Victory Dream Takes Lead Early, Wins Hambletonian

Victory Dream, driven by Mike Lachance, took the lead with little less than three-quarters of a mile remaining on the Meadowlands’ one-mile track and won the Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters Saturday.

“It’s the greatest thing in the world,” trainer Ron Gurfein said after the final.

Victory Dream, who won by 2 3/4 lengths over Mr Lavec, was timed in 1:54 1/5. Bye Tsem finished third and Smasher was fourth in the 10-horse field.

Victory Dream paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.20 in the final for his eighth victory in 10 starts this year and 11th in 15 career races. All of his starts have been at the Meadowlands.

Victory Dream, owned by FA Stable and Victory Dream Stable of Lindenhurst, N.Y., earned $50,000 for his elimination heat victory and $500,000 for his victory in the $1-million final. Each elimination was worth $100,000.