Jimmy Takter had won the Hambletonian twice before as a trainer, but Saturday’s victory in the sport’s top race was more important to him since he did it as a trainer/driver.
Takter drove Trixton (4-1) to victory in the million-dollar race at the New Meadowlands Racetrack, narrowly edging out the Takter trained and John Cambpell driven Nuncio (9-2) by half a length in 1:50 3/5. Harper Blue Chip was third.
Takter’s third Hambo trainee was Father Patrick, the 2-5 favorite, who went offstride at the start of the race.
“I was really expecting Father Patrick to win the race, but I found out afterward he made a break,” Takter said.
Takter and Trixton were second over until they hit the far turn, where Takter pulled his 3-year-old trotting colt off the rail to challenge stablemate Nuncio for the lead.
The Takter duo battled through the stretch and it was Trixton who was victorious when the pair hit the wire.
“I have two seconds myself in this race as a driver and two wins as a trainer, but for me to do it [as a driver] this is my moment,” Takter said.
Trixton paid $10.60 to win.
Takter’s day started off well as his trainee Lifetime Pursuit won the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks by 2 ¹/₂ lengths in 1:50 4/5, a world record performance for a 3-year-old trotting filly.
Lifetime Pursuit (10-1), driven by Yannick Gingras, was content to sit the pocket through much of the race before Gingras pulled the pocket at the top of lane and powered down the stretch to score the 2 ½-length victory over 6-5 favorite Designed To Be. Take The Money was third.
“She’s a little bit of a tricky filly, she needed a trip. We needed a little bit of luck on our side and thankfully today was it,” Gingras said.
Lifetime Pursuit paid $22.00 to win.
Sebastian K takes John Cashman Jr. Memorial
Sebastian K showed once again why he’s the top ranked standardbred in North America as he easily cruised to a five-length victory in the $300,650 John Cashman Jr. Memorial.
Trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt was content to let 1-5 favorite Sebastian K sit comfortably in the pocket through a half in :54 4/5.
Going into the far turn approaching the three-quarter pole, Svanstedt tipped his 8-year-old superstar out of the pocket to challenge for the lead.
Sebastian K took the lead from Archangel and powered off down the stretch to score the world-record equaling 1:50 mile. Market Share was second and Archangel hung on for third.
“He’s been good all year. Every race this year, he was very good,” Svanstedt said who moved his stable to the United States from Sweden last November. In Sweden, Svanstedt was a 5-time trainer of the year and a 3-time driver of the year.
Sebastian K paid $2.60 to win.
The $257,700 U.S. Pacing Championship was won by the top ranked free-for-all pacer in the nation, Sweet Lou.
Hall of Fame driver Ron Pierce moved the overwhelming 2-5 favorite to the lead just before the half.
Pierce kept Sweet Lou a length and a half ahead of the field for the remainder of the race, scoring the easy victory in 1:47 2/5. State Treasurer was second and Thinking Out Loud was third.
This was an eighth straight win for Sweet Lou and his fifth straight sub-1:48 victory.
Pierce believes his speedy horse could have set a world record had trainer Ron Burke wanted him to.
“Ronnie didn’t say go for [a world record] so I didn’t go any more than I had to. If I would have started chasing him there’s no question he probably would have paced in [1]:45,” Pierce said.
Sweet Lou paid $2.80 to win.
Moreno wins Whitney
Moreno took the lead out of the gate and won the Grade 1 $1.5 million Whitney by 1 ¹/₄ lengths at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Eric Guillot for owner Southern Equine Stables, the 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper ran 1 ¹/₈ miles in 1:48.05 and paid $22, $9 and $6.60 as the fourth betting choice in the field of nine older horses.
Itsmyluckyday returned $7.90 and $4.60, and late-running Will Take Charge paid $4.60 to show. Palace Malice, the 3-5 favorite who was unbeaten in four starts this year, finished sixth.
– with AP