The 2015 Hambletonian Day card is complete at The Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford. N.J., and Trot Insider provided live recaps throughout the stakes-packed card.
(For the recap of the 90th Hambletonian and its eliminations, click the following link: Pinkman Wins 90th Hambletonian.)
$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks
Trainer Jimmy Takter claimed his fifth Hambletonian Oaks title and driver Yannick Gingras notched his fifth win of the afternoon by virtue of joining forces to win with Wild Honey in the the richest race of the season – thus far – for three-year-old trotting fillies.
The daughter of Cantab Hall-U Wanna Lindy, who was heavily favoured in the rich tilt, grabbed the three-hole going into the first turn while Rules Of The Road (Corey Callahan) fired to the front and laid down an opening quarter clocked in :27. Gingras teed off with Wild Honey in the backstretch, and in a matter of strides they found the front. Wild Honey stole away with soft middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:25.1 before rocketing home in :27.1 to win in 1:52.2. Rules Of The Road was second, with Bright Baby Blues (David Miller) rounding out the top three finishers.
“I’ve been trying to win this race for 25 or 30 years and finally after a lot of perseverance we’ve got the job done,” said co-owner John Fielding. “I want to do a special shout out to my very close friends Fred Hertrich and Rob Tribbett whose horse [Spirit To Win] won the elimination of the Hambletonian Oaks last Saturday and their filly unfortunately - after an accident - was euthanized. She probably would have been the favourite and the horse to beat in here. It’s a bittersweet victory.”
Christina Takter, John Fielding, Herb Liverman and Jim Fielding share ownership on the career winner of $838,488. The win improved this year’s record to 3-3-0 from seven starts and it goes down the 13th win of her career.
$319,400 Cane Pace
The conversation between Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden and Sam McKee in advance of the Cane Pace was that Hambletonian Day hasn't always been kind to harness racing's top-rated horses. Rainbow Blue lost her only race of her her Horse of the Year season on Hambletonian Day in 2004. Lightning struck twice for George Teague as $35,000 supplement Wiggle It Jiggleit was denied the first leg of pacing's Triple Crown by 26-1 shot Dealt A Winner and driver David Miller.
Dudes The Man (Corey Callahan) would not let Wiggle It Jiggleit clear easily, parked through the opening :25.4 quarter. After finally clearing, Teague and Wiggle It Jiggleit felt immediate pressure as In The Arsenal (Brian Sears) took dead aim at the world champion from Post 9.
Wiggle It Jiggleit and In The Arsenal were stride for stride on the backstretch through a scorching :52.1 half. Dudes The Man was licking his chops in the pocket while Dealt A Winner was sitting fifth in the field of nine before vaulting three-wide heading into the final turn with three-quarters flashed up in 1:20.4.
Miller was on top of the field as they turned for home with In The Arsenal spent and Wiggle It Jiggleit fading. Artspeak (Scott Zeron) was on Dealt A Winner's back but could not close ground, having to settle for runner-up as Dealt A Winner tripped the timer in a stakes record 1:47.3. That mile time as a lifetime best and also shaved one-fifth of a second off the world record for three-year-old pacing geldings. Artspeak and Dudes The Man completed the triactor, with Wiggle It Jiggleit finishing fourth and sparking some solid show payouts.
"They were going really hard into the first turn and they kept marching pretty good up the backstretch," noted Miller. "I never had to move him until the last turn; he actually swelled up in the hole, and when I moved him he took right off.
"This horse, he's struggled a little bit this year but he's got plenty of ability. He got to show it today."
Winless coming into the Cane, Dealt A Winner (Cams Card Shark - Lazan Hanover) is now one-for-eight in 2015 for trainer Mark Silva and owner Jeff Snyder of New York, N.Y.
$389,450 Jim Doherty Memorial
The undefeated Broadway Donna kept her perfect record intact thanks to a 1:54.2 score in the inaugural Jim Doherty Memorial – formerly the Merrie Annabelle – for two-year-old trotting fillies.
David Miller tucked the Jim Campbell trainee into the four-hole in the early going while Sunset Glider (Yannick Gingras) shot to the top and supplied first-half fractions of :27.3 and :56.4. Miller had Broadway Donna on the move in the second quarter, and shortly past the mid-way point she cleared and crossed over in front of the field. She proceeded to the three-quarter pole in 1:25 before using a :29.2 closing panel to seal the deal in the $389,450 affair. Kathy Parker (Johnny Takter) shot through late to grab the runner-up spot, with Sunset Glider holding on for third prize.
