asked about Saturday night was “how did he draw.”
When informed that Bit Of A Legend N will start from post 2, Tritton appeared relieved and that’s to be expected.
“I think Evenin Of Pleasure is the horse to beat,” said Tritton when told that trainer Jenn Bongiorno’s winner of four of his last five Open Handicap races at Yonkers had drawn post four for the young conditioner. Her brother Joe will once again be in the bike behind Evenin Of Pleasure.
A winner three times in 11 starts this year and second in the rich Levy final to Keystone Velocity, Bit Of A Legend N will be making his third straight start in the Gerrity, having finished second behind Wiggle It Jiggleit in the 2016 edition.
“I thought his performance in the Battle Of Lake Erie was his best race of the year,” said Tritton, pointing to the 1:49 4/5 triumph at Northfield Park where Bit Of a Legend N left for position and then was on the move on the second turn battling pacesetter Rockin Ron through tense fractions before wearing his rival down late.
“I spoke with Jordan (driver, Stratton) before the race and I told him that he had to attack. If Rockin Ron is allowed to get free from the field I thought he’d be tough to catch,” Tritton said.
Strategy is likely to be a bit different on Saturday night though as the Gerrity lines up with a few more quality horses including the aforementioned Rockin Ron who landed post 6.
Returning from the 2017 edition is Somewhere In L A (post 5) for trainer Rich Banca and driver Jason Bartlett. The pair put forth an amazing effort in last year’s mile, battling tooth and nail the entire way only to tire in the homestretch and finish fourth. A winner 10 times in 2017, Somewhere In L A has already captured five races this year with earnings in excess of $200K on the season.
Mach It So, the richest horse in the field with more than $2.6 million in career earnings, will be in need of some racing luck having landed post 8 for trainer Jeff Bamond Jr. The veteran son of Mach Three has had his share of bad racing luck this year but continues to perform at the highest level.
Rockin Ron will be looking to get back on the winning track for trainer Ron Burke, who dropped now 100-time winner Foiled Again into an overnight event on the card written specifically for the richest pacer of all time. Rockin Ron was a solid third in last week’s Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands.
Rounding out the octet for the Gerrity will be Missile J (post 1), Killer Martini (post 3) and Rodeo Romeo (post 7).
While Bit Of A Legend N has done a lot to vindicate the ability of his trainer over the years, Tritton felt the import’s arrival has done a lot more for another person. “I think he’s been great for Jordan Stratton,” Tritton said. “Jordan’s a great driver and a great person and I think this horse has helped him get the notice he deserved.”
The Saratoga program features divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for sophomore pacing colts and geldings that will include an appearance by Art Rooney winner Trump Nation, who landed post two in the third $59,100 division carded as race 11.
First post at Saratoga on Saturday is scheduled at 7:05 p.m.