from Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Freehold, NJ — When trainer Jimmy Takter won the Dexter Cup last year with Holiday Credit, he had a good sense of what his horse could do. This year, as he prepares to send Anders Bluestone into Saturday’s (May 9) $181,369 Dexter Cup at Freehold Raceway, he is uncertain.

Anders Bluestone missed his 2-year-old season because of complications following OCD surgery. This year, the son of Yankee Glide-Annette Hanover has won both his races, including his Dexter Cup elimination on May 2. Anders Bluestone won by a neck over Photoforwin in 1:57.1. Wishful Sir and Bobbi Jo’s Lindy also advanced to the final.

“We’d like to keep him undefeated, but it’s going to be tough,” Takter said with a laugh. “They went pretty good in the other (elimination). He’s a green colt, but he’s growing up very fast. He raced well.”

Keystone Activator won the other Dexter Cup elimination in a track record 1:55.3. He has won four of five races this season and seven of 18 in his career.

The Dexter Cup is the first step for 3-year-old trotters on the road to the $1.5 million Hambletonian. Keystone Activator and Anders Bluestone are both eligible to the Hambletonian.

Despite his lack of experience, Takter likes what he has seen so far from Anders Bluestone.

“He was almost race ready (last year) and was one of my favorite colts,” Takter said. “I liked him a lot. A lot. He’s not a horse to sell himself cheap. We’ll hope for a good post position and if there is a hot pace, which it looks like there could be, he might pick off a few horses in the stretch. He’s a tough guy.”

Last year, Holiday Credit came into the Dexter Cup final with six career wins and 10 on-the-board finishes in 13 races. In addition to winning the Dexter Cup last year, Holiday Credit was second in the Breeders Crown and Matron Stakes.

Anders Bluestone was purchased for $60,000 as a yearling at the Standardbred Horse Sale. His mother, Annette Hanover, is a half sister to world champion Anamosa Hanover, who was the 1987 Dan Patch Award winner as best 2-year-old filly trotter. His maternal side also includes 1988 Breeders Crown winner Nalda Hanover.

“(Anders Bluestone) is a little bit like Holiday Credit,” Takter said. “I have no idea how good he is. It’s too early to say that. But he’s more suitable for a smaller track, I would think.”

The field in alphabetical order for the Dexter Cup (with most recent driver) is Anders Bluestone (Jimmy Takter), Bobbi Jo’s Lindy (Ray Schnittker), Citation Lindy (Ray Schnittker), Muscle Mayhem (David Miller), Photoforwin (Rick Beinhauer), Vesuvio AS (Jim Meittinis), and Wishful Sir (Andy Miller).

In addition to Anders Bluestone and Keystone Activator, the following are eligible to the Hambletonian: Citation Lindy, Muscle Mayhem, Vesuvio AS, and Wishful Sir.