Talk about a smorgasbord of stakes races! The Meadowlands will host the holy grail of harness racing – the Hambletonian – this Saturday, and while it is the main event it certainly isn’t the only group of stars offered on the marathon card.
The Hambletonian Oaks accompanies the Hambletonian in addition to a number of other marquee events. Here’s a preview of what fans will be treated to on the 16-race card:
Race 2 - $97,550 Shady Daisy
Fire Start Hanover is the hot filly coming into this contest for trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman. He’s watched the three-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Fit To Frame post a 2-1-0 record in her first four starts of the year. She scooted home for a 1:49 score in her latest outing – the $62,800 Tompkins-Geers. Dexter Dunn is scheduled to do the driving.
Race 3 - $50,000 Muscle Hill
Dancinginthedark M wasn’t himself in last weekend’s elimination round for the Hambletonian, but he’ll get a chance to redeem himself for trainer Marcus Melander and driver Tim Tetrick. The three-year-old son of Readly Express-Leila Hanover miscued late last week, but two weeks earlier he won the $135,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial in 1:50.1.
Race 5 - $276,150 Cane Pace
Perfect Sting kicked home in :26 to capture last week’s $78,700 Tomkins-Geers in 1:49 for the tandem of driver David Miller and trainer Joe Holloway, but the talent pool will be much deeper this time around for the three-year-old son of Always B Miki-Shebestingin who will try to add to his bankroll that sits in excess of $800,000.
The likes of this year’s Messenger Stakes winner, American Courage, the Adios runner-up, Rockyroad Hanover and the talented, but inconsistent, One Eight Hundred will try to make life difficult for the likely favourite.
Race 6 - $191,050 Lady Liberty
Lyons Sentinel captured a pair of stakes in July thanks to top tier efforts in the $160,000 Artiscape and the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, and she’ll look to keep the ball rolling for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim King, Jr. The four-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-Tutu Hanover will likely see a different JK First Lady than the one she met – and beat handily – the Clara Barton Distaff Pace.
Race 7 - $326,850 Jim Doherty Memorial
The undefeated Venerable swept the New Jersey Sires Stakes legs and final for driver David Miller and trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman, and she figures to be the one to beat in this rich tilt. The two-year-old daughter of Walner-Jolene Jolene enters the rich tilt following her career-best performance of 1:52.2 in the $200,000 NJSS Final.
Race 8 - $60,000 Vincennes Preferred
This affairs has plenty of Ontario-sired representation thanks to the presence of Hey Livvy, Angel Nation and Lovedbythemasses. They’ve all won multiple races this season at different venues, and they’re all capable on their best day. One other horse looking to bounce back will be Its Academic for trainer Ron Burke. The 19-time winner has racked up six wins this year, but he threw in a clunker last time in the Hambletonian Maturity.
Race 9 - $293,450 Peter Haughton Memorial
King Of The North will look to keep his perfect record intact for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker. The two-year-old son of Walner-Check Me Out took his elimination last week in 1:56.1 to improve his record to four wins in as many starts. He’s the fastest performer in the field by virtue of the 1:52.4 performance he turned in on July 17 in the $200,000 NJSS Final.
Race 10 - $157,100 Sam McKee Memorial
Nicholas Beach is eight starts into the season and he has yet to finish worse than second for Team Bongiorno. Joe Bongiorno will pilot the pacer who has lit the lamp six times this year for trainer Jen Bongiorno. The five-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Michelle My Gal, who is just shy of $200,000 in earnings, will look to extend his winning streak to four in a row.
Race 11 - $269,750 John Cashman Memorial
This dash could turn into a high speed affair considering how deep the talent pool is. Manchego will take on the boys yet again for trainer Nancy Takter and driver Dexter Dunn. The triple millionairess totes a two-race winning streak into the contest which also features a past Hambletonian winner in Forbidden Trade and the freakishly fast Beads, who enters the assignment fresh off of an eye-catching score in the $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity.
Race 12 - $158,500 Sam McKee Memorial
Cattlewash has stamped himself as a major player in this contest following back-to-back big money scores for driver David Miller and trainer Ron Burke. The four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Road Bet took down the $250,000 Graduate Series on July 10, and then the following week he captured the $265,400 William R. Haughton Memorial. He’ll spar with the winner of the $113,000 Roll With Joe and the $150,000 Joe Gerrity, Jr. Memorial, This Is The Plan, in addition to the winner of the $265,400 William R. Haughton Memorial, Allywag Hanover.
Race 13 - $187,400 Dr. John R. Steele Memorial
Here’s another wide-open affair which features the rubber match between When Dovescry and Atlanta, who were recently 1-2 in a $40,000 leg of the Miss Versatility Series. Knocking on the door in recent weeks has been Hypnotic AM. Those three and four other talented trotting lasses figure to put on quite a show.
The fields for both the Hambletonian (Race 15) and Hambletonian Oaks (Race 14) finals are below.
$1,000,000 Hambletonian Final
PP-Horse (Driver-Trainer, ML)
1-Delayed Hanover (Yannick Gingras-Ake Svanstedt, 7/2)
2-Take All Comers (David Miller-Jim Campbell, 12-1)
3-Spy Booth (Tim Tetrick-Nancy Takter, 15-1)
4-Captain Corey (Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt, 3-1)
5-Locatelli (Andrew McCarthy-Nancy Takter, 15-1)
6-Sonofamistery (Brian Sears-Marcus Melander, 4-1)
7-Really Fast (Dexter Dunn-Nancy Takter, 5-1)
8-Venerate (Andy Miller-Julie Miller, 8-1)
9-Ambassador Hanover (Scott Zeron-Ake Svanstedt, 15-1)
10-Cuatro De Julio (Lucas Wallin-Marie Ortolan-Bar, 10-1)
$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks Final
PP-Horse (Driver-Trainer, ML)
1-Darlene Hanover (Todd McCarthy-Brett Bittle, 10-1)
2-Flawless Country (Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt, 15-1)
3-Awesome Trix (Scott Zeron-Chris Beaver, 9/2)
4-Lady Chaos (David Miller-Linda Toscano, 7/2)
5-Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn-Richard "Nifty" Norman, 3-1)
6-Piper Hanover (Andrew McCarthy-Tony Alagna, 8-1)
7-Hot As Hill (Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke, 15-1)
8-Contested Hanover (Tim Tetrick-George Ducharme, 15-1)
9-You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory-Jeff Gregory, 8-1)
10-Iteration (Brian Sears-Marcus Melander, 6-1)
To view the full entries for Hambletonian Day, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Meadowlands.
The fastest mile so far in
The fastest mile so far in 2021 is 1:47.1, a three-way tie between Allywag Hanover, Captain Barbossa, and Cattlewash. The three horses will go head-to-head in the 12th race, the 2nd division of The Sam McKee. It's a shame that Nicholas Beach, who qualified in 1:47.2, drew into the first division.