Cassis defied the strong evening bias against horses racing on the front by going to the top and staying there, winning the fastest of three Hambletonian eliminations at the Meadowlands on July 31. The mile went in 1:52.4.

Cassis challenged Temple Of Doom (Dave Miller), who left for the lead in an uncommon move, at the first quarter and sustained a challenge from Pretty Boy Lindy (George Brennan) around the second turn.

Temple Of Doom held on for second, dismissing Wishing Stone (John Campbell), who was finally going a whole race on stride, closing well to be the third-place finisher.

On The Tab (Yannick Gingras) was the richest fourth-place in the final elim and makes the final.

Tim Tetrick, the winning driver, said Cassis was “very game and very strong.”

Trainer Ray Schnittker said, “He has been racing a lot but he is still coming on strong. He is handy and hopefully next week [in the final] he will get a good trip.” Schnittker said he wasn’t worried about being on top next week because his colt “can race well from behind, too.”

Cassis, who was the favoured son of Cantab Hall-Dirty Martini, is co-owned by Schnittker, Kelks Inc. of Lockport, Arden Homestead Stable of Delhi and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, New York.

Getting an early spot in third, going first over and successfully putting away 4-5 choice Holiday Road, Lucky Chucky won the second Hambletonian elimination at the Meadowlands on July 31. It was a lifetime-best mile of 1:53.1.

Holiday Road (Brian Sears) looked for his third win in a row by trying to command the race as the leader but on a night when staying on top was a difficult task, he would not be able to hold off Lucky Chucky and John Campbell, even though he went first over just before the 1:25.4 three-quarters.

Mystery Photo (Andy Miller) at 14-1 saved ground to close well and get a berth in the final by finishing second.

Lucky Chucky is trained by four-time Hambletonian winner Chuck Sylvester, who said he was so excited when his colt was chasing down Holiday Road he almost blacked out. “I thought when we got away in third he was going to have to race first over,” Chuck said.

Campbell was very confident. He said, “I thought he was coming into the race well.”

Holiday Road held for third.

Lucky Chucky, a son of Windsongs Legacy-Aerobics, is owned by SGS Partners of Williamstown, Perretti Racing Stable LLC of Cream Ridge, New Jersey and Lindy Racing Stable of Enfield, Connecticut.

Pilgrims Taj, new to the Trond Smedshammer barn since having major gait problems at the Meadowlands, was smooth and fast winning the first Hambletonian elim at the Meadowlands on July 31.

The mile went in 1:53.3, a lifetime mark for the son of Broadway Hall-Bwt Maija.

Flex The Muscle (Ray Schnittker) began the string of trotters early, trying to keep the fractions soft. Hard Livin left with him and sat easily in second. The 2-5 choice, Muscle Massive (Ron Pierce), sat in third and tried to take over but did not complete the task until too late. Pilgrims Taj was closing three-wide and Hard Livin (Yannick Gingras) was swooping in the inside lane.

There were three of them across the stretch at the wire and the 8-1 Pilgrims Taj got first with Muscle Massive holding for second and Hard Livin getting third.

Smedshammer said that he “changed everything” about Pilgrims Taj since getting the colt 10 days before the elim. “We only had a half week but he is an intelligent horse and he got his confidence back.”

“Tonight his attitude came back,” said 'Taj'-driver Mike Lachance, who drove the colt to his frosh victory in the Breeders Crown.