George Ducharme back for another try at Hambletonian glory

by Jay Bergman, for the Hambletonian Society

Cranbury, NJ — Trainer George Ducharme knows that Wings Of Royalty is not the same horse as 2013 Hambletonian champion Royalty For Life. The affable conditioner nonetheless is rather pleased with the progress the son of RC Royalty has made entering the 90th edition of the Hambletonian Saturday at the Meadowlands.

“I’m very happy with the way he trained this week,” said Ducharme from his Vernon Downs base on Thursday.

Steve Roth photo

Wings Of Royalty has finished in the money in seven of his nine starts this year, with $110,927 in earnings.

“I thought he raced well in the Zweig (fourth place behind Pinkman). After the race I talked to Tim (Tetrick) and we both agreed that he needed a race over the big track to get stretched out and acclimate to the speed of the race. He’d been racing so much over the half-mile tracks.”

Royalty For Life will have Brian Sears in the bike in the second of two elimination heats on Saturday afternoon.

“I was very happy with the draw,” said Ducharme of post five in the nine-horse field.

Wings Of Royalty, a homebred of Raymond Campbell Jr., has earned $237,599 during his career, racing primarily in New York. The colt prepped for the Hambletonian with a victory at Vernon Downs last Saturday coming from off the pace in 1:54.3.

“I think he’s as good as he’s ever been,” said Ducharme of Wings Of Royalty. “I was happy with the division he got into. I think the first division is tougher but we do have Mission Brief and she’ll be tough if she behaves.”

Royalty For Life was a favorite going into the Hambletonian in 2013 and Wings Of Royalty is a decided longshot. But Ducharme wouldn’t have entered the colt had he not thought he belonged with this group.

Wings Of Royalty has been quite consistent throughout his career and has the dual capacity to race near or from off the pace and still finish his miles with strength.

Without question having Hambletonian experience is a major factor in getting to the race again and succeeding. Both Ducharme and Brian Sears (who has the drive Saturday) have been here before which in a sense takes some of the pressure off. Wings Of Royalty is as good as he’s going to be, but whether that’s good enough won’t be known until sometime late on Saturday afternoon.

Following are the fields for the Hambletonian eliminations in post order with drivers, trainers and morning line odds. The Hambletonian final is Race No. 13:

$1.2 million Hambletonian-$100,000 1st elim.-Race 8
HN-Post-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Donatomite, Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer, 15-1
2. The Bank, Johnny Takter, Jimmy Takter, 8-1
3. Workout Wonder, Daniel Dube, Ake Svanstedt, 12-1
4. Habitat, Brian Sears, Ron Burke, 6-1
5. Total Darkness, Tim Tetrick, Jonas Czernyson, 20-1
6. Fashion Creditor, David Miller, Tom Fanning, 20-1
7. Jacksons Minion, Tom Jackson, Tom Jackson, 30-1
8. Centurion ATM, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 9-2
9. Canepa Hanover, Jimmy Takter, Jimmy Takter, 3-1
10. Pinkman, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter, 8-5

$1.2 million Hambletonian-$100,000 2nd elim.-Race 9
HN-Post-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Billy Flynn, Scott Zeron, Staffan Lind, 15-1
2. Mission Brief, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 6-5
3. Cruzado Dela Noche, Orjan Kihlstrom, Nancy Johansson, 20-1
4. Aldebaran Eagle, Corey Callahan, Jonas Czernyson, 20-1
5. Wings Of Royalty, Brian Sears, George Ducharme, 12-1
6. French Laundry, Brett Miller, Jimmy Takter, 4-1
7. Uncle Lasse, David Miller, Jimmy Takter, 5-2
8. Southwind Mozart, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 20-1
9. Muscle Diamond, Tim Tetrick, Brett Bittle, 8-1

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