The fields are decided for the Hambletonian (Grade 1) and the Hambletonian Oaks (Grade 1) after the sport's top sophomore trotters contested eliminations for each stake on Saturday, July 26 at The Meadowlands.
The 100th edition of America's Trotting Classic required three eliminations, each containing seven hopefuls and carrying a purse of $114,452.
Favourite Emoticon Legacy held sway with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike again for trainer Luc Blais in the first elimination. After a :27.1 first panel, the homebred son of Walner-Emoticon Hanover made a winning move by brushing through the :55.1 half to take the lead to a speedy 1:24.1 three-quarters and, with a last quarter in :27.3, held on to win by a nose in 1:51.4.
Closing late to get second and make next week's final was longshot Greenma, driven by trainer Trond Smedshammer. Finishing third to get a spot in the classic trot was Blank, the Marcus Melander-trained colt with Andy McCarthy at the reins. Meshuggah, driven by Scott Zeron, took fourth and qualified for the final by having the highest lifetime earnings of all the fourth-place finishers from the eliminations.
Driver Roy said he had "not much of a game plan" for a trip going into the elim.
"Right now, he’s perfect to drive. Even in the post parade today he was a perfect horse," Roy said. "We always have the hopples at the same length [but] I got a new bike here – I don’t know if it’s the bike or the surface, [but] the hopples seem a little tight on him. I don’t know if we’re restraining him in his gait, but it might be another plus next week if he gets a little looser in there."
Emoticon Legacy looks to extend his four-race winning streak in the trotting classic. His wins up to the Hambletonian eliminations include the Zweig Memorial at Vernon and the Goodtimes at Mohawk, where he set a Canadian record and a lifetime best of 1:50.2. Determination owns Emoticon Legacy, who raised his lifetime earnings to $625,541 as he took his eighth win in 11 starts. He paid $4.20 to win.
Super Chapter collected his fifth straight victory in a perfect sophomore season in the second Hambletonian elimination, winning in 1:51.1 in rein to Dexter Dunn. The division-dominating son of Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit was never engaged once taking the lead after a :27 first quarter as he rattled off :56.2 and 1:24.4 fractions. An overwhelming favourite in all of his sophomore races, including a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial and the Yonkers Trot (the first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown), Super Chapter coasted to the elimination victory with little-to-no urging from Dunn.
Maximus Mearas S (Zeron) swept up real estate in the late going to finish second, beaten 1-3/4 lengths. Gap Kronos S (Yannick Gingras) earned the last berth into the final with a third-place finish from a first-over push.
The elimination win improved Super Chapter's lifetime bankroll to $1,158,269 for trainer Marcus Melander and owners Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti, and Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
"He was super last year," said Mattias Melander of the Marcus Melander barn. "He’s impressed us enough this year that we can’t be more impressed." Mattias said he expects there won't be any equipment changes going into the million-dollar mile.
Super Chapter paid $2.10 to win.
Ake Svanstedt guided Nordic Catcher S, his longshot son of Six Pack-That Woman Hanover, to the top from post one and commanded his six foes through the two turns to win the last of the Hambletonian eliminations.
Driver-trainer Svanstedt not only went wire-to-wire to score the victory, his charge recorded a lifetime-best winning mile of 1:50.3.
His main challenger was last year's two-year-old trotting champion Maryland (Dunn). That Marcus Melander trainee left quickly and a bit wide from post seven in a :27 quarter but settled into fourth as the field lined up around the backstretch. He left the row and attacked after the :55.3 half, pressing on through three-quarters in 1:24.1 before almost nipping Nordic Catcher S in a :26.2 sprint to the finish. Nordic Catcher S held onto the victory by a firm nose over Maryland, who is still looking for his first victory as a three-year-old.
Also attaining a berth in next week's Hambletonian final was Go Dog Go (Todd McCarthy), who went off the 4-5 favourite after his big win over Maryland in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division.
After the race, Svanstedt said the minor equipment change of bridle gave him further confidence in his steed.
"He performs better and better and I was not afraid of showing high speed [on the lead]," he said. "Maybe pacer blood makes him a bit tougher."
Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Jeff Gural's Little E LLC own Nordic Catcher S, who has now earned $429,669 for his two racing seasons. The colt is two-for-four this year with four wins in nine career outings. He paid $23.80 to win.
The picture for the Hambletonian Oaks shifted greatly from expectations with some surprise performances from both ends of the spectrum in the three $68,493 eliminations.
First came 11-1 shot Delaney Hanover, who motored off a second-over ride to score a lifetime-best 1:52.3 win in the first Oaks elimination.
After a :27.1 first quarter, driver Zeron flushed cover from R Dutchess (Tim Tetrick) as Champagne Problems (Dunn) moseyed up to take over on the backstretch to a :56.3 half with Sound Judgement (Kevin Oscarsson) in the pocket. R Dutchess moved forward through three-quarters in 1:25 before retreating in the stretch. Champagne Problems maintained her speed down the lane, but Zeron lifted Delaney Hanover to the center of the track and built the most momentum to barrel by in the last eighth of a mile and win going away by 1-1/4 lengths. Champagne Problems finished second and Sound Judgement took third. Lady Landia (Svanstedt), the 2-5 favourite and last year’s Breeders Crown champion, trailed the field and tried to rally in the stretch, but missed the final when finishing sixth.
Lucas Wallin trains Delaney Hanover, a filly by Muscle Hill-Danielle Hanover, for owners Wiesman Farms LLC, Shermay Stables, and Wallin Racing Stable Inc. She earned her first win through three starts this season and her third victory from 10 starts in her career, good for $215,178 in earnings. She paid $25.80 to win.
