Trotters’ Agenda Includes ‘Beal’ Elims And Sires Stakes

Both sophomore trotting sexes continue to venture towards possible glory as they progress down the Hambletonian Trail, with the fillies gathering at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday, June 25 for three divisions of the $219,664 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) and the colts shipping to Pocono Downs for three eliminations of the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial on Saturday, June 27.

The opening division of PASS offers the match up between eligible fillies Livininthefastlane and Smexi. The two are reasonably the top probable public choices. That said, look out for another hopeful, Sweet Thing, who will start in between the two aforementioned talents. She has been consistent all season but only has one win to her credit. She will, more likely than not, be on the board.

Hopefuls Smokinmombo and Wild Honey draw into the same division once more, with Smokinmombo winning off a pocket trip in their last contest. Unless Wild Honey steps up her game this go around, Smokinmombo is poised to defeat her as the second choice yet again.

The inside trio, Spirit To Win, Sarcy, and Magic Marker, are the lone eligible fillies in the final division. Sarcy, off an easy win last week in the PASS, is the one to beat here. However, she may be second best this week to the rail filly Spirit To Win, who makes her second start since shipping south from Mohawk. She enters off a good performance over at Pocono, and we expect a better performance from her this week.

The three eliminations for the Earl Beal are supplied with small fields but may offer value. The premier elim attracts last year’s speedy-freshman trotter Habitat, who will compete against five other Hambletonian-eligible colts. Of that quintet, Walter White seems to be improving the most. He was not super talented at two but has begun to show more promise midway through his sophomore season. He enters off a good mile from post 8 and could have what it takes to defeat Habitat.

The second elimination is colts versus Pinkman, winner of the 2014 Breeders Crown two-year-old colt trot and 2015 Hambletonian Winter book favorite. While attempting to knock him down here seems impossible, perhaps the one that could is 2014 Peter Haughton-winner Centurion Atm. He made his sophomore debut last week, racing well despite drawing post 8. He will have to step up his game this week if he is to enter the winners’ circle.

Crazy Wow is the featured trotter in the final “Beal” elimination, despite not being eligible to the Hambletonian. Off a track record-performance in the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon last week, the Crazy Wow bandwagon has likely quadrupled in attendance. Meanwhile, we will side again with the Billy Flynn bunch, as this Cantab Hall colt chased Pinkman last week in the PASS to finish second. He’s a top-tier trotter in this division and he will likely show it either this week or possibly next.

The racing of classic divisions—soph-colt-and-filly trotters—on their quest to the Hambletonian and “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.