East Rutherford, NJ — Apex gallantly held off a sustained stretch bid from Big Ranger to score a 1:49.2 triumph in the $1 million Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian, on Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Meadowlands, becoming the fastest-ever winner in the 101-year history of the annual classic for 3-year-old trotters.
With Dexter Dunn at the lines for trainer Marcus Melander, Apex took control from 3-5 favorite Big Ranger (driven by Tim Tetrick) at the end of a :26.4 first quarter before controlling middle splits of :54.3 and 1:22.4. With a quarter mile remaining, Tetrick angled Big Ranger off the pegs, setting up for a stretch duel evocative of the 1989 Hambletonian dead heat between Probe and Park Avenue Joe.
Neither Apex nor Big Ranger gave an inch through the final two furlongs, but Apex steadfastly held his ground to prevail by a scant nose and knock three-fifths of a second off the previous Hambletonian record of 1:50, set by Nordic Catcher S and trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt last year.
Minoan (Todd McCarthy) finished third, beaten 4-1/4 lengths, after saving ground off the top pair.
Apex, a son of Walner-Mission Brief, has now won 10 of 14 career starts for the partnership of Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable and Steve Stewart. As the 5-2 second choice, he paid $7.80 to win.
A full story will follow.