from Meadowlands Media Relations

Owners and trainers have only three days left to decide whether their three-year-old-trotters are ready for the $1 million Hambletonian.

Entries for next Saturday’s Hambletonian eliminations must be submitted to the Meadowlands race office on Tuesday morning. After the dust settles on July 31, 10 colts will advance to the $1 million Hambletonian Final on Saturday, August 7.

A pair of three-year-old opens contested on Friday night at the Meadowlands helped clarify the Hambletonian decision for some horsemen.

Hurri Kane Billy G reassured trainer John McDermott that he was Hambletonian-ready with a 1:54.4 victory in the first of the two opens.

The son of Donerail, who was a bargain $7,500 yearling purchase, came first up and nailed the pacesetter Con Man by a head for his fourth win this season. After getting off to a strong start early in the season, Hurri Kane Billy G faltered in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Final on June 24 and a conditioned trot on July 8. McDermott tinkered with the colt’s shoeing and saw an immediate improvement.

“I switched his front shoes to a light steel shoe, and he’s responded better to them,” McDermott said. “We tried aluminums on him, and they weren’t any good.

“We’re absolutely going into the Hambletonian,” he said. “He’s earned it now, and he’s my favorite horse. It’d be beautiful if my brother [Kevin McDermott, who trains Southwind Elian], and I drew into the same elimination. That would make it interesting.

“His schedule is light now,” McDermott said of his plans for the colt, who races with trotting hobbles. “He’ll jog a few days and maybe blow out a slow trip free-legged on Thursday. I’m glad to see he’s coming back around.”

Eilean Donon pulled away to an impressive 1:54 victory in the second of the two opens, two weeks after undergoing surgery for a scrotal hernia and testicle removal. The son of Angus Hall now boasts a record of two wins and a third in three starts this season.

“It’s amazing he came back from surgery two weeks ago,” Stewart said. “A good horse can do that. I feel much better about the Hambletonian now. He’ll have a very easy week, a few days in the paddock and jog a little bit.”

Stewart also raced Con Man on Friday night, but that colt may skip the Hambletonian.

“He is still very green,” Stewart said. “This is only his fourth start. He has come a long way but I don’t think he is going into the Hambletonian. He has some races [at the Red Mile] in Lexington, and I think we will save him for Lexington. I will talk it over with the owner. Hopefully Eilean Donon will take his place.”

Despite a few recent setbacks, Jim Campbell is still eyeing the Hambletonian with Show Me The Monet. The colt finished third behind Hurri Kane Billy G and Con Man on Friday night.

Owned by Arlene and Jules Siegel, Show Me The Monet has hit the board in five of eight starts this season and was runner-up to Cash Hall in the Historic-Dickerson Cup on July 2. He also broke at the start of the Stanley Dancer elimination on July 9.

“I don’t have an excuse for him, why he ran leaving the gate,” Campbell said. “After that he was fine and did everything right. He trotted home strong but this is the second week in a row he made a break in the same spot. I have no reason why. He is trotting fine. I am not sure if he is getting too hyped before the gate. Mr. Siegel will decide whether he wants to put him in. I am going to suggest doing so. He has tremendous speed and anything can happen.”

Hall of Fame trainer Doug Ackerman plans to drop Coventry into the entry box on Tuesday. His homebred son of Mr Lavec captured the Connors Final at Hazel Park on June 5. After making a break in an Ontario Sire Stakes Gold elimination two weeks ago at Kawartha Downs, he bounced back to finish third behind Eilean Donon on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

“There was a little interference last week, otherwise we wouldn’t have been here tonight,” Ackerman said. “We’d be up in Canada in the final. But we’re going to give the Hambletonian a try.”

MEADOWLANDS HOSTS KINGS SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE

The Meadowlands, in cooperation with Kings Supermarkets, will participate in a School Supplies Drive from July 30 through closing day, August 7.

Guests are encouraged to purchase school supplies for children in need and deposit them in collections bins located on each floor of the racetrack building.

A free admission pass, good for all of Hambletonian Festival Week, July 31 through August 7, will be given with each donation.

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE IN THE HOMESTRETCH

The Meadowlands on-line handicapping contest, the Big M Survival Challenge, enters the final two weeks with 89 players remaining from the original 1,344 who enrolled.

The contestants provide their picks for three designated races each night and have to finish in-the-money with at least one of them to remain active.

The game runs through Hambletonian Day, August 7. Prizes will be awarded for the leader by earnings, total wins and most three-winner days. Players are identified by the screen name they’ve selected.

Through Friday, July 23, the entrant with the largest bankroll is Legacyman with $715.80. Completing the top five are Rickfront with $653.60, Moondog33 with $621.00, Danger with $615.00 and Jdee14 with $609.90. Earnings are based on a mythical wager of $2 across the board on each selection.

Ronald F tops the wins list with 39 and Terry’s Trotter has had four perfect three-for-three days to lead that category.

The grand prize is $2,000 and Continental Airlines round-trip tickets for two anywhere in the continental United States. The second place prize is $500 and Continental Airlines round-trip tickets for two anywhere in the continental United States. The third place prize is $250 plus a 13-inch Sharp Electronics flat-screen LCD AQUOS television.

Two bonus awards for most number of winners and three bonus awards for most three-for-three days of $500 and a 13-inch Sharp Electronics flat-screen LCD AQUOS television will also be presented.