from Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — Unbeaten Cantab Hall, the defending Trotter of the Year, posted his 12th straight victory, winning the ninth race, the first of three $35,000 eliminations for the $382,000 Stanley Dancer Trot on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

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Cantab Hall remained unbeaten with a four and a half length victory over Southwind Elian.

Cantab Hall ($2.40, $2.20, $2.10) scored a four and a half length victory over Southwind Elian ($5.00, $2.10). Al Dente Hanover ($2.10) was third by five and a quarter lengths.

Driven by Mike Lachance and trained by Ron Gurfein, Cantab Hall trotted the mile in 1:54, matching his lifetime best. He is closing in on $500,000 in earnings for the partnership of Brittany Farms of Versailles, Kentucky; Lindy Racing of Enfield, Connecticut; Jerry Silva of Bellmore, New York; and the Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

“He did what he had to do to win the race,” said Lachance. “It was a good win.”

“I’m very happy,” Gurfein said. “I’m glad he hasn’t had real fast miles and had two easy starts. It’s a good conditioning factor for him. He’s doing no training, just jogging (between races). He stays that way unless there’s a kink in the road. He’s pretty well set the way he is.”

In the second Dancer elim, carded as the tenth race, Cash Hall ($2.80, $2.40, $2.10), driven by John Campbell and trained by Bob McIntosh, coasted to a one and three-quarter length victory over Classic Hogan ($8.20, $2.40). Justice Hall ($2.60) was third by three and a quarter lengths.

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Tom Ridge trotted a lifetime best 1:54 to win the final Dancer elim.

Cash Hall, co-owned by McIntosh, the CSX Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio and Michael Kohler of Sterling Heights, Michigan, now has four wins and two seconds in seven starts this year and has won six of nine lifetime.

Cash Hall, who won a Dickerson division last week in 1:52⁴, trotted the mile in 1:53⁴.

Tom Ridge ($4.40, $2.20, $2.10) trotted a lifetime best 1:54 to win the final elim, the 11th race.

Tom Ridge, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Jimmy Takter, moved easily to the lead before the half and withstood a challenge from even-money Windsong’s Legacy ($2.60, $2.10) for a half length victory. Sand Vic ($2.20) recovered from a break to finish third by three lengths.

Tom Ridge, winner of seven of nine lifetime starts, pushed his career earnings over the $400,000 mark for Christina Takter of East Windsor, New Jersey; Kenneth Ross of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; R. Peter Heffering of Port Perry, Ontario; and Banjo Farms of Toronto, Ontario.

Windsong’s Legacy, winner of the Goodtimes Final at Woodbine, had his winning streak snapped at four.

Solomon Blue Chip was the fastest fourth place finisher, emerging from the tenth race, and will advance to the Dancer Final next Friday.