Tactical Approach wins $1M Hambletonian from post ten

Tactical Approach, a son of Tactical Landing, posted a major harness racing upset at 12-1, capturing the 98^th edition of the $1 million Hambletonian for driver Scott Zeron in 1:50.3 Saturday (Aug. 5) at the Meadowlands.

Trained by Nancy Takter for Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco, and Jef Racing, Tactical Approach was brought up the inside lane by Zeron after leaving from post ten, steadily eating up ground in the stretch to nail down the victory over 4-1 Oh Well (Tim Tetrick), as 6-1 Up Your Deo (Ake Svanstedt) picked up third-place honors.

“If you told me two months ago, I’d win the Hambo with him, I would have believed you,” said Zeron. “There was a lot of movement throughout the race, and I didn’t know they were going to go that slow.  I elected to go left, and everyone was trying hard and turning for home, as we kept moving up, I was more and more confident.”

Bred by Steve Stewart of Kentucky and Oakwood Farms of Indiana, Tactical Approach nailed down his fourth win of the season and sixth triumph of his career, upping his earnings to $617,989 in a career best clocking.

“I loved this colt the first time I saw him at Hunterdon and loved him all along,” said winning trainer Nancy Takter. “He’s come along so well and a great job by my entire team, and the colt gets all the credit for his effort today.  At first when he left the gate, I thought oh well, he’s getting away last, but he just kept going up the rail and the closer around the rail, the closer he was getting and I thought if the rail stayed open, he would get there.”

Point Of Perfect (9-1) left and got early position for driver David Miller, with Up Your Deo taking the garden spot with 5-2 Celebrity Bambino following to the :27.4 early opening panel.  Point Of Perfect remained on the lead through the :56 half, when Celebrity Bambino came trotting quickly first-up to take the lead and carry the field to the 1:23.1 three-quarter marker.  While it appeared that Oh Well was to be the victor, Tactical Approach had snuck up the inside and trotted past the leader just a few leaps before the wire. Favorited Celebrity Bambino finished fourth for Yannick Gingras.

TACTICAL APPROACH REPLAY

“This was my first Hambletonian win, and I can’t say enough good things about Nancy and her team and about Scott’s drive today,” said winning owner Joe Sbrocco.

“Kudos to Nancy and her whole team for getting the job done,” owner Robert Leblanc agreed.

“The ten-hole certainly worked to our advantage today,” owner John Fielding stressed. “My native Canadian Scott Zeron gave us a great thrill.”

Tactical Approach is the third of five foals out of the Donato Hanover mare Sarcy 3, 1:53.1f ($261,333), and has half-siblings in Double Deceiver (by Cantab Hall) 3, 1:50.2 ($770,954) and Dutiful (by Trixton) 2, 1:54.3 ($96,796).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink