MANALAPAN,
NJ – May 3, 2014 – Sumatra, the public’s choice, did not disappoint, winning
the $115,370 Dexter Cup for three-year-old trotters in wire-to-wire fashion on
Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Freehold Raceway.
Brian
Sears guided Sumatra [$2.60, $2.20, $2.10] to a two and quarter length victory
over Derby [$12.60, $7.40] with Donato’s Wish [$4.00] in third. The mile
was timed in 1:57.4.
“We’re
very happy with him,” said winning trainer Tom Fanning. “Sears did a good
job keeping him relaxed. He’s actually a better big track horse. I
don’t think the half mile track [like Freehold] is his cup of tea.”
Sumatra’s
next outings will be on the big track at the Meadowlands in the Simpson on May
9 and the three-week New Jersey Sires Stakes on May 16, 23 and 31.
Racing
for Joseph E., Smith of Vero Beach, FL, the bay gelding picked up his first win in
his second start of 2014 and improved his career totals to six wins, two seconds
and two thirds from 13 starts, banking $169,095.
The
New Jersey-sired son of Muscles Yankee – Lola Seelster, bred by Perretti Farms
and Black Horse Racing, was purchased out of the 2013 Harrisburg Mixed Sale for
$100,000.
The
Dexter is the first stakes on the march down the road to the $1.5 million
Hambletonian on the first Saturday in August.
--Carol
Hodes for the SBOANJ
