by Kim French, USTA Internet News Editor
Columbus, OH — Despite not possessing sterling resumes or bulging bank accounts, Anette Lorentzon has faith that Guardian Angel AS, her first $1.2 million Hambletonian contestant, and Southwind Avanti, the second filly she has entered in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, will be a great source of pride after their appearances on Saturday (Aug. 5) at the Meadowlands.
“We have liked him since he was a baby as we always thought he had talent; he just hasn’t put it all together yet,” she said of Guardian Angel AS. “He has been very good in New York company except for that break going into the first turn at Monticello in his last start (a NYSS race on July 17) because he just was not focused. Once he realized Jason (driver Bartlett) was mad at him though, he got his mind on his business and came back to finish only four lengths behind (in fourth place). You can’t be unhappy with that effort.
“I was very pleased with Southwind Avanti’s race in the Oaks elimination (third behind Magic Presto and Feed Your Head) especially after her race before that in the Delvin Miller (July 15, fifth) where she was much too aggressive. She has a tendency to get worked up while you are warming her up, but she was nice and relaxed in her elimination. We are hoping she behaves herself in the same way for the final.”
Competing as a homebred for ACL Stuteri AB (Ann-Christin Lorentzon and John Erik Magnusson), who share ownership with Kjell Johansson, Guardian Angel AS is a son of Archangel and the unraced Provide AS. He sports a lifetime record of 13-6-3-0, has earned $93,993 and established his lifetime mark of 1:54.3 this year at Vernon Downs. On Saturday he will have the services of Jason Bartlett, who recently collected his 7,000th driving victory and will be competing in his first Hambletonian. The duo will leave from post position three in the first of two eliminations (race eight) and are listed at 10-1 on the morning line.
Southwind Avanti enters her Oaks engagement from a different direction. Owned by Lennart Agren’s SRF Stable the daughter of Muscle Hill-Auvergne was a $160,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase in 2015 and commenced her career in Nancy Johannson’s barn. As a freshman she faced the starter on eight occasions and came home second in three of them. This year she has contested six events with the results being 3-1-1. To date she has earned $63,245. Like her stablemate, Southwind Avanti is 10-1 on the morning line and will be steered by Bartlett. In what will also be his first Oaks appearance, Bartlett will send the filly on her journey from the rail in the 12th event on a stakes-laden 16-race card.
This will be the second horse Lorentzon has entered in the Oaks final, as she finished fifth in the 2009 edition with Jersey AS.
“We had always planned on pointing him (Guardian Angel AS) to the Yonkers Trot,” Lorentzon said. “Putting him in this race was decided once Walner was not coming. We figured he deserved the chance as the race is much more wide-open now. That’s why I wish we could have had the opportunity to qualify him or race him one more time since Monticello. But I did ask Jason what he thought about putting him in the Hambletoninan and he did say he thought we should because the colt does have ability. Also, he has a very long stride so the mile track should be very good for him.
“With Southwind Avanti it is just making sure she does not get too hot. Right when she came to us we were told she has a tendency to do that, but she does have ability. She is fine until it is time to race and then she can get a little wound-up. Ariana G is a wonderful horse, so we just hope our filly will perform like she did last week against not only Ariana G, but the other very good horses in the race. We would be very happy with her if she can show us that.”
Although his connections did alter their plans to pursue the Hambletonian after divisional leader Walner’s withdrawal, they do believe this contest could be a tremendous opportunity for Guardian Angel AS to demonstrate his class.
“He was very good when he finished second in his Goodtimes elimination in Canada to International Moni,” Lorentzon said. “That is a very nice horse and is the deserving favorite in this Hambletonian elimination. Unfortunately he drew the 10-hole for the final so he never had the chance to get involved in the race right from the beginning.
“All we are hoping for is that he will have a nice trip, that he can make the best of. The first goal is making the final which would make us very happy and the next one is for us to race well enough to get a nice check. He, like Southwind Avanti, is eligible to many of the big stakes later this year and we would like to use this race for more improvement to continue the year.
