East Rutherford, NJ – Six of the top 10 horses are in to go this Saturday (July 11) in the two divisions of the Stanley Dancer Memorial.
ROAD TO THE WINNING KEY FARM HAMBLETONIAN (G1)
2026 Top Ten – Week 10 – July 8
The 2026 Hambletonian takes place Saturday, August 8
| Rank | Horse | Driver, Trainer, Owner | Ken Warkentin’s Comments | |
| 1 | Apex (Walner) | Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander. Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable, Steve Stewart | Dan Patch Award winner rallied from post 11 to finish second by a neck to stablemate American Power in 3YO debut June 5, final quarter in :25.2, held off Diabolic Hill for a new mark of 1:50.3 in NJSS Platinum Final, second (1:52.1) in Big M qualifier July 4, post two in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11 | |
| 2 | Diabolic Hill (Muscle Hill) | Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mario Mazza, AC Crawford Racing Stable | Won Big M qualifier in 1:53.3 on May 8, wire-to-wire in 1:53.2 Big M qualifier May 29, first over third in 3YO NJSS debut June 5, hard-charging second in NJSS Final June 12, solid second (1:52) from post nine in Reynolds division July 4, not in to go | |
| 3 | Big Ranger (In Range) | Tim Tetrick, Anette Lorentzon, Madison Global | 2025 Ohio Horse of the Year broke in 3YO debut, fourth in Oak Grove Derby elim, wire-to-wire in Silver conso in 1:52.3, set Scioto Downs track record 1:51.2 in OHSS May 25, after barn change set another track record of 1:50.3 in OHSS division @ Scioto Downs with Tim Tetrick, did not race last three weeks, not in to go | |
| 4 | Endurance (Captain Corey) | Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Beaver, Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, Mark Moger | Unleashed track record equaling 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim in 3YO debut, then a gallant second in final, dominated PASS division in 1:51.4 June 6, powered to a Currier & Ives stakes record 1:52.4 June 26 despite missing 20 days, did not race last week, post four in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11 | |
| 5 | Magic Punk (Wishing Stone) | Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc. | 1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup 3YO debut, romped to new mark of 1:51.1 in first Goodtimes elim, second (1:52.2) as beaten favorite in final, tripped out to new mark of 1:51.4 in Reynolds division July 4, not in to go | |
| 6 | Spencer Hanover (Chapter Seven) | Jason Bartlett, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Synder, Arthur Pronti | Breeders Crown champion won Oak Grove Derby elim in 1:53.4 in 3YO debut, equaled 1:51.3 track record in final, 1:53.3 romp (track good) in NYSS @ Vernon Downs May 25, made it four-for-four in 2026 dominating EBC in 1:54.4 June 12, broke/ninth as beaten favorite in Yonkers Trot June 26, did not race last week, post one in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11 | |
| 7 | Neighver Punt (Bar Hopping) | Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, M Biasuzzi Stable Inc | One of five Marcus Melander trainees in Top Ten, suddenly blossomed @ three upsetting a Goodtimes elimination in career best 1:51.4, rallied to upset final in 1:52, fourth (1:53) in Reynolds division July 4 after missing three weeks, not in to go | |
| 8 | Nix Nacken (Muscle Hill) | Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc. | 1:52.2 Grand Circuit winner at two, just missed in a NJSS Silver Division June 5, then romped to an astounding 1:50 world record for 3YO geldings in that final, third (1:51) in Reynolds division July 4, post eight in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11 | |
| 9 | American Power (Walner) | James MacDonald, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc | Rallied in :26.3 to win Garden State division May 16, won NJSS Platinum Division in 1:54.3 (sloppy track) May 23, took new mark of 1:52 in NJSS June 5, third (1:51.1) in NJSS Platinum Final July 4, post three in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11 | |
| 10 | It Could Be Worse (Captain Corey) | Tim Tetrick, Linda Toscano, Bay’s Stable, Pat & Mark Huber, Bill Elliott, Camelot Stable | KYSS winner in 1:53 at two, just missed going wire-to-wire in 1:51.3 3YO debut June 12, rebound from a late break June 19 with an eye-catching new mark of 1:50.3 in Reynolds division July 4, post seven in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11 | |
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Driver | Trainer | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
| May 2 | Dexter Cup | M | MAGIC PUNK | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Southwind Alamo | WHO’S EYES BLUES | 1:53.1 |
