by Ken Warkentin, for the Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ — The $1.5 million Hambletonian is Saturday (August 4) and eliminations are only three weeks from this Saturday (July 7).

It’s been fun following the top contenders and rating their performances on the major stakes trail as harness racing’s greatest day approaches. From our Winterbook Top 10, the list of prospects has grown to about 30 as many have been coming up with serious performances. On Saturday (July 7) the focus will be on the Yonkers Trot, the Hudson Filly Trot, the Reynolds Stake and the Pennsylvania All-Stars.

1. Check Me Out, the outstanding Dan Patch Award winning filly, has had two weeks off after her gutsy win in the Elegantimage Stakes in a Mohawk track record of 1:52.1. The daughter of Donato Hanover faces only two other rivals in the $185,194 Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers in what appears to be a slam dunk for Ray Schnittker. Schnittker’s decision whether or not to enter his filly against the colts in the Hambletonian won’t be made until just before the box closes for the eliminations.

2. Uncle Peter has been off since his break and finishing eighth in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial. He was second (timed in 1:51.4) to Stormin Normand in his elimination. The Breeders Crown upsetter had previously beaten last year’s PASS champion Stormin Normand with a career best of 1:53.4 at The Meadows. I like the fact that he’s still fresh with only three starts this season, and newly minted Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter is high on him.

3. Stormin Normand faces a rematch with Googoo Gaagaa in the Yonkers Trot after finishing a solid second (timed in 1:51) to that rival in the world record (1:50.4) Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial with Dave Palone in the bike. The son of Broadway Hall won his elimination in 1:51.4. Has only made three starts this season on Lasix, which is not permitted in the Hambletonian. The stablemate to Dan Patch Award winner Possess The Will (trainer Jim Campbell) won the PASS Championship at two in 1:54.3 at Pocono Downs.

4. Magic Tonight, the son of Andover Hall, had an off night when he faded to seventh from the rail in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial with Brian Sears driving. He shattered The Meadows track record with a 1:52.4 score in PASS action for trainer Noel Daley, so he obviously has talent and must be given a chance to rebound.

5. Little Brown Fox had last week off after a distant third (timed in 1:52.3) in Googoo Gaagaa’s world record of 1:50.4 in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial with Yannick Gingras driving him for the first time. The Muscles Yankee colt scored a solid decision in the NJSS Final at the Big M in a career best 1:53.3 after winning a division in 1:54.1 for trainer Jimmy Takter.

6. Beer Summit freshened up with another week off following his perfect trip upset ($19.20) in the Goodtimes Final with Ron Pierce in the bike for trainer Noel Daley. The Cantab Hall colt equaled the Mohawk track record of 1:52.2. He was second to Market Share in his elimination, and last month won two straight PASS events.

7. Possess The Will, the 2011 Dan Patch Award winner and stablemate to Stormin Normand, won his second straight qualifier of the season in 1:54.2 with Tim Tetrick driving. Sickness had delayed his comeback and trainer Jim Campbell looks for him to be fresh and sharp, while some of the others beat themselves up. His first start is scheduled to be in the Reynolds Stake on July 7 at The Big M. The top earner among last year’s freshman trotters won the Valley Victory, and went two-for-two in Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile.

8. Guccio missed another week after a wide rally from last to sixth in the Goodtimes Final. The Yankee Glide colt had no chance from post eight, yet kicked home in :26.2 (timed in 1:52.3). Previously finished second behind stablemate Little Brown Fox in the NJSS Final and romped in a division in 1:55.1. Takter is a master at meticulously managing his contenders for that first Saturday in August.

9. Market Share resurfaces in the Yonkers Trot after taking two weeks off. The son of Revenue S was a hard-charging fifth as the beaten favorite in the Goodtimes Final. He had traffic issues at Mohawk and was beaten only a length (timed in 1:52.3), and won his elimination in 1:53.2. He was also the beaten favorite in the NJSS Final, finishing third after setting a rated pace, and had previously won a NJSS division by nine lengths in 1:53.1 for trainer Linda Toscano.

10. From Above finished second by a half-length to Possess The Will in a qualifier on June 28. The Donato Hanover colt was no factor getting away last from post nine and finished a well beaten eighth as the favorite in his sophomore debut on June 22 at the Big M. His previous qualifiers were encouraging and trainer Greg Peck (Muscle Hill) expects big things from this son of Donato Hanover, who won back-to-back Grand Circuit stakes at The Red Mile at two.

Other Contenders

Vic Smith did not race last week after a decent fourth (timed in 1:55) in an overnight on June 22 at the Big M. The freshman NJSS champion broke and finished ninth in the NJSS Final. The son of Yankee Glide won his 2012 NJSS debut in 1:55.3, then lost by a nose to Little Brown Fox in 1:54.1 for Andy and Julie Miller.

My MVP took last week off after finishing a distant fourth from post nine (timed in 1:52.3) in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial. He was third in his elimination (1:52). The son of Cantab Hall won a division of the PASS at The Meadows in 1:55.1 over Beer Summit and Solvato. Mike Lachance drives this colt for trainer Tony Alagna.

Gym Tan Laundry had the last two weeks off after setting a strong pace from post nine and finishing a surprising third in the Goodtimes Final at 99-1, beaten only a half-length. He finished fourth in his Goodtimes elimination, and was a well beaten sixth in the NJSS Final for trainer Noel Daley.

Lightning Storm took last week off after he broke and finished ninth in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial with David Miller in the bike. Kicked off 2012 with back-to-back wins of 1:53.3 and 1:53.4 at the Big M. The Peter Haughton elimination winner is trained by Jonas Czernyson, who has sent out six Hambletonian finalists in the last four editions.