“We realize it’s the Hambletonian and the Hambletonian Oaks, but we are just very happy to be here with these horses, so now we will see what happens on Saturday.”
Following are the Hambletonian elimination fields and the field for the Hambletonian Oaks.
Hambletonian Elimination (race eight)
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Southwind Woody-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-12/1
2-Bill’s Man-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen-5/1
3-Guardian Angel As-Jason Bartlett-Anette Lorentzon-10/1
4-Giveitgasandgo-David Miller-John Butenschoen-8/1
5-International Moni-Scott Zeron-Frank Antonacci-5/2
6-Stealth Hanover-Francisco Del Cid-Francisco Del Cid-30/1
7-Victor Gio IT-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-6/1
8-Long Tom-Tim Tetrick-Marcus Melander-3/1
9-Jake-Dan Dube-Luc Blais-8/1
Hambletonian Elimination (race nine)
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-What The Hill-David Miller-Ron Burke-3/1
2-Seven And Seven-Mark MacDonald-Tom Durand-8/1
3-Sortie-Andy McCarthy-Noel Daley-10/1
4-Shake It Off Lindy-Brett Miller-Frank Antonacci-20/1
5-Dover Dan-Brian Sears-John Butenschoen-8/1
6-Enterprise-Tim Tetrick-Marcus Melander-9/2
7-Southwind Cobra-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-15/1
8-Achille Duharas-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-20/1
9-Devious Man-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-5/2
10-Perfect Spirit-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt-12/1
$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Southwind Avanti-Jason Bartlett-Anette Lorentzon-10/1
2-Dream Together-Daniel Dube-Luc Blais-8/1
3-Caviart Wonder-Andy McCarthy-Noel Daley-20/1
4-Ariana G-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-6/5
5-Magic Presto-Brian Sears-R. Nifty Norman-5/1
6-Fine Tuned Lady-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen-10/1
7-Feed Your Head-Tim Tetrick-Jimmy Takter-6/1
8-Sunshine Delight-Brett Miller-Staffan Lind-20/1
9-Overdraft Volo-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-10/1
10-Dream Baby Dream-Rod Allen-Rod Allen-15/1
- Norman seeks another Hambletonian Oaks title (Monday, July 31, 2017)
For better or worse, Richard “Nifty” Norman has undergone a plethora of experiences at the Hambletonian Oaks. What lies ahead for the trainer and his horse, Magic Presto, at Saturday’s $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old female trotters is anybody’s guess. “Well, we’re in there,” Norman said. “We’ve got a chance. That’s all you can ask for.”
- Nineteen enter Hambletonian; Ariana G stays in Oaks filly division (Tuesday, August 01, 2017)
Nineteen 3-year-old trotters entered Tuesday for the $1 million Hambletonian, to be raced Saturday (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands Racetrack. Though the connections of sophomore filly Ariana G had considered racing against the colts, they eventually opted to remain in the $500,000 distaff division of the Hambletonian.
- Post positions drawn for $1.2 million Hambletonian (Tuesday, August 01, 2017)
International Moni and Devious Man on Tuesday were made morning-line favorites for their respective eliminations in Saturday’s $1.2 million Hambletonian Stakes for 3-year-old trotters at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
- Cane Pace leads Hambletonian Day undercard (Tuesday, August 01, 2017)
The $334,325 Cane Pace, first leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown, is also raced on the Hambo Day card and drew a dozen entrants.
- Right horse, right time (Wednesday, August 02, 2017)
It was two years ago during a dinner in Lexington when trainer Frank Antonacci and driver Scott Zeron first discussed the idea of Zeron wearing the Antonacci family’s Lindy Farms colors sometime in the future. Antonacci and Zeron both thought it would be a fun idea with the right horse at the right time. International Moni proved to be the right horse. The Hambletonian Stakes trail proved to be the right time. And on Saturday, Zeron will put aside his own blue, white and red colors for the black, blue and white of Lindy Farms and sit behind International Moni in the first of two $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations as the 5-2 morning-line favorite at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.