“She fought off the horse that was coming on hard in the inside,” said trainer Jim Campbell. “She’s done everything we’ve asked of her. That was her sixth start today and she did it easier last week but she dug in when she had to and she got the job done and that’s the main thing.”
In a very classy manner, Campbell was quick to praise the filly’s caretaker Teague for his role in the filly’s success.
“Walter Teague, the caretaker, has taken care of three generations since they were yearlings,” stated Campbell. “He takes care of this filly, he takes care of Broadway Schooner and he took care of Pine Schooner. He’s taken care of three generations, that’s some feat. And he’s won a Hambletonian Oaks with the mother. My congratulations to Walter, he’s a tremendous caretaker and he’s very proud of this filly today. I’m very happy for all of us at Fashion Farms Stable.”
The regally-bred daughter of Hambletonian-winning sire Donato Hanover out of the Hambletonian Oaks-winning mare Broadway Schooner is now 6-for-6 for owner/breeder Fashion Farms LLC of New Hope, PA. She’s stashed away purse earnings of $274,941 to date.
$349,850 Peter Haughton Memorial
Southwind Frank delivered on his pari-mutuel promise with a solid and relatively easy-looking win in the 2015 Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old trotting colts & geldings.
Earn And Burn (Johnny Takter) was pushing the gate away from the 10 hole looking for early position, and was parked through the opening turn by Dominion Beach (Brett Miller) before making the front through a :27.2 opening quarter.
David Miller had Brooklyn Hill out from third with a quarter-pole move and that duo cleared back to the wood before facing a brisk brush from favoured Southwind Frank (Yannick Gingras). The public choice was on top at the :56.2 half and trotted very comfortably through a 1:25.1 third panel in rein to a relaxed and still driver. A first over challenge from elim winner Milligans School (Andy Miller) proved futile as Southwind Frank powered away from the Haughton field and tripped the timer in a lifetime best-matching 1:53.4. Brooklyn Hill was runner-up with Earn And Burn battling to hold off stablemate Bar Hopping to complete the triactor.
Trainer Ron Burke noted that Southwind Frank has turned into a really good horse, despite not starting out all that impressively. The $100,000 Lexington Select yearling is now four-for-five thus far as a freshman. Burke (as Burke Racing Stable) co-owns Southwind Frank (Muscle Hill - Flawless Lindy) with Weaver Bruscemi LLC, birthday boy Gene Kurzrok's Our Horse Cents Stables and J And T Silva Stables LLC. The win boosts his bankroll to $244,925.
$301,500 John Cashman Memorial Free-For-All Final
Brian Sears worked out a dream trip for Flanagan Memory, a winner for his second straight start at The Meadowlands by virtue of a commanding performance in the 2015 John Cashman Memorial Free-For-All Trot.
Public choice and 2015 Elitloppet winner Magic Tonight (Orjan Kihlstrom) forged to the front from post four along with Meladys Monet (Jason Barlett), who had more step off the gate and made it to the pylons. Magic Tonight sat the pocket through the :26.1 opener, but moved back out and cleared. Intimidate (Scott Zeron) was right on his back and looped to the front, and that lead was short-lived as Market Share (Tim Tetrick) was out and driving as well.
Just past the :55 half, Market Share controlled the tempo and Magic Tonight was shuffled back to third along the rail, locked in by the outer flow. Obrigado (Mark MacDonald) was first up and Flanagan Memory (Brian Sears) was second over through the 1:23 third panel. Sears tipped him out three-wide in the stretch and he exploded with trot with a 1:51.4 mile and no threat through the lane before tripping the timer in 2:05.4 for the 1-1/8 mile distance. Gural Hanover (Matt Kakaley) was another three back in second with Obrigado holding on for show over Natural Herbie (Verlin Yoder).
"I watched him race last year at four and he's a really nice horse and he's come a long way...he just keeps getting better," said Sears in the winner's circle. "We got the kind of trip he likes, he likes to close it up if he gets some good flow and it worked out well."
Flanagan Memory (Kadabra - Classy Stacy) notched his 13th lifetime win for trainer Rene Dion, who co-owns with Liette Flanagan of Repentigny, Que. The lion's share of the purse lifted the 2013 O'Brien Award winner's lifetime bankroll to more than $828,000.
