Meadowlands: Another Hambletonian Day triumph for Marion Marauder in Cashman Memorial

Marion Marauder showed a continued affinity for Hambletonian Day as the 2016 Hambletonian hero and Triple Crown winner angled out from the pocket and got up to win the $286,650 John Cashman Memorial for open trotters in 2:06 for the mile and an eighth distance.

Driven by Scott Zeron, Marion Marauder sped away from post eight and was able to clear I Know My Chip (Victor Kirby) past the 26 1/5 opening quarter. In Secret (George Brennan) was left first-over after Marion Marauder cleared, and favored Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras), who had started from a trailing post 12, was on In Secret's cover.

Hannelore Hanover was sent out three-wide just before the 54 2/5 half, and she was able to clear both In Secret and Marion Marauder to take command. Hannelore Hanover would go on to reach three-quarters in 1:23 2/5, with In Secret still positioned at the her flank first-over, and Will Take Charge (Tim Tetrick) was second-over and then three-wide off the far turn.

In the stretch and to the 1:51 1/5 mile marker, Hannelore Hanover and Will Take Charge were on even terms, but Marion Marauder fanned even further to their outside, and he would surge by late, defeating Will Take Charge by about a neck. Hannelore Hanover was right there in third, followed by I Know My Chip. Warrawee Roo (Bob McClure) was the fifth-place finisher.

"We'll make that decision after we see how he comes out of it," said Mike Keeling, who assists his wife Paula Wellwood with Marion Marauder's training, when asked about where Marion Marauder goes from here. "The Muscle Hill possibly, but the Maple Leaf is the one we're looking for."

A 5-year-old son of Muscle Hill, Marion Marauder is owned by Wellwood's mother Jean Wellwood and her son Devin Keeling. This was Marion Marauder's 18th career victory, and he has now earned $2,862,225. Sent off at 4-1, Marion Marauder paid $10.40 to win.