HARD SEVEN A NATURAL IN DEXTER CUP AT BIG M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Driver Todd McCarthy wasn’t taking any chances this time around.

After rebounding from an early break before storming home to win from well off the pace in his seasonal debut a week ago, McCarthy put Hard Seven on the lead Saturday night in the Dexter Cup at The Meadowlands, the first significant event for 3-year-old trotters of the year, and the Nancy Takter trainee held off a late charge from My Degenerate to take the $115,500 event in wire-to-wire fashion.

The Dexter Cup was relocated to The Big M this year after previous home Freehold Raceway closed down at the end of 2024.

“He actually started to grow up a lot at the end of last year,” said Takter of the son of Chapter Seven-Whispering Oaks. “He finished with a nice win streak racing in the Kentucky Sire Stakes. He came into this year confident and he’s grown up a bit and I’m kind of really excited about the way he has progressed.”

Hard Seven burst away from the gate from post six in the six-horse field and put 5-2 second choice My Degenerate in the pocket. Hard Seven cut out soft fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:26.4, but despite having things his own way, still gave his backers a scare when My Degenerate came at him quickly approaching the wire, only to come up a small head short. Civilian Drone was third.

Does Takter think Hard Seven can compete at a high level in the Aug. 2 Hambletonian?

“For sure, he’s a quick colt. He definitely knows what this is about,” said the two-time winning Hambletonian trainer. “He fought to the bare tooth when Andy [Miller, driving My Degenerate] was coming at him down the stretch. He’s got all the tools to get there. We just have to have some luck and health on the way and he should be just fine.”

Hard Seven is now five-for-11 lifetime and has lifetime earnings of $176,165 for owners Let It Ride Stables, Maurice Chodash and Boca Racing LLC. As the 2-5 favorite, he returned $2.80 to win after stopping the clock in 1:53.4.

SCINTILLATING SIRE STAKES: The New Jersey Sire Stakes season for 3-year-old pacers kicked off with a bang with a pair of dashes for colts and geldings and one for fillies. All went for a purse of $25,000.

Beach Babe (Cattlewash-Backstreet Sweetie) gunned down Reckless Abandon at the wire by a head in a thrilling fillies finish featuring a pair of 8-5 shots. Driven by Yannick Gingras and trained by Ron Burke, the slight favorite returned $5.20 to win. The victory, which was timed in 1:52, was her first in 10 lifetime tries.

Making History (American History-Mystery Game) emerged from a three-hole trip and exploded home to defeat 2-5 public choice Manolete by a nose in 1:52.1. Big M leading driver Brett Beckwith was in the bike, guiding the Tony Alagna student to victory lane in his first lifetime start. He returned $11 as the 9-2 second choice.

Smooth Dream (Cattlewash-Dreamlands Latte) was nothing short of spectacular after vacating the four-hole after the half before powering past his overmatched foes on the way to 2¾-length win in 1:49.3 for Todd McCarthy and Noel Daley. The 1-5 favorite returned $2.60 to win.

WHAT A LADY: Conversano (Muscle Hill-Celebrity Ruth) came from off the pace to take the $45,000 Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old trotting fillies in 1:55 in a race that was contested as a non-wagering affair before the betting card began. She was piloted by Andy McCarthy and trained by Juan Cano.

EIGHT IS GREAT: It was another banner night for the team of Ken Warkentin, Jessica Otten and Dave Little as the trio of Big M TV talent kept their followers cashing all night long.

Warkentin, the Hall of Fame track announcer, selected eight winners – featuring Vandalism in the fourth race, who returned $22.40 – and three exactas.

Otten had seven on top, featuring Take Your Pick ($10.80) in the ninth. She also had a $1 ticket on the Early 50-cent Pick-4, thrilling her fans with a return of $150.80.

Little tabbed six on top, with Primary Colors ($8.80) his best price in the 12th. He also treated his fans to a $3 ticket on the Late 50-cent Pick-4, which was good for a return of $174.60. “Little’s Late Double” came in for a second straight card, enabling those who played Little’s ticket to cash in for $92 as they made their way out the door.

A LITTLE MORE: Beckwith led the drivers on the night with three winners and now has 67 victories on the year. … Jeff Cullipher, Alagna and Daley tied atop the trainer leaderboard with a pair of walks down victory lane apiece. … All-source betting on the 14-race card totaled $2,513,235. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.