Hall of Fame driver John Campbell scored his unprecedented sixth victory in harness racing’s preeminent stakes, the $1.5 million Hambletonian with Glidemaster. The 51-year-old Campbell, harness racing’s all-time leading money winning driver with more than $237 million in purse earnings, previously captured the three-year-old trotting classic with Mack Lobell in 1987, Armbro Goal in 1988, Harmonious in 1990, Tagliabue in 1995 and Muscles Yankee in 1998. No other driver has won more than four.
Glidemaster provided trainer Blair Burgess with his second Hambletonian trophy in only his second try. The mile was clocked in 1:51.1, a stakes record supplanting the mark of 1:51.3 set by Self Possessed in the 1999 Hambletonian.
6-1 Glidemaster followed the outside tier, following 4-5 favorite Mr Pine Chip into the final turn, tipping three-wide for the stretch drive. He drew off to a 1 1/4 length victory over 4-1 Chocolatier. 7-1 Blue Mac Lad, the only one of the three Trond Smedshammer trainees to pick up a check, was third. 9-10 favorite Mr Pine Chip broke stride late and finished last.
