by Kimberly Rinker, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Lexington, KY — Yannick Gingras steered the Jimmy Takter-trained Pinkman to upset the hard-trying Billy Flynn to win the third division of the My MVP International Stallion Stakes for freshman trotting colts in 1:53.3 on Friday (Oct 3) at The Red Mile. The lightly-raced son of Explosive Matter pushed his career earnings to $70,835 with the win, the third of his career.

Nigel Soult photo

Pinkman handed Billy Flynn his first career defeat on Friday at The Red Mile.

“I was confident in my horse and when I raced him at Delaware, I was very impressed, but he needed a trip to have a good kick at the end,” Gingras said. “I was a little bit concerned being pinned in around the final turn, but we got lucky and did get out. I did notice that right down by the wire Billy Flynn got a little steppy, but it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway. My colt was just very good today.”

Crazy Wow (Dan Rawlings) left hard from post three, leading the field to a :27 first quarter, with Pinkman sitting in the two-hole, when Billy Flynn pulled first-over and moved briskly to a :55.2 half. Suit And Tie emerged from the rail first-up with Progression in hot pursuit as Billy Flynn continued to lead the field to the 1:25.2 three-quarters, while drifting a bit off the rail. In the stretch, Billy Flynn was 2-1/2 lengths in front, as Pinkman began to wear him down on the outside, striding to victory just a few feet before the wire.

Pinkman is owned by O Narutac Equine Nursery and first foal out of Ontario Sire Stakes winner Margie Seelester. A $77,000 yearling purchase at the 2013 Lexington Selected Sale, Pinkman was making just his fourth lifetime start in the ISS test.

The first division went to favorite Cruzado Dela Noche benefitting from a healthy drive by David Miller to win in 1:53.4.

A son of Muscle Massive, Cruzado Dela Noche gave trainer Nancy Johansson her second consecutive winner on the afternoon, and was the colt’s third career win in nine starts. His bank account now stands at $135,540.

Miller moved Cruzado Dela Noche to the lead early, trotting by the first quarter in :28.1, the half in :57.2 and the three-quarter marker in 1:26.1, holding off challenges by Big Rich and French Laundry at the wire to win by half a length. French Laundry was second with 67-1 Musical Rhythm third.

“I was actually leaving to see if I could get a spot and race him that way, but he got to the front easily and they left him alone and he had a lot of trot left at the end,” Miller said. “My horse raced very tough, he was very game.”

Cruzado Dela Noche is owned by Courant AB of Stockholm, Sweden and is the fourth foal out of the Credit Winner mare Alidade and is a half-brother to So Not Cool 3, 1:54.3s ($31,380).

Walter White and Yannick Gingras won the second division in a career best 1:56.1 after a furious stretch duel with second-place finisher Explosive Drama (Corey Callahan).

Jimmy Takter trains the son of Cantab Hall, who is the first foal out of the unraced Muscles Yankee mare Muscaloosa. He was a $57,000 yearling purchase at the 2013 Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg for owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, RAW Equine, and Jim Fielding.

“He needed racetrack, as things were a little tight turning for home, but once he got racing room, he was super,” Gingras said. “I wanted to be up close but I didn’t want to be on the front as I did that last week and he got a little tired on the end.”

Special Action (Ron Pierce) led athe field to the :28.2 first quarter, as Amicus (Ake Svanstedt) brushed first-up to the :58.4 half, with Walter White sitting chilly in the two-hole. A cavalry charge ensued, with Divisionist (Charlie Norris) going three-wide into the final turn, after having made a break at the start. That son of Andover Hall stayed in position on the outside through the turn to the 1:28.1 three-quarters, before fading a bit in the lane to be fifth. Meanwhile, Walter White shook loose, and sped to the wire to notch his second career start in eight starts. Explosive Drama (Corey Callahan) finished second, while Fashion Creditor (David Miller) made up ground late to be third.

Walter White now has $106,887 in career earnings for his connections.

The fourth division of the My MVP International Stallion Stakes saw just seven freshman colts vie after a pair of scratches, with 6-5 Muscle Diamond charging in the lane to score his second career victory in 1:53.4 with Hall of Famer John Campbell at the lines.

The son of world champion Muscle Hill is the fourth foal out of Hambletonian Oak winner Windylane Hanover—recently exported to Denmark—and was a $40,000 yearling at the 2013 Lexington Selected Sale. This win, the second of his career in six starts, pushed his earnings to $110,039.

Yannick Gingras moved Piercewave Hanover to the front off the gate, leading the field to a :27.3 opening panel, a :56.1 half and a 1:25 three-quarters, before his six rivals began to close in around him. From there, Muscle Diamond shook free, trotting like gangbusters in the stretch to post the triumph.

“Once they put the hobbles on him, he’s very steady in his gait and he’s very professional for a 2-year-old,” said Campbell. “I wasn’t too far back before we were out of the turn, as I saw the front horses weren’t moving that well, so I wasn’t concerned. We’re hoping for nice things from this colt in the future.”

Brett Bittle conditions and co-owns the youngster, along with Doug Bittle, Charlie Keller III and Charlie Keller IV.

The final division was one of the most exciting of the afternoon at the Red Mile as a blanket finish saw Aldebaran Eagle, at 99-1 scored the upset victory for driver Corey Callahan.

The son of Muscle Hill made his first career win a spectacular triumph, stopping the timer in 1:55.1 for Aldebaran Park, Inc., of Hamilton, NJ. Trained by Jonas Czernyson, Aldebaran Eagle paid $214.80, $93.00 and $13.00 on a $2 win ticket.

Callahan had Aldebaran Eagle on top from the get-go, before yielding to The Bank to the :29.3 first quarter.

“This was one of the stiffest divisions I thought,” said Callahan. “He hasn’t been real ambitious about passing horses, so I thought I’d take a shot and leave with him.It was a great time for him to pick up his first win.I’ve liked this colt since the beginning when I first qualified him, and I thought he fit with these horses.”

Positions changed among the eight trotters several times from the pedestrian :58.2 half to the 1:27.4 three-quarters, when favorite Centurion ATM was leading on the outside. But in the lane, as four horses were charging together in the middle of the rain-soaked track, here came Aldebaran Eagle sneaking up the inside to garner the win by a long neck.

Aldebaran Eagle was a $70,000 yearling purchase from the 2013 Lexington Selected Sale, and is the third foal out of the Self Possessed mare Letsjustalkaboutme. He now has $72,962 in career earnings.