RACE 1
5-Hayden Hanover – Took a sizzling 1:47.3 mark on Pace Night & just missed in 1:48.3 last week with a nice rebound effort, ideal midpack draw + versatile Team Orange Crush contender
2-Backstreet Shadow – Twice a 1:47.4 winner here this summer, fresh off a 1:48.4 blowout @ The Meadows, Team Burke trainee draws inside on fire right now
1-Trump Nation – Was a bit out of striking range in the Golden Receiver Final when he kicked home in :25.3, looms a prime opportunist with a decent start from the rail
RACE 2
4-Another Daily Copy – Beaten chalk @ Pocono settled for second after a :26.4 third quarter there, dominant winner from post nine in a career best of 1:49 here before that draws inside
5-Let’s Roll – Bumped up, yet draws better fresh off a gutsy speed try from post nine with The White Knight letting him roll on the engine, sharp item also capable of a big kick
8-Incredible Shark – Runner up to a raging Filibuster Hanover last week, tougher post, but owns enough speed to get involved & kick home if the pace is hot
RACE 3
4-Rich And Miserable – 4YO has come to hand for Team Buter, followed up a career best 1:51 with a wrapped up 1:51.1 in the Mr Muscleman Final, no doubt the sharpest of this group
1-Pinkman – The 2015 Hambo hero & Trotter of the Year inches closer to $3 million, runner up in the Maxie Lee & second to Rich And Miserable two starts back, rail puts him in play
8-Speeding Spur N – NZ bred banked almost $800,000 downunder, raced okay in his US debut trotting home in :26.4, faces a demanding draw, but eligible to step up
RACE 4
5-Hypnotic AM – Got underway late & nailed a well-rated Hello Tomorrow with a wicked :26.4 to go 3-for-3, no doubt this is a special filly for Marcus Melander
3-Crucial – Brushed n crushed her elimination from post seven, polished it off with a :26.4, Team Burke-tuned filly is picture perfect so far & draws inside, Gingras has won 3 of the last 5
9-Hello Tomorrow – Prepped well, cruised in her debut, then got nosed out by Hypnotic AM, now stuck outside has loads of talent & potential
RACE 5
4-Real Cool Sam – Gelding made it 4-for-4 with a pretty convincing elimination score from post nine & took a new mark of 1:54.1 & finally draws inside for The Buckeye
3-Synergy – Upset Stay Close in decisive fashion despite coming off a sick scratch & went two-for-two, continues to progress from another inside post, Gingras has won 4 of the last 6
5-Stay Close – Beaten favorite had to settle for second when Synergy dictated easy terms, his 1:54.3 debut blowout in the Kindergarten Classic still jumps off the page
RACE 6
4-Tall Drink Hanover – Bounced back from a ninth in the Lynch with a mighty surge & close second in the Shalee, then upset Warrawee Ubeaut @ The Meadows with another great drive by Andrew McCarthy, in line for a similar trip here
5-Stonebridge Soul – Chris Ryder trainee has become the hot item in this division with three straight major stakes wins, rated & outlasted Tall Drink Hanover in the Mistletoe Shalee, back to a flat mile in one of the most competitive races of the day
2-Warrawee Ubeaut – Dan Patch Award winner & fastest 2YO in history has been knocking on the door this season, lacked the knockout punch with a second over trip in the Shalee, draws inside to give Gingras & Burke a chance at winning this back-to-back
RACE 7
9-Lather Up – The perfect trip Graduate winner in an all-age track & world record of 1:46 came right back to strike again in the added distance Haughton Final, tuned up with a strong qualifier for Team Teague, look for him to blast off to overcome post nine & keep his form spree going
2-Mcwicked – 2018 Horse of the Year rebounded off a disappointing fourth in the Haughton & signaled a return to winning form with a second over surge in the Gerrity @ Saratoga, just missed with a game grind in the Ben Franklin, draws inside to work out a stalking trip & take advantage of the added eighth this time
4-This Is The Plan – Can’t fault his current string of hard-fought efforts, the Ben Franklin upsetter was twice a runner up to Lather Up here, then got nailed late by Mcwicked in the Gerrity, logically figures to be forwardly placed to protect his inside draw & heads a powerful Team Burke foursome
RACE 8
7-Gimpanzee – Marcus Melander had the #1 rated Dan Patch Award winner for the second straight year coming into 2019, despite going undefeated this colt has been #2 behind stablemate Greenshoe for several weeks, yet we simply haven’t seen his best when he gets a chance to stretch out on the mile track, his 1:52.4 tune up @ Tioga Downs came after a 24-day layoff, post seven will make him work, but his engine hasn’t been fully revved up, Chapter Seven (Atlanta) looks for back-to-back Hambos
8-Green Manalishi S – Melander said he’s a big, strong horse who needed his most recent race, an easy win in the Tompkins Geers after a second to Swandre The Giant in the Dancer, figures to be leaving hard to overcome post eight, and Hall of Fame nominee Tim Tetrick is confident this son of Muscle Hill has what it takes.
