Yannick Gingras came from “off the pace” to best Dexter Dunn in the hotly contested battle for top driver at the Meadowlands meeting that came down to Saturday’s Hambletonian Day card.

By winning three races Friday and four more Saturday, Gingras overcame Dunn’s 82-79 lead in the standings entering the final weekend of racing. After Dunn won the final race of the meet–with 19-1 shot Starvin Marvin–he stood one behind Gingras, who won the title by a count of 86 to 85. Gingras and Dunn also finished 1-2 in money earnings.

Ron Burke, the winner of 12 consecutive national trainer titles, topped the Big M trainer colony in wins with 50. Nancy Takter was the leading money-earning trainer. She had just over $1 million in earnings heading into Hambo Day.

Leading owners at the meeting were Pollack Racing LLC and Jeffrey Cullipher.

Live racing at The Meadowlands resumes on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:15 p.m., and with the exception of Christmas Day, will be conducted on the normal Friday-Saturday schedule through the end of the year.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)

For recaps on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands, visit the 2020 Hambletonian News Centre.