By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It has been a
long time between drinks for 2015 Hambletonian champion Pinkman, but his
extended wait to return to the winner’s circle is finally over.
The Jimmy Takter trainee, who last
won on May 29, 2016 in a stakes event in Sweden, took the featured conditioned
trot Friday night at the Meadowlands in 1:52 by a half-length over Misslarose.
Opulent Yankee finished third.
Prior to his score in Sweden,
Pinkman’s previous North American victory came in the October 10, 2015 Kentucky
Futurity, two months after he hoisted Hambletonian hardware.
Friday night, driver Andy McCarthy
was in the sulky as Pinkman, who never saw the rail, was in a live second-over
flow heading for three-quarters. He tipped off his cover in midstretch and
rolled to his 19th career win in 42 starts for owners C. Takter,
John and Jim Fielding, J. McClelland and H. Liverman. Lifetime, the 6-year-old
gelded son of Explosive Matter has earned $2.65 million.
As the 3-1 second choice in the
wagering, Pinkman returned $8.00 to win. Lindy The Great, the 3-2 public
choice, broke stride before the quarter.
HAMBO HOPEFULS: The Paula Wellwood-trained Southwind
Chrome crushed an overmatched field in a non-winners of two earlier on the
card. The Hambletonian eligible, a son of Chapter Seven, was driven by Scott
Zeron and completed the mile in 1:54 as the 1-5 favorite for his first-ever win
in his fifth start.
Zephyr Kronos, trained and driven by
Takter, won a non-winners of three later in the evening. The son of Ready Cash,
another Hambo eligible, scored on the front end in 1:53 as the 5-1 third choice
in the wagering.
A LITTLE MORE: The Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super
High-Five failed to result in a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to
$262,148. … One lucky player walked away with $11,470 after being the only
bettor to survive eight legs in the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-9. … All-source
wagering on the nine-race card totaled $1,767,338. … Racing resumes at the Big
M Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