3-Swandre The Giant – Indiana-sired son of Swan For All fresh off a solid second from post 11 in the Reynolds last week after upsetting Green Manalishi S in the Dancer with a new mark of 1:51.3, no Lasix could be a detriment, but the talent is there and he draws well for Dave Miller and Mr. 10,000 Ron Burke, both looking to avenge their DQ in 2017 and grab their first Hambo trophy.
RACE 9
5-Greenshoe – This two-time NJSS champion has turned into a monster in short order this season as the well-deserved #1 Hambo contender, blitzing the NJSS final in 1:50.2 and reeling off a sizzling 1:50.1 in the Dancer, the lightly-raced son of Father Patrick has matured into a champion for Marcus Melander, who’s picked up checks in the last two Hambos, Brain Sears looks for his fourth trophy and could become the sixth driver too complete the Pace-Hambo double.
8-Marseille – The ever aggressive Ake Svanstedt took matters into his own hands and it paid off with Perfect Spirit in 2017, this Muscle Hill colt stole the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial at 57-1 and continued to surge to the forefront with a new mark of 1:51.1 in the Tompkins Geers after missing three weeks, no choice but to blast off here and settled in for a stalking trip.
6-Don’t Let’em – 2018 Peter Haughton Memorial winner in a track record rebounded off a late break in the Dancer with an impressive career best of 1:50.2 from post ten in the Reynolds, will look to keep that stellar form going for Yannick Gingras and Nancy Johansson, who are both looking for their first trip to the mountain top.
Race 10
4-Eurobond – 4YO has simply been a brand new horse since the barn change, going three-for-three for Team Orange Crush with trot to spare, draws well fresh off equaling Chapter Seven’s track & world record of 1:50.1, merits the serious test for class
2-Guardian Angel AS – Rebounded off a no-chance loss here from post nine with a dominant wire-to-wire score in the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot @ Plainridge, the Maxie Lee winner now comes back here five for seven this season with an inside draw, so has a big chance to control the race or stalk the speed
7-Crystal Fashion – World record setting Hambo heat winner last year tripped out to upset Atlanta in the added distance Hambletonian Maturity with a great drive by Tetrick, can blast off with the best of them & brimming with confidence
RACE 11
2-Millies Possesion – Jim Campbell keeps calling her a true professional and she’s more than proven that by remaining undefeated and going three-for-three at The Big M. This filly first impressed us with a first over crush from post nine in 1:51.1 in the Reynolds, then dominated her Del Miller division and gamely held off Evident Beauty last week. Fashion Farms have struck gold with this homebred by their Grand Circuit winner Possess The Will, they teamed up with Jim Campbell to win the 2009 edition with Broadway Schooner.
