Anders Bluestone wins Dexter Cup

Anders Bluestone remained undefeated in his fledgling harness racing career by winning Saturday’s $181,369 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old trotters in a track-record-equaling 1:55.3 at Freehold Raceway.

The son of Yankee Glide is now three-for-three for trainer Jimmy Takter, who won the Dexter Cup for the second consecutive year, and owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding, and Goran Anderberg. Anders Bluestone was unraced at two because of complications following ankle surgery.

“He was dead lame for four months and couldn’t walk,” Takter said. “He’s come back and been fantastic. It’s just exciting. He’s a tough horse. He has the right desire and wants to be a top horse. He sure has one of those hearts that very few horses have.”

Longshot Vesuvio AS, driven by Jim Meittinis, led much of the opening three-quarters of the race, benefiting from the favorite Keystone Activator, driven by George Brennan, going off-stride at the start from the far outside post, and Photoforwin, driven by Rick Beinhauer, making a break while challenging for the lead on the second turn.

Keystone Activator had set the track record of 1:55.3 last week.

“(Brennan) stepped on the gas and the horse lost his footing,” Keystone Activator’s trainer, Jim Raymer said. “George took the blame for it, but I think it was more the track condition than anything. The track was a little looser than last week. I think George was doing the right thing.”

Anders Bluestone, driven by Tim Tetrick, was third at the halfway point, trailing Vesuvio AS and Muscle Mayhem, and moved into second place on the backstretch. He passed Vesuvio AS down the lane, while Muscle Mayhem, driven by David Miller, went off-stride.

Citation Lindy, driven by Ray Schnittker, finished third.

“He was good,” Tetrick said about Anders Bluestone. “(Photoforwin) made a break going for the front and that kind of left me first-up. The colt did the rest of the work. He was a little rough at times, but he held through and got the job done. He threw in a few steps here and there, but for a green colt he went a very big mile.”

Anders Bluestone, who is eligible to the $1.5 million Hambletonian in August, could next appear in the New Jersey Sire Stakes at the Meadowlands, although Takter’s primary target is the Yonkers Trot.

“I don’t know if I want to chase him too much for those races up there (at The Meadowlands). He’s actually a better half-mile horse,” Takter said. “The Yonkers Trot is the main goal for me right now.

“He wasn’t really at his best today. I’ve got to check him out and see what’s bothering him. Tim had to hold him together; I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Tim. He’s just an extremely talented young boy. It’s nice to see.” (HRC)

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