“My expectations are always tempered because it’s racing and you never know what’s going to happen,” said Andrew Steinberg, co-owner of Delaney Hanover through Shermay Stables. “She won her first two races as a two-year-old, but then she got sick with stomach ulcers and we were careful with her at the end of the year. She came back really good; she’s an all-star. And it’s emotional because my father started the business. We’ve had nothing like this. My dad is in the sky looking upon us and I’m very emotional. I hope he’s proud of me today.”
Next, Miss Belmar trotted authoritatively on the front and capitalized on a rough mile from favorite What A Bid Hanover to register a 1:52.3 victory in the second Hambletonian Oaks elimination.
Walspea (Smedshammer) carved out a :27.2 first quarter while driver Andy McCarthy readied Miss Belmar for a brush on the backstretch. Miss Belmar cleared to control before a :57 half and cruised as favoured What A Bid Hanover, who broke past the quarter, attempted a rebound first-over before tiring through the final turn. Past three-quarters in 1:25.3, Miss Belmar strode strongly for the finish until falling out of rhythm into the last eighth of a mile. But McCarthy held her focus to the finish to stave off flanking rivals by a half-length. Deja Blu (Gingras) finished second with Walspea taking third.
Noel Daley trains Miss Belmar, a daughter of Muscle Hill-Chapter Too, for owners Allister Stables, Dean Ehrgott, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, and Zei Zei Racing Inc. She won her third race – off a winless seven-start freshman campaign – from 13 outings and has now earned $362,590.
“Noel [Daley]’s been a magician in terms of getting fillies ready for the races and having them peak at the right time,” co-owner Dave Offenberg said. “We’re along for the ride, but it’s a great ride and I have some great partners.”
“Noel’s been very delicate with her,” co-owner John Fodera said. “Last year she went into the Breeders Crown and finished second; she was a maiden going most of the year. It’s just been a blessing to get her this far this year, but right now he has her at her peak so we’re looking forward to next week.”
Miss Belmar paid $8.80 to win.
Conversano emerged the least surprising winner of the three Oaks eliminations, though she just held on for victory as the 1-5 favourite in a 1:52.4 mile.
Driver Andy McCarthy sat fourth with Conversano to a :27.1 first quarter and waited to make a move along the rim until after a :56.2 half. Conversano ranged forward towards tempo-setter R Charm (Zeron) on the march to three-quarters in 1:24.4 and pushed past her spinning for home, though she stalled on the outside in the stretch. R Charm tried to charge back, but Conversano withstood the challenge and kept a nose in front at the finish. Aperfect Annie (Todd McCarthy) took third off a pocket trip and Torrisi (Gingras) earned the last berth into the final with the highest lifetime earnings of the eliminations’ fourth-place finishers.
“She just gets a little lost when she’s out there by herself,” winning driver Andy McCarthy said. “She’s always been that way; once she clears, she forgets what her job is. I had to remind her a bit late, but once she sees horses coming back at her she’ll get going again. I was quite pleased with her – she did her job.”
Conversano won her eighth race from 16 starts and has now banked $361,913. She paid $2.60 in her sixth win in eight attempts this year. Juan Cano trains Conversano, a daughter of Muscle Hill-Celebrity Ruth, for owner Hot Lead Farm.
“I’m really happy – I’ve never been happier in my life than right now,” said Cano, who will make his Oaks debut. “I don’t have any words to say. The only thing I can say is thanks to God and to the owner for giving me the chance and the opportunity.”
Smooth Dream ($2.20 to win as the 1-9 favourite) remained perfect in nine seasonal starts – eight of them at The Meadowlands – after taking the first division of the Tompkins-Geers Stake for three-year-old colt-and-gelding pacers. He cut the mile to win in 1:50.1 for driver Jordan Stratton, trainer Noel Daley, and owners Bay Pond Racing Stable, CTC Stable, and KDP Stable LLC. The gelded son of Cattlewash-Dreamlands Latte held off rival Manolete (Zeron) by a nose in the $43,596 test as the two combined for an exacta that paid $3. Best Chip (Mark Herschberger) was third.
Fresh off an impressive win in the E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity, Elista Hanover came right back with another score, this time in the $54,795 fourth leg of the Miss Versatility for mare trotters. Driven by Dave Miller and trained by Annie Stoebe, the four-year-old daughter of International Moni-Evermore led at every call to register a lifetime best-equalling time of 1:51.3 as she bested second-place finisher Bravo Angel S (Dunn) by a head. The mare, owned by R.L. Curry, Philomena Curry, and Stoebe, returned $2.20 as the 1-9 public choice. Dial Square S (Svanstedt) was third.
Captain Optimistic grabbed the front at the half and went down the road from there to take the second Tompkins-Geers split for three-year-old colt-and-gelding pacers – this one for $42,911 – in a lifetime best-equalling 1:49 for trainer Nancy Takter, driver Dunn, and owners 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, and Caviart Farms. The 2-5 favourite, a son of Captaintreacherous-Cinamony, returned $2.80 to win, after finishing two lengths in front of second-place finisher Sugar Man (Tetrick), who was followed by World Of Wishes (Andy McCarthy).
Miki And Minnie popped out of the five-hole just after the half before methodically grinding her way to an easy 1-3/4-length victory over Gigglingonthebeach (James MacDonald) in a $71,918 Tompkins-Geers three-year-old filly pace dash in 1:49.4. Driven by Dunn and schooled by Chris Ryder for owner/breeders Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz, the daughter of Always B Miki-Thats The Ticket returned $2.20 as the 1-9 public choice. Rodeo Drive Deo (Miller) completed the ticket.
Dunn and Andy McCarthy finished the night tied atop the driver colony leaderboard with three wins apiece. Daley and Marcus Melander paced the trainers with a pair of walks down victory lane each. All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $3,233,284. Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from The Meadowlands; photo of Emoticon Legacy winning on July 26)