by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Lucky Chucky will start from post No. 2 in Saturday’s $1.5 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters at Meadowlands Racetrack and was installed the 5-2 morning line favorite.

The connections of Lucky Chucky, trained by Chuck Sylvester and driven by John Campbell, got to select their starting spot by virtue of winning one of the three Hambletonian elimination races last weekend. The other elim winners were Cassis, who will start from post one, and Pilgrims Taj, who begins from post three.

Campbell announced the choice for Lucky Chucky after trainer Ray Schnittker picked first for Cassis. Lucky Chucky won his Hambletonian elimination race by three-quarters of a length over Mystery Photo and Holiday Road in 1:53.1.

“Every race is different, but we want to be as close to the inside as we can,” Campbell said. “With Ray taking the rail, it’s an obvious one for us to take (post) two.”

Sylvester has won the Hambletonian four times — one shy of the training record shared by Bill Haughton, Stanley Dancer and Ben White. Campbell already holds the record for most driving wins, with six. Sylvester and Campbell teamed to win the 1998 Hambletonian with Muscles Yankee and the 1987 Hambletonian with Mack Lobell. Sylvester’s other victories came with Chip Chip Hooray in 2002 and Park Avenue Joe (in a dead heat with Probe) in 1989.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Lindsey McKee puts up the names of the horses after the Hambletonian draw.

Lucky Chucky is the likely sentimental favorite, as well, in Saturday’s race. Sylvester’s 45-year-old son, Troy, passed away last year on Hambletonian Day, August 8, as the result of injuries sustained in an ATV accident. Lucky Chucky raced that day, finishing third in the Peter Haughton Memorial.

The Hambletonian elim victory was Lucky Chucky’s first of 2010, in three starts. The colt, who was coming off a second-place finish to Holiday Road in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division, was last year’s Dan Patch Award winner as best 2-year-old after winning nine of 12 races (including the Matron and Valley Victory stakes) and $667,649.

“John stretched him out a little last week and he came out of it good,” Sylvester said. “I think he’ll be better this week.”

Cassis won his elimination race by 1-1/4 lengths over Temple Of Doom in a career-best 1:52.4. His time was the fastest of the three Hambletonian elims. He is the 7-2 second choice in the morning line.

Schnittker, who won the Hambletonian from post No. 1 with Deweycheatumnhowe in 2008, this year is bidding to be the first trainer to win both the Hambletonian and million-dollar Meadowlands Pace in the same season. Schnittker’s One More Laugh won the Meadowlands Pace on July 17. Five trainers have won both races, in different years: Steve Elliott, Blair Burgess, Chuck Sylvester, Bill Haughton and Ray Remmen.

“It worked for me before,” Schnittker said about selecting post one. “It’s a great honor. It’s really hard to get one here that’s actually got a shot, so this is super.”

Pilgrims Taj, who won his Hambletonian elim by a half-length over Muscle Massive and Hard Livin in 1:53.3, was made 9-2 in the morning line. He joined the stable of trainer Trond Smedshammer two weeks ago.

Last year, Pilgrims Taj won seven of 10 races, including the Breeders Crown, with driver Mike Lachance and never was worse than second. Returning this season, he went off stride in his second qualifier on May 20 and made a break in a 3-year-old Open on July 9. In between, he picked up two victories and a third-place finish on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit. He was sixth in a division of the Stanley Dancer.

“As far as trotting and rigging, he’s probably where I want him to be,” Smedshammer said. “I still think there’s room for more improvement down the road. Two weeks is not a lot of time, but the horse is definitely heading in the right direction.”

Holiday Road, trained by Greg Peck, will start from the far outside in post No. 10. Peck won last year’s Hambletonian from post one with Muscle Hill and is trying to become the first trainer to win consecutive Hambletonians since Per Eriksson in 1991-92.

“We’ve gone from one rail to the outside rail,” Peck quipped. “I thought that might happen; that’s the chance you take. It’s a starting point. There isn’t anything you can do with it. I feel (Holiday Road) is the best horse and he’ll show it on Saturday. I think he’s coming into the race very well. He feels good, he looks good; he’s ready to go.”

Here is the draw for the $1.5 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old open trotters and the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Hambletonian, Race 10, Post Time 3:43 p.m. (EDT), Live on NBC
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1. Cassis, Tim Tetrick, Ray Schnittker, 7-2
2. Lucky Chucky, John Campbell, Chuck Sylvester, 5-2
3. Pilgrims Taj, Mike Lachance, Trond Smedshammer, 9-2
4. Mystery Photo, Andy Miller, Julie Miller, 10-1
5. Wishing Stone, George Brennan, Dewayne Minor, 12-1
6. Muscle Massive, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter, 8-1
7. On The Tab, Daniel Dube, Jimmy Takter, 15-1
8. Hard Livin, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter, 15-1
9. Temple Of Doom, David Miller, Jonas Czernyson, 15-1
10. Holiday Road, Brian Sears, Greg Peck, 6-1

Owners: 1. Cassis, Ray Schnittker, Kelk’s Inc., Arden Homestead Stable, Jerry Silva; 2. Lucky Chucky, SGS Partners, Perretti Racing Stable, Lindy Racing Stable; 3. Pilgrims Taj, Robert Bongiorno, Pilgrims Taj Stable, Bix DeMeo, Val D’Or Farms; 4. Mystery Photo, David Prushnok, John Prushnok, Ervin Miller, William Gregg; 5. Wishing Stone, Cowboyland Aalborg; 6. Muscle Massive, Brixton Medical AB, Order By Stable, Louie Camara, Katz-Libfeld-Goldband; 7. On The Tab, Christina Takter, John Fielding, Louie Camara, Falkbolagen AB; 8. Hard Livin, Christina Takter, John Fielding, Falkbolagen AB; 9. Temple Of Doom, Robert Rosenheim Stables; 10. Holiday Road, Jerry Silva, TLP Stable, Four Friends Racing Stable, Deo Volente-Peck Stable.

Hambletonian Oaks, Race 9, Post Time 3:09 p.m. (EDT), Live on NBC
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1. Boinga, Ron Pierce, Brian Roland, 6-1
2. Poof She’s Gone, David Miller, Richard “Nifty” Norman, 5-2
3. Springtime Volo, George Brennan, Jan Johnson, 4-1
4. Behindclosedoors, Daniel Dube, Chuck Sylvester, 10-1
5. Bar Slide, Tim Tetrick, Joe Holloway, 7-2
6. In The Mean Time, Yannick Gingras, Chuck Sylvester, 15-1
7. Bramalea Hanover, Ron Pierce, Robert McIntosh, 15-1
8. Southwind Samurai, John Campbell, Bjorn “Bernie” Noren, 12-1
9. Ultimate Cameron, Trevor Ritchie, Bob Stewart, 8-1
10. Fashion Feline, Brian Sears, Jim Campbell, 10-1

Owners: 1. Boinga, Anthony Risi, Carol Risi, Bernard O’Brien; 2. Poof She’s Gone, Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee, John Fielding; 3. Springtime Volo, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, Jorgen Jahre Jr.; 4. Behindclosedoors, Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee; 5. Bar Slide, Fredericka Caldwell, Bluestone Farms; 6. In The Mean Time, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee; 7. Bramalea Hanover, Susan Grange; 8. Southwind Samurai, Scuderia Giuliano; 9. Ultimate Cameron, Diamond Creek Farm; 10. Fashion Feline, Fashion Farms.