$215,400 U.S. Pacing Championship
The track and world record for older pacing horses now belongs to State Treasurer thanks his dazzling 1:47 performance against many of the sport’s heavyweights in the U.S. Pacing Championship.
David Miller got away in mid-pack with the Dr. Ian Moore pupil who watched Dancin Yankee (Jim Morrill, Jr.) and Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) take turns on the lead through opening half splits of :26 and :53. Miller had State Treasurer on the move in the backstretch, and shortly past the half they were calling the shots. State Treasurer steamrolled by the three-quarter pole in 1:19.4 before using a :27.1 closing quarter to win by a comfortable margin over Doo Wop Hanover (Scott Zeron) and Foiled Again.
It was the fifth win of the season for the six-year-old son of Real Desire-Ideal Treasure who races for partners Sally MacDonald of Souris, PE and Paul MacDonald of Toronto, ON. The 26-time winner, who was sent off at odds of 2-1, bumped his cash stash to $1,408,204.
$251,250 Lady Liberty Free-For-All Final
Second in the last two editions of the Lady Liberty, Anndrovette showed the added-distance win in the 2015 Golden Girls was no fluke as she held off all challengers in the 2015 Lady Liberty.
Driver Tim Tetrick was intent on controlling the tempo, leaving out hard from post five along with Table Talk (Andy Miller). Table Talk was able to clear and hit the opening quarter in :26 but Tetrick was right back out with Anndrovette.
Beach Story (Corey Callahan) was slowly stalking first over through the :54.2 half but Anndrovette was strong on the lead through the 1:22.2 three-quarter mark. Brett Miller tipped Sandbetweenurtoes three-wide around the final turn and looked to pressure the pacesetter but Anndrovette came to play and powered home through a 1:50.2 mile. Table Talk angled out late from the pocket but that late move could not haul down Anndrovette, a winner in 2:04.1 over Table Talk and stablemate Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett).
"I just wanted to be in control or follow the one that's got some speed up front," said Tetrick after the win. "My mare was happy to be up there. When she's on her game she's one of the toughest horses I've been associated with. She shows up and she's a true champion."
Jeff Bamond Jr. trains Anndrovette (Riverboat King - Easy Miss) for his father's Bamond Racing LLC and Joe Davino of N.J. The win was the third on the season for the triple-millionaire and 44th lifetime.
$181,450 Fresh Yankee for Free For All Trotting Mares
All eyes were on Bee A Magician in the Fresh Yankee as the streaking mare was shooting for her sixth consecutive win, but D One rained on her parade with a come-from-behind score for driver Orjan Kihlstrom.
D One got away eighth and watched Classic Martine (Tim Tetrick) and Handover Belle (Yannick Gingras) battle to the quarter pole in :25.2. Handover Belle worked her way to the top, but she was quickly overtaken in the backstretch by Bee A Magician (Brian Sears). She proceeded to lead the way through fractions of :54.3, 1:23.3 and 1:51.4, but she lacked staying power to cover the final two furlongs in the 1-1/8 event. D One kicked off cover and drew clear to pull off the 14-1 upset in 2:05. Bee A Magician held on for second, with Shake It Cerry (Johnny Takter) finishing third.
The European star was sensational in her North American debut for Roger Walmann, who trains the five-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover-Giant Diablo for Stall Kenny 23 of Varmoo, Sweden. The 16-time winner now boasts a bankroll that now stands at $979,910.
$109,500 Shady Daisy
Stacia Hanover earned the biggest victory of her career as she powered home to win the $109,500 Shady Daisy for three-year-old pacing fillies in a 1:49.2 stakes record clocking.
Driver Scott Zeron drove the Western Ideal-Stolly Up Bluechip filly to the 10-1 upset victory for trainer Steve Elliott and Ohio owners David Van Dusen and Michael Cimaglio.
Momas Got A Gun (Dan Dube) established the early lead through :26.1 opening quarter over Sassa Hanover (Matt Kakaley) before that filly's stablemate, Band Of Angels (Yannick Gingras), made a backstretch brush from third to take over command.
As Band Of Angels led the field to the half in :54, 6-5 favourite Wicked Little Minx (Brett Miller) tipped first up from fourth with Bettor Be Steppin (Corey Callahan) picking up the cover. Meanwhile, Zeron had Stacia Hanover following Bettor Be Steppin third over in the outer flow.
