by Bob Heyden

LAST WEEK, EARLY LINE, HORSE, TRAINER, OWNER, SCOOP

1, 6-5, KEN WARKENTIN, Jimmy Takter, C. Takter, Fielding, Domi, Windsor Stable. Won in 1:52.3 on July 15. “He’s been training well and he’s sharp right now,” said Takter. “My goal all along was to have him as ready as I can for the Hambletonian eliminations.”

5, 7-2, SOUTHFORK, Brett Pelling, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Second across wire in season’s debut on July 15, chasing Ken Warkentin. DQ’d from purse money for pacing. “There’s work to be done, but he’s got a lot of talent,” said Pelling.

3, 4-1, CLASSIC PHOTO, Ervin Miller, Wright, Mystical Marker, Hood. Won Dancer in 1:53.4. “He’s a nice little horse who’s done everything I’ve asked,” said Pierce. “He’s the first horse that I can remember who reminds me of American Winner (his 1993 Hambletonian winner).”

2, 5-1, NEW YORK YANK, Noel Daley, Adam Victor & Son Stable. Had week off. “It’s been by design, racing him less than some of the others,” said Daley. “My aim now is to point him towards the elims (on July 30) and hopefully the final and have him at his very best.”

9, 6-1, STRONG YANKEE, Trond Smedshammer, Strong Yankee Stable. Second in the Dancer. “I knew right after the Goodtimes that Classic Photo would be tough, and the one to beat in there,” said Smedshammer. “But my colt is progressing, too.”

8, 8-1, MUSCLE BOUND, Ron Gurfein, Brittany, J. Silva, Sampson Street Stable. Closed well for fourth in Dancer. “He was tremendous,” said Gurfein. “I’m very happy with him.”

Not Ranked, 10-1, MR DREAM OM, Remi Jensen, Wm Solomon, Orsi Mangelli Stable, Emposimato Stable. Won three-year-old open in 1:54.2 on July 15. “He qualified with a :27.2 final quarter, and I knew he was a top colt right there,” said Jensen. “Then he made a break, but that was because he could never grab the track.”

6, 12-1, SELF PROFESSED, Don Swick, Royal Wire Products. Seventh in the Dancer. “He was used early in the Dancer, now I am just going to try my best to have him sharp for the eliminations,” said Swick.

4, 15-1, DIESEL DON, Chuck Sylvester, Chuck Sylvester, Neal Goldman, Having Fun Stable. Broke at start of Dancer. “He got mixed up in the gate and wouldn’t get trotting,” said John Campbell. “It’s time to regroup,” said Sylvester. “I’ve got two weeks to get it right.”

10, 20-1, RACINO, Don Swick, Royal Wire Products. Sixth in the Dancer. “He doesn’t have the experience that some of the others have, but he’s coming along,” said Swick.

Date, Stakes, Site, Winner, Owner, Trainer, Driver, Second Horse, Third Horse, Time

5/14, Dexter Cup, Fhld, LINDY FIVE HUNDRED, Schnittker, Jones, et al, Ray Schnittker, George Brennan, Great George Two, CLEARAWAY, 1:59.1

5/30, NJSS 1st leg, M, MUSCLE MEMORY, Smith, Nojaim, Takter, Jimmy Takter, Brian Sears, Muscles Serenade, LINDY’S MAESTRO, 1:56.1

5/30, NJSS 1st leg, M, Franks ‘N Beans, Alfred Ross, Karen Garland, Stephen Smith, Corona Bluestone, Armbro Copenhagen, 1:56

5/30, NJSS 1st leg, M, SELF PROFESSED, Royal Wire Products, Don Swick, Brian Sears, NORTHERN KID, MUSCLESEXTRODINAIR, 1:55.1

5/30, NJSS 1st leg, M, Q FORTY FIVE, Takter, Ross, Fielding, Jimmy Takter, Ron Pierce, Grit Your Teeth, CLEARAWAY, 1:56.2

6/9, NJSS 2nd leg, M, MUSCLE MEMORY, Smith, Nojaim, Takter, Jimmy Takter, Brian Sears, CELEBRITY MASTER, Magic Swan, 1:55.1

6/9, NJSS 2nd leg, M, NEW YORK YANK, Adam Victor & Son, Noel Daley, Ron Pierce, Chocolate Dipped, WILLISTOWN, 1:54.3

6/9, NJSS 2nd leg, M, MUSCLE BOUND, Brittany, Silva, Sampson St, Ron Gurfein, Mike Lachance, CLEARAWAY, Choice Sakra, 1:55.3

6/11, Goodtimes Elims, Wdb, Great George Two, Graham Grace, M&W, Bib Roberts, Jon Roberts, Ro Lo, BARE IT ALL, 1:52.1

6/11, Goodtimes Elims, Wdb, VINO CAMIELLE, Laakonen & Iversen, Anders Wolden, Jack Moiseyev, CLASSIC PHOTO, TRAVELIN LITE, 1:54

6/11, Goodtimes Elims, Wdb, BJs King, Robert Key, Jonas Stutzman, Ron Pierce, Brancaleone, Stonebridge Diablo, 1:54.1

6/16, NJSS 3rd leg, M, KEN WARKENTIN, Takter, Fielding, et al, Jimmy Takter, David Miller, CLEARAWAY, WILLISTOWN, 1:57.3

6/16, NJSS 3rd leg, M, MUSCLE BOUND, Brittany, Silva, Sampson St, Ron Gurfein, Mike Lachance, SELF PROFESSED, MUSCLESEXTRODINAIR, 1:56.3

6/18, Goodtimes, Wdb, CLASSIC PHOTO, Wright, Mystical Marker, et al, Ervin Miller, Ron Pierce, Ro Lo, Stonebridge Diablo, 1:53.1

6/23, NJSS Final, M, NEW YORK YANK, Adam Victor & Son, Noel Daley, Ron Pierce, CLEARAWAY, KEN WARKENTIN, 1:53.3

7/1, Dickerson Historic, M, MUSCLE MEMORY, Smith, Nojaim, Takter, Jimmy Takter, Brian Sears, STRONG YANKEE, NORTHERN KID, 1:55.1

7/8, SF Dancer Elims, M, RACINO, Royal Wire Products, Don Swick, Brian Sears, DIESEL DON, SIR PERSEVERANCE, 1:56.4

7/8, SF Dancer Elims, M, SELF PROFESSED, Royal Wire Products, Don Swick, Eric Ledford, VINO CAMIELLE, MED VAC, 1:54

7/8, SF Dancer Elims, M, CLASSIC PHOTO, Wright, Mystical Marker, et al, Ervin Miller, Ron Pierce, Ro Lo, MUSCLE BOUND, 1:54.4

7/15, SF Dancer, M, CLASSIC PHOTO, Wright, Mystical Marker, et al, Ervin Miller, Ron Pierce, STRONG YANKEE, VINO CAMIELLE, 1:53.4

7/30, Hambletonian Elims, M

Aug 6, Hambletonian, M

HAMBLETONIAN ELIGIBLES IN CAPS