Broadway Schooner prevailed in a thrilling photo finish to claim the Hambletonian Oaks title for three-year-old trotting fillies and the lion’s share of the rich $783,042 purse on Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack

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Favourite Elusive Desire (Paul MacDonell) grabbed the early lead from the rail with Raising Rachel (Jack Moiseyev) settling in behind, but OK To Play (Daniel Dube) rolled to command by the first quarter in :28. At the :55.4 half, Broadway Schooner, who was positioned fourth, made her move under the guidance of Brian Sears and advanced on the outside through three-quarters in 1:25.1. The 6-1 fourth choice claimed the lead down the stretch, but had to fend off a wall of horses in the final strides. Digging in, Broadway Schooner nipped Raising Rachel by a nose at the wire in 1:54 with Elusive Desire grabbing third-place at the rail. Margarita Momma (Ron Pierce) finished a neck back in fourth on the far outside.

“I told Mr. Siegel [owner Jules Siegel], I think we got nipped right at the wire, but it was a pleasant surprise that the photo went in our favour,” said trainer Jim Campbell following the race.

“She definitely earned it today. Brian did a good job with her; settled away nice from the gate. He had to move when he did. I thought he might flush out a little cover, but he didn’t. He just rode up patiently and kept her alive down to the wire. Today was our day. It worked out good.

“Its very thrilling and there’s nothing like winning a big race here at the Meadowlands,” added Campbell, who won the Hambletonian in 1995 with Tagliabue.

Broadway Schooner notched her third win in eight tries this year and bumped her earnings to $444,456. The homebred daughter of Broadway Hall-Pine Schooner, who is owned Arlene and Jules Siegel of New Hope, Pennsylvania, has won four races lifetime and now sports a bankroll totaling $461,119.

“She raced good,” said Moiseyev of runner-up Raising Rachel. “She got out and I really thought she was going to get there. She just didn’t get there. That’s all it was. Dube’s horse quit and kind of messed things up, but hey that’s racing.”

“I was forced to follow him [Daniel Dube with OK To Play],” commented MacDonell, who drove Elusive Desire. “I tried to pull but he kept going forward. After that he didn’t take me all the way. I did get a seam late, but she doesn’t want to be down on the inside and she couldn’t get up. My horse raced really well.”

Stay tuned to the SC website for full coverage of harness racing's Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands.

To view the results, click here.