Sixteen enter $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks
July 27, 2015,by Moira Fanning, publicity director, the Hambletonian Society
East Rutherford, NJ — Sixteen fillies entered Monday (July 27) for the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, the filly division of the Hambletonian.
Hambletonian week kicks off on Saturday (Aug. 1) with two $35,000 eliminations to narrow the field to 10 for the $500,000 Oaks Final on Hambletonian Day (Aug. 8) at The Meadowlands Racetrack.
The connections of Mission Brief, defending Dan Patch champion and Zweig Filly winner, have opted to race in the Hambletonian against colts but Zweig runners-up Wild Honey and Magic Marker have entered the Oaks.
Entries for the Hambletonian close at 9 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 3) at The Meadowlands race office.
Del Miller Memorial winner Spirit To Win, and third place finisher Livininthefastlane, are also among the entrants.
The 16 fillies entered in alphabetical order are Bright Baby Blues, Classical Annie, Cocoacabana, Gatka Hanover, Katniss, Lady Winona, Livinthefastlane, Lock Down Lindy, Magic Marker, Rules Of The Road, Sarcy, Smexi, Smokinmombo, Speak To Me, Spirit To Win, and Wild Honey.
With 16 Oaks entries, the format calls for two fields of eight fillies to race and the top five finishers to advance to the final on Aug. 8. The winner of the final on Aug. 8 is the Oaks winner, regardless of elimination finish on Aug. 1.
Post positions for the eliminations were drawn today and are listed below, with drivers and trainers.
Race 6-HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Lady Winona-Andy Miller-Julie Miller
2-Cocoacabana-John Campbell-Frank Ingrassia
3-Lock Down Lindy-Tim Tetrick-Tony Alagna
4-Smexi-Corey Callahan-Jimmy Takter
5-Bright Baby Blues-David Miller-Bob Stewart
6-Gatka Hanover-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
7-Wild Honey-John Campbell-Jimmy Takter
8-Smokinmombo-Aaron Merriman-Christopher Beaver
Race 7-HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Rules Of The Road-Corey Callahan-Janice Connor
2-Sarcy-Johnny Takter-Jimmy Takter
3-Speak To Me-Scott Zeron-Jimmy Takter
4-Magic Marker-David Miller-R. Nifty Norman
5-Katniss-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt
6-Livininthefastlane-Andy Miller-Julie Miller
7-Classical Annie-Aaron Merriman-Jim Arledge Jr.
8-Spirit To Win-Brett Miller-R. Dustin Jones
Post positions for the $500,000 final will be drawn and morning lines assigned on Monday (Aug. 3) at the Hambletonian press conference and post position draw, at 2 p.m. in Victory Sports Bar at The Meadowlands.
The $300,000 John Cashman Jr. Memorial, $400,000 Cane Pace, $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks and $1 million Hambletonian will be featured on a live 90-minute broadcast on CBS Sports Network from 4-5:30 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 8.
Hambletonian Day is closing day with a post time of 12 noon, and the zenith of the Championship Meet. Fans can follow the next two action-filled weekends at www.meadowlandsracetrack.com and on Twitter at #Hambo15.
- Mission Brief to take on the boys in 90th Hambletonian (Sunday, July 26, 2015)
When the field is drawn Monday morning for the Hambletonian Oaks, Mission Brief’s name won’t be among the entries.
- Connections are happy with Spirit To Win heading into Hambletonian Oaks (Tuesday, July 28, 2015)
Fred Hertrich III was disappointed Spirit To Win failed to sell at the 2013 Standardbred Horse Sale, but the breeder-turned-owner of the 3-year-old trotting filly has been nothing but pleased with her performance on the racetrack.
- Ingrassia has a sweet filly ready for the Oaks (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)
Jacqueline Ingrassia, affectionately known as Lady Jay, is about to break new ground. She and her racing and life partner for more than four decades, Frank Ingrassia, will be sending out their first Hambletonian Oaks starter on Saturday night (Aug. 1) at the Meadowlands Racetrack.