Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Yonkers Trot to Windsong's Legacy; Housethatruthbuilt Takes Hudson Trot
August 28, 2004
By Kimberly Rinker

The Yonkers Trot
Ann Brannvoll, Theodore Gewertz & Patricia Spinelli's Windsong’s Legacy became harness racing’s newest millionaire by capturing the $391,200 Yonkers Trot Saturday night at Hawthorne Race Course. The win pushed his career earnings to $1,071,924 and was his sixth from eight starts this year and the seventh of his career. The winning time of 1:53.1 was also a new track record for three-year-old trotters at the Stickney oval.

"I was confident," trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer said. "The race went pretty much the way I thought it would. I knew that Tom Ridge would be on the lead. It didn’t matter if we were sitting second or third. Tom Ridge was going easily but this horse is awfully strong at the end of the mile.

"Obviously, you never know until you cross the wire but it went pretty much as I expected," Smedshammer said. "I didn’t want to take a chance on the tight turns here, he’s used to racing at the Meadowlands. So I let Cantab Hall drop in in front of us. I might have waited longer to pull him but it didn’t look like Cantab Hall was going to go after Tom Ridge and I didn’t want to run out of room.

"Our next start will be in the Canadian Trotting Classic," the Norway native said. "I believe the Elimination is on September 18th, and the Classic is the week after. After that we’ll head to Kentucky for the Kentucky Futurity for the final leg of the Trotting Triple Crown."

Smedshammer piloted Windsong’s Legacy behind the leading Tom Ridge (Brian Sears), who carved out fractions of :27.4, :56.1, and 1:25.4, sitting in third behind Cantab Hall (Mike LaChance). Turning for home Cantab Hall moved alongside the leader while Windsong’s Legacy tipped three-wide. When Smedshammer pulled the ear-plugs, the colt went into another gear and passed both of his rivals with ease.

Cantab Hall finished second for trainer Ron Gurfein, while Tom Ridge was third for Jimmy Takter. Longshot Castle of Fortune was fourth for driver Eric Ledford and trainer Charlie Norris.
The win is the second in the Triple Crown series for three-year-old trotting colts. Windsong’s Legacy captured the first leg of the series by winning the $1 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands on August 7. To complete the series, the colt will need to capture the Kentucky Futurity, set for late September at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.

The last horse to capture trotting’s Triple Crown was Super Bowl, who took the series for trainer-driver Stanley Dancer in 1972. Both are in harness racing’s Hall Of Fame.

The Hudson Trot Stake
Patrocoa Spinelli & Theodore Gewertz’s Housethatruthbuilt captured the $119,600 Hudson trot at Hawthorne that same night in a new track record time of 1:53.4 for three-year-old fillies. Trained by Trond Smedshammer and driven by Brian Sears, Housethatruthbuilt won her fifth start of the season in nine tries for her owners.

"I had wanted to leave with her early in the mile as I didn’t want to encounter any road problems along the way," Sears said. "This filly has been a pleasure to drive right from the get-go, and she’s very smart. She kicked right in tonight when I asked her to go, and really handled the track surface well."

Hayworth Hanover carved out a quick :27.4 opening panel, followed by Invincible Dream, while Housethatruthbuilt sat third. Heading into the far turn, Housethatruthbuilt took over, passing the half in :55.3 with Fox Valley Flan right on her heels.

The field passed the three-quarters in 1:53.4, and turning for home it was apparent that Housethatruthbuilt was all alone. She went on to sweep under the wire four lengths ahead of Fox Valley Flan (Andy Miller), with Invincible Dream (Jimmy Takter) in third and Hayworth Hanover (Tony Morgan) in fourth.

The winner’s share of of $59,800 boosted Housethatruthbuilt’s career earnings to $516,494.

Complete Order of Finish for the Hudson

1st - #8-Housethatruthbuilt

2nd - #1 – Fox Valley Flan

3rd - #7 – Invincible Dream

4th - #6 – Hayworth Hanover

5th - #10 – Jodi’s Jayme

6th - #9 – Congo Queen

7th - #2 – Whispering Spring

8th - #5 – Pinstripe Pinup

9th - #4 – Texas Hellfire

10th - #3 – Edgy Hanover