The draws for the Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks were conducted Monday afternoon at the Meadowlands, with the two contenders receiving much of the early attention drawing at opposite ends of the starting gate.

The top five finishers from each $100,000 Hambletonian elimination advance to Saturday’s same-day $1 million final. The eliminations are slated as races eight and nine, with the final going as race 13. The two elimination winners will draw for posts one through five in the final, with the other eight going in an open draw. Eliminations for the Oaks were held this past Saturday at the Meadowlands.

Mission Brief, who last year trotted in 1:50.3 to become the fastest two-year-old in harness racing history, is trying to become the first female since Continentalvictory in 1996 to win the Hambletonian. She is the first filly to try to knock off the boys in the race since Pampered Princess in 2007. Pampered Princess, trained by Pinkman’s trainer Jimmy Takter, won her elimination and finished seventh-placed-sixth in the final.

Mission Brief, trained by Ron Burke, and Pinkman both will be driven by Yannick Gingras in their respective Hambletonian eliminations. Mission Brief, who has won three of four starts this year and 12 of 17 lifetime, is the 6-5 morning line favourite in her elimination.

The 2014 Dan Patch Award winner for best two-year-old female trotter, Mission Brief enters the Hambletonian off a 1:51.4 win in the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for three-year-old filly trotters on July 26 at Vernon Downs. A daughter of Muscle Hill-Southwind Serena, she has earned $791,417 in her career for owners Burke Racing, Our Horse Cents Stables, J&T Silva Stables, and the partnership of Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi.

“It’s a perfect draw for her,” trainer Ron Burke said of Post 2. “She doesn’t have to leave. She can get away where ever she wants to get away. That seems to be her favourite way anymore, to fall in where she has to and then move from there.”

Pinkman, who has won six of seven races this year and 12 of 15 in his career, is the 8-5 morning line favourite in his elimination. He was the 2014 Dan Patch Award winner for best two-year-old male trotter and will try to become the first honouree since Muscle Hill in 2009 to capture the Hambletonian.

A son of Explosive Matter-Margie Seelster, Pinkman won the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial in a career-best 1:51.3 on July 4 and followed that triumph with victories in the Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 18 at the Meadowlands and Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial on July 26 at Vernon Downs.

Pinkman has earned $1.2 million lifetime for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Joyce McClelland, and Herb Liverman.

“It is what it is,” Takter said of Canepa Hanover and Pinkman drawing Posts 9 and 10, respectively. “If they are both good, and Canepa and Pinkman are both very, very good horses, they will have to overcome the post.”

Takter is a three-time winner of the Hambletonian, with Trixton last year, Muscle Massive in 2010 and Malabar Man in 1997. He is sending five horses to Saturday’s event, with Canepa Hanover, French Laundry, The Bank and Uncle Lasse joining Pinkman in the field of 19 horses.

“I think [The Bank] is a sleeper,” Takter said. “He’s raced really good the last three or four starts. He’s the one that has blossomed the most of the five in the last month.”

Following are the fields for the $1.2 million Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks with drivers, trainers and morning line odds:

Hambletonian Elimination 1 - Race 8 - Purse $100,000
HN-Post-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Donatomite, Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer, 15-1
2. The Bank, Jimmy Takter, Jimmy Takter, 8-1
3. Workout Wonder, Daniel Dube, Ake Svanstedt, 12-1
4. Habitat, Brian Sears, Ron Burke, 6-1
5. Total Darkness, Tim Tetrick, Jonas Czernyson, 20-1
6. Fashion Creditor, David Miller, Tom Fanning, 20-1
7. Jacksons Minion, Tom Jackson, Tom Jackson, 30-1
8. Centurion ATM, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 9-2
9. Canepa Hanover, Jimmy Takter, Jimmy Takter, 3-1
10. Pinkman, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter, 8-5

Hambletonian Elimination 1 - Race 9 - Purse $100,000
HN-Post-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Billy Flynn, Tim Tetrick, Staffan Lind, 15-1
2. Mission Brief, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 6-5
3. Cruzado Dela Noche, Örjan Kihlström, Nancy Johansson, 20-1
4. Aldebaran Eagle, Corey Callahan, Jonas Czernyson, 20-1
5. Wings Of Royalty, Tim Tetrick, George Ducharme, 12-1
6. French Laundry, Brett Miller, Jimmy Takter, 4-1
7. Uncle Lasse, Jimmy Takter, Jimmy Takter, 5-2
8. Southwind Mozart, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 20-1
9. Muscle Diamond, Tim Tetrick, Brett Bittle, 8-1

$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks-Race 12
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Lock Down Lindy, Tim Tetrick, Tony Alagna, 3-1
2. Wild Honey, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter, 5-2
3. Bright Baby Blues, David Miller, Bob Stewart, 8-1
4. Lady Winona, Brian Sears, Julie Miller, 20-1
5. Rules Of The Road, Corey Callahan, Janice Connor, 8-1
6. Classical Annie, Aaron Merriman, Jim Arledge Jr., 30-1
7. Livininthefastlane, Andy Miller, Julie Miller, 7-2
8. Sarcy, Johnny Takter, Jimmy Takter, 10-1
9. Smokinmombo, Aaron Merriman, Chris Beaver, 12-1
10. Speak To Me, Scott Zeron, Jimmy Takter, 20-1

Classical Annie qualified for the final following the untimely passing of elim winner Spirit To Win on Monday morning.

(with files from HRC)