Bit Of A Legend N foals making it to the races

One of the finest imports ever to come onto the American harness racing scene, Bit Of A Legend N (Bettor’s Delight) is now looking forward as his first 2-year-olds are just starting to begin their careers over US raceways.

Bit Of A Legend N was foaled Nov. 25, 2009 at New Zealand, bred by Christchurch’s BD West. He is out of the unraced Soky’s Atom p, 4, 1:55.3f ($887,127) mare Soky’s Legend, who curiously, is not far off from being inbred.

Her sire, Soky’s Atom, is by Albatross p, 4, 1:54.3f ($1,201,470); while her dam, the unraced Shebatross, is by Niatross p, 3, T1:49.1 ($2,019,213), and he was, of course, sired by Albatross. As well, Soky’s Atom third dam, Skipper’s Romance, p, 3T, 1:59.2 ($15,328) was sired, by, you guessed it, none other than Meadow Skipper p, 3, 1:55.1 ($428,057), the sire of Albatross.

Bit Of A Legend N’s sire line is equally interesting, with Albatross blood appearing on both the paternal and maternal sides of his sire, Bettor’s Delight p, 3, 1:49.4 ($2,581,461). For instance, Bettor’s Delight’s sire, Cam’s Card Shark p, 3, 1:50 ($2,498,204), carries in his pedigree Meadow Skipper p, 3, 1:55.1 ($428,057) as his great grandsire on his paternal side; while Albatross is included on his maternal side; in that, Cam’s Card Shark’s dam, Jef’s Magic Trick p, 2, 2;02f ($28,340), also has as her grandsire, Albatross.

Likewise, on Bettor’s Delight’s dam’s side, Classic Wish p, 3T, 1:52 ($436,273) there is an abundance of Meadow Skipper blood, as her paternal line boasts the unraced granddam Armbro Uppity, who produced Classic Wish’s sire Armbro Emerson p, 4T, 1:51.4 ($1,472,590), with her sire being Most Happy Fella p, 3T 1:55 ($419,033), himself a son of Meadow Skipper. Classic Wish’s dam, Best Of The Best p, 3, 2:04.1f ($1,386) is a daughter of Albatross.

This Down Under import captured both Australian Breeders Crowns at ages 2 and 3, and also captured the NZ$243,743PGG Wrightson N2 Yearling Sales 2-Year-Old Open Final.  After being purchased by Harry Von Knoblauch, Jr. for $103,000 and moving stateside, he continued to dominate throughout his career for trainer Peter Tritton, winning 13 of 28 starts during his first year (2016) in the USA, earning $723,850 and recording a 7-year-old mark of 1:51 at Yonkers.

That year he made a clean sweep of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, winning all five legs, including a 1:51.2 dead-heat with the sensational Wiggle It Jiggleit, before capturing the $609,000 final a week later.

As an 8-year-old Bit Of A Legend N added another $526,820 to his coffers, winning another eight times in 28 starts and pacing to a seasonal best of 1:50.3 at Saratoga on June 22 of that year. Like fine wine at age nine, he simply got better, earning an additional $549,315 and pacing to a lifetime best clocking of 1:49.4 via his triumph in the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park.

He raced one more season, taking a 1:51.4 record at Yonkers in August of 2019, and adding an additional seven wins to his statistics, before retiring in a well-deserved ceremony at Yonkers Raceway on Dec. 12, 2019.  He retired with $2,569,621 in career earnings, having earned $1,909,935 from 33 wins, 20 seconds, and eight thirds in North America, with $659,686 amassed on the international stage from 20 triumphs.

Since retiring to Midland Acres in Bloomingburg, Ohio, where he stands for a fee of $2,500, Bit Of A Legend N has covered 260 mares (2020, 2021, 2022), with 115 registered foals, 62 colts and 53 fillies. From those foals, he’s had 11 starters thus far in 2023, from his first crop, who are now 2-year-olds.

Bit Of A Legend N’s fastest starter to date has been Legend N Cress, who recorded a 2-year-old mark of 2, Q1:58.4f at Scioto Downs on June 12. This filly used a come-from-behind move for driver Austin Hanners to win that qualifier by a head for trainer Steve Carter.  This youngster is the 16^th foal out of the Towner’s Big Guy mare Tre Cress p, 3, 1:54.1f ($115,768); making her a half-sibling to Peenie (by Real Artist) p, 4, 1:50.4 ($710,196); Chotat Milk (by Jate Lobell) p, 3, 1:51 ($602,852); Tre Bien (by Nobleland Sam) p, 7, 1:52 ($383,181); Tre Cruz (by Yankee Cruiser) p, 4, 1:51.3 ($225,168); Sugar And Spite (by Pet Rock) p, 6, 1:52.2s ($177,352), etc.

Bit Of A Legend N’s other winner is My Legend, who won a Scioto Downs qualifier on June 5 in 2:01 with Brett Miller in the sulky, before finishing third in his pari-mutuel debut at Oak Grove on June 12, clocked in 1:56.1 for Trevor Smith. This gelding now has $3,000 in lifetime earnings.  Foaled March 30, 2021, My Legend is the first foal out of the Badlands Hanover p, 2, 1:50z ($754,772) mare Aumydarlin p, 3, 1:54.4s ($25,603).

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink