by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — For better or worse, Richard “Nifty” Norman has undergone a plethora of experiences at the Hambletonian Oaks.

What lies ahead for the trainer and his horse, Magic Presto, at Saturday’s $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old female trotters is anybody’s guess.

“Well, we’re in there,” Norman said. “We’ve got a chance. That’s all you can ask for.”

And as Norman knows better than most, anything can happen once you’re in there.

In 2010, Nifty trained the Oaks favorite, Poof She’s Gone, who made a break on the final turn and finished seventh. Two years later, his 57-1 longshot entry, Personal Style, won the race after the top two favorites, Check Me Out and Maven, both made breaks.

Finally, in 2013, events played out as expected. Norman’s heavily favored Bee A Magician, the eventual Horse of the Year with a 17-17-0-0 record, won the Oaks with Brian Sears driving.

Lisa photo

Magic Presto won her Hambletonian Oaks elimination in a lifetime best 1:52.1.

This year, Magic Presto is not the favorite — that distinction goes to Ariana G, unless her connections opt for the Hambletonian — and she’s not the longshot.

So what is she?

Owners Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee and Jeff Gural’s Little E LLC are anxious to find out.

“She raced good (in the eliminations),” Norman said. “She didn’t run off on anyone, but I thought she looked good and Brian (Sears) was happy with her. That’s all you can hope for. She seems good and healthy and sound. So we’re going in (to the final) in good shape, hopefully.”

This will be the first time in a while that Magic Presto comes back in a week, but Norman said “I think it will be good for her. Brian said she was a little fresh in her elimination but that’s probably a good thing.”

Bred by Liverman, Magic Presto was purchased for $160,000 at the 2015 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg by nearly the same group of owners as Bee A Magician. Hartman, Liverman and McDuffee all had a piece of the 2013 Horse of the Year.

A growth spurt put Magic Presto at 17 hands at the start of the season, as her size became so dramatic a new bike had to be built for her.

This season she has four wins in seven starts, with earnings of $162,418. In addition to her Oaks elimination triumph, Magic Presto won the $94,995 Ontario SBOA final at Mohawk on May 20.

“Everything’s gone to plan really,” Norman said. “It’s been kind of what we wanted, not having to race her too hard, and trying to be at our best for this week. She’s gotten better and better all the time. I think she’ll still improve some more. She’s a big filly and she’s probably not as strong as she could be. I think she’ll get stronger as she gets older.”

Norman is attempting to become the fourth trainer to gain three Hambletonian Oaks wins. Jimmy Takter and Jan Johnson share the record with six, while Glen Garnsey trained three winners. Sears could become the fifth driver with three Oaks wins, as Glen Garnsey, Ron Pierce and Yannick Gingras have three each and Berndt Lindstedt owns a record four.

The post positions and morning line odds will be revealed for the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands during a live post position draw on Tuesday (Aug. 1) beginning at 2 p.m.

The event will be streamed exclusively on the Meadowlands Racetrack Facebook page and YouTube channel. Fans should be sure to “Like” the Facebook page or “subscribe” to the YouTube channel in order to view the stream.