Yonkers, NY (Sportsbooks) - Odds-on favorite Judge Joe coasted to victory Saturday night in the $670,774 Yonkers Trot, the second leg of trotting's Triple Crown. Driven by Ron Pierce, Judge Joe trotted the mile in 1:56 1/5.
Missing from the Yonkers Trot was Hambletonian winner Muscle Hill. The leading three-year-old trotter won the American-National Stakes Saturday night at Balmoral Park outside Chicago.
Sent off as the 7-10 favorite in the eight horse field, Judge Joe took the lead shortly after the start on the half-mile track. He lost the lead briefly to Select Yankee on the backstretch, until that trotter broke stride.
Judge Joe retook the lead shortly before the first half-mile was completed and never relinquished it again. Pierce drove his three-year-old to a three-length win over Neighsay Hanover with Calchips Brute finishing third.
Rounding out the order of finish was Citation Lindy, Broadway Bistro, Select Yankee, Truth In Action and Celebrity Athena.
Judge Joe, who was recently sold to Atlantic Trot, Inc., adds $335,387 to his career earnings which now stand at $839,242. The colt has won 14 of 22 lifetime starts and this year has won seven of 10 races for $528,667.
Saturday's win was Pierce's second in the event to go along with the 1993 victory with American Winner.
Judge Joe has won four consecutive races on half-mile tracks and was coming off a victory in one of last week's elimination heats. He was seventh to Muscle Hill earlier this month in the Hambletonian.
Judge Joe paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10. Neighsay Hanover returned $4.20 and $3.30, and Calchips Brute paid $3.20 to show.
The final leg of the Triple Crown will be the Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile on Saturday, October 3.
