Post positions have been drawn for this Saturday’s (July 29) Hambletonian Oaks eliminations at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The elims attracted 18 fillies, and thus a pair of $40,438 tilts will feature nine-horse fields.
On Saturday, July 29, the Oaks elims, for three-year-old trotting fillies, will help kick off Hambletonian Festival Week. The top five finishers from each elimination will gain entrance to the $500,000 final of the Hambletonian Oaks, which will take place on Hambletonian Day, Saturday, August 5, at the Meadowlands, located in East Rutherford, NJ.
The early favourite to capture the Hambletonian Oaks final is Dan Patch and O’Brien Award divisional champion Ariana G. The talented homebred daughter of 2009 Hambletonian winner Muscle Hill sports a record of three wins in four tries this year, with lifetime earnings just under $1 million. Ariana G comes from the royal broodmare band of Marvin Katz and AL Libfeld, and her full sister, All The Time, won the 2016 Hambletonian Oaks for the same team of owner/breeders Katz-Libfeld and trainer Jimmy Takter.
The results of the post position draws for the eliminations appear below.
(Post – Horse – Trainer – Listed Driver)
1 – Hillarmbro – Trond Smedshammer – Trond Smedshammer
2 – Magic Presto – Richard Norman – Brian Sears
3 – Thats All Moni – Jimmy Takter – Tim Tetrick
4 – Southwind Avanti – Anette Lorentzon – Tim Tetrick
5 – Overdraft Volo – Julie Miller – Andy Miller
6 – Caviart Wonder – Noel Daley – Andrew McCarthy
7 – Feed Your Head – Jimmy Takter – Yannick Gingras
8 – Broadway Idole – Jim Campbell – Scott Zeron
9 – Evelyn – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt
(Post – Horse – Trainer – Listed Driver)
1 – Glitzey Gal – Richard Norman – David Miller
2 – Ice Attraction – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt
3 – Dream Together – Luc Blais – Dan Dube
4 – Ariana G – Jimmy Takter – Yannick Gingras
5 – Fine Tuned Lady – John Butenschoen – Corey Callahan
6 – Dream Baby Dream – Rod Allen – Rod Allen
7 – Treviso – Charlie Norris – Charlie Norris
8 – Cool Cates – Noel Daley – Andrew McCarthy
9 – Sunshine Delight – Staffan Lind – Brett Miller
There is no lasix or any race-day medication permitted in the Hambletonian Oaks or Open. Elimination winners will draw for inside Posts 1-5 and all other finalists will then be placed in an open draw. The winner of the final on August 5 is the Oaks winner, regardless of elimination finish on July 29.
Post positions for the $500,000 final will be drawn and morning lines assigned on Tuesday, August 1, on a ‘Facebook live’ post position draw at 2:00 p.m. on the Meadowlands Facebook page. The draw will be streamed live on the Meadowlands website.
(With files from the Hambletonian Society)