The road to the 100th edition of the Grade 1 Hambletonian Stakes begins on Saturday, May 3 with the Grade 3 Dexter Cup for three-year-old male trotters at The Meadowlands. The Dexter Cup is the season’s first Grand Circuit event for sophomore colt and gelding trotters and features four Hambletonian eligibles in the field.

Leading that group is 8-5 morning line favourite Hard Seven, who brings a four-race win streak to the Dexter Cup. The son of Chapter Seven-Whispering Oaks will start from post six in the six-horse field and have Todd McCarthy in the sulky for trainer Nancy Takter. 

The remaining three Hambletonian eligibles in the field are My Degenerate (the 2-1 second choice) for trainer Julie Miller, Tactical Dynasty (7-2) for trainer Ron Burke and Civilian Drone (8-1) for Takter. The past two editions of the Hambletonian were won by Takter trainees, Karl in 2024 and Tactical Approach in 2023.

First contested in 1960, the Dexter Cup was held previously at Freehold Raceway. Following Freehold’s closing at the end of last year, the race found a home at The Meadowlands, which will host the 100th Hambletonian on Aug. 2.

Dexter Cup favourite Hard Seven finished last year with three consecutive wins in Kentucky Sire Stakes action, including the $138,889 final at Cumberland Run before opening this season with a career-best 1:53.3 victory in a conditioned race that included seven older rivals at The Meadowlands last week.

“He finished his year off pretty good as a two-year-old, so it’s good to see him come back nice and strong as a three-year-old," said McCarthy, who has driven the colt in seven of his 10 lifetime races, including all four wins. “He had a couple issues early on at two and just needed to mature. I think he was starting to figure it out pretty well toward the end of the season.

“Getting behind him now, he feels like he’s pretty calm and confident. He’s probably just gotten a little smarter. He’s quite a nice horse to drive. You can kind of position him anywhere you need to.”

Hard Seven went off stride in five of his first six starts last season, then started his win streak one race after the addition of trotting hopples.

“They just probably give him that little bit of support,” said McCarthy. “It helps him keep his mind on the job and keeps his legs where they need to be. He just tries to go a little bit too fast for himself sometimes.”

Hard Seven’s speed, though, is McCarthy’s favourite attribute in the horse.

“He’s very fast,” said McCarthy. “And he wants to go fast, too. I like that. You don’t have to ask him much; you just show him daylight and ride with him. He seems to love passing horses and it’s always a bit of a thrill when you get behind one like that.”

Hard Seven has earned $163,797 lifetime for owners Let It Ride Stables, Maurice Chodash and Boca Racing.

My Degenerate also enters the Dexter Cup one-for-one this season thanks to a 1:55.1 victory in a conditioned race at Harrah’s Philadelphia on April 17. The son of Muscle Hill-Decadence, who finished second in last year’s Massachusetts Sire Stakes final, has two wins in nine lifetime races and $112,530 in earnings for owners Knutsson Trotting, Lindy Farms of Connecticut, Preferred Equine Marketing and Andy Miller Stable. Andy Miller will drive My Degenerate, leaving from post two.

Tactical Dynasty is making his seasonal debut for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Burke, who won the 2015 Dexter Cup with Habitat. Last year, the son of Tactical Landing-Dynasty was a multiple stakes winner, including a division of the Bluegrass Stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile. He also won a preliminary division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes in a career-best 1:53.2 at The Meadowlands and an elimination of the William Wellwood Memorial at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He closed his campaign with a triumph in a division of the Garden State at The Big M. For his career, Tactical Dynasty has banked $221,365 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Phil Collura, Larry Karr and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. He will start the Dexter Cup from post three.

Prior to Saturday’s Big M card, the $45,000 USD Lady Suffolk for three-year-old female trotters will be contested as a non-betting race. The four-filly field features one Hambletonian Oaks eligible, Conversano for trainer Juan Cano. A winner on the New Jersey Sire Stakes circuit last year, the homebred Conversano is owned by Hot Lead Farm. Her full brother, Celebrity Bambino, won a Hambletonian elimination in 2023 and was fourth in the final. The family also includes Housethatruthbuilt, who finished second in the 2004 Hambletonian Oaks.

The Lady Suffolk is scheduled for 6 p.m. with The Meadowlands’ 14-race betting card to follow at 6:20 p.m. For free TrackMaster Platinum past performances, click the following links: Saturday's 14-Race Program / Lady Suffolk PPs (Non-Wagering).

(With files from USTA)