Fields set for Hambletonian & Oaks eliminations
July 26, 2011,by Amy Silver, publicity director, Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, NJ — Eighteen 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters are now in pursuit of harness racing’s greatest prize, the $1.5 million Hambletonian at Meadowlands Racetrack.
The contenders were divided among two $70,000 eliminations to be raced Saturday (July 30). The top five in each elim will advance to the $1.5 million Hambletonian on Saturday (August 6). Elim winners earn the right to choose their starting posts for the final at a live draw on Tuesday (August 2).
Canadian sensation Blue Porsche, Stanley Dancer Memorial winners Chapter Seven and Manofmanymissions, and 2010 Dan Patch Award winner Pastor Stephen lead the competition for a Hambletonian starting spot.
Blue Porsche is perfect in three starts this season for trainer Blair Burgess, who won the Hambletonian in 2003 with Amigo Hall and 2006 with Glidemaster, the colt’s sire. Blue Porsche won the $353,940 Goodtimes final at Mohawk in his last start, upping his career totals to eight wins in 12 starts and $607,198 in earnings.
Chapter Seven, who drew into the first elim with Blue Porsche, made his 3-year-old debut a victorious one in the Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 16. The son of Windsong’s Legacy, trained by Linda Toscano, has won eight of nine career starts, including the Matron final at Dover last year.
Manofmanymissions, the other Stanley Dancer winner, will begin his Hambletonian quest in the second elim. Last year’s Breeders Crown champion has finished first or second in three of four starts this season for trainer Erv Miller.
Jimmy Takter pupil Pastor Stephen, the 2010 divisional champion, looks to rebound from a miscue in the Dancer in the second elim as well. The otherwise-consistent son of Cantab Hall has been first or second in 15 of 17 career starts for a bankroll of $842,149.
A pair of eliminations for the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks, the companion event for fillies, will also be contested on the July 30 card. Crys Dream, the 2010 divisional champion, and Jezzy, a winner of eight straight races this year, lead the list of 19 fillies.
Post time is 7 p.m. for the 12-race Saturday card, which also includes a $25,000 prep for the Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Outdoor festivities include a farmers’ market, rum tasting, music by a DJ, moonbounce and a giant slide. Go to www.MeadowlandsRacetrack.com for more information.
The Hambletonian elimination fields:
Race 5 – $70,000 Hambletonian Elimination
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Whit-Tim Tetrick-Homer Hochstetler
2-Big Sky Storm-Ron Pierce-Chris Marino
3-Orlando-Cat Manzi-Don Swick
4-Luckycharm Hanover-David Miller-Thomas Haughton
5-Celebrity Bombay-Brian Sears-Staffan Lind
6-Chapter Seven-Mike Lachance-Linda Toscano
7-Fawkes-Yannick Gingras-Jonas Czernyson
8-Broad Bahn-George Brennan-Noel Daley
9-Blue Porsche-Trevor Ritchie-Blair Burgess
Race 6 – $70,000 Hambletonian Elimination
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Whiskey Tax-Tim Tetrick-Thomas Durand
2-Magnum Kosmos-Dave Palone-Tony Dinges
3-Pastor Stephen-Ron Pierce-Jimmy Takter
4-Big Rigs-Tim Tetrick-Kelly O’Donnell
5-Bambino Hall-Dave Palone-Tyler Raymer
6-Opening Night-Brian Sears-Jim Campbell
7-Manofmanymissions-Andy Miller-Erv Miller
8-Charlie De Vie-Tim Tetrick-Chris Ryder
9-Live Jazz-Tim Tetrick-Chuck Sylvester
The Hambletonian Oaks elimination fields:
Race 3 – $35,000 Hambletonian Oaks Elimination
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Martiniontherocks-Ron Pierce-R. Dustin Jones
2-Hey Mister-Brian Sears-Ross Croghan
3-Crys Dream-Luc Ouellette-Henrik Hollsten
4-Sashay-Yannick Gingras-Bob Stewart
5-Lost Symbol-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer
6-Intense America-Tim Tetrick-Normand Bardier, Jr.
7-Wincinnatti-Yannick Gingras-Brett Bittle
8-Celebrity Katie-Brett Miller-Staffan Lind
9-Pantholops-Andy Miller-Jonas Czernyson
10-Thatsnotmyname-Ron Pierce-Jimmy Takter
Race 4 – $35,000 Hambletonian Oaks Elimination
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Seducedbychocolate-David Miller-Jonas Czernyson
2-Southwind Amiga-Brian Sears-Trond Smedshammer
3-Cedar Dove-Ron Pierce-Noel Daley
4-Bold And Fresh-Ron Pierce-Doug Miller
5-Iron Lady-Luc Ouellette-Fredrik Persson
6-Jezzy-Tim Tetrick-Ray Schnittker
7-Migisi-Cat Manzi-Don Swick
8-Creme De Cocoa-D.R. Ackerman-D.R. Ackerman
9-Lady Rainbow-Rick Zeron-Rick Zeron
- Chapter Seven looks to pay off in Hambletonian (Tuesday, July 26, 2011)
Chapter Seven on Tuesday was one of 18 3-year-old trotters entered in the Hambletonian Stakes — harness racing’s top trotting prize — at Meadowlands Racetrack.
- Martiniontherocks hopes to get back on track in Hambo Oaks (Tuesday, July 26, 2011)
She might not look like much around the barn, but when dressed for a night out she can turn heads.
- This ‘Charlie’ could be a contender (Wednesday, July 27, 2011)
This could be the year for surprises in the $1.5 million Hambletonian. The connections of 18 colts entered the fray on Tuesday with only 10 guaranteed a spot in the final on August 6. Trainer Chris Ryder could be that “Why Not Me?” guy when he sends out the precocious Charlie De Vie in one of the classic’s two elimination heats.
- Hambletonian forecast looks bright for Big Sky Storm (Wednesday, July 27, 2011)
What Big Sky Storm lacks in concentration, he makes up for in raw talent.
- Improving Whit has Hambletonian in his sights (Thursday, July 28, 2011)
He was not endowed with the gifts his barnmates flaunted, but that did not deter Whit from forging his way to the top of his trainer’s list of 3-year-olds.
- Zeron hoping for ‘Rainbow’ performance in Oaks elims (Thursday, July 28, 2011)
The Rick Zeron trainee Lady Rainbow has had a very productive sophomore season this year and her WEG conditioner hopes that continues when she lines up behind the gate in Saturday’s $35,000 Hambletonian Oaks eliminations at the Meadowlands.
- Broad Bahn looking for quickest route to Victory Lane (Friday, July 29, 2011)
While his owner and family managed to travel the longest distance to reach the Hambletonian, trainer Noel Daley hopes his sophomore trotter Broad Bahn is prepared to take the shortest route to the winner’s circle in this year’s edition of trotting’s most prestigious prize.