by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Wild Honey came up big in the Hambletonian Oaks.

Driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter teamed up to win the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for the second consecutive year as Wild Honey captured the race for 3-year-old female trotters by 1-3/4 lengths over Rules Of The Road in 1:52.2 on Saturday (Aug. 8) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

USTA/Mark Hall Photo

Driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter teamed up to win the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for the second consecutive year as Wild Honey captured the race for 3-year-old female trotters in 1:52.2 on Saturday (Aug. 8) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Bright Baby Blues finished third and Livininthefastlane was fourth.

It was Takter’s fifth Hambletonian Oaks victory. It was Gingras’ fifth win of the day. This duo won the 2014 edition of the Oaks with Lifetime Pursuit.

“This is fantastic,” Takter said. “This little filly, she overcomes her size. She’s not a very big filly, but she’s got a big heart and she gives her all every time and I’m just so happy and proud of her. I’m so happy to be here, especially with John Fielding who has been with me so many years.”

Rules Of The Road (Corey Callahan) and Sarcy (Johnny Takter) battled for the early lead, with Rules Of The Road emerging on top in an opening quarter-mile of :27. Gingras and Wild Honey then made their move, taking the lead on the backstretch and trotting middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:25.1 before holding off a first-over challenge from Bright Baby Blues coming off the final turn.

Lock Down Lindy, who won her Hambletonian Oaks elimination by two lengths over Wild Honey last weekend, went off stride on the backstretch and was not a factor.

Wild Honey, who was the 6-5 favorite, is a daughter of Cantab Hall-U Wanna Lindy. She has won 13 of 19 career races and earned $838,488. She is owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Herb Liverman, and Jim Fielding.

“Emotion is a huge part of the game, especially when you win a race like this,” John Fielding said. “I just said to Jimmy and my brother Jimmy and my friends here from Toronto, I’ve been trying to win this race for 20 or 25 years. Finally, after a lot of perseverance we got the job done here, so I’m pretty happy and pretty emotional.”