Hambletonian Day on tap this Saturday at the Meadowlands
This Saturday afternoon novice and serious harness racing enthusiasts alike will focus their attention on the Meadowlands as the famed one-mile oval in northern New Jersey hosts the Grade I, $1 million Hambletonian on a stakes-filled card that has attracted many of the sport's best horses, trainers and drivers.
With the Meadowlands not currently available on BetAmerica, our sister site TwinSpires is offering a full card of great Hambletonian day wagering!
Saturday's Hambletonian Day card will feature the Hambo, which will be contested in heats on the back half of the program, will feature many of the sport's best trotters and pacers of all ages. Nearly all of the horses in the Hambletonian Society Top 10 poll will be on hand and several of those not on the list could earn a spot there next Tuesday afternoon.
In the opening race on the card, a $40,000 4-Year-Old Open for pacers, Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick) will loom the solid choice while seeking his third straight score since finishing third behind Lather Up in the Graduate Final in 1:46. Backstreet Shadow won last weekend at the Meadows in 1:48.4 and scored one week earlier at the Meadowlands in 1:47.4 and appears to be a budding star in this division for trainer Ron Burke heading into the fall stakes action.
Looking to upend Backstreet Shadow in the 4YO Open are Maryland-breds Mach N Cheese and Courtly Choice, both of which are looking to regain their winning ways. Courtly Choice was among the very best three-year-old colt pacers last season when he won the Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug and concluded the year with nine wins and $900,000 banked in 16 tries. He was snubbed for division honors in favor of Divisidoro Hanover but was named Maryland-bred harness horse of the year, edging trotter Met's Hall, a multiple Grade I runner-up.
Several races later in the $310,000 Jim Doherty Memorial final for two-year-old filly trotters, unbeaten elim winner Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears) should be the solid favorite having won all three of her starts including last week's elim in 1:53.3 for trainer Marcus Melander. Fellow unbeaten elim winner, Crucial (Yannick Gingras) has won both of her outings, including last week's elim in 1:54.3, while elim winner Solsbury Hill (Scott Zeron) prevailed last week in 1:55.3 at 9-1 and should be a similar price here. Sherry Lyns Lady (Tetrick) was second to Crucial at 3-5 in their elim and could atone from her outside slot.
Then one race later in the $325,000 Peter Haughton Memorial final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings whose long-term goal in Hambo glory next summer, Real Cool Sam (David Miller) looms the odds-on choice having won all four of his career outings to date at less than even-money for trainer Jim Campbell, including last week's elim score in 1:54.1. Synergy (Gingras) will seek his third straight score to start his career after last week's elim tally in 1:54.4 for trainer Per Engbloom. Stay Loose (Zeron) was second as the 8-5 choice to Synergy last week and could make amends at a decent price here.
One race later in the $100,000 Shady Daisy Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers, Stonebridge Soul (Tetrick) will look to continue her status as division leader in a solid field that also includes Warrawee Ubeaut (Gingras), Tall Drink Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) and Treacherous Reign (Dexter Dunn). Both Stoneburdge Soul and Tall Drink Hanover won divisions of the Adioo Volo last Saturday at the Meadows, while Warrawee Ubeaut merits respect for Burke and could make amends for several prior setbacks.
Then one race later in the $230,000 Sam McKee Memorial final for older pacers at one-mile and one-eighth, McWicked (Sears), the reigning harness horse of the year fresh off a sharp, second over victory in the $260,000 Gerrity final at Saratoga, will tackle talented four-year-olds Lather Up (Montrell Teague) and This Is The Plan (Gingras). Lather Up has won six of nine starts this year including a world record 1:46 triumph in the Graduate Final for trainer George Teague, Jr. and owner-breeders Gary & Barbara Iles, while This Is The Plan has been second in three straight stakes and looms a major danger because of his early speed and likely pocket presence. Highalator (Richard Still) won last week's Golden Receiver final at the Meadowlands handily in 1:48, but was unlucky in the draw and will have to overcome post 12 in the second tier against this group.
One race later will be the first Hambletonian elim and much of the attention will be on one of the Melander trainees. Gimpanzee (Sears), who capped his freshman campaign with a victory in the Breeders Crown final, will put his unblemished record on the line in this heat and potentially the final an hour later. Gimpanzee has won all three of his starts this year and is undefeated in 12 career tries. His stablemate, Green Manalishi S (Tetrick) and Swandre The Giant (David Miller) pose modest threats.
Then one race later in the second Hambo elim, all of the attention will be yet another Melander trainee. Greenshoe (Sears) has won four of five starts this year and taken a 1:50.1 mark and was simply unlucky in his lone defeat in the $500,000 Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial at Pocono Downs, and heads into this event as the sport's top sophomore trotting colt although his stablemate in the first elim is still undefeated. Greenshoe will have to upend Marseille (Ake Svandstedt) who edged him in the Beal, Pilot Discretion (McCarthy), who was second to him two starts back and Don't Let'em (Gingras) who won his prep for this event last week in 1:50.2.
