For the third time in six years, the Ackerman family will send a horse into the $1.5 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Racetrack. For the third time, their trotter will start from the most disadvantageous position -- post No. 10
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This year, it is Judge Joe, who will be in the outermost starting spot for Saturday’s Hambletonian, which will be televised live on NBC beginning at 3:30 p.m. (EDT). In 2006, it was Chocolatier, who finished second to Glidemaster. In 2004, it was Coventry, who was fourth in a race won by Windsongs Legacy.
“Hopefully, we’ll just weave our way through traffic and do the best we can,” said D.R. Ackerman, who drives the family’s horses for his father, Hall of Fame trainer Doug Ackerman. “He’s going to have to move to the middle and hope to find a lane. That’s about the best that can come out of that deal. But he’s usually pretty good about finding the money, so he’ll do a good job of it.”
The Ackermans, who are based at Michigan’s Hazel Park during the summer and train their horses in North Carolina during the winter, bred Judge Joe. The colt has won five of seven starts this year and earned $173,280. He was second in his Hambletonian elimination race last weekend. He has won 12 of 19 career races, earning $483,855, and has never finished off the board.
Hambletonian Elim #2
“This is just a really great horse to be around in every way,” Ackerman said. “He never does a thing wrong. He’s just the sweetest horse in the world. Win or lose, he’s our barn favourite.
“I may have to improve some, but ‘Joe’ is cool.”
Muscle Hill, who has won 12 consecutive races since finishing second in his first career start, is the 3-5 favourite in the Hambletonian. Judge Joe is 15-1.
Only one horse has won a Hambletonian race from Post 10 since the event moved to the Meadowlands in 1981. That was Delvin G Hanover, who won a heat in 1984 and eventually finished third.
“I’d love to win it. It would mean a lot of money, for one thing,” Ackerman said, laughing. “It’s the greatest race there is to win. It’s a really fun time and very exciting.”
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click here.
(Harness Racing Communications)