Dexter Cup posts drawn

Ira K and A Rod, winners of last week’s Dexter Cup elimination races, drew middle posts for Saturday’s $166,500 final at Freehold Raceway.

The Dexter Cup is the first race on the road to the Hambletonian, the trotting classic for 3 year olds. The Hambletonian will be Aug. 5 at the Meadowlands.

A Rod, who won his elimination in 1:58.4, drew post four and will be driven by George Brennan. He is coupled in the betting with Frank The Hands, who drew post seven, because of common ownership. Frank The Hands will be driven by two-time Dexter winner Ray Schnittker.

Trained by Paul Doherty, A Rod, named for baseball star Alex Rodriguez, has won three of eight starts this year and $23,035. Frank The Hands has finished third in his two races this season. Last year, he won seven of 12 and earned $163,226.

Ira K, owned by Ira Kristel, won his Dexter Cup elim in 1:59.1 and will be driven by Yannick Gingras. He will start from post five. Trained by John Shultz, Ira K has won one of two races this year and finished second in a division of the Frank Rubinetti Memorial two weeks ago at Freehold. He has won three of 11 lifetime starts and earned $91,371.

Brind’Amour, named after hockey star Rod Brind’Amour, drew the rail. He will be driven by Jim Meittinis for trainer Conny Svensson. He has won three of his last five races at Freehold, including a division of the Frank Rubinetti Memorial. He was second to Ira K in his Dexter Cup elimination.

Macdeen Star, who was second to A Rod in his elim, drew post six and will be driven by Ron Pierce. Macdeen Star is trained by Charlie Norris and owned by Bob Key, who won the 1993 Dexter Cup with American Winner, also with Pierce as the driver. American Winner is the last horse to win the Dexter and Hambletonian in the same year.

Sergeant Jack, who has two wins among only three career starts, drew post two. He is trained by Clarence Martin Jr. and driven by Kevin Sizer. Wildwood Days, who has one win in eight lifetime races, drew post three. He will be driven by John Campbell for trainer Jack Parker.

Tsunami, trained by Karen Garland and driven by Stephen Smith, drew the far outside, post eight. He is winless in 10 career races.

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