by Ken Warkentin

East Rutherford, NJ — Donato Hanover has now rated top billing through the first seven weeks of the Road to the Hambletonian, which lists the top 10 contenders for the August 4 classic at the Meadowlands.

The Andover Hall colt is now two-for-two this season and easily made it 10 wins in a row last week, equaling his lifetime mark of 1:53.3 in his elimination for the Stanley Dancer Memorial.

“He just coasted to the front and cruised around,” said driver Ron Pierce. “He’s well within himself and right on schedule.”

He leaves from post three in the $400,000 final on July 14.

Primary As followed up his romp in the NJSS Final with a wrapped-up career best of 1:54 in his Dancer elimination.

“I wanted to race him a little bit and he held on well,” said driver Brian Sears. “He had plenty of trot finishing.”

He starts from post two in the final.

Mythical Lindy rebounded off a break in the Nevele Pride Final at Monticello with a strong second to Donato Hanover.

“At Monticello something bit him on the ankle and his leg swelled up, but it’s okay now,” said trainer Jim Arledge. Jr.

He drew post eight in the Dancer Final.

Xactly Hanover was not eligible to the Dancer, and has not raced nor qualified since his third in the Goodtimes Final.

Monkey Bones followed up a win in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes by breaking stride as the heavy favorite in a division of the Reynolds Stake at Pocono Downs.

Quite Easy got parked from post nine in his Dancer elimination and faded to seventh in :33.4. He has drawn post seven in a $30,000 Open on July 13.

Standpoint and Biz Hub both broke in their Dancer eliminations and Arch Madness had the week off.

“All of my contenders are fairly green and I don’t have a personal favorite,” said Trond Smedshammer, who trains the trio. “At this point, I just don’t know who’s going to be better. Right now Primary AS doesn’t know where the end of the mile is. He has a lot of things going for him.”

Standpoint drew post four in the $30,000 Open on July 13.

Flirtin Man did not race or qualify for the fourth week in a row.

This Week, Last Week, Early Line, Horse, Trainer, Owner
1, 1, 8-5, Donato Hanover, Steve Elliott, D. Scharf, Golden Touch St., S. Arnold, Donato Hanover Syndicate
2, 4, 3-1, Primary As, Trond Smedshammer, Kittelsen Racing Stable
3, 5, 7-2, Mythical Lindy, Jim Arledge, Jr., Thomas York, Jr. & Joe Sbrocco
4, 3, 4-1, Xactly Hanover, Osvaldo Formia, P. Barbato, S. Mathews, T. Abramo, P. Nigito
5, 6, 6-1, Monkey Bones, Karen Garland, R. Gary Stetson
6, 2, 10-1, Quite Easy, Jimmy Takter, Quite Easy Partners
7, 7, 12-1, Standpoint, Trond Smedshammer, Willow Pond, Theodore Gewertz, Sampson Street Stables
8, 8, 15-1, Arch Madness, Trond Smedshammer, Marc Goldberg & Willow Pond
9, 9, 20-1, Biz Hub, Trond Smedshammer, Allister Stables
10, 10, 20-1, Flirtin Man, Gary Napierala, Juniper II, Brittany Farms, Let It Ride Stables