Band Of Angels maintained the lead through three-quarters in 1:22.2 with the favourite challenging to her outside and the backfield fanning out across the across the track as they raced into the stretch. Rallying widest of all, Stacia Hanover swept past her rivals to score the victory with Bettor Be Steppin and the late-closing Divine Caroline (David Miller) finishing in a dead-heat for second.
"She's not a grinder, she has a huge burst of speed in her and I have to utilize it in the right spot," said Zeron of his racing strategy. "Sometimes I've been forced to press my hand early and that's cost us the wins."
Stacia Hanover now has three wins in 11 starts this year to go along with runner-up efforts in the Miss New Jersey Classic and New Jersey Sire Stakes.
Zeron said he is confident the filly can step up as the year progresses towards the Breeders Crown.
"She has unlimited speed and it's just a matter of how I drive her," he said. "Steve always brings her ready to go and I just have to work out those magic trips and today it worked out great."
Zeron added that he was happy with his Hambletonian Day during which he also finished second with Artspeak to Dealt A Winner in the Cane Pace.
"I'm happy to see Artspeak pace a [1]:47 mile and he's back to himself so I'm really happy.
"It's been great. I'm happy the weather turned out. All the races have been competitive. It's a fun day, Hambo Day."
$75,000 Vincennes Free For All Trot
Nearly a full year removed from his last trip to victory lane, Resolve took the checkered flag in the $75,000 Vincennes Free For All Trot for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt in 1:50.4.
The four-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Anikawiesahalee had the pesky 10-hole to deal with, but it clearly wasn’t a major obstacle for the powerhouse performer. Resolve got away fifth and watched Etruscan Hanover (Scott Zeron) and Luminosity (Yannick Gingras) take turns on the lead through fractions of :26.3, :54.2 and 1:23.2. Svanstedt grabbed cover for Resolve in the backstretch, and he rode that cover to the head of the lane before pulling the trigger. Resolve roared home to win in going away fashion over Etruscan Hanover and Not Afraid (Dan Dube).
Hans Enggren of Abbottstown, PA owns the seven-time winner who bumped his lifetime earnings to $412,345 with the win.
$50,000 Townsend Ackerman
Honor And Serve didn't hit the wire first in the $50,000 Townsend Ackerman for three-year-old trotting colts & geldings but he still took home the lion's share of the purse.
Favoured Explosive Man (Tim Tetrick) looked to be home and clear after trotting through rated fractions of :56.4 and 1:25. The first-over bid of Cue Hall (Yannick Gingras) was repelled and the margin in the stretch appeared insurmountable. That was the case until David Miller and Scott Zeron found room and the afterburners with Honor And Serve and Musical Rhythm, respectively. The wire didn't come in time for Explosive Man, who was picked off by both Musical Rhythm and Honor And Serve, in that order. However, Musical Rhythm was offstride at the wire and the judges disqualified the winner for a double lapped-on break. That placed Musical Rhythm to third and bumped Honor And Serve up for the win in 1:53.1.
Trained by Jim Campbell for Fashion Farms, Honor And Serve (Donato Hanover - Honorable Daughter) notched the second win of his sophomore campaign and picked up a new lifetime mark in the process.
$40,000 Open Pace
Clear Vision saved ground over hot early fractions and captured the first race on the card, the $40,000 Open Pace.
The nine-year-old gelding equalled his lifetime mark of 1:48.2 after benefitting from hot early fractions. Favoured Odds On Equuleus (Andy Miller) had designs on the lead and got there after a parked-out opening quarter of :25.2 by Allstar Legend (Joe Bongiorno) and finally clearing by the three-eighths mark. The pace did not relent with a :52.2 half and three-quarters in 1:20.4.
At the head of the stretch, the backfield fanned out and took aim at the pacesetter. Yannick Gingras was sitting third along the rail with Clear Vision and angled him up the rail for the pylon-skimming score over fast-closing stablemate All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley) and Dapper Dude (Andrew McCarthy).
Clear Vision picked a great time to notch his first win of the season, his 30th lifetime. The Western Hanover - Artistic Vision gelding is trained by Ron Burke, who co-owns with Weaver Bruscemi LLC, The Panhellenic Stable Corp., and James Koran.
Important Links for Hambletonian Day: