M1 - Hambletonian Eve is a Hit

If The Hambletonian Eve card is any indication, it is going to be a great Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands.  Once again, The Meadowlands posted increases across the board.  First, the total handle of $2,605,779 marked an increase of 33-percent from the night before The Hambletonian last year.  Next, the attendance showed an increase of 34-percent.  Last but not least, the live handle was up $106,518 over 2012 or 43-percent, the largest live handle increase of the meet.  All signs are pointing to a huge Hambletonian Day.

Tonight, The Meadowlands played host to the Townsend Ackerman and Duenna stakes for three year old trotting colts and fillies respectively that did not declare for the Hambo or Oaks on Saturday.

The Ackerman field a pair of $50,000 divisions for the colts with Valley Of Sin and Exemplar both emerging as winning favorites.

  

Trainer John Butenschoen added the trotting hopples to Valley Of Sin for this race and the Yankee Glide colt came from far back to win in 1:55.1 for Corey Callahan. VIP Internet Stables and Harmony Oaks Racing Stable own the winner.

Exemplar is a lightly raced Andover Hall gelding who has found his form recently for trainer Per Henriksen. Now a winner in three of his last four, Exemplar equaled his career best of 1:54.3 for John Campbell, forwardly placed throughout his first Meadowlands start. Andrea Lea Racing Stables and Asa Farm share ownership.

The fillies raced for $30,000 in each division and both went faster than their male counterparts with Lady Broadway and Cupcake both being driven to 1:53.4 personal records by Ron Pierce.

Lady Broadway ground her way up to the leader in mid-stretch and rolled on by late for the win. She is a Broadway Hall filly trained by Chris Oakes for his wife Susan, Hauser Brothers Racing and Conrad Zurich.

Cupcake, by Glidemaster, rallied from just off the lead for Pierce to score. Don Swick trains her for his longtime patron Bill Peshina's Royal Wire Products.   

Tomorrow is closing day of the 2013 meet and it is the greatest day in harness racing.  The Meadowlands Racetrack proudly presents the $1.2 Million Hambletonian as the marquis event of a blockbuster 15-race program with total purses over $3.6 Million.  Gates Open at 10:00 A.M. and first post is 11:50 A.M.