Solvato had his second straight week off following a well beaten fifth behind Googoo Gaagaa in an Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination. Owns a win in a PASS division in 1:53.2 at Harrah’s Philadelphia for Trond Smedshammer, who said he’s fast enough, still fresh and a trip horse just like Windsong’s Legacy.

Delano drew post two in a NYSS division at Yonkers on July 3. He won a division of the NYSS in a Buffalo Raceway track record of 1:56.3 on June 17 for Ray Schnittker. Broke and finishied eighth in the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs. The son of Credit Winner started 2012 by going wire-to-wire in a NYSS division in 1:54.4 at Tioga Downs.

Archangel won a qualifier at Tioga Downs on June 29 in 1:56.2. This Credit Winner colt is five for six this season with one second. He won a division of the NYSS at Buffalo Raceway in 1:57.3 with a flat tire. Broke his own Vernon Downs track record by winning the Empire Breeders Classic in 1:53.1 at Vernon Downs with Jim Morrill, Jr. driving for trainer Peter Arrigena, and won his elimination in 1:53.4.

Money On My Mind took last week off after storming home from post seven to finish a close second (timed in 1:54.2) in an overnight on June 22 at the Big M. A well beaten sixth (timed in 1:52.3) in an Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination for Andy Miller. Also, was a distant second in Magic Tonight’s 1:52.4 track record in a PASS at The Meadows. He was second by a head in last year’s William Wellwood Final. With only three starts this season he’s still fresh.

Riccolo is an Illinois bred by Northern Kid and is eight-for-eight at Balmoral Park this season for trainer Nelson Willis. His latest was a lifetime best of 1:54.2 in the $34,700 Hanover Stake with Marcus Miller in the bike.

Coraggioso drew post seven in a NYSS division at Yonkers on July 3 after missing his second straight week of racing. Cruised to a lifetime best of 1:54.3 in the $63,489 Historic at Tioga Downs. The son of Conway Hall, co-owned by legendary announcer Tom Durkin, finished second in the Empire Breeders Classic for trainer/driver Phil Fluet, and won a NYSS division at Tioga Downs in 1:55.4.

Knows Nothing was not in action for two weeks after finishing a strong fourth in the Goodtimes Final. Had gone undefeated in five starts, winning his Goodtimes elimination in 1:53.4 for Jody Jamieson and Jeff Gillis. Unraced at two, his sire Kadabra will enter the Canadian Hall of Fame in August.

One In A Million missed last week after having no chance with a slow start from post eight and finishing fifth in an overnight on June 22 at the Big M. Won his 2012 debut with a mighty sweep from post 10 in 1:55.2 on June 15 for Brian Sears and Chuck Sylvester, who has four Hambletonians.

Flyhawk Jester has post two in a NYSS division at Yonkers on July 3 after not racing last week. Trainer Tracy Brainard was listed on the in to go report. Finished a well beaten fifth in the Empire Breeders Classic after setting the pace and finishing second in his elimination as the beaten favorite. Previously had a second to Archangel in a NYSS at Tioga Downs.

Big Chocolate drew post two against older foes in an overnight at Vernon Downs on July 4. Finished second in a qualifier at Vernon Downs (timed in 1:55.2) on June 22 for Homer Hochstetler. Rebounded from making a break and finished fourth in a qualifier there on June 8. Had made a break for the second straight start and finished seventh in the NJSS Final at the Big M, and previously won a division in 1:54.3.

Appomattox rallied to finish fourth against older rivals in an overnight on June 30 with Corey Callahan in the bike. Did not race the previous week after finishing second to Coraggioso in the Historic at Tioga Downs on June 17. He rallied from post nine to win his 2012 debut in 1:56.1 on June 1 at the Big M with Tim Tetrick driving for trainer Frank Antonacci.

Royal Shyster has drawn post five in a NYSS division on July 3 at Yonkers. Made an early break and finished sixth in a qualifier on June 22 at the Big M after fading to sixth in his Empire Breeders Classic elimination. The NYSS champion at two switched to trainer Noel Daley this season, and was second to Googoo Gaagaa in the Simpson at the Big M.

Top Billing has now missed two straight weeks. Recovered from an early break and finished fourth in a PASS division at The Meadows. The Spring Survivor winner at the Big M finished a close second to Solvato in a previous division at Harrah’s Philadelphia for Andy and Julie Miller.

American Gangster rebounded from his second consecutive break by winning a qualifier in 1:56 with Matt Kakaley driving. Made an early miscue and finished seventh as the beaten favorite in his seasonal debut at Pocono Downs on June 15. He had won a qualifier at the Big M in 1:55.4, final quarter in :27.4. As a freshman, he set a Mohawk track record of 1:54.4 in his William Wellwood elimination for trainer Chris Oakes.

Prestidigitator grinded out an OSS Gold elimination at Georgian Downs in 1:55.2 with Sylvain Filion driving. Rallied from well off the pace to finish third (timed in 1:54) in his seasonal debut in an overnight on June 18 at Mohawk. Had romped in his second qualifier at Mohawk in 1:56. Capped his freshman season by winning the OSS Super Final for trainer Dustin Jones.

Pekoe Fashion finished a distant third (time in 1:56.2) in an overnight at Harrah’s Philadelphia with David Miller driving. Matron Stakes winner at two is a stablemate to Possess The Will and Stormin Normand for trainer Jim Campbell.

Power Play finished a close second (timed in 1:55.4) in overnight at the Big M on June 29 after making a break in his previous start, and romped in his 2012 debut in 1:55.3 for trainer Steve Elliott.