by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — For 10 of the 16 entrants divided in two $30,228 Dexter Cup elims on Saturday, May 2, at Freehold, the road begins toward the $1.5 million Hambletonian on August 8 at the Meadowlands.

Five of those Dexter Cup entrants and Hambletonian hopefuls are New Jersey-sired — Anders Bluestone by Yankee Glide, Wishful Sir by Revenue S, Muscle Mayhem by Muscles Yankee and two sons of the late Windsong’s Legacy, Hitchcock and Vesuvio AS.

The top four finishers from each of the elims, carded as races eight and 12, will advance to the $181,369 Dexter Cup Final for 3-year-old trotters on May 9 at Freehold.

Trainer Jimmy Takter, who won the 2008 Dexter with Holiday Credit, is back with the lightly raced Anders Bluestone, who was bred by Bluestone Farms LLC of Hopewell, N.J. The colt won his career debut on April 21 at Pocono Downs, drawing off to a three length victory in 1:57.2. He is rated the 7-2 second choice from the rail in the eighth race, the first elimination division, with Takter driving.

Hitchcock, owned by trainer Trond Smedshammer’s American Viking Racing Stable, has even less experience. This will be his pari-mutuel debut. He took his mark of 1:55.2, winning his qualifier at the Meadowlands on April 16. Brian Sears has drawn the driving assignment behind the 7-2 second choice in the second elimination division.

The fields for the $30,228 Dexter Cup eliminations, including driver, trainer and morning line odds (in post position order):

Dexter Cup Elimination (Race 8): Anders Bluestone, Jimmy Takter, Jimmy Takter, 7-2; Bobbi Jo’s Lindy, Ray Schnittker, Ray Schnittker, 9-2; Salutation Hanover, Brian Sears, Ron Burke, 3-1; Wishful Sir, Andy Miller, Erv Miller, 5-1; Great George Three, Ron Pierce, Stan Hathaway, Jr., 10-1; Collect The Brass, David Miller, Carlo Poliseno, 6-1; Photoforwin, Rick Beinhauer, Rick Beinhauer, 12-1; and Hurrikanebiggeorge, Yannick Gingras, John McDermott, 8-1.

Dexter Cup Elimination (Race 12): Hitchcock, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer, 7-2; Vesuvio AS, Jim Meittinis, Anette Lorentzon, 6-1; Citation Lindy, Ray Schnittker, Ray Schnittker, 9-2; Keystone Activator, George Brennan, Jim Raymer, 5-2; Top Chef, John Campbell, Kevin Lare, 9-2; Muscles Mayhem, David Miller, Jim Campbell, 5-1; Coal Daily, Toby Lynch, Jr., Toby Lynch, Jr., 8-1; and South Jersey Flash, Steven Reisenweaver, Steven Reisenweaver, 10-1.