by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Pinkman (Yannick Gingras) tipped out to trot down the middle of the track and posted a 1:54.1 win in the first $25,000 elimination for the Breeders Crown 2-year-old male trot on Saturday (Nov. 15) at the Meadowlands.

He gets a spot in the final, along with second place finisher The Bank (Jimmy Takter) and a pair finishing in a dead heat for third, Guess Whos Back (George Brennan) and Habitat (Brian Sears).

Pinkman won his Breeders Crown elimination in a time of 1:54.1.

Pinkman and Gingras were first to the lead but Habitat and Sears overtook them at the :27.3 quarter. Pinkman was on his helmet through the :57 half.

Brennan and Guess Whos Back swept to the lead past the half and around the turn, with The Bank behind him. Those two were still on the lead at the 1:26.3 three quarters and held it by a quarter length at the head of the stretch.

Pinkman was trotting third along the rail but got free in mid-stretch, fanned across the track to pass the field for the win by a half-length. The Bank was second, with a dead heat for third between Guess Whos Back and Habitat. Walter White was fifth, earning the final spot in the $500,000 final.

“We liked him when we bought him but attitude-wise he wasn’t what Jimmy wanted,” said Takter Stable consultant Perry Soderbeg. “So they castrated him and he turned around and has been very good since. I spoke with Yannick just briefly and he said he was very happy with him.”

Jimmy Takter trains the winner for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Joyce McClelland and Herb Liverman. He is a son of Explosive Matter-Margie Seelster.

Lisa photos

French Laundry won the second elimination in a time of 1:55.1.

French Laundry and Brett Miller took the first spot available in the second Breeders Crown elimination race. The winning time was 1:55.1 for trainer Jimmy Takter.

Uncle Lasse and driver Ron Pierce were first off the gate in the :28 first quarter, with Suit And Tie (Mike Simons) on his back. Whataworkout was up to take the lead in a rush past the quarter and he led to the :56.4 half and through the 1:27.1 three- quarters.

French Laundry went on a sprint at the head of the stretch to overtake him and was a head in front of fast-closing Muscle Diamond (John Campbell) at the wire. Suit And Tie was third, Piercewave Hanover (Corey Callahan) fourth and Uncle Lasse got the final spot available for the final.

French Laundry is owned by Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. He is a son of Muscles Yankee-Creamy Mimi.