Dexter Cup field goes right to final for $137,775

Seven horses were entered for the Dexter Cup, the first Grand Circuit event of the harness racing season for 3-year-old male trotters, making eliminations unnecessary this Saturday at Freehold Raceway. All seven horses advance directly to the Dexter Cup final, which will go for a purse of $137,775, on May 6 at the half-mile track in central New Jersey.

The seven horses entered today were, in alphabetical order: Candy Bomber (Tactical Landing-Candy Lane), Designer Drink (Bar Hopping-Designable), Espresso (Chapter Seven-Biscotti), Khaosan Road, Met Your Request (Met’s Hall-Quest Blue Chip), Sevecheetah (Chapter Seven-White Cheetah), and Top Leader S (Fabulous Wood-To Soon).

Designer Drink and Espresso are eligible to the $1 million Hambletonian Stakes on Aug. 5 at The Meadowlands.

Espresso, trained by Julie Miller, is the richest horse in the field, with $243,400. Espresso was no worse than second in 10 of 11 races last season, winning six. His victories included divisions of the Bluegrass and International Stallion stakes as well as the Kentucky Commonwealth Series championship.

Andy Miller is listed to drive Espresso, who is unraced this season.

The Miller Stable also will send out Met Your Request, with Tyler Miller listed in the sulky. He was a winner on the Grand Circuit last year and has won four of 11 career races. He is 1-for-1 this season and has $65,626 in lifetime purses.

Designer Drink, trained by Symon Spicer, was a winner in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes series last year and finished third in the final. Designer Drink, who will make his seasonal debut in the Dexter, has won two of eight races and earned $99,473. Dexter Dunn is listed to drive.

Sevecheetah, from the stable of trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer, finished second to 4-year-old Senna at The Meadowlands on April 14 in his seasonal bow. Last year, he hit the board in four legs of the New York Sire Stakes and finished fourth in the final. He earned $65,743 in 11 starts as a freshman.

Khaosan Road and Top Leader S both are trained by Ake Svanstedt. The two combined to start seven times last year, with each picking up a win in a conditioned race.

Candy Bomber, trained by Ron Coyne Jr., finished second in a division of the Simpson Memorial last year and earned $20,421 in nine starts. He has one start this season, a fifth-place finish in a conditioned race on April 21 at The Meadowlands. Todd McCarthy is listed to drive.

The draw for the Dexter Cup will be May 3.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA