by Ken Warkentin, for the Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ — The $1.5 million Hambletonian is Saturday (August 4) and eliminations are now six weeks from this Saturday. We are tracking the top contenders and rating their performances on the major stakes trail on the road to harness racing’s greatest day.

From our Winterbook Top 10, the list of prospects grew to about 30 and many have served up some strong performances already. The main focus this weekend will be on Mohawk and Saturday’s Goodtimes and Elegantimage (Check Me Out). Also, on Friday, Pocono Downs has the eliminations for the $500,000 Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial.

1. Check Me Out. Fresh from her 11 length romp in a PASS at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:53.4 (three-fifths off a world record), she cruised in her elimination for the Elegantimage in 1:54.3 at Mohawk,. The Donato Hanover filly has post three in Saturday’s final. Tim Tetrick said, “There was a strong wind down the stretch, she hasn’t grown much, but she’s calmer, still has her same big gait, high speed and great will.”

2. Magic Tonight has post three (race 10) in the first Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination on Friday. He shattered The Meadows track record and romped in his second straight PASS with an impressive eight length score in a season’s best 1:52.4 (two-fifths off a world record) with Ron Pierce driving for trainer Noel Daley. Pierce said the colt finally showed how much of a special horse he is. The son of Andover Hall has had some soundness issues and responded to the application of bar shoes.

3. Uncle Peter drew post four (race 12) in the second Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination on Friday. The Breeders Crown upsetter showed no ill effects from a recent minor leg injury in making his 2012 debut and wore down last year’s PASS champion Stormin Normand with a career best 1:53.4 at The Meadows. Ron Pierce drove for Jimmy Takter, who declared this Cantab Hall colt the best he’s ever had.

4. Little Brown Fox has post seven (race 10) in the first Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination and scored a decisive win in the NJSS Final at the Big M in a career best 1:53.3 after the Muscles Yankee colt had won a division in 1:54.1. Once again, driver Ron Pierce teamed up with trainer Jimmy Takter.

5. Guccio was a game first-over runner-up (1:54) to the undefeated Knows Nothing in a Goodtimes elimination and has post eight in Saturday’s final. He rallied for second behind stablemate Little Brown Fox in the NJSS Final and romped in a previous division in 1:55.1. He completes the Jimmy Takter trio in the Top 5.

6. Market Share won his elimination for the Goodtimes in 1:53.2 and has post four in Saturday’s final. He was the beaten favorite in the NJSS Final, finishing third after setting a rated pace. He had previously won a NJSS division by nine lengths in 1:53.1 for trainer Linda Toscano.

7. Beer Summit was second to Market Share in his Goodtimes elimination and leaves from post seven in the final. He went two-for-two in the PASS before finishing a close second to My MVP in a division at The Meadows.

8. Possess The Will is scheduled to qualify on June 23 at the Big M. Sickness set back his schedule a few weeks according to trainer Jim Campbell. He was the top earner among 2011’s freshman trotters and capped his Dan Patch Award winning season by winning the Valley Victory. He also went two-for-two in Grand Circuit action at the Red Mile for Campbell, who has another major player in Stormin Normand.

9. Lightning Storm drew post two (race 12) in the second Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination. He easily made it two-for-two in 2012 with a 1:53.4 romp from post 10 at the Big M on June 8 with Corey Callahan driving. The Peter Haughton elimination winner at two won his 2012 debut from post nine in 1:53.3. Jonas Czernyson has sent out six Hambletonian finalists in the last four editions.

10. From Above won his second qualifier at the Big M in 1:54.2, last quarter in :27.1 with Tim Tetrick. The son of Donato Hanover, trained by Greg Peck of Muscle Hill fame, previously finished second in a qualifier on June 1, timed in 1:55, with a final quarter of :27.1.

Other Contenders

Solvato drew post two (race 10) in the first Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination. He set the pace and finished third to My MVP and Beer Summit as the beaten favorite in a PASS split at The Meadows. He had won a previous division in 1:53.2 at Harrah’s Philadelphia for Trond Smedshammer.

Stormin Normand has the rail (race 12) in the first Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination on Friday. The stablemate to Dan Patch Award winner Possess the Will (Jim Campbell) set the pace and finished second (timed in 1:54) to Uncle Peter in a PASS at The Meadows. He won the PASS Championship at two in 1:54.3 at Pocono Downs.

Vic Smith. The freshman NJSS champion broke and finished ninth in the NJSS Final. He had won his 2012 NJSS debut in 1:55.3, then lost by a nose to Little Brown Fox in 1:54.1.

Knows Nothing remained undefeated in five starts by winning his Goodtimes elimination in 1:53.4 for Jody Jamieson and Jeff Gillis, beating even money favorite Guccio. The son of Kadabra was unraced at two.

Delano broke and finished eighth in the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs. He had started 2012 by going wire-to-wire in a NYSS in 1:54.4 at Tioga Downs for Ray Schnittker.

My MVP has post three (race 12) in the second Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination. He won a division of the PASS at The Meadows in 1:55.1 over Beer Summit and Solvato. Mike Lachance drove the son of Cantab Hall for trainer Tony Alagna.

Archangel broke his own Vernon Downs track record by winning the Empire Breeders Classic in 1:53.1 at Vernon Downs with Jim Morrill, Jr. driving for trainer Peter Arrigena, He had won his elimination in 1:53.4.

Coraggioso is a son of Conway Hall co-owned by legendary announcer Tom Durkin. He finished second in the Empire Breeders Classic for trainer/driver Phil Fluet. He won a NYSS division at Tioga Downs in 1:55.4.

Flyhawk Jester finished a well beaten fifth in the Empire Breeders Classic after setting the pace and finished second in his elimination as the beaten favorite. He was previously second to Archangel in the NYSS at Tioga Downs for trainer Tyler Raymer.

Big Chocolate made another break and finished fourth in a qualifier at Vernon Downs. He broke for the second straight start and finished seventh in the NJSS Final at the Big M. He previously won a division in 1:54.3.

Gym Tan Laundry finished fourth in his Goodtimes elimination and has post nine in the final. He was a well beaten sixth in the NJSS Final.

Money On My Mind has post five (race 12) in the second Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial elimination on Friday. He finished a distant second to Magic Tonight in the PASS at The Meadows (timed in 1:54.2). The stablemate to eligibles Vic Smith and Top Billing was second by a head in last year’s William Wellwood Final.

Royal Shyster finished sixth in his Empire Breeders Classic elimination. The NYSS champion switched to trainer Noel Daley this season and was second to Googoo Gaagaa in the Simpson at the Big M.

Top Billing recovered from an early break and finished fourth in a PASS division at The Meadows. The Spring Survivor winner at the Big M finished a close second to Solvato in a previous division at Harrah’s Philadelphia for Andy and Julie Miller.

American Gangster won a qualifier at the Big M in 1:55.4, final quarter in :27.4, with Brian Sears driving. He had made his 2012 debut in a qualifier at the Big M on June 1 and finished fourth (1:56.2). He set a Mohawk track record of 1:54.4 in his William Wellwood elimination at two for trainer Chris Oakes.

Appomattox rallied from post nine to win his 2012 debut in 1:56.1 on June 1 at the Big M with Tim Tetrick driving for trainer Frank Antonacci.

Weingartner lit up the board in the Peter Haughton Memorial last year for Jimmy Takter, but has no starts yet in 2012.

Prestidigitator romped in his second qualifier at Mohawk in 1:56, last quarter in :27.1, with Sylvain Filion driving. He capped his freshman season by winning the OSS Super Final for trainer Dustin Jones.

Pekoe Fashion is a stablemate to Possess The Will and Stormin Normand for Jim Campbell. He finished seventh against older stock on April 20 after winning both qualifiers. Won the Matron Final at two.

Power Play broke and finished sixth on June 1 at the Big M after he romped in his 2012 debut in 1:55.3 for trainer Steve Elliott.

One In A Million finished second to From Above in his second qualifier at the Big M for Brian Sears and Chuck Sylvester on June 8. Has post 10 in race eight on Friday at the Big M.