by Frank and Ray Cotolo. for the Hambletonian Society

East Rutherford, NJ — The Saturday night (July 31) program at Meadowlands Racetrack featured a trio of $70,000 Hambletonian eliminations for 3-year-old colt trotters. Pilgrims Taj, Lucky Chucky and Cassis were the winners.

Pilgrims Taj lowered his mark to 1:53.3 in winning the first elimination.

Pilgrims Taj, new to Trond Smedshammer’s barn since having major gait problems at the Meadowlands, was smooth and fast winning the first Hambletonian elim at the Meadowlands on July 31. The mile went in 1:53.3, a lifetime mark.

Flex The Muscle began the string of trotters early, trying to keep the fractions soft. Hard Livin left with him and sat easily in second. The 2-5 choice, Muscle Massive, sat in third and tried to take over but did not complete the task until too late. Pilgrims Taj was closing three wide and Hard Livin was swooping in the inside lane.

There were three of them across the stretch at the wire and the 8-1 Pilgrims Taj got first with Muscle Massive holding for second and Hard Livin getting third.

Smedshammer said that he “changed everything” about Pilgrims Taj since getting the colt 10 days before the elim. “We only had a week and a half but he is an intelligent horse and he got his confidence back.”

“Tonight his attitude came back,” said driver Mike Lachance, who drove the colt to his victory in the 2009 Breeders Crown frosh trot.

Robert Bongiorno, Pilgrims Taj Stable, Bix DiMeo and Val D’Or Farms own the winner.

Lucky Chucky also set a personal best with a 1:53.1 score in the middle elimination.

Getting an early spot in third, going first over and successfully putting away 4-5 choice Holiday Road, Lucky Chucky won the second Hambletonian elim with a lifetime best mile of 1:53.1.

Holiday Road looked for his third win in a row by trying to command the race as the leader but on a night when staying on top was a difficult task, he would not be able to hold off Lucky Chucky, even though he went first over just before the 1:25.4 three-quarters. Mystery Photo at 14-1 saved ground to close well and finished second, while Holiday Road was third.

Lucky Chucky is trained by four-time Hambletonian winner Chuck Sylvester, who said he was so excited when his colt was chasing down Holiday he almost blacked out.

“I thought when we got away in third he was going to have to race first over,” Sylvester said.

Driver John Campbell was very confident. He said, “I thought he was coming into the race well.”

Lucky Chucky is owned by SGS Partners, Perretti Racing Stables and Lindy Racing Stables.

Lisa photos

Cassis was a 1:52.4 winner in the final elimination.

Cassis defied the strong evening bias against horses racing on the front by going to the top and staying there, winning the fastest of the three Hambletonian elims in 1:52.4.

Cassis challenged Temple Of Doom, who left for the lead in an uncommon move, at the first quarter and sustained a challenge from Pretty Boy Lindy around the second turn.

Temple Of Doom held on for second, dismissing Wishing Stone, who was finally going a whole race on stride, closing well to be the third-place finisher. On The Tab (the richest fourth place finisher) also made the final.

Tim Tetrick, the winning driver, said Cassis was “very game and very strong.”

Trainer Ray Schnittker said, “He has been racing a lot but he is still coming on strong. He is handy and hopefully next week (in the final) he will get a good trip.”

Schnittker said he wasn’t worried about being on top next week because his colt “can race well from behind, too.”

Cassis, who was the favorite, is co-owned by Ray Schnittker, Kelk’s Inc., Arden Homestead Stable and Jerry Silva.