Week Four of the Road to the Hambletonian Top 10 results from an action-packed weekend with the Goodtimes Final at Mohawk Racetrack, plus the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial eliminations at Pocono Downs.
There’s a new number one with the greatest day in harness racing six weeks from Saturday.
As compiled and ranked by Meadowlands' Ken Warketin, here are the top contenders.
Road to the Hambletonian Top 10 - Week Four
1-Blue Porsche – Three-for-three in 2011, all at Mohawk after crushing them in the Goodtimes Final in 1:54.2 with a final quarter of :26.2, won his elimination in 1:55.1 and his first start of the season in 1:54, Trevor Ritchie said he wasn’t happy when he saw the :58.3 half in the Goodtimes, but he was confident his colt had the tremendous speed to overcome the tough first over trip
2-Pastor Stephen – Jimmy Takter’s top gun went three-for-three this season with a decisive score in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination in a career best 1:53.1 on June 18, this came after beating older horses at Pocono Downs in 1:53.3, and won his 2011 debut in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at the Meadows in 1:55.2, Takter also has Leader of the Gang in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial Final
3-Manofmanymissions – Has so far avoided the serious competitors, while tuning up and following a proven formula of staying at the Big M, after easily winning his NJSS opener in 1:55.2, he tackled older foes on June 17, forced into a first over move, got lonely on the lead, dug in when he saw Cameron Chip, but that mare collared him late in 1:53.2
4-Broadway Legs – Trond Smedshammer pupil has cruised in all three starts this season at the Big M, did not race last week after soundly beating older foes in 1:55 on June 10, Smedshammer won two eliminations for the Earl Beal, Jr. with Im The Answer (track record 1:52.4) and Dejarmbro (1:52.4), both are not Hambletonian eligibles
5-VC Chocoholic – Stablemate to Broadway Legs followed up his Goodtimes elimination win in 1:55.3 with a fourth in the Final, closing in :26.3 for Brian Sears, he’s three for five with one second this season
6-Bambino Hall – Leads a Kelly O’Donnell one-two punch, a very good second to heavily favored Dejarmbro in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination, timed in 1:53.2, upset Broad Bahn in PASS on May 30 at Chester, then scored a nose victory over Swan In A Million in a career best of 1:53.4 at Pocono Downs
7-Broad Bahn – Finished a solid second to Pastor Stephen in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination, timed in 1:53.4, after posting a lifetime best of 1:54 at Pocono Downs on June 8, and a second in PASS on Memorial Day at Chester with a flat tire, Noel Daley finished second with Explosive Matter in 2009
8-Whatever It Takes – Beaten heavy favourite caught first over and faded to fifth in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination, timed in 1:54.4, this came after finishing second at the Big M to Dejarmbro, and a huge upset over that same rival in the Empire Breeders Classic Final at Vernon Downs in 1:54 for team Orange Crush, who finished fourth last year with The Chancellor
9-Swan In A Million – Made a break when launching a bid in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination, stablemate to Manofmanymissions just missed by a nose to Bambino Hall in 1:53.4 at Pocono Downs on June 10 after a strong second (1:56.2) against older horses there
10-Big Rigs – Set the pace and finished third to Pastor Stephen in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination after missing the previous week, stablemate to Bambino Hall went wire-to-wire win in his 3yo debut in PASS at Chester on Memorial Day in 1:55
(Meadowlands)