Meadowlands: Takter barn unconquerable in Peter Haughton Memorial elims

Trainer Jimmy Takter owned the pair of $20,000 Peter Haughton Memorial eliminations for 2-year-old colt trotters on Friday night at the Meadowlands. Two of his horses, Rubio and King On The Hill finished in a dead-heat for win in the first one, and then Victor Gio It was victorious in the second.

New Jersey Viking (Ake Svanstedt) was in front through fractions of 27 4/5, 57 2/5, and 1:26 3/5 in the first elimination, but Rubio (Yannick Gingras) had moved up first-over and was just a nose behind the leader at three-quarters, with King On The Hill (Tim Tetrick) on his cover. Rubio took over the top spot turning for home, but King On The Hill came to his outside in the lane, and would get up in the final stride for the dead-heat 1:54 2/5 victory. Snowstorm Hanover (Matt Kakaley) got third, ahead of Devious Man (Andy Miller) and New Jersey Viking.

King On The Hill is a Muscle Hill colt owned by Christina Takter, Goran Falk, Goran Anderberg, and Hatfield Stables. It was his first win from four starts, and he has now earned $36,000. He's the fourth foal out of the Viking Kronos mare Lantern Kronos ($1,009,175), making him a half-brother to The Bank (Donato Hanover, $1,110,300).

Rubio, a colt by Cantab Hall, is owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Inc., and Jim Fielding. Now a perfect four-for-four in his career and $36,250 banked, Rubio is the first foal out of the In Dix Huit mare Italienne Girl, a half-sister to Hambletonian Oaks elimination winner Iron Lady (Taurus Dream, $216,766). Rubio was purchased for $75,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

38-1 shot Songnatra (Dave Miller) was the leader in the other elimination, clicking off splits of 29, 58, and 1:26 3/5. Gingras positioned Victor Gio It third early, then moved first-over past the half, getting to within three-quarters of a length of Songatra at three-quarters. Victor Gio It would work his way around the pacesetter in the stretch, and then held off the bid of favored What The Hill (Tetrick) to prevail by half a length in 1:54 4/5. Another Chapter (Brett Miller), Songnatra, and Eternal Patrol (Marcus Melander) also advanced to the final.

"He's very immature both physically and mentally," said Takter of Victor Gio It. "He's a very fast horse, could be as fast as any 2-year-old I've had at this point. He's got wicked speed this horse. He looked a little bumpy out there today. I wasn't really 100% pleased how he looked, but he got the job done."

"I was very happy with both horses," he added about Rubio and King On The Hill. "They raced tremendous. It's a good seat to be in."

Victor Gio It, who broke his maiden in his second attempt, is an Italian-bred colt and is by two-time Prix D'Amerique champion Ready Cash. He is owned by Christina Takter along with Antonio Somma, C Mare Di Stabia, and Nicolas De Mitri. His dam Ilaria Jet (Pine Chip, $673,272) won several prestigious races in Europe, including the Group 2 Prix d'Europe, where she beat a field including Ready Cash.