Five of the trotters in each of the first two elims will return for the final slated as race 12 and the most interesting choice of the day could belong to Sears, especially if he steers both Gimpanzee and Greenshoe to elim scores. Gimpanzee could head into the final undefeated, but Sears could still opt for Greenshoe who appears the most talented sophomore in the land at this point.
Then immediately after the Hambo elims, older trotters will be on display in the $280,000 John Cashman Memorial. Former Hambo hero Marion Marauder (Zeron) drew the rail against a solid group that includes Guardian Angel As (Tetrick), fresh off a stakes score at Plainridge Race Course, Cruzado Del La Noche (Sears) and Six Pack (Svandstedt), who should have earned a berth in the Hambo final last summer but was victimized by a historically poor drive by his trainer-driver that day.
One race later in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for three-year-old filly trotters, the unbeaten Millies Possession (Dexter Dunn) will look to remain that way for trainer Jim Campbell, although she will have serious threats from Evident Beauty (David Miller) and When Dovescry (Simon Allard), the fastest elim winner last week. Millies Possession just outlasted the late surge of Evident Beauty in their elim battle last weekend, but the Nifty Norman trainee could turn the tables on her in this Grade I affair.
Then one race after the Hambo final, trotting mares will be on display in the $180,000 Dr. John Steele Memorial. Hannelore Hanover (Gingras) has won three times in five tries this year and owns a 45-16-5 slate and nearly $3 million banked from 76 career outings, but she will get a serious test from Manchego (Dunn), a 1:50.1 winner last weekend, Emoticon Hanover (Bob McClure) and Darling Mearas (Andy Miller) in this spot.
One race later in the $185,000 Lady Liberty Stakes for pacing fillies and mares, Shartin N (Tetrick) the reigning queen of harness racing pacers, will seek her 12th win in 13 seasonal starts following a handy victory at Plain Ridge last weekend against a solid group of distaffers that includes Caviart Ally (McCarthy), Youaremycandygirl (Gingras), and Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan), runner-up to Shartin N last weekend. Shartin N owns the top spot in the harness racing top 10 poll heading into this weekend and drew the rail for the Lady Liberty.
Then one race later in the final stakes on the card, Bettor's Wish (Dunn) and Captain Crunch (Zeron) will renew their rivalry in the $300,000 Cane Pace, the first jewel in harness racing's Triple Crown for pacers. Captain Crunch prevailed narrowly in the $750,000 North America Cup at Mohawk then settled for fourth as the 1-2 choice in the $675,000 Meadowlands Pace. Bettor's Wish was second in both of those events although he may have been best in those two Grade I stakes and could finally make amends in this spot on Hambo Day.
Find all Hambletonian day betting opportunities and offerings from the Meadowlands on TwinSpires!
With the Meadowlands not currently available on BetAmerica, our sister site TwinSpires is offering a full card of great Hambletonian day wagering!
Saturday's Hambletonian Day card will feature the Hambo, which will be contested in heats on the back half of the program, will feature many of the sport's best trotters and pacers of all ages. Nearly all of the horses in the Hambletonian Society Top 10 poll will be on hand and several of those not on the list could earn a spot there next Tuesday afternoon.
In the opening race on the card, a $40,000 4-Year-Old Open for pacers, Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick) will loom the solid choice while seeking his third straight score since finishing third behind Lather Up in the Graduate Final in 1:46. Backstreet Shadow won last weekend at the Meadows in 1:48.4 and scored one week earlier at the Meadowlands in 1:47.4 and appears to be a budding star in this division for trainer Ron Burke heading into the fall stakes action.
Looking to upend Backstreet Shadow in the 4YO Open are Maryland-breds Mach N Cheese and Courtly Choice, both of which are looking to regain their winning ways. Courtly Choice was among the very best three-year-old colt pacers last season when he won the Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug and concluded the year with nine wins and $900,000 banked in 16 tries. He was snubbed for division honors in favor of Divisidoro Hanover but was named Maryland-bred harness horse of the year, edging trotter Met's Hall, a multiple Grade I runner-up.
Several races later in the $310,000 Jim Doherty Memorial final for two-year-old filly trotters, unbeaten elim winner Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears) should be the solid favorite having won all three of her starts including last week's elim in 1:53.3 for trainer Marcus Melander. Fellow unbeaten elim winner, Crucial (Yannick Gingras) has won both of her outings, including last week's elim in 1:54.3, while elim winner Solsbury Hill (Scott Zeron) prevailed last week in 1:55.3 at 9-1 and should be a similar price here. Sherry Lyns Lady (Tetrick) was second to Crucial at 3-5 in their elim and could atone from her outside slot.
Then one race later in the $325,000 Peter Haughton Memorial final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings whose long-term goal in Hambo glory next summer, Real Cool Sam (David Miller) looms the odds-on choice having won all four of his career outings to date at less than even-money for trainer Jim Campbell, including last week's elim score in 1:54.1. Synergy (Gingras) will seek his third straight score to start his career after last week's elim tally in 1:54.4 for trainer Per Engbloom. Stay Loose (Zeron) was second as the 8-5 choice to Synergy last week and could make amends at a decent price here.
