by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Pinkman took the lead prior to the half-mile point and held off Muscle Diamond in the stretch to win Saturday’s $500,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters in a stakes-record-equaling 1:53.2 at the Meadowlands.

The margin of victory over Muscle Diamond was a half-length. French Laundry was third, followed by Habitat.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Pinkman equaled the stakes record of 1:53.2 in Saturday’s Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters.

Uncle Lasse took the early lead from Guess Whos Back as the field reached the opening quarter-mile in :27.4. Yannick Gingras moved Pinkman to the front on the backstretch and led to the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Muscle Diamond, who raced on the outside much of the way, charged through the stretch from fourth place, but was unable to get to Pinkman prior to the wire.

Pinkman, who was sent off as the even-money favorite, has won six of eight races this year and earned $566,960 for trainer Jimmy Takter and owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Joyce McClelland and Herb Liverman. Pinkman is a son of Explosive Matter-Margie Seelster.

Gingras had selected to drive Pinkman over another of his regulars, Habitat, from the stable of trainer Ron Burke.

“Yes it was (a tough choice) just because it was Ron Burke and Jimmy Takter, so I tried to pick the best horse,” Gingras said. “Habitat had a great year, but Pinkman was coming into this race super sharp; he kept getting better and better every week. I just thought it was my best shot.

“I qualified him two starts ago and he was so good on the lead, last week in the eliminations, someone came at him, but tonight it was his race to lose on the front.”

It was Gingras’ third Breeders Crown win of the weekend and 10th of his career. It was Takter’s second trophy of the season and extended his record for a trainer to 20.

Pinkman, named after a character from the television series “Breaking Bad,” did not make it to the races until September.

“I always love the Breeders Crown,” said co-owner John Fielding. “We didn’t have much confidence in (Pinkman) early on, but, boy, has he ever come on since September. He’s just really turned into a different horse. We had him (entered) for sale (at Harrisburg) and the magic of Jimmy Takter got him figured out and he’s gone straightforward since then. He’s been a great surprise.”

The start of the race was delayed by a recall caused when Uncle Lasse, in post eight, went off stride behind the gate and interfered with the horse to his outside, Piercewave Hanover.

Takter discovered that one of Pinkman’s shoes was damaged as a result of the incident.

“Yeah, I think when Yannick tried to pull him up he stepped on himself,” Takter said. “He raced with his shoe bent.”