Colts Coming On Strong; Swandre The Giant At Hoosier Home; Currier & Ives Fillies On Fire

Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks hopefuls (e) are in action as June begins the last two months of Hambo hopes. A lot of this week’s action will determine the placing of this year’s first edition of Hambletonian Trail Top Ten. On May 30, Indiana Sires Stakes (INSS) action for the colts sends out two Hambo-possible colts, one that is an early threat to the early choice to win the classic—Swandre The Giant (e). Also in the field, however, is Lite Years Away (e), who has as much to gain as what appears to be his sole nemesis in this $48,000 contest. Swandre The Giant will drown Lite Years Away as the favorite, mostly because few fans will recognize the latter is the only other eligible for the August classic. For us, this is a two-horse race, and the better price will be on Lite Years Away. One wrong step could slay the “Giant,” who has not proven yet that he returns at three with all of his talent intact. On Friday, May 31, both soph divisions go to $200,000 finals in the New Jersey Sires Stakes at the Meadowlands. The colts line up 10 across in their state-bred championship mile. Greenshoe (e) is bound to be a top public choice. His debut at three was super for Marcus Melander (he also trains Gimpanzee [e], who stormed home as well as he is regarded to win his debut at Vernon last week). Ake Svanstedt’s has three in this field but only Soul Strong (e) will stand out for the public. This guy has two wins in as many starts and deserves respect. Reign Of Honor (e) is a good bet, even though he may be the public’s third choice. Nifty Norman’s colt has already been underrated and may be again, especially if the crowd also gets heavy with Trix And Stones (e). Evident Beauty (e) should be a strong public choice in the fillies mile. She looked so easily on gait and fast in her two wins and looks to be a key for exotics in this one. To pump up those prices, consider using Sister’s Promise (e) and Starita (e). Leaving Special Honor (e) out could be a mistake but perhaps not a pricey one. Saturday, June 1 finds more fillies on display, this time at the Meadows for a classic Currier & Ives division worth $70,000. Ten go for the glory. Worth a look here for price and purpose is Giant Possession. Wilbur Yoder’s filly cashed five checks in eight races, three of them wins. In this group she may not get the kind of support that puts her into the top three public choices. Among the crowd favorites should come Fade Into You. Ron Burke’s filly gets Meadows’ top driver, Dave Palone, who is a money magnet on most of his drives. But that also overrates a lot of his horses, statistically. Rush Lane (e) is among the few aiming for the “Oaks” and she has faced tougher. Nomo Lomo (e) just won and will get a hunk of dough, though the crowd won’t be happy about post 9. Sweet Madam (e) also clouds the pools with some wins and the most experience so far this season. Sunday, June 2, Pocono hosts a trio of colts in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) divisions worth $56,868 each. In the first PASS episode, Ave Svanstedt debuts Marseille (e) as a soph. He is successfully sending his season-starting horses to post and this one should not be passed, especially such a soft field. In the center of the three divisions is a probable favorite, Chiplosive (e), that should romp. He may be compromised by Forecast (e) if that one is ready to race his best mile; else the pair is a good exacta team. Finally, PASS three will be a contest in the betting, if not the mile. Osterc (e) will get solid support and has looked good enough to deserve it. However, Summit In Sight may surprise a lot of bettors when he competes for favoritism. However, should the latter not live up to his potential in the pools, we are happy to take him as the winner over Osterc. Follow Hambletonian Trail action from this blog on Twitter #Hambo19 and @FrankCotolo in cooperation with the Hambletonian Society.