RACE 1
2-Tuonoblu Rex – 1:51 winner in the slop on July 7 set a rated first half & clearly needed his first start off the bench, has the rail & option to stalk the speed & explode late the way he likes
1-Gural Hanover – 6YO Burke trainee with a mark of 1:51 here this season set a short-lived track record @ Plainridge, draws inside & heads a strong entry
4-Cufflink Hanover – Tripped out to take mark of 1:51.1 on June 23, a close second to Marion Marauder in the Hambletonian Maturity, an obvious threat on best behavior
RACE 2
6-Idyllic Beach – Division champion on both sides of the border at two grinded out a solid second to standout Agent Q in the Mistletoe Shalee, this is a big chance for the Takter trainee to shine
2-Blazin Britches – Ligh2-Paetosive - tly-raced filly has quickly caught fire for trainer Brian Brown winning seven of eight this season & romped to a new mark of 1:50.1 on Adios Day first time Lasix
3-Ella Christina – Rallied for a huge upset in the Adioo Volo ! The Meadows in her first start for trainer Nick Surick, ships in fresh off that new mark with an inside draw
RACE 3
8-Emoticon Hanover – Moves outside fresh off a tune up qualifier & stunning world record 1:51 in the Miss Versatility here, faces the ultimate match up & may be up to it
3-Hannelore Hanover – The Queen was trumped by The King @ Plainridge when she had trouble getting a hold of that track, took a mark of 1:50.3 here in the Miss Versatility before that, draws inside & garners most of the attention
1-Pasithea Face S – Swedish import was hammered down to even money & ran into a raging Emoticon Hanover in a strong USA debut, Takter trainee presents a live option from the rail
RACE 4
7-Met’s Hall – Romped in his first two starts in PA & just missed to Samo Different Day while grinding off a rated pace, Team Orange Crush looking to rally off a live cover trip
5-You Know You Do – Sat patiently & powered past Farsetti Hanover to score decisively as the heavy favorite, part of a formidable Team Takter six pack
1-Samo Different Day – Takter was allowed to brush & steal a :57.3 half & held off a game Met’s Hall for his first win, builds on that upset with a push off the rail
RACE 5
2-Phaetosive – Trond Smedshammer has been singing her praises from the get-go, more than lived up to hype with an explosive move off fast fractions & crushing elimination, now primed to face an equally impressive & undefeated rival
4-Manchego – Made it an undefeated four-for-four with an eye-catching :26.4 in her elimination for Team Takter, tough to go against this sparkling daughter of Muscle Hill
1-Vivacious Allie – Went two-for-two in PASS before she ran into Manchego last week, chance to work out a stalking trip from the rail & play the opportunist roll
RACE 6
3-Marion Marauder – The 2016 Hambletonian hero, Triple Crown champion & Trotter of the Year fresh off a pair of powerful late surges to win here in the Graduate & Hambletonian Maturity, tackling a tougher, more competitive field of older foes, but draws well to settle into the right flow & kick past in the added eighth
7-Crazy Wow – This year’s Cutler runner up has recently posted three straight stakes wins, equaled his lifetime mark of 1:51.1 in a qualifier here on July 22 before finishing a pressured third @ Plainridge, Team Burke has this soon-to-be double millionaire on his toes
2-Resolve – Last year’s Cashman winner at a mile dominated this season’s Cutler at the added distance back on May 6, aggressively handled in the Spirit of Massachusetts & settled for fourth, will be firing from an inside draw with a big chance to stalk the speed
RACE 7
5-Downbytheseaside – Supplements to this event fresh off a solid second to Huntsville in the Pace Final, stablemate to the stellar Fear The Dragon draws another ideal stalking post to gain revenge on the main target, Sears won this last year with Pace winner Control The Moment
1-Huntsville – Draws the rail fresh off a heart-breaking narrow loss in the Adios, speedy colt played a successful game of catch-me-if-you can to win the Pace in 1:47.4, ultra steady colt has never been worse than second
6-R J P – Looks to be the strongest of the Team Burke trio in this match up, fresh off a solid third with a perfect second over trip in the Adios Final, owns experience over this track & the added eighth plays into his hand
RACE 8
5-International Moni – Light-raced three-for-three this season came bursting on the scene with those sterling rallies @ Mohawk, Scott Zeron looking to go two-for-two in the Hambo via the same route as Marion Marauder, fresh off a rousing score here after a colic scare, could add to the Antonacci Family Hambo legacy, out of two-time Horse of the Year Moni Maker
8-Long Tom – Speedy & versatile son of Muscle Hill heads the Marcus Melander Hambo duo today, has the speed to overcome post eight, dangerous if able to settle on the lead & control the pace, note the gutsy effort to hold on the NJSS Final & gunned down What The Hill in the Dancer in :27 flat, chance to steal this elimination
2-Bill’s Man – Runner up in the EBC Final, a consistent closer & beaten favorite draws better for a chance to get within closer striking range, one of three entries for trainer John Butenscheon, whose Giveitgasandgo comes off Lasix after a lifetime best
RACE 9
9-Devious Man – Very consistent colt & high in the win column, post nine a hindrance, but has overcome some tough draws to take Finals of the EBC & Beal, was a very good second to Walner in the Dancer, Team Orange Crush finished a close third last year with Sutton, they have a big chance to add to their trotting legacy
