by Ken Warkentin

East Rutherford, NJ — Although he has yet to make his 2007 pari-mutuel debut, Donato Hanover leads the Road to the Hambletonian, the list of top contenders for the August 4 classic, for the third straight week.

Last year’s freshman champion was scheduled to qualify a third time on June 14, after miles of 1:54.3 and 1:54.1. “My proudest work ever is the way I managed him last year,” said trainer Steve Elliott.

Quite Easy went all the way to win his Goodtimes elimination in his first start of 2007 at Mohawk last week. “He matured a lot and he’s a stronger horse this year,” said trainer Jimmy Takter. “He scoped sick after the race, but hopefully he’s going to get cleared up by Saturday.”

Also making his season’s debut, Xactly Hanover won his Goodtimes elimination in a career best 1:55.3. The SJ’s Caviar colt returned from shoulder surgery as a 2-year-old. “He qualified great and felt super,” said driver Andy Miller.

Flirtin Man threw a shoe and made a break as the heavy favorite in his Goodtimes elimination.

Biz Hub won his 2007 debut, in the New Jersey Sire Stakes, in a lifetime best of 1:53.4 and was entered in the third leg on June 14.

Standpoint made it two-for-two this season with a 1:55.2 clocking in his Goodtimes elimination and has post four in the final on June 16. “He was big and growthy as a 2-year-old and just needed time to figure it out,” said trainer Trond Smedshammer. “He’s more relaxed than Arch Madness and I have high hopes for him.”

Mythical Lindy went two-for-two in 2007 with an easy 1:56.3 win in a division of the Currier and Ives at The Meadows. “He’s come back more mature and stronger,” said trainer Jim Arledge, Jr., who developed last year’s Hambletonian favorite Mr Pine Chip.

Arch Madness made a big recovery from an early break to finish third in his Goodtimes elimination. He drew the rail in the consolation on June 15.

Great Success finished second in his sophomore debut in the NJSS after setting a slow pace and was entered in round three.

Adrian Chip continues his European comeback with an added distance race in Sweden up next, followed by a trip to Norway before heading to the US.

This week, last week, early line, horse, trainer, owner
1, 1, 9-5, Donato Hanover, Steve Elliott, D. Scharf, Golden Touch St., S. Arnold, Donato Hanover Syndicate
2, 3, 5-2, Quite Easy, Jimmy Takter, Quite Easy Partners
3, Not Listed, 4-1, Xactly Hanover, Osvaldo Formia, P. Barbarto, S. Mathews, T. Abramo, P. Nigito
4, 2, 5-1, Flirtin Man, Michael Vanderkemp, Juniper II, Brittany Farms, Let It Ride Stables
5, Not Listed, 6-1, Biz Hub, Trond Smedshammer, Allister Stables
6, Not Listed, 10-1, Standpoint, Trond Smedshammer, Willow Pond, Theodore Gewertz, Sampson Street Stables
7, 8, 12-1, Mythical Lindy, Jim Arledge, Jr., Thomas York, Jr. and Joe Sbrocco
8, 6, 12-1, Arch Madness, Trond Smedshammer, Marc Goldberg and Willow Pond
9, 4, 15-1, Great Success, Ron Gurfein, Ron Gurfein, Rosalie and Jerry Silva
10, 5, 20-1, Adrian Chip, Robert Bergh, Forspro Ab