by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Bud Hatfield fell in love with Bar Hopping the moment he saw the colt as a yearling at the 2014 Standardbred Horse Sale. His affection for the horse remains high, and why not? For the first time in four decades in harness racing, Hatfield is sending a horse to the Hambletonian. And the horse is Bar Hopping.

Bar Hopping is the 9-5 favorite in the first of two nine-horse eliminations of the Hambletonian, presented by Mullinax Ford, Saturday (Aug. 6) at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. The top five finishers from each elimination advance to the $1 million final later in the day. CBS Sports Network will air live coverage of the event beginning at 4 p.m.

Fotowon photo

Bar Hopping has won three of 17 career races and hit the board a total of 12 times, earning $391,728.

“It’s a thrill,” said Hatfield, a 67-year-old Columbus, Ohio, resident who has enjoyed success in racing both as an owner and amateur driver. “My wife (Kelli) and I are so excited. I’ve been in big races before, but nothing like the Hambletonian. That’s the big one. There’s nothing that compares to this.”

Bar Hopping is trained by Jimmy Takter, who is going for an unprecedented third consecutive Hambletonian victory and record-tying fifth triumph overall. Hatfield owns the colt with Christina Takter, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

“We were at the sale in Harrisburg and they told me they had three or four trotters they liked,” Hatfield said. “I went and looked at Bar Hopping and I fell in love with him. I just kept going back and looking at him. We kind of zeroed in on him, and it was a good thing. It’s paid off.”

Hatfield, who is a two-time champion on the Billings amateur driving circuit, where he is known as “Trader Bud” because of his career as a car dealer, owns several horses with Takter. In addition to Bar Hopping, he is among the owners of Peter Haughton Memorial finalist King On The Hill.

USTA photo

Bud Hatfield is a two-time champion on the Billings amateur circuit.

Bar Hopping has won three of 17 career races and hit the board a total of 12 times, earning $391,728. He heads to the Hambletonian off a win in the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial on July 24 at Vernon Downs.

Southwind Frank is the 4-5 favorite in the second Hambletonian elimination. The Ron Burke-trained colt has won 16 of 18 career races, but both defeats came in races won by Bar Hopping.

“I think Bar Hopping has got a chance,” Hatfield said. “Southwind Frank is some kind of horse; he’s phenomenal. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but hopefully we’ll be right there and be competitive.

“I love the sport and owning good horses is fun. Jimmy told me at the beginning just to be patient with Bar Hopping and he’s going to be a good one. It looks like that patience has paid off.”

Hambletonian Day first race post time is noon.

Below are the fields for the two Hambletonian eliminations:

$70,000 Hambletonian Elimination 1
Race 8 – Post time 2:58 p.m.
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1. Bar Hopping–Tim Tetrick–Jimmy Takter–9/5
2. Lagerfeld–Yannick Gingras–Jimmy Takter–12/1
3. Make Or Miss–Joe Bongiorno–Ron Burke–20/1
4. Milligan’s School–Andy Miller–Julie Miller–10/1
5. Brooklyn Hill–David Miller–Jonas Czernyson–3/1
6. Mavens Way–John Campbell–Ake Svanstedt–6/1
7. Tight Lines–Jeff Gregory–Jeff Gregory–25/1
8. Iron Mine Bucky–George Dennis–Greg Haverstick–15/1
9. Reigning Moni–Mark MacDonald–Jimmy Takter–4/1

$70,000 Hambletonian Elimination 2
Race 9 – Post time 3:25 p.m.
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1. Jimmy William–Tim Tetrick–Jimmy Takter–20/1
2. The Royal Harry–Ake Svanstedt–Ake Svanstedt–20/1
3. Sutton–Andy Miller–Julie Miller–6/1
4. Marion Marauder–Scott Zeron–Paula Wellwood–3/1
5. Southwind Frank–Yannick Gingras–Ron Burke–4/5
6. Hollywood Highway–John Campbell–Staffan Lind–30/1
7. Dominion Beach–Bjorn Goop–Nancy Johansson–30/1
8. Love Matters–Brett Miller–Jimmy Takter–12/1
9. Waitlifter K–Matt Kakaley–Andrew Harris–10/1