Meadowlands: On To Norway triumphant in E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity

After taking on all comers in the Hoosier State as a sophomore, Indiana sensation On To Norway has proven worthy of the Grand Circuit stage so far in his 4-year-old season, following up his North American-record 1:48 3/5 score in last week's Grade 2 Graduate Series final with a gutsy 2:04 3/5 victory over 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 1 $425,000 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity, for 4-year-old trotters, on Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands.

The Muscle Massive-One Class Act gelding made headlines with his 27-race win streak that stretched through June 12, and his victory over 12 rivals in the Maturity - his first Grade 1 triumph, to boot - pushed him over $1 million in career earnings.

On To Norway was widest of six early leavers in the long approach to the first turn, and Yannick Gingras worked him clear of Super Chapter (driven by Dexter Dunn) to take charge after the 26 3/5 first quarter. Once On To Norway cleared, he pulled the tempo back to a 56 second half-mile before Go Dog Go (Todd McCarthy) made steady gains out of midfield to take first-over aim at On To Norway through the far turn while Super Chapter kept close tabs from the pocket.

After hitting three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, as On To Norway accelerated to shrug off Go Dog Go turning for home and opened a two length cushion at the eighth pole, Dunn found room to hook Super Chapter three-wide around Go Dog Go and in front of Greenma (Trond Smedshammer), who gapped second-over cover upon cornering for home.

As was the case in the Graduate final, On To Norway was tasked with fending off a late push from Super Chapter, and the Ron Burke trainee again proved up to the assignment, parrying last year's Dan Patch Award-winning sophomore male trotter by a diminishing neck. Delaney Hanover (Scott Zeron), one of four mares in the field, finished third, another 3 3/4 lengths behind, after saving ground just off the front flight.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

"To have the fastest trotter ever in North America is unreal," said Frank Baldachino, who owns On To Norway in partnership with Burke Racing Stable, Black & White Stable and Michael Rosenthal. "He comes out east and puts in performances like that; he's just an incredible animal."

Now a 33-time winner from 40 starts, On To Norway has earned $1,052,631 in his career. And to say that he has exceeded his connections' expectations would be a major understatement.

"When we bought him, I was hoping he'd be a good Indiana Sires Stakes horse," continued Baldachino. "And for him to pay off winning these Grand Circuit stakes is the biggest bonus ever."

As the 8-5 second choice, On To Norway paid $5.40 to win.