Campbell wins sixth Hambo

Glidemaster and driver John Campbell sat off the pace throughout the mile before coming up big in the stretch to win Saturday's $1.5 million Hambletonian in a stakes and track record 1:51.1 before a crowd of more than 29,000 and a national TV audience. The victory gave trainer Blair Burgess his second win in as many Hambo starts, and Campbell garnered his unprecedented sixth Hambletonian win.

Blue Mac Lad grabbed the early lead before trainer Trond Smedshammer and Here Comes Herbie gained control shortly after the :26.4 first panel. The duo would reach the half in :54.3 and three quarters in 1:23.3 as Mr Pine Chip and Brian Sears began to move forward. Campbell caught cover behind the favorite and dashed home in the stretch to win.

"He really felt full of trot. I just knew at the top of the stretch he was going to pass a lot of horses," said Campbell. "He was really full of himself and trotting great."

Chocolatier, as he did one week earlier in his elimination, closed quickly in the stretch to finish second for trainer Doug Ackerman.

"I thought my colt was great today," driver D.R. Ackerman said. "I didn't leave with him because I didn't feel like I had enough speed off the gate. I followed Glidemaster the whole way and I couldn't have gotten a better trip."

Glidemaster entered last week's eliminations fresh off two straight victories, parlaying them into a second-place effort to Mr Pine Chip. Despite concerns after stepping on a nail, Glidemaster, a Yankee Glide colt, was tabbed the 5-1 fourth choice and went off at 6-1. In the end, Glidemaster was the best, shaving two-fifths off the track and stakes record set by Self Possessed in 1999. He joined Amigo Hall (2003), the longest-priced winner of the Hambletonian, as champions conditioned by Burgess.

"I'm just thrilled to have a horse like this," the trainer commented. "Around the five-eighths pole I thought he was in the right place. Mr Pine Chip carried him where he needed to be."

Glidemaster was bred by Brittany Farms and sold at the Tattersalls Select Yearling Sale in 2004 for $10,000. Brittany Farms has since purchased an interest in the colt, and co-owns him with Burgess, Karin Olsson-Burgess and Marsha Cohen. He is a winner in three of seven starts in 2006, and with the victory, now possesses more than $915,000 in career earnings.

Campbell continued his mastery of the Hambletonian, collecting his sixth winning drive. His previous winners include Mack Lobell (1987), Armbro Goal (1988), Harmonious (1990), Tagliabue (1995) and Muscles Yankee (1998).

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