Big M track record set in $50,000 Graduate

It was just last week that Winner’s Bet (Walner) and harness racing driver Dexter Dunn set the track record at The Meadowlands in winning their $50,000 Graduate Trot division.

Well, that track record fell by the wayside Saturday (June 21) at the Big M as once again, Winner’s Bet and Dunn scorched the mile oval with a 1:49.3, besting his own track record from last week in winning his $50,000 Graduate Trot division for four-year-olds.

The 3^rd race saw 20-1 Chapercraz (Yannick Gingras) go to the early lead but by the opening quarter mile in :27.1, it was 1/5 race favorite Winner’s Bet on the move and on the lead. He then cut the mile to the half in :54.4 and then in backstretch came Ponda Jet (David Miller) first-over with Up Your Deo (Ake Svanstedt) second-over.

By the three-quarters in 1:23, Ponda Jet looked to be gaining on Winner’s Bet, but once they straighten out in the stretch, Winner’s Bet was not going to be caught. Gingras tried to with Chapercraz, but Winner’s Bet was too tough, winning by one and one-half lengths. Chapercraz was second with Ponda Jet third. Last quarter for Winner’s Bet was :26.3.

WINNER’S BET REPLAY

It was just the second start this year for Winner’s Bet and the four-year-old stallion in now unbeaten in two starts for trainer Nancy Takter and owners Lindy Farms of Conn and Robert Rudolph. He paid $2.60 to win. His time of 1:49.3 was one-fifth of a second off of tying the world record of 1:49.2 held by Six Pack.

“He’s such a nice colt,” said Nancy Takter. “It’s great to see him perform so well. He was just perfect today. I was kinda interested to see how he would react when horses came up next to him tonight and he had plenty left in the tank.”

In the 6^th race second $50,000 division of the Graduate for four-year-old trotters saw trainer Nancy Takter make it a trotting sweep as her Hasty Bid (My MVP) came off live cover at the three-quarters for the victory.

Benjamin Hanover (David Miller) led the field with Hasty Big (Yannick Gingras) sitting the two-hole to the first quarter in :27.2, the half in :55.1, but then Gringras pulled the pocket before the final turn, flushed out by first-over race favorite, Oh Well (Todd McCarthy). The three-quarters went in 1:23.2.

In the stretch, Hasty Bid was at his best, holding off a late charge by Special Way (Tim Tetrick), to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:50.2. Oh Well was third.

HASTY BID REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the second straight win in the Graduate Series for Hasty Bid. The four-year-old gelding is owned by 1000063663 Ontario, Inc. and Paige Austin, paying $7.40 to win. Yannick Gingras was a last-minute driver change on Hasty Bid as regular reinsman, James MacDonald’s flight to New Jersey was cancelled.

In the 8th race $40,000 Miss Versatility Mares Open Trot, Tactical Mounds (Tactical Landing) and driver Scott Zeron were able to grab the early lead by the opening quarter in :27, then sit a pocket-trip to HP Mama (Andy McCarthy) at the half in :55.

By the three-quarters in 1:23.2, Zeron moved Tactical Mounds out of the two-hole and came after HP Mama, passing her by in the stretch and then holding off a late charge by race favorite Tipsy Moni (Yannick Gingras) to win by one length in 1:51. Nelsonbriteagle NO (Ake Svanstedt) was third.

TACTICAL MOUNDS REPLAY

It was the fourth win this year for Tactical Mounds. The four-year-old mare is trained by Megan Scran for Thestable Tactical Mounds of Guelph, Ontario and paid $8.80 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink