Meadowlands: Manchego gives Gingras, Takter their fifth straight Hambletonian Oaks championship

Manchego and driver Yannick Gingras went wire-to-wire to capture the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks in a stakes record 1:50 mile at the Meadowlands on Saturday afternoon. The brilliant daughter of Muscle Hill gave Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter their fifth consecutive Oaks triumph.

Manchego, sent off as the 6-5 second choice behind favored Phaetosive, was quick to the front, getting there well before the opening quarter of 27 2/5 as Plunge Blue Chip readily yielded and Phaetosive settled into a three-hole in the early stages.

Billed as a three-filly race in advance, the race lived up to expectations as Gingras rated the half in 55 4/5, and then saw Plunge Blue Chip vacate the pocket well before the three-quarter pole. Gingras appeared ready for the challenge, and Manchego continued her march, hitting three-quarters in 1:23 2/5 and in search of competition.

With Phaetosive following Plunge Blue Chip, Gingras peeked over to see where the competition would come from as he set Machego into high gear. Manchego had plenty in reserve, and while Phaetosive was able to outkick Plunge Blue Chip late for the place, Manchego and Gingras hit the line in 1:50 flat with an individual 26 3/5 final quarter.

Owned by Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Herb Liverman, Manchego won for the 17th time in 19 career starts and pushed her career earnings over the $1 million mark.

"I'm just a lucky guy," said Yannick Gingras after the race. "It's all him (Takter). I'm just happy he puts me down."

For Manchego, it was revenge against Plunge Blue Chip, the filly that set a world mark of 1:49 4/5 after Manchego cut the pace in the Del Miller Memorial.

"I underestimated Plunge Blue Chip in that race," said Gingras, "I went too fast to the half."