Eliminations for the Hambletonian Oaks were contested on the Saturday, July 29 program at the Meadowlands, with two splits going for $40,438 collecting the top five finishers for the $500,000 final on Hambletonian day Saturday, August 5.
Floating away towards the center of the pack, 1-9 favourite Ariana G picked up cover moving to the far turn and kicked away with ease to a 1:51.3 victory in the first Hambletonian Oaks elimination.
Ice Attraction sprinted out for command, going the first quarter in :27.2 while Ariana G settled into fifth. Approaching the half, Glitzey Gal edged off the rail from third and rushed up to challenge Ice Attraction before going off stride through a :55.1 half mile.
Fine Tuned Lady began an uncovered move around the far turn, with Ariana G positioned second over and carried within two lengths of the lead at three-quarters in 1:23.3. At the head of the stretch, driver Yannick Gingras fanned Ariana G off cover, taking the lead at the eighth pole and sprinting to a two-length victory over finalists Dream Together, Sunshine Delight, Fine Tuned Lady, and Dream Baby Dream.
Winning 14 of her 17 starts, Ariana G, by Muscle Hill from the Cantab Hall mare Cantab It All, competes for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld and trainer Jimmy Takter. She has earned $958,058 in her career, and paid $2.20 to win.
"I had my options open going to that first turn," Yannick Gingras said. "I would've been happy to cut the mile or race from the back, but there were a lot of leavers so I took my time. She let me drive her any way I wanted."
Ariana G is not yet confirmed to be heading for the Hambletonian.
"It's not my decision, but wherever they go, I can tell you one thing: I'm going to drive her," Gingras also said.
Magic Presto commandeered the field before the half in the second elimination, winning in 1:52.1.
Feed Your Head took control moving to the first turn, going the first quarter in :28.2 with Hillarmbro sitting second and Magic Presto third. Magic Presto soon tipped off the rail and brushed to the lead, hitting the half in :56.
Moving around the far turn, Hillarmbro flushed first over to pressure Magic Presto, with Overdraft Volo and Southwind Avanti drafting on cover. Past three-quarters in 1:24.1, Magic Presto turned away Hillarmbro.
Feed Your Head, getting room at the eighth pole, lunged after Magic Presto, but was a neck short. Southwind Avanti closed for third and Overdraft Volo and Caviart Wonder round out the Oaks finalists.
Owned by Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman, and David Mc Duffee, Magic Presto, by Kadabra from the Muscles Yankee mare In The Mean Time, has won eight races in 16 starts, compiling $457,180 in earnings. Trained by Richard Norman and driven by Brian Sears, she paid $3.60 to win.
"We have our hands full with (Ariana G)," Brian Sears said. “She looks very good, no question about it. My filly was a little peculiar tonight. She was just looking at everything and usually she is very relaxed, but maybe all of the commotion tonight had her on her heels a little bit."
Alongside the Oaks eliminations, glamour boy trotters competed in the $49,580 Reynolds Memorial, with What The Hill claiming victory in 1:52.1.
What The Hill darted right to the top, with stablemate Southwind Cobra coming away on his back from post one. Those two continued sitting one-two through splits of :28.2, :56.2, and 1:24.2 until Southwind Cobra broke when angling to the outside at the top of the stretch.
What The Hill then inherited a three-and-a-half length lead after the break, continuing on the front to win by three-quarters lengths over Yes Mickey and 6-5 favourite Bill's Man.
What The Hill now has four wins in six seasonal tries. He races for the ownership group of Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, Jerry and Theresa Silva Stables, and Deo Volente Farms. He is trained by Ron Burke and was driven by David Miller. He paid $7.00 to win.
(With files from the Meadowlands)