The post position draws for the 2011 edition of the $1.5 million Hambletonian and the Oaks at Meadowlands Racetrack were held this afternoon
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The connections of Hambletonian elimination winners Manofmanymissions and Broad Bahn were given the opportunity to pick their posts for the Saturday, August 6 final of the richest trotting prize in harness racing.
Early 9-5 favourite Manofmanymissions will start from Post 2 with Andy Miller scheduled to drive.
"We're going to take the two-hole because its right beside the other horse [Broad Bahn] and I don't want to be out too far," said trainer Erv Miller.
Last year’s Breeders Crown champion is three-for-five this year and took his 1:52.1 mark in his Stanley Dancer Memorial division. The son of Yankee Glide is owned by Mystical Marker Farms of Indiana, Manofmanymissions Stable of Kentucky and Mario Biasuzzi of Florida.
Broad Bahn will start from Post 1 in the Hambletonian with George Brennan in the sulky.
"My first inclination was to go for the rail," said trainer Noel Daley. "We either want to be on the lead or close to it. We got the the gait speed. Touch wood, he seems safe."
"Two of his wins were right on the front and he's certainly earned a pole position," added Brennan. "He's got speed...he's got 'The Minister of Speed.'"
The son of Broadway Hall, who was second in his Stanley Dancer Memorial division to Manofmanymissions and third in the inaugural Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, has yet to finish off the board in seven sophomore starts. He took his mark of 1:53 in the first Hambletonian elimination. Broad Bahn is owned by Fam Alber Horse Racing of New Jersey.
In the open draw, Stanley Dancer Memorial winner Chapter Seven drew Post 4. The Windsongs Legacy colt, who finished second in his Hambo elimination, went seven-for-eight as a freshman, winning the New Jersey Sires Stakes Final.
"He's really a remarkable horse," said trainer Linda Toscano of her colt, who started late in his sophomore season after overcoming pneumonia. "After the start of this year we weren't really sure and after talking to the owners, they told me to take care of the horse and we'll worry about the racing when the horse gets right. And he's really overcome so much to get where he is. What he's done in the last couple of weeks is nothing short of his bounty."
Chapter Seven, who will be driven by Michel Lachance, could make Toscano the first female trainer to win the Hambletonian.
"I don't think there is a person that does this role -- man or woman -- that wouldn't want to get to the Hambletonian, it's not an easy task," she said. "Sure it's fun to be the girl, but I think it's good to be a guy in the Hambletonian too."
Chapter Seven is owned by Richard Gutnick and Gary Cocco of Pennsylvania, New Jersey’s Southwind Farm, and Jerry Silva of New York.
The Jimmy Takter-trained Pastor Stephen drew Post 10 and will have Ron Pierce in the sulky for the final.
“Somebody’s got to get it and unfortunately it was me this year," said Takter of drawing the outside post position. "We still have to race the race. He’s good and I think he can win the race, but it’s going to be a hard win.”
He is owned by Toronto’s Jim Fielding, along with Christina Takter of New Jersey and Kentucky’s Brittany Farms. The Cantab Hall colt won the William Wellwood Memorial as a freshman and was second in the Breeders Crown and Valley Victory. This year he finished second in the Beal and third in his Hambletonian elim.
The Canadian owned and trained Whiskey Tax drew Post 6. The gelded son of Revenue S, a runner-up in the Goodtimes Trot Consolation, made the Hambletonian by virtue of his fifth place performance in the eliminations and will have Randy Waples in the sulky. The Tom Durand trainee was a runner-up in the Champlain Stakes as a freshman and picked up cheques in the William Wellwood Memorial and Valley Victory, as well as all seven of his sophomore starts. Whiskey Tax is owned by Tom and June Durand of Puslinch, Ont. and Allan Smith of Oakville, Ont.
Here is a look at the complete field for the Hambletonian in post position order:
PP - Horse – Driver – Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Broad Bahn - George Brennan - Noel Daley - 4-1
2. Manofmanymissions - Andy Miller - Erv Miller - 9-5
3. Fawkes - Yannick Gingras - Jonas Czernyson - 15-1
4. Chapter Seven - Mike Lachance - Linda Toscano - 7-2
5. Whit - Tim Tetrick - Homer Hochstetler - 8-1
6. Whiskey Tax - Randy Waples - Thomas Durand - 15-1
7. Opening Night - John Campbell - Jim Campbell - 10-1
8. Magnum Kosmos - Brian Sears - Tony Dinges - 15-1
9. Luckycharm Hanover - David Miller - Thomas Haughton - 15-1
10. Pastor Stephen - Ron Pierce - Jimmy Takter - 10-1
The draw for the filly companion event, the Oaks, was also contested on Tuesday afternoon.
The connections of elimination winner Crys Dream chose Post 2. The early 7-5 favourite in the morning line is trained by Henrik Holsten for owners Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme Stable of Grand Valley, Ont., Deo Volente Farms and TLP Stable of New Jersey, and Jerry Silva. The Taurus Dream filly, who will be driven by Luc Ouellette, sports a near perfect of 12 wins in 13 starts and almost $1 million in earnings. Canada’s Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of 2010 has returned to the track as a sophomore to win the Casual Breeze and Elegantimage Stakes.
Crys Dream’s fellow elimination winner Iron Lady will start from Post 1 with Michel Lachance driving. Also a daughter of Taurus Dream, Iron Lady is trained by Fredrik Persson for Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme and Jerry and Theresa Silva.
Del Miller Memorial winner Hey Mister will start from Post 7 with Brian Sears in the bike for trainer Ross Croghan. The Muscles Yankee miss is owned by Jerry Silva, the Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Robert Cooper Stables LLC of Florida, along with Nick Barbieri of Woodbridge, Ont.
Last year’s Breeders Crown champion Martiniontherocks drew Post 9 and will enlist the services of driver Trevor Ritchie. Dustin Jones trains the daughter of Conway Hall for Ecurie Synergie of Montreal, Que.
Rounding out the Canadian connected Oaks starters is Lady Rainbow, who drew Post 4 for trainer-driver Rick Zeron. The daughter of Muscles Yankee has earned top three performances in the Casual Breeze, Elegantimage and Hudson Trot for the Rick Zeron Stables of Oakville, Ont., the Camel Club Stable of Hamilton, Ont., Hebert Chambers of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Delaware’s Rojan Stables.
The Ray Schnittker-trained Jezzy drew the dreaded outside Post 10. Tim Tetrick will drive the Credit Winner filly, who is 18-for-20 in her career with wins in the Empire Breeders Classic and Hudson Trot this year. She is owned by Schnittker, Jerry Silva, and New York’s Jeffrey Gural and Theodore Gewertz.
Here is a look at the complete field for the Oaks in post position order:
PP - Horse – Driver – Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Iron Lady – Mike Lachance - Fredrik Persson - 5-1
2. Crys Dream – Luc Ouellette - Henrik Hollsten - 7-5
3. Seducedbychocolate – David Miller - 20-1
4. Lady Rainbow – Rick Zeron - Rick Zeron - 10-1
5. Bold And Fresh – George Brennan - Douglas Miller - 12-1
6. Sashay – Ron Pierce - Robert Stewart - 15-1
7. Hey Mister – Brian Sears - Ross Croghan - 4-1
8. Wincinnati – Yannick Gingras - Brett Douglas Bittle - 15-1
9. Martiniontherocks – Trevor Ritchie - Dustin Jones - 15-1
10. Jezzy – Tim Tetrick - Ray Schnittker - 6-1
For recaps of last weekend’s eliminations, click here.