Hat Trick Habit has raced four times for new connections, with mixed results. But trainer Scott DiDomenico is hoping the Hambletonian-bound bay has got it figured out after a second-place finish behind Crystal Fashion in his final Hambo prep, the Reynolds Memorial. The colt had gone off stride in his two prior races.

“We’re going to give it a shot,” DiDomenico said. “I think he is on the way up again. We’ve been having trouble with his feet, they’ve been aggravating him some, and I think that’s been part of the reason he’s been jumping. That’s been one of my biggest concerns and I think we’ve sort of got it under control. I hope it works out OK.”

Hat Trick Habit debuted for new owners John McGill and Brian Carsey with a career-best 1:52.3 win at the Meadowlands on July 7. He was acquired by McGill and Carsey at the end of June. The horse was owned previously by Fred Monteleone, who passed away in October.

For his career, Hat Trick Habit has won six of 17 races and earned $205,054. The colt has been assessed at odds of 12-1 for the first Hambletonian elimination. He is set to start from Post 8 with three-time Hambletonian-winning driver Brian Sears.

Hat Trick Habit and Scott DiDomenico (Photo courtesy USTA)

“All things considered, it’s probably a little bit of a shot, but how many times are you going to have a shot to race a horse of this calibre in this kind of race,” DiDomenico said about racing in the Hambletonian. “We’re excited about it and getting the shot to make some money in there. That’s a pretty neat feeling. It’s cool. I’ve never been there before, never had a horse that I even considered putting in that race. Now that I do, it’s special.”

The fields for this Saturday’s Hambletonian eliminations at the Meadowlands Racetrack appear below.

Hambletonian Elimination 1
(PP-Driver –Trainer-Morning Line)
1-Shoshie Deo-George Brennan-Dewayne Minor-10/1
2-Evaluate-Orjan Kihlstrom-Marcus Melander-15/1
3-Mets Hall-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-10/1
4-Lawmaker-David Miller-Andrew Harris-8/1
5-Wolfgang-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-5/2
6-Crystal Fashion-Tim Tetrick-Jim Campbell-7/2
7-Atlanta-Scott Zeron-Rick Zeron-3/1
8-Hat Trick Habit-Andy Miller-Scott DiDomenico-12/1
9-Zephyr Kronos-Jimmy Takter-Jimmy Takter-10/1

Hambletonian Elimination 2
(PP-Driver –Trainer-Morning Line)
1-Fashionwoodchopper-David Miller-Jim Campbell-10/1
2-Patent Leather-David Miller-Jim Campbell-15/1
3-Classichap-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer-6/1
4-Alarm Detector-Trevor Henry-Benoit Baillargeon-10/1
5-Fourth Dimension-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-10/1
6-Southwind Chrome-Scott Zeron-Paula Wellwood-5/1
7-Tactical Landing-Jimmy Takter-Jimmy Takter-4/1
8-You Know You Do-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-8/1
9-Six Pack-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt-2/1

(USTA)