There were 19 entrants in the Hambletonian, the third year of the return to same-day heat format. In 2014, only 11 entered and went straight to the final. In 2013, the last Hambletonian raced in front of the old Meadowland grandstand, there were 23 trotters entered.  

Pinkman posted his 14th victory in 17 starts, also providing a fourth training victory for Jimmy Takter. Takter is now tied with Chuck Sylvester at four wins. Bill Haughton, Stanley Dancer and Ben White all have five training victories.
 
Pinkman overcame post 10 to take first elimination in 1:51 2/5, equaling the world record for 3-year-old geldings on a mile track with The Bank second. Donatomite, Habitat and Jacksons Minion also advanced to the final.

Mission Brief took the second elimination by 4 ¾ lengths over long shot Aldebaran Eagle in 1:51 3/5. French Laundry, Uncle Lasse and Wings of Royalty also made the final.

Elimination heat winners Pinkman and Mission Brief were both driven by Yannick Gingras.  His choice to remain loyal to the filly Mission Brief in the final meant he lost the drive on eventual winner Pinkman (picked up by Brian Sears for his third Hambletonian victory.)

“Opportunity knocked,” Sears said. “It was great they gave me the call. What a pleasure the horse was to drive. You’re always a little nervous the first time you drive a horse in race like that, but he was pretty much push button.”

Takter failed to convince Gingras that Pinkman was his best choice.

“I tried to tell him you’re making a great mistake,” Takter said. “And I was right. Pinkman is just such a fighter. He’s not impressive, but he gets it done every time.”

Takter also continued his domination of Hambletonian Day at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment. He swept both the $1 million Hambletonian and the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for a second straight year.
In 2014, it was Trixton in the Hambletonian and Lifetime Pursuit in the Oaks. In 2015 it was Pinkman in the Hambo, and Wild Honey in the Oaks.

Takter became the first trainer since Per Eriksson in 1991-92 to win the Hambletonian in consecutive years. The only other trainers to accomplish the feat are W. R. Haughton (1976-77), Frank Ervin (1966-67), Ben White (1942-43) and Henry Thomas (1937-38).

In addition, Takter, who drove Trixton to victory in last year’s Hambletonian, is the first trainer-driver to repeat in the race since Haughton. Campbell is the most recent driver to win in consecutive years, in 1987-88.

Of his five trotters entered in the Hambletonian, four advanced to the final. Uncle Lasse (David Miller) was third followed by The Bank (driven by Takter’s brother Johnny), so Takter horses finished first, third and fourth, good for $700,000 of the $1 million at stake. Ron Burke trainee Mission Brief was second for a $225,000 paycheck, while the Tom Jackson trained and driven Jackson’s Minion got the nickel for $45,000.

Gingras, who dominates the Meadowlands driver colony as well as national driver standings, has had a star-crossed record in the Hambletonian. Going into the 2015 race, he had earned just $34,300 in five years. Most disappointing was a gallop before the start by heavy favorite Father Patrick in last year’s Hambo edition. Mission Brief’s elim win and runner-up effort in the final raised his bankroll considerably, but the Hambletonian remains one of the very few classic events Gingras hasn’t won.

Pinkman was a Lexington Selected Sale yearling purchase for $77,000. Originally named Traffic Jam, he was renamed by the Takters after Jesse Pinkman, a fictional character in the American television drama series Breaking Bad.  The character is portrayed by actor Aaron Paul.

He was the first foal of his dam, Margie Seelster, who was sold shortly before his divisional championship freshman year by breeder Vince Caturano’s O Narutac Equine Nursery. “Story of my life,” said Caturano. “At least I got some nice trophies.”

Margie Seelster, a solid earner of more than $250,000 during her racing career, was sold to Jay Mossbarger of Ohio, but Pinkman’s $2.5 million bankroll remains her only claim to fame to date despite subsequent breedings to Jailhouse Jesse and Manofmanymissions.

Pinkman failed to show Takter much as a 2-year-old, so he was gelded, and consigned to the Standardbred Horse Mixed Sale in Harrisburg in November of 2014. A change in the taciturn trotter’s attitude caused Takter to withdraw him from the sale in mid-summer. Pinkman rewarded the ownership group by winnng six of eight freshman starts, including the $463,690 Valley Victory in 1:55.4 at Woodbine and lowered his own Meadowlands track record to 1:53.3 in $500,000 Breeders Crown.  He also won a $77,120 division of the International Stallion Stake at The Red Mile.

Pinkman kicked off his sophomore season in May, setting a track record of 1:52.2 in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Harrah’s Philadelphia, and went three-for-three in PASS events. Stake wins for Pinkman prior to the Hambletonian included a $157,250 division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial in 1:52.2 on July 18; and world record for three-year-old trotting geldings on a five eighths mile track of 1:51.3 mile in the $500,000 Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial at Pocono Downs on July 4. His sole loss prior to Hambletonian day was when he was second, beaten a half-length in his Beal elimination.  

Pinkman made it six wins in seven starts this season by posting a 1:52 stakes record in the $370,000 Zweig Memorial at Vernon Downs prior to the Hambletonian. “What makes this horse special is his consistency,” noted trainer Jimmy Takter.  “It’s not like you ever say, ‘wow, look at this horse.’  But, it will take a hell of a horse to beat him.”

He is the first gelding to win since Vivid Photo in 2005, and one of three in the Meadowlands era of the race- Shiaway St. Pat being the first in 1981, the year the race moved to the Meadowlands. Add Flirth (1973) and Greyhound (1935) for a total of just five altered sons winning trotting’s ultimate prize. Surprisingly, he was also one of three geldings entered in the race this year.

The last two Hambos have been won by the sires who were one-two in the 2009 version of the race: Muscle Hill (Trixton) and Explosive Matter (Pinkman)