by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — It will be a busy weekend for Hambletonian-eligible horses, with a total of 31 in action at three different North American racetracks. The $1 million Hambletonian Stakes, for 3-year-old trotters, is Aug. 5 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.

Ten horses in Friday’s Goodtimes Stakes eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack are eligible to Hambletonian. The Hambletonian hopefuls in the first elimination are Jake, Snowstorm Hanover, Seven And Seven, Guardian Angel As, Southwind Woody, and International Moni. In the second they are Shake It Off Lindy, Enterprise, AWOL Hanover, and Southwind Cobra.

Seven horses in Friday’s eliminations of Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs are eligible. They are Bill’s Man, Money Macintosh, Top Flight Angel, Such An Angel, and Another Chapter in the first division and Devious Man and Shivered in the second.

Bill’s Man is the 6-5 morning line favorite in the first group while Devious Man is the 9-5 choice in the second.

On Saturday, three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters will be contested at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with a total of 14 Hambletonian eligibles going behind the starting gate.

They are Sortie, Di Oggi, Muscles Jared, Lucky Matter, and Rubio in the first; Thisguyisonfire, Dover Dan, Moonshiner Hanover, Meme Hanover, and Sir John F in the second; and President Lindy, Perfect Spirit, Giveitgasandgo, and Don Dream in the third.

Sortie (2-1) and President Lindy (5-2) are the morning line favorites in their divisions. Dover Dan is the 7-2 third choice in the remaining division, behind Meteoric (5-2) and Common Parlance (3-1).

ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN
A look at open stakes for 3-year-old male trotters
and state-restricted stakes featuring Hambletonian eligibles
Date – Track – Event – First – Second – Third
May 6 – Freehold – Dexter Cup – Lord Cromwell – Gustavo Fring – Southwind Cobra
May 19 – Meadowlands – NJSS – Long Tom – Yes Mickey – Deacon Tony
May 19 – Meadowlands – NJSS – What The Hill – Southwind Cobra – New Jersey Viking
May 20 – Meadows – PASS – Sortie – Giveitgasandgo – High Glider
May 20 – Meadows – PASS – Andy M – Gustavo Fring – Stealth Hanover
May 20 – Meadows – PASS – Common Parlance – Brown Bear – Brand New Key
May 29 – Vernon – NYSS – Stick With Me Kid – Bill’s Man – Top Flight Angel
May 29 – Vernon – NYSS – Devious Man – Lord Cromwell – Aces And Eights
May 29 – Vernon – NYSS – Enterprise – Swell Chap – Meetmeinthemiddle
June 2 – Meadowlands – NJSS Final – Long Tom – King On The Hill – What The Hill
June 3 – Meadows – Currier & Ives – Fraser Ridge – Meme Hanover – Muay Hanover
June 3 – Meadows – Currier & Ives – Moonshiner Hanover – Giveitgasandgo – Lars Perry
June 3 – Meadows – Currier & Ives – Sortie – Dover Dan – Always A Good Time

Hambletonian eligible in bold