In the 50th edition of the $181,369 Dexter Cup with a perfect steer from Tim Tetrick, lightly raced and heavily talented Anders Bluestone took the lead in the homestretch and won
going away by 1 3/4 lengths over pacesetting Vesuvio As with Jim Meittinis.
It was another 11 lengths back to Muscle Mayhem who finished third but was disqualified to sixth for violating the breaking rule in the lane. Citation Lindy who finished fourth was placed third for Ray Schnittker.
The winner, a New Jersey bred son of Yankee Glide out of the Sierra Kosmos mare Annette Hanover, stayed a perfect three for three in winning the first stepping stone on the way to the Hambletonian.
Jimmy Takter trained the winner and previously won this race in 2008 with Holiday Credit and in 1994 with Mr Lavec.
Anders Bluestone stopped the teletimer in track equaling time for three-year-old colt trotters of 1:55:3 set last Saturday.
Keystone Activator who set the track record in his Dexter elimination was sent off the 17-10 favourite in this final but made a break at the start and was never in it thereafter.
The winner returned his backers $6.80 to win, started an exacta worth $57.00 and a trifecta of $403.60.
While all eyes were on Anders Bluestone, the four-year-old pacing mare Shortest Distance pulled off a notable score of her own.
During the fourth race, a $5,000 Faithful Fillies second leg division, Shortest Distance extended her win streak to nine and cemented her place atop the North American standings as the winningest standardbred of 2009 with 12 victories in 14 outings for local trainer and owner John Schmigel. Jim Marshall III guided the daughter of Park Place – Camrissa to victory in a career-best 1:56.
(With files from Freehold Raceway)