$137,775 Dexter Cup won in wire-to-wire fashion

Freehold, NJ — Khaosan Road (International Moni-Jewels In The Sand) went to the front from post one at the start of Saturday’s (May 6) $137,775 Dexter Cup and never relinquished the lead on his way to a one-length harness racing win over favorite Espresso in 1:57.4 at Freehold Raceway. Candy Bomber finished third.

Khaosan Road, driven by Scott Zeron, was making his seasonal debut for trainer Ake Svanstedt after a limited 2-year-old campaign. The gelding’s victory in the Dexter, the year’s first Grand Circuit event for 3-year-old male trotters, was his second in five career starts and increased his earnings to $81,697.

“Post one makes it easier for everyone on the half-mile track,” assistant trainer Sarah Svanstedt said. “He was fast, and he behaved. I was surprised he was so good gaited on this small track because he’s a big horse. He fought from the start to the finish, so I’m very happy and pleased with him.”

After taking the lead, Khaosan Road set fractions of :29, :59.1, and 1:28.1. He fended off a first-over challenge from Designer Drink and kept pocket-sitting Espresso at bay down the stretch.

KHAOSAN ROAD REPLAY

“The trip was good,” said Zeron, who also won a division of the Lady Suffolk Stakes on Saturday at Freehold. “Once we got through the first turn, it looked like we were going to take command of the race. I just stayed with the first-up horse and when it came time down the lane, I asked him and he responded. He was great.”

Khaosan Road is owned by Knutsson Trotting Inc. and Little E LLC. He was bred by Kelly Duval Lacaille. He is not eligible to the $1 million Hambletonian Stakes at The Meadowlands in August.

“He had some soreness issues last year, so he had fewer starts,” Svanstedt said. “But he’s trained back great. I think he’s grown into his big body and is ready for 2023.”

Sadie Hanover (Chapter Seven-Southwind Percy) won the fastest of the day’s two divisions of the Lady Suffolk Stakes for 3-year-old female trotters, breezing from gate-to-wire to defeat On The House by 10-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3. Rhiannon Hanover finished third.

Zeron drove Sadie Hanover for trainer Linda Toscano and owners The Bay’s Stable, Blue Ridge Stable, Carmen Iannacone, and Gary Cocco. The filly, who was making her seasonal debut, was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. She has won two of six lifetime races and earned $31,762 after adding her share of the division’s $28,725 purse.

Sent off as the 8-5 co-favorite, the Hambletonian Oaks-eligible Sadie Hanover paid $5.40 to win. The remaining co-favorite, Canterbury Hanover, was among three fillies to go off stride in the race.

SADIE HANOVER REPLAY

The first division of the Lady Suffolk went to Italian-bred Emira Mil (Face Time Bourbon-Sunshine Bi), who rallied in the stretch after dropping back from second in the last turn to win by three-quarters of a length over Ruth Honig in 1:57.3. Pembroke Moni was third in the $27,725 event.

Trainer Ake Svanstedt drove Emira Mil, a Hambletonian Oaks-eligible filly making her seasonal debut, for owner Pimpicks Inc. She was bred by Pimpicks SRL. She has won two of eight career starts and earned $48,397.

EMIRA MILE REPLAY

Emira Mil paid $4.60 to win as the 6-5 favorite.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA