Hopefuls Brawl In Goodtimes, Breeders Classic Elims

Mohawk Racetrack and Vernon Downs will host Hambletonian Trail events on Friday, June 10, with the colts competing in two eliminations for the Goodtimes Trot, and the fillies going in two eliminations of the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC).

Elim one for the Goodtimes gathers four eligibles: Bar Hopping, Muscle Hustle, Dominion Beach, and Goin To The Limit. With focus heading towards Bar Hopping, Dominion Beach’s improving form will likely be shadowed. He has galloped or parked miles in nearly all of his starts this season but his parked, first-over effort in the New Jersey Sires Stakes final showed he’s growing stronger and more mature.

Marion Marauder headlines the other four hopefuls in elim two. He’ll take a majority of public play while Blenheim, Tony Soprano, Honor Above All and Southwind Flash are either ignored or slightly supported. However, value is present outside of the eligibles with Dia Monde, who’s moving up to this level from the conditioned ranks. He has made two starts this season, winning his first and finishing second off a duel for the lead. His racing style should put him into the mix no matter the class of his competition.

A field of six contest the first EBC elimination, two of which are “Oaks” hopefuls Fad Finance and Non Stick. The duo will compete for the public’s favoritism but Straight A Student should provide a decent price, as she has raced well in her three starts this season, whether she was stalking the pace or setting it.

The second elimination features a field of seven with a quintet of Oaks eligibles led by Open Access, who flew by her rivals to win a division of New York Sires Stakes (NYSS). She attempts to beat fellow Oaks hopefuls Sweet Ashley T, Goosebump Hanover, Earn Your Wings and perhaps her biggest threat, Pampered Winner. A Jimmy Takter-trainee, the daughter of Hambletonian-contender Pampered Princess made her seasonal debut two weeks ago in a NYSS division, recouping ground to finish fourth. She’ll likely be more active in her second go around the track, and is poised to sit an easy trip.

The racing of classic divisions—soph-colt-and-filly trotters—on their quest to the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks finals continues its exclusive, extended coverage from TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society. Recaps of races covered in this blog can be found at the archive section of the web’s home for the Hambletonian Society.

Ray Cotolo contributes to this blog