- Hambletonian leads big Grand Circuit card at Meadowlands (Wednesday, August 02, 2017)
Grand Circuit action takes place this Saturday (Aug. 5) at Meadowlands Racetrack with one of the biggest Grand Circuit cards of the season.
- Millers hope to be on winning side in this year’s Hambletonian (Wednesday, August 02, 2017)
Andy Miller knows how it feels to come within a neck of winning the Hambletonian Stakes. This year, he hopes to experience victory. Miller drives Devious Man in Saturday’s $1.2 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters at the Meadowlands. The colt, trained by Miller’s wife, Julie, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the second of two $100,000 eliminations. The top-five finishers from each elimination return later in the day for the $1 million final.
- Melander pair are ready for Hambletonian (Thursday, August 03, 2017)
Marcus Melander has never won a Hambletonian but the 25-year-old trainer has the essence of Hambo greatness surrounding his entire being. And while the Swede does not have a favorite in Saturday’s $1.2 million Hambletonian Stakes for 3-year-olds at the Meadowlands, he does have a Tim Tetrick-driven horse in each elimination getting pretty good odds. In the 10-horse division (race nine), Enterprise is 9/2, while in the nine-horse division (race eight), Long Tom is at 3/1 odds.
- ‘A dream come true’ for Doug Paul (Thursday, August 03, 2017)
After four decades in the harness racing business, Doug Paul and his family will see a dream come true Saturday when Bill’s Man races in the $1.2 million Hambletonian Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Bill’s Man will be the Pauls’ first starter in the sport’s premier race for 3-year-old trotters, the Hambletonian. If that were not enough, the Pauls also will make their first appearance in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, for 3-year-old female trotters, with Fine Tuned Lady.
- Seven And Seven, Jake could carry drivers to first Hambo crowns (Thursday, August 03, 2017)
Saturday’s (Aug. 5) two Hambletonian elimination races include two horses with identical morning-line odds and a driver on each looking for their first Hambo crown ever. The 8-1 shot Seven And Seven, driven by Mark MacDonald and trained by Tom Durand, will leave from post two in a field of 10 in the Hambletonian’s second elimination heat (race nine). While Jake also at 8-1, could bear Dan Dube to the winner’s circle from post nine in the first heat (race eight).
- $1 million Hambletonian broadcast live on CBS Sports Network Saturday Aug. 5 (Thursday, August 03, 2017)
CBS Sports Network will present a 90-minute telecast of the $1 million Hambletonian, live from the Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J., on Saturday (Aug. 5), from 4-5:30 p.m. (EDT). The Hambletonian is the first and most prestigious leg of the Trotting Triple Crown.CBS Sports Network, which has been the broadcast home of the Hambletonian since 2012, also will air the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, and provide coverage of the $224,000 Sam McKee Memorial Pace.
- Butenschoen looks for big day on Saturday at Meadowlands (Friday, August 04, 2017)
Coming off a career year, trainer John Butenschoen might be on his way to a career day. Butenschoen’s stable will start three horses in Saturday’s $1.2 million Hambletonian Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack, plus one horse in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks. This year, Butenschoen has contenders Bill’s Man and Giveitgasandgo in the first of two $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations. Dover Dan is his stable’s hopeful in the second division. Soon after the eliminations, Butenschoen will send Fine Tuned Lady into the Hambletonian Oaks.
- Taking a look at possible challengers in Oaks (Friday, August 04, 2017)
While eyes at Saturday’s $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old female trotters at the Meadowlands will likely be trained on morning-line favorite Ariana G and second choice Magic Presto, fans might want to use their peripheral vision to check out a few other possible challengers with upsets on their mind.
- Hambletonian alumni join festivities (Friday, August 04, 2017)
In addition to the race on the track, Hambletonian Day is a chance to salute champions of days gone by.