One race later in the $100,000 Shady Daisy Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers, Stonebridge Soul (Tetrick) will look to continue her status as division leader in a solid field that also includes Warrawee Ubeaut (Gingras), Tall Drink Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) and Treacherous Reign (Dexter Dunn). Both Stoneburdge Soul and Tall Drink Hanover won divisions of the Adioo Volo last Saturday at the Meadows, while Warrawee Ubeaut merits respect for Burke and could make amends for several prior setbacks.
Then one race later in the $230,000 Sam McKee Memorial final for older pacers at one-mile and one-eighth, McWicked (Sears), the reigning harness horse of the year fresh off a sharp, second over victory in the $260,000 Gerrity final at Saratoga, will tackle talented four-year-olds Lather Up (Montrell Teague) and This Is The Plan (Gingras). Lather Up has won six of nine starts this year including a world record 1:46 triumph in the Graduate Final for trainer George Teague, Jr. and owner-breeders Gary & Barbara Iles, while This Is The Plan has been second in three straight stakes and looms a major danger because of his early speed and likely pocket presence. Highalator (Richard Still) won last week's Golden Receiver final at the Meadowlands handily in 1:48, but was unlucky in the draw and will have to overcome post 12 in the second tier against this group.
One race later will be the first Hambletonian elim and much of the attention will be on one of the Melander trainees. Gimpanzee (Sears), who capped his freshman campaign with a victory in the Breeders Crown final, will put his unblemished record on the line in this heat and potentially the final an hour later. Gimpanzee has won all three of his starts this year and is undefeated in 12 career tries. His stablemate, Green Manalishi S (Tetrick) and Swandre The Giant (David Miller) pose modest threats.
Then one race later in the second Hambo elim, all of the attention will be yet another Melander trainee. Greenshoe (Sears) has won four of five starts this year and taken a 1:50.1 mark and was simply unlucky in his lone defeat in the $500,000 Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial at Pocono Downs, and heads into this event as the sport's top sophomore trotting colt although his stablemate in the first elim is still undefeated. Greenshoe will have to upend Marseille (Ake Svandstedt) who edged him in the Beal, Pilot Discretion (McCarthy), who was second to him two starts back and Don't Let'em (Gingras) who won his prep for this event last week in 1:50.2.
Five of the trotters in each of the first two elims will return for the final slated as race 12 and the most interesting choice of the day could belong to Sears, especially if he steers both Gimpanzee and Greenshoe to elim scores. Gimpanzee could head into the final undefeated, but Sears could still opt for Greenshoe who appears the most talented sophomore in the land at this point.
Then immediately after the Hambo elims, older trotters will be on display in the $280,000 John Cashman Memorial. Former Hambo hero Marion Marauder (Zeron) drew the rail against a solid group that includes Guardian Angel As (Tetrick), fresh off a stakes score at Plainridge Race Course, Cruzado Del La Noche (Sears) and Six Pack (Svandstedt), who should have earned a berth in the Hambo final last summer but was victimized by a historically poor drive by his trainer-driver that day.
One race later in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for three-year-old filly trotters, the unbeaten Millies Possession (Dexter Dunn) will look to remain that way for trainer Jim Campbell, although she will have serious threats from Evident Beauty (David Miller) and When Dovescry (Simon Allard), the fastest elim winner last week. Millies Possession just outlasted the late surge of Evident Beauty in their elim battle last weekend, but the Nifty Norman trainee could turn the tables on her in this Grade I affair.
Then one race after the Hambo final, trotting mares will be on display in the $180,000 Dr. John Steele Memorial. Hannelore Hanover (Gingras) has won three times in five tries this year and owns a 45-16-5 slate and nearly $3 million banked from 76 career outings, but she will get a serious test from Manchego (Dunn), a 1:50.1 winner last weekend, Emoticon Hanover (Bob McClure) and Darling Mearas (Andy Miller) in this spot.
One race later in the $185,000 Lady Liberty Stakes for pacing fillies and mares, Shartin N (Tetrick) the reigning queen of harness racing pacers, will seek her 12th win in 13 seasonal starts following a handy victory at Plain Ridge last weekend against a solid group of distaffers that includes Caviart Ally (McCarthy), Youaremycandygirl (Gingras), and Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan), runner-up to Shartin N last weekend. Shartin N owns the top spot in the harness racing top 10 poll heading into this weekend and drew the rail for the Lady Liberty.
Then one race later in the final stakes on the card, Bettor's Wish (Dunn) and Captain Crunch (Zeron) will renew their rivalry in the $300,000 Cane Pace, the first jewel in harness racing's Triple Crown for pacers. Captain Crunch prevailed narrowly in the $750,000 North America Cup at Mohawk then settled for fourth as the 1-2 choice in the $675,000 Meadowlands Pace. Bettor's Wish was second in both of those events although he may have been best in those two Grade I stakes and could finally make amends in this spot on Hambo Day.
Find all Hambletonian day betting opportunities and offerings from the Meadowlands on TwinSpires!
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