It’s Week Eight of the Road to the Hambletonian Top 10 with the Stanley Dancer Memorial divisions, the last major stepping stone, in the books
. This Saturday, July 23 is a week from the eliminations for the greatest day in harness racing, August 6.
Road to the Hambletonian Top 10 – Week Eight
1-Manofmanymissions – Two-year-old Breeders Crown champion is back where he began the season, on top of the heap, after his rousing first over crush in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division. Trainer Erv Miller admitted the son of Yankee Glide is still a shoeing puzzle following his 1:52.1 lifetime best, the colt did not look that smooth, but certainly has the raw talent and speed.
2-Blue Porsche – It’s now been more than month since the Goodtimes (June 18) winner has raced, son of Glidemaster was scheduled for the Stanley Dancer Memorial before he spiked a temperature last week, on Pace Night trainer Blair Burgess declared him a “very iffy” proposition, yet this colt has the raw talent and the trainer to regroup.
3-Chapter Seven – Unleashed an eye-catching sophomore debut in the Dancer after a major set-back with pneumonia, four-time Hambletonian winner Mike Lachance was duly impressed with the way this Windsongs Legacy colt gunned down Big Rigs in 1:53.1, and although he’s got some catching up to do Iron Mike gives the Linda Toscano trainee a big chance.
4-Broad Bahn – Followed up a wire-to-wire score in the slop in 1:54.3 with a distant second behind Manofmanymissions. Just like he did with 2009 runner-up Explosive Matter, Noel Daley has done a great job of managing this son of Broadway Hall; the colt appears strong and steady, and has the commitment of George Brennan.
5-Big Rigs – Bounced back from a break in the Reynolds Stake with a creditable speed try in the Dancer, Andover Hall colt was well rated and it took a big effort from Chapter Seven to overhaul him by a head.
6-Pastor Stephen – After bearing out in a second-place finish to Broad Bahn on July 8, Jimmy Takter added a headpole on the right, Ron Pierce sent him to the front from post eight, the colt didn’t look comfortable and faded to seventh. However, Pierce was confident Takter could get the Beal runner-up “back on his toes”.
7-Leader Of The Gang – Stablemate to Pastor Stephen had the week off after giving Jimmy Takter his third straight Yonkers Trot, two-year-old NJSS champion back on schedule and working on improving his stamina.
8-Charlie De Vie – Won five of his first six this season, including three wins at the Big M, twice in 1:54, before making a break in the Dancer with blinkers off after a slow start. He has a chance to bounce back, but trainer Chris Ryder and the Bionic Man have to figure out a way to knock off a few more seconds, while going off Lasix.
9-Big Sky Storm – Son of 2005 favourite and runner-up Classic Photo finished third to Chapter Seven in his best effort to date. Homebred for Domenico Costagliola of Pt. Pleasant, N.J. gives trainer Chris Marino an outside shot at a well-deserved Hambletonian starter.
10-The Evictor – Broke the ice with a 1:55.2 romp in a Tompkins-Geers division at Tioga Downs, a close second in the Magician Final here for trainer John Butenschoen.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)