As the fields for the major stakes set to accompany next Saturday's $1.2-million Hambletonian started to take shape on Friday night, two of the major stakes to be contested on Hambo Day didn't require eliminations.
Fresh off his dominant 1:51.1 win in last Saturday's Maple Leaf Trot, Market Share headlines a group of 10 trotters advancing straight to the $150,000A John Cashman Jr. Memorial Trot (formerly the Nat Ray). Driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Linda Toscano will aim for a repeat after Market Share's former stablemate Chapter Seven equaled the 1:50.1 world record in the 2012 edition.
2013 John Cashman Memorial Final (field in alphabetical order)
Arch Madness
Guccio
Hot Shot Blue Chip
Luckycharm Hanover
Market Share
Mister Herbie
Sevruga
Southwind Pepino
Uncle Peter
Wishing Stone
Two-time O'Brien Award winner Anndrovette looks to keep her momentum going as one of nine mares entered in the 2013 Lady Liberty. Anndrovete scored back-to-back wins at Mohawk in her elimination and the final of the Roses Are Red Stakes. Tetrick will likely get the call again on the six-year-old Riverboat King mare, whose 1:48 win last Saturday at Mohawk was just two-fifths of a second off the 1:47.3 world record established by Put On A Show in the 2012 Lady Liberty.
2013 Lady Liberty Final (field in alphabetical order)
Anndrovette
Bettor B Lucky
Camille
Drop The Ball
Feeling You
Ginger and Fred
Krispy Apple
Rocklamation
Royal Cee Cee N
On Friday night, Driver Yannick Gingras swept the Merrie Annabelle and Peter Haughton Memorial eliminations for freshman trotters at Meadowlands Racetrack. Eliminations for Hambletonian Day stakes will continue tonight (Saturday, July 27). Those planning to attend the races should be aware that the adjacent Met Life Stadium will be the site of a Jon Bon Jovi concert that will begin at 7:30 p.m. Post time for the races will be at 7:15 p.m.