After taking the long way home from post 10 in his Hambletonian Stakes elimination last week, Winner’s Bet will attempt to cash in on a more advantageous starting spot in Saturday’s $1 million final at The Meadowlands. Ben Baillargeon gets the feeling that if it weren’t for bad luck, Ghostly Casper might not have any luck at all.
Category: Grand Circuit News
Difference in age and experience, same goal for Alagna and Stoebe Saturday
At age 51, trainer Tony Alagna has run his own stable for 14 years, while 35-year-old Annie Stoebe opened her small operation just two years ago. Despite their difference in age and experience, the two are both pursuing the same goal Saturday, a win in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old female trotters at The Meadowlands. Alagna enters the fray with elimination winner Heart On Fire and Mambacita, while Stoebe goes with Instagram Model, a Hambo Day winner last year in the Jim Doherty Memorial.
Hambletonian Day undercard: Sylvia Hanover looks to stay hot in Shady Daisy
Sylvia Hanover seems to have two particular traits. The first is to make almost every race an adventure, much to the consternation of trainer Shawn Steacy. The second is to find a way to win, much to Steacy’s delight. On Saturday’s Hambletonian Day undercard, Sylvia Hanover will compete in the $100,000 Shady Daisy at The Meadowlands.
Hambo Notebook: Looking like a million
Oh Well aims to add another big payday in Hambletonian for Melander, who also sends out three in Oaks; Svanstedt duo hopes to return to top form; Burke eyes something extra from Railee Something.
Nomination deadline Monday for Gold Cup & Saucer
The nomination deadline for Gold Cup horses is Monday (Aug. 7) at 3 p.m. Atlantic time for the 64th running of the C$100,000 Gold Cup & Saucer presented by Atlantic Lottery.
Jujubee is leading a fairy-tale life
One of the most intriguing, enigmatic horses of the past few seasons has been the 2021 Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Jujubee. The now 5-year-old returns to The Meadowlands, site of two of his greatest victories, to compete with eight talented older trotters in the $278,000 John Cashman Memorial on Hambletonian Day.
Walner Payton seeks sweet Hambo Oaks win
With a name strikingly similar to that of the great Chicago Bears running back Walter “Sweetness” Payton, 3-year-old filly trotter Walner Payton will aim to score a touchdown of her own this Saturday afternoon (Aug. 5) at the Meadowlands in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks.
Celebrity Bambino favored in Hambletonian
Elimination winner Celebrity Bambino drew post one for Saturday’s $1 million Hambletonian Stakes final at The Meadowlands and was established as the 2-1 morning-line favorite as he seeks to give trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras their first wins in the trotting classic for 3-year-olds.
Meadowlands stakes entries for Hambletonian Day announced
The number of horses entered for Hambletonian Day Grand Circuit stakes are as follows.
Matt Bax seeks rare Hambletonian, Oaks double
Four trainers will head into Saturday’s Hambletonian Day card at The Meadowlands with the opportunity to win both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks, a feat accomplished previously by only three conditioners. Just one trainer in Saturday’s group is in his first year at the helm of a stable, Canadian Matt Bax. The 34-year-old, who has taken the leading role with the family stable from his father John, will send out Southwind Coors in the $1 million Hambletonian, the sport’s premier event for 3-year-old trotters, and Righteous Resolve in the companion $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for sophomore female trotters.