1-What The Hill – Quality Burke-tuned colt draws the rail fresh off the mile of his life & figures to be firing, Burke finished second in the last two Hambos, looking to join Donato Hanover & his sire Muscle Hill as Peter Haughton Memorial winners to also win the Hambo, Muscle Hill has won it with two of his first three crops, The Buckeye’s best shot at breaking through
6-Enterprise – Inexperienced, yet talented Chapter Seven colt, part of a strong one-two punch for Marcus Melander, who’s uncle Stefan won the 2001 Hambo with Scarlet Knight, obviously something wasn’t right when he faded in the Goodtimes as the beaten favorite, but nice bounce-back effort against International Moni
RACE 10
2-Yes Mickey – Ake Svanstedt gelding just missed in his last two against top stakes colts, stablemate Perfect Spirit two starts back, then What The Hill, draws well to trip out
6-Only Passing Thru – Late-blooming Team Antonacci colt by Muscle Hill has cruised through six in a row @ Plainridge this season & looks to build on that form & confidence here
1-Two AM – Improving Muscle Massive gelding has gone three for four in PA & draws the rail fresh off the mile of his life, worth a long look
RACE 11
1-Rock N’ Roll World – Was caught behind a gapper & finished a good fourth in the Haughton, then scored first time Lasix @ Yonkers, back on the rail in a wide-open division, reunited with Brian Sears, plays an opportunist role, stalks & banks on a hot pace
4-Mach It So – Recently passed the $2 million mark winning his second Haughton Final with aggressive handling, holding off a relentless Boston Red Rocks, followed up with a huge second in the wildly contested Gerrity @ Saratoga, draws well back here in prime form
6-Mel Mara – 8YO with a mark of 1:47 here last season is a fresh threat & loves the Big M, just missed in the Ben Franklin, outsprinted from third over in the Haughton, bounced back with a well-controlled tune up score in a four-horse field last week, he’s a star in a season of no real standouts in this class
RACE 12
4-Ariana G – The current princess until dethroned, the 2016 Dan Patch Award winner has posted three sub 1:52 wins here this season in effortless fashion, even gave the boys a tussle in the Beal, full sister All The Time won it last year for the same connections, Gingras & Takter shoot for the Oaks grandslam, it would be Takter’s seventh
5-Magic Presto – Excellent foundation in Ontario, had stretch traffic in the Del Miller, asserted herself & rated to win her elimination & took a new mark, Nifty Norman won this back-to-back with Personal Style & the great $4 million mare Bee A Magician, could be Sears again with another daughter of Kadabra
2-Dream Together – Has quickly come to hand & draws well at the right time, strong runner up in both preps here for prolific trotting conditioner Luc Blais, but will need the top two to somehow falter, by the Hambo record setter Muscle Hill out Oaks champion Danae & sister to 1:49.3 Swedish performer Propulsion
RACE 13
International Moni – Scott Zeron said he simply feels like he has the best colt & International Moni is going in as good as he can be, the eye-catching rallies in the Goodtimes, the fresh factor & improving trend after the recent health issue, the solid acclimating mile here, his great pedigree gradually coming to the surface, all adds up to a Money Man repeat
Devious Man – Has already proven himself as a horse who can come up big winning two stake finals already this season, has gate speed, stamina & consistency, Team Orange Crush have been knocking on the Hambo door, this colt could kick it in
What The Hill – Classy son Muscle Hill for Team Burke, who were second in the last two Hambos & have another big shot, this colt has come back around since the late-June sick scratch, his controlling speed & lasting power are his best assets & The Buckeye is due
RACE 14
9-Princess Aurora – 2016 Breeders Crown runner up took a new mark of 1:53.3 winning her latest qualifier here with trot at both ends for Takter, she’s tighter now & has a chance to overcome post nine & show her class
4-Broadway Concert – Broadway Hall filly arrives on a roll for a reputable barn, stepped up to beat Grand Circuit stock at The Meadows in a career best 1:55.1 & draws well here
3-No Bus For Us – Just missed to Oaks entrant Fine Tuned Lady in the PA Allstars, then rallied to score off a sick scratch, improving filly draws another inside post for Team Miller
RACE 15
4-Frost Damage Blues – 1:49.4 winner here last season had no chance in the Golden Girls, came out of a slight shuffle & split them with a :26.1 & got nosed out for third last week, draws well again, could sitting on a big one & will likely the speed target she needs
3-Pure Country – Two-time Dan Patch Award winner definitely gathering her best stride recently with the 1:48 qualifier & fresh off a pressured narrow loss to Nike Franco N in 1:48 from the same inside post, Team Takter have her on her toes
5-Nike Franco N – 7YO NZ-bred mare has really cycled to the top with a decisive upset of Lady Shadow in the Golden Girls, came right back in a career best 1:48 like she shot out of cannon from third over in :25.4, looks like the one to beat
RACE 16
1-Bruce’s Magic – Drops a notch after a hard-charging third chasing a well-rated winner, equaled his lifetime mark of 1:50.3 with a :26.4 two starts back & pushes off from the rail
3-More Dragon – Was forced to make another premature late move & got nailed by the fast-closing Wegottatruckyea last week, twice beaten gets another big chance to atone from the same inside post
4-Sicily – Fresh off a sharp narrow loss @ Pocono he took them all the way in a career best 1:50.4 here last week, logical threat from the same post
