from Meadowlands Media Relations

Donato Hanover could not scare off the competition.

Twenty-one horses, including the filly Pampered Princess, entered the $1.7 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands. A field of 15 fillies has entered the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks.

A trio of $70,000 eliminations to be contested this Saturday night will decide the field for the $1.5 million Hambletonian Final on Saturday, August 4. The top three finishers in each elimination, plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest career earnings, will advance to harness racing’s most prestigious event.

Post time for the special twilight card is 5 p.m. The eliminations share the spotlight with the $212,200 Golden Girls for open mare pacers and the $100,000 Perretti Farms Matchmaker for open mare trotters. In addition to the action on the track, there is a concert by Queen V and messenger bag giveaway [to paid admissions, while supplies last].

Donato Hanover sealed his position as the prohibitive early Hambletonian favorite when he coasted to his eleventh straight win in the $400,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 14 at the Meadowlands. The defending divisional champion’s only loss in 12 career starts was his debut on June 22, 2006. Steve Elliott trains Donato Hanover for David Scharf of New York, New York; Steve Arnold of Purchase, New York; and Paul Bordogna’s Golden Touch Stable of Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

Donato Hanover drew into the second elimination, race five, and will start from post seven with his regular pilot, Ron Pierce.

Pampered Princess will go postward in the first elimination, race two. She picked up her fourth straight win in the $350,000 Del Miller Memorial, becing a millionaire in the process, on July 13 at the Meadowlands. Jimmy Takter trains the daughter of Andover Hall for Bob Anderson of St. Thomas, Ontario and David Anderson of Aurora, Ontario.

Pampered Princess is the 160th filly to compete in the Hambletonian. Only 13 have achieved victory in the final; Continentalvictory was the last in 1996.

Hambletonian Elims — $70,000 each
1st Elim. – Horse – Trainer – Owners
1 – Bayside Volo – Schlichtig – Richard Schwartz
2 – Western Prayer – Elliott – Jacob, Jonas and Marlin Graber
3 – Arch Madness – Smedshammer – Mark Goldberg and Willow Pond
4 – Please Poppy – Henriksen – Ragnar Hagen, Bjorn Liverod Skabo
5 – Pampered Princess – Takter – Bob and David Anderson
6 – Xactly Hanover – Formia – Abramo, Barbato, Mathews, Nigito
7 – Laddie – Wellwood – Wellwood Stables Inc.

2nd Elim. – Horse – Trainer – Owners
1 – Got That Look – Niccum – Dojea Stables
2 – Don’t Blink Twice – Takter – Don’t Blink Partners
3 – Monkey Bones – Garland – R. Gary Stetson
4 – Mythical Lindy – Arledge – Joe Sbrocco and Thomas York Jr.
5 – Too Salty – Miller, Doug – Don Bartling
6 – Adrian Chip – Bergh – Forspro AB
7 – Standpoint – Smedshammer – Am Viking, Gewertz, Sampson St, Willow Pd

3rd Elim. – Horse – Trainer – Owners
1 – Claudius Augustus – Budahn – Debra Budahn
2 – Operation Lindy – Minor – Cowboyland Aalborg
3 – Flirtin Man – Napierala – Juniper II LLC, Brittany Fms and Let It Ride
4 – Great Success – Gurfein – Jerry and Rosalie Silva & Ron Gurfein
5 – The Liquidator – McIntosh – Arden Homestead, CSX Stable, Kohler
6 – Primary AS – Smedshammer – Kittelsen Racing Stable
7 – Donato Hanover – Elliott – Arnold, Donato Han Syn, Golden Touch, Scharf