by Kim French, USTA Internet News Editor

Kim French

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.”

Guardian Angel AS sports a lifetime record of 13-6-3-0 and has earned $93,993.

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.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Hambletonian starter Guardian Angel AS (here with assistant trainer Anna Lorentzon) will start from post three in his elimination.

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