Harness Racing Communications photo

Manfinity and groom Tom Batzel head to the winner’s circle.

The Dexter Cup is the first race for 3-year-old trotters on the road to August’s Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Manfinity led the field through an opening quarter in :28.3 before Ray Schnittker and Bamboo Yankee launched a first-over bid as the horses approached the half-mile point in :59. Bamboo Yankee moved into third place on the backstretch, but was stuck on the outside the rest of the way and failed to sustain his bid.

Coming off the final turn, Manfinity pulled away, giving the win to trainer Larry Rathbone and owners M and L of Delaware.

Rovaniemi (Stephen Smith) finished second and Sullivan’s Travels (David Miller) was third.

“We drew a great spot and I took total advantage of it,” Brennan said. “I rated the fractions kindly and he responded good. Larry did a great job getting him ready this week because he wasn’t at the top of his game last week.”

Manfinity, a son of Malabar Man-All American Miss, who is eligible to the Hambletonian, paid $4.60, $4.80, and $3.40. He has won two of three races this year, including last week’s Dexter Cup elimination.

“It was a good day; a good way to start the year,” Rathbone said. “I found he popped a splint (last week). We did some therapy on it this week and he warmed up better today. I thought he would give a good race. I was a little concerned, but not after he warmed up. He didn’t warm up very well last week, but he raced good and did his work. I figured if we could help that splint a bit, we’d be in pretty good shape.”

The next major stake on Manfinity’s schedule is the new Nevele Pride at Monticello Raceway, like Freehold, a half-mile track.