Elista Hanover is roaring into Saturday’s second of three eliminations of the $675,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old female trotters at The Meadowlands as the 6-5 morning-line favorite with nine straight wins. This comes after an injury-hampered campaign at 2 in which she won just once in nine starts.
Category: Rich Fisher
Rivals ready for dance with Nijinsky
While stablemates Nijinsky and Legendary Hanover enter Saturday’s $650,000 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds at The Meadowlands as the top choices on the morning line at 2-1 and 3-1, respectively, a number of other horses could be in the mix when it comes to chasing victory at The Meadowlands. They include a quartet at odds of less than 10-1: Funtime Bayama (7-2), Mirage Hanover (9-2), Captain Albano (5-1) and Captain’s Quarters (8-1).
Devon Tharps has found his niche in life and racing
If Devon Tharps was any happier, he might need surgery to remove some of the excess joy that’s invading his body. “Man, I couldn’t ask for it to go any better; 2024 has been a year full of blessings for me,” said the man whose life has seemingly begun at age 30.
Standardbreds, not hardware, are Amanda Blackford’s passion
It has a catchy advertising slogan, but Ace was definitely not the place for Amanda Blackford. And it had nothing to do with a faulty rake or bum cabinet fixture. The 21-year-old trainer has seven wins and $43,220 in purses in 44 starts this year at Rosecroft Raceway,
Jack Killeen has found a home at The Meadows
When Irishman Jack Killeen arrived in America on his 18th birthday, he landed at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows and did so with GPS in hand. Fortunately for the merry wanderer, he wound up right back where he started and is happy to now call western Pennsylvania home.
Oh boy: Karl gives Crawfords reason for more Hambo dreams
Having a trotter among the favorites to win harness racing’s biggest race is nothing new for Crawford Farms. But the gender of its latest star is. After co-owning the most recent two fillies to win the Hambletonian — Ramona Hill and Atlanta — the Crawfords now co-own Karl, the early pick to capture this year’s classic for 3-year-old trotters after going nearly undefeated last season and receiving the 2023 Dan Patch Award as best 2-year-old male trotter.
‘Sylvia’ makes Steacys’ season all the more special
After another multiple-award-winning season with Sylvia Hanover, Ontario-based trainer Shawn Steacy and his family are looking forward to seeing what’s next for the standout female pacer while hoping to continue their evolution as a stable.
Wallin continues to rise
Lucas Wallin is on a Dan Patch roll. One year after Wallin received the Rising Star Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association, the Wallin-trained Soiree Hanover was voted the best 2-year-old female trotter of 2023. The horse will be honored at USHWA’s Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, Feb. 25 at Rosen Centre in Orlando.
Minore eyes ‘Dream’ ending
Paul Minore, the self-proclaimed King of the 14-year-olds, is at it again. The veteran owner/driver, who first climbed into a sulky at age 45, is now racing the fourth elder statesman of his 29-year career with Racintowardadream.
After bad streak to start 2023, it’s been all smiles for Jimmy McNeight Jr.
Jimmy McNeight Jr. went from as low as he could go to as high as he has ever been in the span of 10 months. The western New York product had made steady progress since embarking on a driving career in 2016. But at the beginning of this year, things just weren’t working out and, for the first time since he started, McNeight was having doubts.