by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — The Friday (Aug. 5) night-before-Hambletonian card at the Meadowlands featured 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters in two divisions of the Townsend Ackerman.

Lisa photo

Dayson is clear at the wire in a division of the Townsend Ackerman at the Meadowlands.

Dayson raised his seasonal record to six wins in eight starts, scoring from post 10 as the second choice for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras. The gelded son of Conway Hall made the lead at the half and sailed under the wire an easy 4-length winner in a lifetime-best 1:51.2, paying $7.00 to win.

Cufflink Hanover, the 6-5 favorite, raced well, but was a non-threatening second.

Taco Tuesday got a superb steer from Scott Zeron to record an upset win in the other division. After tipping off cover after going a perfect second-over trip, the Frank Antonacci trainee rallied on the outside to nail 7-5 favorite Hititoutofthepark by a neck in a lifetime-best 1:53.1, paying $21.60 as the fourth choice in the wagering.

SWEEP-STEDT: Trainer Ake Svanstedt took both divisions of the races for Hambletonian Amateur Drivers.

Blue Muse ($2.80 to win, 1:54.4) was driven by Svanstedt’s wife, Sarah, while Peter Arnqvist, one of the top amateur drivers in Sweden, made his Big M debut a winning one with Sky Hanover ($15.60, 1:54).

HAMBO TV: The 91st Hambletonian will be televised live Saturday (Aug. 6) on the CBS Sports Network. The 90-minute program, hosted by Gary Seibel, co-hosted by Dave Brower with interviews being conducted by Justin Horowitz, begins at 4 p.m. with the Hambletonian post time scheduled for 5:15 p.m.

A LITTLE MORE: All-source wagering on the card totaled $2,563,177.

Reminder…post time on Hambletonian Day is 12:00 noon.