Each week, Meadowlands Racetrack announcer Ken Warkentin ranks the top 10 contenders for

the $1.5 million Hambletonian.

The Hambletonian will take place August 8 at the Meadowlands.

Warkentin's assessments are below.

Rank, Horse
• Driver, Trainer
• Owner
• Ken Warkentin’s Comments

1, MUSCLE HILL
• Brian Sears, Greg Peck
• Jerry Silva, TLP Stables, Southwind Farm, Muscle Hill Racing LLC
• The Muscles Yankee sensation followed up a lifetime best of 1:53.1 with his tenth win in a row to take the NJSS final in 1:53.3. "This horse has great manners and it was a pretty easy trip," said Sears, who posted a seven-win night.

2, EXPLOSIVE MATTER
• Ron Pierce, Noel Daley
• Adam Victor and Son Stable
• Served ample notice going wire-to-wire in a smashing 2009 debut in PASS at Pocono Downs, a lifetime best of 1:54.2, final quarter in :27.2.

3, TOM CANGO
• David Miller, Jim Campbell
• Arlene and Jules Siegel
• Did not race last week after kicking off his sophomore season with 1:54.4 lifetime best in his 2009 debut at the 'Big M' on June 5. In to go on June 19 (Post 3, Race 9). Stablemate Broadway Bistro won a PASS division at Pocono Downs in 1:54.3.

4, FEDERAL FLEX
• Jody Jamieson, Jeff Gillis
• Federal Flex Stable, Ken Henwood, Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz
• Canada's leading freshman trotter in 2008 makes his first start of the season in the Goodtimes eliminations at Mohawk (Post 5, Race 2) off a 1:55 qualifier (:27.2 final quarter).

5, MY BACK PAGES
• George Brennan, Greg Peck
• Irving Bork, TLP Stable, Jerry Silva
• Finished third from Post 9 to stablemate Muscle Hill in the NJSS final.

6, ENCORE ENCORE
• Dave Palone, Richard Gillock
• Robert Key
• Hasn't resurfaced since his impressive 2009 debut in a track record of 1:53.3 at the Meadows back on May 19 in PASS.

7, MR CANTAB
• Andy Miller, Erv Miller
• Brittany Farms, John Carver, Ronald Michelon, Riverview Farms
• The half brother to Hambletonian Oaks winner Passionate Glide won his 2009 debut in 1:55.2 on June 11 at the Big M. Drew Post 9 in another condition event (Race 3) on June 18.

8, SYMPHONIC HANOVER
• David Miller, Jonas Czernyson
• Symphonic Hanover Stable
• Cantab Hall colt made it two-for-two in 2009 with a 1:53.4 lifetime best at the Big M on June 12, final quarter in :27.1.

9, JUDGE JOE
• Doug R. Ackerman, Doug J. Ackerman
• Doug Ackerman Stables
• Made it three-for-three in 2009 winning his second straight NYSS event at Buffalo Raceway on June 10, going wire-to-wire from Post 8 in 2:00.3. Drew Post 7 in NYSS division (Race 4) on June 19 at Yonkers.

10, KEYSTONE ACTIVATOR
• George Brennan, Jim Raymer
• Trillium Racing Stable, Tammie Raymer
• Made a break in PASS at Pocono Downs, but has still won five of nine starts this year.

Related Story

• Road To The Hambletonian (Week 1)