| May 4 | Oak Grove Elim | OG | SPENCER HANOVER | Jason Bartlett | Marcus Melander | Geologic | IMPOSSIBLE BI | 1:53.4 |
| May 4 | Oak Grove Elim | OG | Silverstein | Dave Miller | Matthew Burkholder | REQIUEM | KINGMEN | 1:52.3 |
| May 4 | Oak Grove Elim | OG | ENDURANCE | Andrew McCarthy | Christopher Beaver | AI | NIX NAKEN | 1:51.3 |
| May 8 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Captain Vodka | Ridge Warren | Robert Baggitt, Jr. | GREENARROW HANOVER | HAMLET HALL | 1:54.3 |
| May 8 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Fineline Hanover | Ridge Warren | Ron Coyne, Jr. | Dilly Hanover | R TOMMY COLLINS | 1:53.2 |
| May 16 | Battle of Bunker Hill | PR | NEBBIOLO | Sarah Svanstedt | Ake Svantedt | MIDWIND CHIMP | Water Slide | 1:54.2 |
| May 16 | Oak Grove Derby | OG | SPENCER HANOVER | Jason Bartlett | Marcus Melander | ENDURANCE | REQUIEM | 1:51.3 |
| May 18 | PA Allstars | Poc | MR PENNER | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | MINOAN | Captain Vodka | 1:52 |
| May 18 | PA Allstars | Poc | HIGHLAND DESTINY | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | JIM BEAM | DOLLAR DRAFT | 1:52.2 |
| May 18 | PA Allstars | Poc | Fineline Hanover | Todd McCarthy | Ron Coyne, Jr. | NEIGHVER PUNT | Confident Volo | 1:52.2 |
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | GABES LUCK | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | MEGA SHARK | PRACTICAL MAN | 1:55.3 |
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | King Of The Wind | Joe Bongiorno | Joe Bongiorno | MAGA HILL | NEVER SAY DIE | 1:55.2 |
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | AMERICAN POWER | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | KINGMEN | ARDONNE | 1:54.3 |
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | TRILLION TIMES | Jason Bartlett | Per Engblom | Ice Fall | Be Positive | 1:57.3 |
| May 25 | NYSS 1st Leg | Ver | SEVENATO | Trond Smedshammer | Trond Smedshammer | WHO’S EYES BLUES | Highway Six | 1:54 |
| May 25 | NYSS 1st Leg | Ver | SPENCER HANOVER | Jason Bartlett | Marcus Melander | Titan’s Mischief | SECURED | 1:53.4 |
| June 5 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | READ THE ROOM | Sarah Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Highway Six | TWIN B SEVEN SINS | 1:53.2 |
| June 5 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | Silverstein | Matt Kakaley | Matthew Burkholder | AI | SEVEN GRAND | 1:53.3 |
| June 5 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | AMERICAN POWER | Mattias Melander | Marcus Melander | APEX | DIABOLIC HILL | 1:52 |
| June 5 | Goodtimes Elim | MO | MAGIC PUNK | Yannick Gingras | Ake Svanstedt | Strobe Light | WOLFPACK CROWN | 1:52.1 |
| June 5 | Goodtimes Elim | MO | NEIGHVER PUNT | Yannick Gingras | Marcus Melander | Touchedbyanangel | Royal Captain | 1:51.4 |
| June 6 | PASS 2nd Leg | Poc | ENDURANCE | Andrew McCarthy | Christopher Beaver | Geologic | HAMLET HALL | 1:51.4 |
| June 6 | PASS 2nd Leg | Poc | HIGHLAND DESTINY | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | MINOAN | Captain Vodka | 1:54.1 |
| June 12 | NJSS Final Platinum | M | APEX | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | DIABOLIC HILL | AMERICAN POWER | 1:50.3 |
| June 12 | NJSS Final Silver | M | NIX NACKEN | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | King Of The Wind | MAGA HILL | 1:50 |
| June 12 | EBC Division | Ver | SPENCER HANOVER | Jason Bartlett | Marcus Melander | TWIN B SEVEN SINS | SEVEN GRAND | 1:54.3 |
| June 13 | Goodtimes Final | MO | NEIGHVER PUNT | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | MAGIC PUNK | Strobe Light | 1:52 |
| June 24 | NYSS 3rd Leg | Buf | READ THE ROOM | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Chapter Geo J | LOU JOHN’S ACTION | 1:55 |
| June 24 | NYSS 3rd Leg | Buf | Highway Six | Jeff Gregory | Jeff Gregory | TWIN B SEVEN SINS | SEVEN GRAND | 1:56.4 |
| June 26 | Yonkers Trot Final | Y | INEXPRESSABLE | Tim Tetrick | Lucas Wallin | KINGMEN | Silverstein | 2:25.3 |
| June 26 | Currier & Ives | Mea | ENDURANCE | Andrew McCarthy | Christopher Beaver | HAMLET HALL | Captain Vodka | 1:52.4 |
| July 4 | Reynolds | M | IT COULD WORSE | Tim Tetrick | Linda Toscano | Southwind Alamo | NIX NACKEN | 1:50.3 |
| July 4 | Reynolds | M | MAGIC PUNK | Yannick Gingras | Ake Svanstedt | DIABOLIC HILL | Southwind Fargo | 1:51.4 |
| July 11 | Stanley Dancer | M | ||||||
| July 11 | Stanley Dancer | M | ||||||
| July 19 | Zweig Memorial | V | ||||||
| July 23 | NYSS 4th Leg | Y | ||||||
| July 25 | Tompkins-Geers | M | ||||||
| July 25 | Tompkins-Geers | M | ||||||
| Aug. 1 | Hambo Elim | M | ||||||
| Aug. 1 | Hambo Elim | M |