5-When Doves Cry – Was a prominent 2YO chasing standout Woodside Charm, peaking perfectly on the comeback trail for Team Allard she romped to a new mark and the fastest elimination in an excellent acclimating mile, reportedly training great on the lead, that’s likely where we’ll find her at some point today for her first serious test of the season, great first foal of the millionaire Breeders Crown champion Cedar Dove, the great Muscle Hill looks to sire four straight Oaks winners
4-Evident Beauty – The NJSS champion flaunted controlling speed to win her Del Miller division, reverted back to her best closing style and just missed to Millies Possesion last week. The Trixton filly drew inside to set up her preferred stalking style, which is tailor made for the long stretch here, Nifty Norman won the 2013 edition with Horse of the Year Bee A Magician, Dave Miller pulled the 2012 upset with Personal Style.
RACE 12 – Hambo Final
Greenshoe – There have been times this season when it has seemed like this colt is from another planet, he’s more relaxed and mature as 3YO, he’s also handy, versatile and most importantly he has a high gear most trotters don’t have, today The Shoe will show his heels to the field.
Gimpanzee – Often it’s hard to go against an undefeated horse, and this Dan Patch Award winner would be a logical choice if not for his exceptional stablemate, has hardly shown any weaknesses thus far, if Greenshoe somehow falters, Gimpanzee can swing back to #1 as King of the Trotters.
Green Manalishi S – Marcus Melander has a big chance to finish 1-2-3, and like his stablemates this son of Muscle Hill is peaking perfectly and he’s built for two-heats, if he gets out of his elimination heat relatively unscathed Tim Tetrick will get the Hambo green for the second time.
RACE 13
7-Darling Mearas S – Swedish import surprised more than a few with that down the road track record of 1:49.4 in her US debut here, then just missed to Hannelore Hanover with another spirited effort, the post is tougher, but she’s now had two excellent acclimating miles
6-Hannelore Hanover – 2017 Horse of the Year who won the 2016 edition & on the verge of $3 million has come back this season winning three of four, her latest a well-rated effort holding off Darling Mearas S, definitely a fresh threat to go all the way
1-Manchego – 2018 Oaks champion finally regained her winning form with an eye-catching 1:50.1 from post nine last week, now draws the rail in a true test for class
RACE 14
3-Caviart Ally – Hard-knocking, consistent mare shows up for battle every week, took a mark of 1:48 dominating the Rainbow Blue Final, just missed from post ten in the Golden Girls, moves inside fresh off another impressive score, chance to turn the tables on her arch rival
1-Shartin N – 2018 Dan Patch Award winner among the leaders for Horse of the Year again & defending Lady Liberty champion, returns on an amazing ten-win streak & fresh off an all-age track record @ Plainridge, so tough to overhaul when she takes control
6-Shower Play – Ontario invader arrives fresh on the comeback trail, flashing some very strong final quarters @ Mohawk, may be one to fear if some mayhem ensues
RACE 15
4-Bettor’s Wish – NA Cup runner up was an absolutely gigantic second in the Pace, consistent son of Bettor’s Delight faces a marquee match up with Captain Crunch, draws inside that rival here & may hold a slight edge
6-Captain Crunch – 2018 Dan Patch Award winner put forth a herculean 1:47.2 to bounce back & upset the NA Cup, took intense pressure & was still right there in the Pace photo, talented colt has now had three weeks to regroup
3-Escapetothebeach – Tony Alagna trainee has certainly proven he can go with these, picked up the last check in the Pace, just missed to the eventual Adios winner in his elimination, draws inside, yet somehow needs to find another gear
RACE 16
2-Captain Mulzac – Late-blooming Captaintreacherous colt has ramped it up on Lasix, fresh off two in a row @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, the latest with pace at both ends from post seven, draws inside to trip out in a competitive Hambo Day finale
4-Can’t Beach That – Took three starts off a sick scratch to really turn his game around & shot home in :26 for a new mark of 1:49.4 last week, back inside trying to repeat against essentially the same group
8-Western Exposure – Lightly-raced Brittany Farms bred just missed to Can’t Beach That in his acclimating switch to the mile track here, now the post is much tougher, but the speed & potential is there to rise to this occasion
