TVG / Fall Final Four Card Complete

Published: November 21, 2020 06:59 pm EST

A parade of the sport’s brightest stars was on display Saturday at The Meadowlands as the New Jersey oval hosted the finals of this year’s TVG Series and the Fall Final Four championships.

Trot Insider offered gate-to-wire coverage of the night’s main events.

Of the eight stakes races on the card, Dunn emerged victorious four times, guiding Manchego (TVG Open Trot), Kissin In The Sand (TVG Mares Pace), Always A Miki (Governor’s Cup) and Bettor’s Wish (TVG Open Pace) to victory lane.

Add in the fact that Dunn won four Breeders Crown races and was the only driver in the sport with $10 million in earnings this year coming into the night, he better make room for a second DOTY trophy.

Takter scored three times on the card, as her trainees – Manchego, Kissin In The Sand and Always A Miki – were all handled by Dunn. She entered Saturday with earnings of $7.3 million from just 397 starts.

During 2020, in addition to the aforementioned power-packed threesome, Takter also had likely Horse of the Year winner Tall Dark Stranger – the Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup champion – in her barn.

It’s clear that Takter will raise the USHWA Trainer of the Year hardware.

Trainer Ron Burke and driver Dave Miller both reached an incredible milestone, as each pushed past the $250-million mark in lifetime earnings. Burke reached that lofty number when his Baklouva finished second in the Governor’s Cup Consolation while Miller became a quarter-billionaire after scoring with Blue Diamond Eyes in the Three Diamonds. Burke is harness racing’s leading all-time trainer in terms of earnings while Miller is second to John Campbell, who finished his career with $299 million in his bank account.

All-source handle on the 13-race card was $2,744,397.

Find below recaps of the evening's stakes events:

Bettors Wish Goes Out In A Blaze Of Glory
It was an absolute blowout win for Bettors Wish and driver Dexter Dunn in the $340,000 TVG Open, a fitting way to wrap up the career for the multi-talented pacer from the stable of trainer Chris Ryder....read more

Seven Straight For Kissin In The Sand
Just as her stablemate Manchego did earlier on the card, Kissin In The Sand wrapped up her racing career with an authoritative victory in the $150,000 TVG Mares Final for the tandem of driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Nancy Takter....read more

Plunge Blue Chip Equals TVG Record
Plunge Blue Chip, who is arguably one of the most consistent trotting mares on the planet this season, nabbed her richest win of the year thanks to a powerhouse score in the $140,000 TVG Mares Final for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt....read more

Manchego Brilliant In Swan Song
Fresh off her win in the Breeders Crown, Manchego came up monstrous yet again with a breathtaking victory in come-from-behind fashion in the $320,000 final of the TVG Open Trot....read more

'Anoka' Nabs Seventh-Straight In Goldsmith Maid
Anoka Hanover ground first over to win the $451,800 Goldsmith Maid for freshman trotting fillies—sponsored by Hunterton Farms—on Saturday (Nov. 21) at the Meadowlands....read more

Bee Forever Flies In Valley Victory
Bee Forever, with Victor Kirby at the reins, pulled off an upset in the $398,650 Valley Victory for freshman trotting colts and geldings—sponsored by Kentuckiana Farms—closing with confidence down the stretch to win in 1:54....read more

Always A Miki Motors To Governor's Cup Score
Breeders Crown champ Summa Cum Laude grew leg weary off quick fractions while pocket-sitter Always A Miki vaulted with fresh legs to a 1:50.2 victory in the $371,900 Governor’s Cup—sponsored by Walnridge Farm & Heritage Hill Farm....read more

Blue Diamond Eyes Best In Three Diamonds
Blue Diamond Eyes culled the flames of red-hot Breeders Crown champ Fire Start Hanover and emerged victorious in the $323,600 Three Diamonds Final—sponsored by Daniel Baer & South Mountain Stables....read more

For full results from the card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack

(with files from the Meadowlands)

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