It’s been a great year for Super Chapter, who is now favored — or not, depends on who you ask — in the $1 Million 100th Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, Aug. 2.
But just like on any given NFL Sunday (or Monday, Thursday), it’s also any given Hambletonian. Being a favorite does not guarantee a win. (Recall 2016’s fave Bar Hopping who finished fifth; 2014’s Father Patrick was dead last. Uncle Peter finished eighth as a favorite in 2012. And those are just a few just from the archives.)
The Hambletonian is harness racing’s premier event for 3-year-old trotters, and Super Chapter bagged five races in 2025, undefeated in five starts. Driven by Dexter Dunn, he won his Hambletonian elimination by 1-3/4 lengths over Maximus Mearas S in 1:51.1.
The $1 million final, presented by FanDuel, is the Race 12 grand finale at 4:47 p.m., following an afternoon of stakes racing.
Read more: What to Know Before the 100th Hambletonian Kicks Off at the Meadowlands Racetrack
Super Chapter is a favorite along with Meshuggah, driver is Bjorn Goop. Both are trained by Marcus Melander, according to multiple media reports. Melander actually has four contenders heading to Saturday’s final, including Maryland, the 3-1 second choice, along with Meshuggah and Blank.
Saturday’s racing begins at noon, with stakes’ coverage airing on FOX Sports.
The Hambletonian is the second leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, followed by the Kentucky Futurity in October. Only nine trotters have swept the series since its inception in 1955, most recently Marion Marauder in 2016.
Morning-line odds by John Rallis
| PP | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meshuggah | Björn Goop | Marcus Melander | 20-1 |
| 2 | Super Chapter | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | 5-2 |
| 3 | Emoticon Legacy | Louis-Philippe Roy | Luc Blais | 4-1 |
| 4 | Maryland | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | 3-1 |
| 5 | Maximus Mearas S | Scott Zeron | Lucas Wallin | 6-1 |
| 6 | Nordic Catcher S | Åke Svanstedt | Åke Svanstedt | 9-2 |
| 7 | Gap Kronos S | Tim Tetrick | Åke Svanstedt | 20-1 |
| 8 | Blank | Andrew McCarthy | Marcus Melander | 25-1 |
| 9 | Greenma | Trond Smedshammer | Trond Smedshammer | 25-1 |
| 10 | Go Dog Go | Todd McCarthy | Carter Pinske | 10-1 |
For full program info, visit playmeadowlands.com.
