It will be a busy weekend for Hambletonian-eligible horses, with a total of 31 in action at three different North American racetracks. The $1 million Hambletonian, for three-year-old trotters, is August 5 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.
Ten horses in Friday’s Goodtimes Stakes eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack are eligible to Hambletonian. The Hambletonian hopefuls in the first elimination are Jake, Snowstorm Hanover, Seven And Seven, Guardian Angel As, Southwind Woody, and International Moni. In the second they are Shake It Off Lindy, Enterprise, AWOL Hanover, and Southwind Cobra.
Seven horses in Friday’s eliminations of Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs are eligible. They are Bill’s Man, Money Macintosh, Top Flight Angel, Such An Angel, and Another Chapter in the first division and Devious Man and Shivered in the second.
Bills Man is the 6-5 morning line favourite in the first group while Devious Man is the 9-5 choice in the second.
On Saturday, three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old male trotters will be contested at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with a total of 14 Hambletonian eligibles going behind the starting gate.
They are Sortie, Di Oggi, Muscles Jared, Lucky Matter, and Rubio in the first; Thisguyisonfire, Dover Dan, Moonshiner Hanover, Meme Hanover, and Sir John F in the second; and President Lindy, Perfect Spirit, Giveitgasandgo, and Don Dream in the third.
Sortie (2-1) and President Lindy (5-2) are the morning line favorites in their divisions. Dover Dan is the 7-2 third choice in the remaining division, behind Meteoric (5-2) and Common Parlance (3-1).
ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN
A look at open stakes for three-year-old male trotters and state-restricted stakes featuring Hambletonian eligibles
Date
Track
Event
First
Second
Third
May 6
Freehold
Dexter Cup
Lord Cromwell
Gustavo Fring
Southwind Cobra
May 19
Meadowlands
NJSS
Long Tom
Yes Mickey
Deacon Tony
May 19
Meadowlands
NJSS
What The Hill
Southwind Cobra
New Jersey Viking
May 20
The Meadows
PASS
Sortie
Giveitgasandgo
High Glider
May 20
The Meadows
PASS
Andy M
Gustavo Fring
Stealth Hanover
May 20
The Meadows
PASS
Common Parlance
Brown Bear
Brand New Key
May 29
Vernon Downs
NYSS
Stick With Me Kid
Bills Man
Top Flight Angel
May 29
Vernon Downs
NYSS
Devious Man
Lord Cromwell
Aces And Eights
May 29
Vernon Downs
NYSS
Enterprise
Swell Chap
Meetmeinthemiddle
June 2
Meadowlands Racetrack
NJSS Final
Long Tom
King On The Hill
What The Hill
June 3
The Meadows
Currier & Ives
Fraser Ridge
Meme Hanover
Muay Hanover
June 3
The Meadows
Currier & Ives
Moonshiner Hanover
Giveitgasandgo
Lars Perry
June 3
The Meadows
Currier & Ives
Sortie
Dover Dan
Always A Good Time
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.