From Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — Jimmy Takter kicked off his Hambletonian weekend with a victory as Whom Shall I Fear produced a dominant win Friday (August 7) night in the $50,000 Townsend Ackerman Stakes at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.

It was the prelude to Saturday, a warm-up act for the biggest afternoon in harness racing, anchored by the $1 million Hambletonian and the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks.

First post is noon on the fun-filled day that also features pony rides, face painters and live music. Paid admissions can take home a baseball cap for adults or a Foiled Again Breyer Stablemate for kids, while supplies last.

Takter has five entrants in the Hambletonian in the bid for a fourth training victory in the classic for 3-year-old trotters.

The win by Whom Shall I Fear, a full brother to Takter star Father Patrick, could be an omen of good things to come on Saturday.

The victory was an encouraging effort by a colt who has failed to meet lofty expectations following a $475,000 purchase as a yearling by the Whom Shall I Fear Stable.

The win in the Townsend Ackerman for Hambletonian eligible colts and geldings snapped a six-race losing streak.

Whom Shall I Fear took charge immediately with Yannick Gingras at the lines. He dictated the fractions in the lifetime-best 1:52.4 mile as the 7-10 favorite, beating Crescent Fashion by 2-3/4 lengths with Iron third.

He paid $3.40 to win.

The evening also featured a pair of $30,000 divisions of the Duenna Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Both were also career-best victories

Ontario invader Muscle Baby Doll was an easy winner of the first split in 1:52. She was not eligible to the Hambletonian Oaks, so this was her chance to strut her stuff here on trotting’s biggest weekend.

She is six for seven this year for trainer Tony O’Sullivan and Bellino & Sons. David Miller picked up his third driving win of the night.

Muscle Baby Doll took charge down the backstretch and drew off to a 6-3/4 length win over Marion Millionair with Scented Roses third.

Her Canadian reputation preceded her to the Big M as she paid only $2.80 to win.

It was much closer in the second division as Meadowbranch Wendy held off Lindy Land by a neck in 1:53.3.

It ended a string of three straight hard-luck losses for the filly trained by Jenny Melander and owned by Hans Enggren.

Brett Miller guided her to a third win in 19 starts. She paid $21.40 for the upset victory.

Pick-5 carryover leads to massive pool

Entering the Friday racing program, there was a $29,460 carryover in the Pick-5, beginning with the first race. The bettors came out in force and despite four scratches there was $131,164 wagered into the sequence, bringing the total pool to $160,624. The sequence proved formful, returning $170.15 for a $.50 cent ticket.

Hambletonian Day features a carryover of its own and one that will also sport a mandatory payout. The Jackpot Super Hi-5 in the 16th race features a $231,000 carryover with just an eight-percent (8%) takeout rate. The pool will pay out in it’s entirety.

Hambletonian Day also features no less than five guaranteed pools, all with $.50 cent minimums. The first race kicks off a $50,000 Guaranteed Pick-5. Race three starts a $50,000 Pick-4. Race three begins a $75,000 Pick-5 while races nine and 13 kick off $100,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 wagers. All five guaranteed pools include a takeout rate of just 15-percent.