Road To The Hambo - Week 5

Week Five of the Road to the Hambletonian Top 10 has the $500,000 Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial Final at Pocono Downs in the books

, the winner Dejarmbro equaled a world record of 1:52.2, yet is not eligible, four on the list took the week off and the other six all lost, and the greatest day in harness racing is five weeks from Saturday

Road to the Hambletonian Top 10 - Week Five

1-Blue Porsche – Idle last week, yet remains three-for-three in 2011, all at Mohawk, dominant in the Goodtimes Final in 1:54.2 with a final quarter of :26.2 after winning his elimination in 1:55.1 and his first start of the season in 1:54, trainer Blair Burgess won the 2006 Hambletonian with his sire Glidemaster & pulled off the biggest upset in history with Amigo Hall in 2003 ($57.00)

2-Pastor Stephen – Beaten favourite in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial finished a gallant second from post 8 with Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter’s best hope had gone three-for-three this season after a sharp elimination win in 1:53.1, Pierce and Takter teamed up to capture the 2010 Hambletonian with Muscle Massive

3-Manofmanymissions – Did not race last week after finishing second in 1:53.2 against older foes, easily won his NJSS opener in 1:55.2, Erv Miller had the 2005 elimination winner & beaten favourite (second) Classic Photo

4-Broad Bahn – Finished a creditable third (1:53.1) in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial off a second to Pastor Stephen in his elimination, timed in 1:53.4, owns a lifetime best of 1:54 at Pocono Downs on June 8, Noel Daley was second with Explosive Matter in the 2009 Hambletonian

5-VC Chocoholic – Suffered an interference break and ended up a well beaten seventh as the beaten favourite in the Dickerson Cup at Tioga Downs on June 25, had won his Goodtimes elimination in 1:55.3 & finished fourth in the Final, closing in :26.3 for Brian Sears

6-Broadway Legs – Beaten heavy favourite finishing fifth (1:55.1) against older horses on June 24, Trond Smedshammer trainee romped in his previous three starts this season at the Big M, either failed to fire after missing two weeks or has leveled off

7-Big Rigs – A decent fourth in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial after setting the pace and finishing third to Pastor Stephen in his elimination, stablemate to Bambino Hall wired a PASS division at Chester on Memorial Day in 1:55

8-Bambino Hall – The other Kelly O’Donnell trainee was a distant seventh from post seven in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial after a solid second to Dejarmbro in his elimination, PASS winner at Chester trotted a career best of 1:53.4 at Pocono Downs on June 10

9-Whatever It Takes – Did not race last week after he was the beaten heavy favourite, first over and faded to fifth in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination, timed in 1:54.4, posted a huge upset over Dejarmbro in the Empire Breeders Classic Final at Vernon Downs in 1:54 for team Orange Crush, who were fourth in last year’s Hambletonian with The Chancellor

10-Swan In A Million – Took last week off after making a break in his Earl Beal, Jr. elimination, stablemate to Manofmanymissions was nosed out by Bambino Hall in 1:53.4 at Pocono Downs on June 10

(Meadowlands)