Hambletonian's Opening Heat Drawn

Opening-heat post positions have been drawn for the $1 million Hambletonian, which will be contested this Saturday (August 3) at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The connections of 16 three-year-old trotters entered their charges to contest the Hambletonian, therefore the opening heat will feature a pair of eight-horse divisions.

The top five finishers from each opening-heat division will return later in race card to contest the $1-million final (post time 5:14 p.m.). The final will be featured during a live broadcast that will be aired on the CBS Sports Network from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

The post positions for the opening-heat divisions appear below.

2019 HAMBLETONIAN
Heat 1 – Elimination 1
Post-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line Odds
1-Cantab Fashion-Dexter Dunn-Jim Campbell-6/1
2-Summit In Sight-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-20/1
3-Swandre The Giant-David Miller-Ron Burke-7/2
4-Soul Strong-Dexter Dunn-Ake Svanstedt-8/1
5-Mr Vicktor-Tyler Buter-Jennifer Lappe-15/1
6-Osterc-Yannick Gingras-Per Engblom-15/1
7-Gimpanzee-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-2/1
8-Green Manalishi S-Tim Tetrick-Marcus Melander-5/2

2019 HAMBLETONIAN
Heat 1 – Elimination 2
Post-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line Odds
1-Forbidden Trade-Bob McClure-Luc Blais-12/1
2-Gerry-Orjan Kihlstrom-Marcus Melander-20/1
3-Pilot Discretion-Andrew McCarthy-Tony Alagna-10/1
4-Reign Of Honor-David Miller-R. Nifty Norman-20/1
5-Greenshoe-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-4/5
6-Dont Letem-Yannick Gingras-Nancy Johansson-4/1
7-Super Schissel-Scott Zeron-Per Engblom-10/1
8-Marseille-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt-5/1

Post positions for the Hambletonian Oaks have also been drawn. The results of the post position draw appear below.

2019 HAMBLETONIAN OAKS
Post-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line Odds
1-Southwind Casha-Scott Zeron-John Bax-15/1
2-Millies Possesion-Dexter Dunn-Jim Campbell-9/5
3-Sonnet Grace-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-15/1
4-Evident Beauty-David Miller-R. Nifty Norman-7/2
5-When Dovescry-Simon Allard-Rene Allard-5/2
6-Sweet Chapter-Matt Kakaley-Blake MacIntosh-20/1
7-Asiago-Tim Tetrick-Per Engblom-15/1
8-Queen Of Trixs-Andrew McCarthy-Lucas Wallin-15/1
9-Princess Deo-Andrew McCarthy-Lucas Wallin-12/1
10-Miss Trixton-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-30/1

Top Grand Circuit stakes on the undercard will include the following:

The $230,000 (est.) Sam McKee Memorial FFA Pace will feature a full field of 12 competing at a distance of one and one-eighths miles (it will be the only stakes event contested at the added distance during the Saturday race card). The Sam McKee Memorial will feature Lather Up, who became the co-fastest horse in Standardbred history by virtue of his 1:46 clocking for a mile in the July 10 Graduate final. The Lady Liberty for free for all mares will feature Shartin N, who has had her way with the girls all season and currently sits atop the weekly Top Ten polls among the ten distaffers that have been entered.

The $300,000 (est.) John Cashman Memorial FFA Trot while feature a field of 10, including Guardian Angel AS, who will be heading in off of his Spirit of Massachusetts triumph. The streaking Eurobond will be facing stakes foes off of his record-equalling 1:50.2 victory last week. The $175,000 Dr. John Steele Memorial will also see 10 combatants head to post, led by Hannelore Hanover.

The $300,000 (est.) Cane Pace will house a field of eight and will pit Pepsi NA Cup winner Captain Crunch against Bettors Wish. The race’s companion filly pace, the $100,000 (est.) Shady Daisy, will feature a top-notch field of nine led by Stonebridge Soul.

Juvenile trotting stakes – the $324,550 Peter Haughton Memorial for the colts and $310,700 Jim Doherty Memorial for fillies – will round out the Grand Circuit aspect of the 16-race afternoon. First-race post time will be at 12 noon.

(With files from the Hambletonian Society and the Meadowlands Racetrack)