Yonkers Raceway's $609,000 George Morton Levy Memorial is Season's Richest Purse

The $609,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Final will be Yonkers Raceway’s richest purse of the season, and will headline the Saturday night (April 23) card at Empire City Casino’s historic half-mile oval.

Series points-leader Bit of a Legend N., drew post position two with regular driver Jordan Stratton in the bike. The 7-year-old Down Under son of Bettor’s Delight swept his five series preliminary legs, including last week’s track-record dead-heat, timed in a scorching 1:51.2, with Wiggle It Jiggleit and pilot Montrell Teague. Peter Tritton trains for owner Harry von Knoblauch.

The Levy remembers the Hall of Fame founder of Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island, which closed its doors in 1988.

It is a $1 million-plus night of stakes that also includes the $309,800 Blue Chip Matchmaker Final, the $100,000 Levy Consolation, and the $75,000 Matchmaker Consolation.

Take it Back Terry, a three-time winner in four starts in the prelims, drew the coveted rail and will be driven by George Brennan for co-owners (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phil Collura.

Bit of a Legend N. (5-2) and Take it Back Terry (8-5) both race as part of an entry, coupled with Texican N.(driver TBA, post six) and All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley, post five), respectively. Yet a third entry is comprised of P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett, post three) Mach it So (Tim Tetrick, post seven).

Texas Terror N. (Brett Miller, post four) and Lucan Hanover (Brian Sears, post eight) complete the robust field of veteran classmasters.

The $309,800 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker in Saturday’s companion feature, and "Senor Stratton" is in with a chance to sweep both finales, driving Sell A Bit N. from post position three. Like her stablemate “Legend,” Sell A Bit N. is a New Zealand-bred driven by “Air Jordan” for the Tritton/von Knoblauch trainer/owner tandem. A pair of three-time prelim winners – series point leader YaGonnaKissMeOrNot with Dan Dube in the bike, and Al Raza N driven by Dave Miller – and another two time winner, Krispy Apple with Jason Bartlett in the sulky, appear to provide the sternest competition.

Here’s the full Matchmaker lineup: 1-Lady Shadow (Corey Callahan), 2-Regil Elektra (Tetrick), 3-Sell a Bit N. (Stratton), 4-YaGonnaKissMeOrNot (Dan Dube), 5-Al Raza N (Dave Miller), 6-Mach it a Par (Brennan), 7-Venus Delight (Tetrick also listed), 8-Krispy Apple (Bartlett). Venus Delight is the defending champ.