Linda Toscano became the first female trainer to win the
sport’s most coveted prize when Market Share captured the $1.5 million, 87th
edition of the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands on Saturday afternoon.
The victory was also the first for leading driver Tim
Tetrick, who a race earlier saw Hambletonian Oaks favorite Check Me Out break
while on the lead.
Ron Pierce and Uncle Peter, the 8-5 favorite, left strongly
from his rail position but yielded to 65-1 outsider Gym Tan Laundry on the
first turn. Before Pierce had a chance to regain, Archangel
and Jim Morrill Jr. were already in the midst of a second move and gained
control past the quarter pole reached in a spirited :27 2/5.
Once the dust settled, Pierce sent Uncle Peter sharply for
the front with the colt securing the lead well before the :54 3/5 opening half.
While the pacesetters were decisive in their movements, Jody
Jamieson was sitting in fifth with 7-2 second choice K nows
Nothing and waiting for action to develop. Eventually Tim Tetrick elected to
pull Market Share off the rail to go on an uncovered jaunt. They quickly
engaged Uncle Peter as the tandem clicked off the third quarter in 1:22 3/5.
Once in the homestretch Tetrick gave the son of Revenue his
marching orders and Market Share kicked into high gear opening ground on his
rival instantly and gaining separation from the other contenders.
Fortunately for Toscano and the Market Share connections,
the wire arrived in time with Guccio a neck back of the winner in second on the
wire and My MVP another neck back in third.
The mile of 1:52 1/5 was a fifth faster than Market Share
went in his elimination victory.
Owner Richard Gutnick, who earlier saw his and trainer Linda
Toscano’s Chapter Seven set a world mark of 1:50 1/5 in the $250,000 Nat Ray,
was jubilant after the race. “Two months ago he was a 100-1 shot to even
be in this race,” said Gutnick.
“It’s a dream come true,” continued the owner, who on August
1 sold a 25 percent interest in Market Share to TLP Stable and William
Augustine. “I guess it was insurance,” said Gutnick. “I’m happy owning 75
percent.”
“Tim’s been taking care of him,” said trainer Linda Toscano
of Tetrick’s driving style in the races coming into the Hambletonian. “We knew
we’d have to race him today.”
Market Share paid $10.80 for a $2 win ticket as the third
choice in the field of 10.
Undefeated as a two-year-old in 2011, Market Share won for
the fifth time in 11 starts in 2012 and pushed his career bank account to
$972,505.
Yonkers Trot winner Archangel
finished fourth with K nows Nothing
earning the final check. Race favorite Uncle Peter went to pacing instead
of trotting after being passed by the winner and was placed eighth after
finishing seventh for the infraction.
A crowd of 24,521 turned out to watch Toscano make history
in the Hambletonian.
