Mission Accepted gave trainer Ron Burke a sweep of the early daily double, popping pocket and holding off all challengers in the $60,000 Vincennes Preferred Trot on Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands.
Mission Accepted wins the 2019 Vincennes Trot at The Meadowlands. (Lisa Photo)
Driver Yannick Gingras pushed Mission Accepted forward early in the field of 12, clearing to the lead from post six and hitting the opening quarter in :26.4. That lead was short-lived as Lindy The Great (Andrew McCarthy) was driving first-over through that opening split and he cleared heading into the backstretch. Lindy The Great maintained that lead through a :54 half and 1:22.1 third station, repelling the challenge of Pappy Go Go (Matt Kakaley) heading for home. Gingras popped from the pocket and pounced on the temposetter, trotting strongly through the stretch to trip the timer in 1:50.2. The 2015 Hambletonian champ Pinkman (Dexter Dunn) was a strong second two lengths, holding off a late rally from Homicide Hunter (David Miller).
Burke trains Mission Accepted (Manofmanymissions - Witty Girl) for breeder Knox Services Inc. of Mt. Vernon, Ohio and co-owner David Wills of Newark, Ohio. The four-year-old Ohio Sire Stakes graduate now sports a lifetime bankroll of $499,454.
Stay up-to-date with all the happenings from 2019 Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands in the 2019 Hambletonian Day News Centre