RACE 1
5-Odds On Delray – Rallied stoutly to win his second Gaitway qualifier, then closed with a :54.3 back half to hit the board chasing standout Flaming Flutter N, now drops to follow up
4-Sweet Rock – 1:48.1 performer here last season & 9YO with lots of back class drops a notch for his second start off the bench from post four again
1-Aintnobettor A – Aussie import added Lasix & steamrolled first over to just miss in a sparkling US debut with Gingras, now moves inside to show more in a competitive opener
RACE 2
4-Statement Made A – Flashed some late pace chasing a revved up Captain Midnight in a fast 1:51 Gaitway qualifier, looks to rebound at a reduced level & draws inside with Gingras
5-Let’s Roll – Brushed to the top & got a bit overanxious as the beaten favorite, still a solid tightening mile for this 1:48 performer here last season & no standouts in this one
7-Stendahl Hanover – Sub 1:50 performer here last year got off to a slow start with some interference last week, figures to show more, especially if he gets a speed target
RACE 3
3-Party Boy – Stung going for the lead from post ten in a much-needed start, horse-for-the-course now gets class & post relief & retains Dexter Dunn in a wide-open field
9-Thatswhatisaid N – Fresh off a winning qualifier he just missed with a :53.4 back half in an excellent US debut on Lasix last week, big threat despite post nine
5-Persimmon A – Off a big qualifier against Bechers Brook A he fought tooth n nail to just miss with a :54.4 back half, builds on that & remains at the same reduced level
RACE 4
4-Amigo Volo – Breeders Crown winner & now #1 rated in Road to Hambo Top Ten kicked home in an eye-catching :26.3 in his third qualifier for Dexter Dunn & draws well
7-Maesteraemon – Rated #4 in this week’s Hambo Top Ten won his latest two qualifiers here with sharp late bursts & leads the Team Melander contingent in an exciting field
6-Synergy – Currently rated #5 on the Road to the Hambo, distinguished himself as a freshman, just missed to Measteraemon in his latest morning prep with Gingras, let’s see some more
RACE 5
8-Allywag Hanover – Stablemate to Papi Rob Hanover & Pace eligible turned heads @ Magical Acres, then erupted with a :52.4 back half here, watch out for this potential monster
4-Montefalco N – Just missed in his first start here on Lasix as the beaten favorite, then chased a revved up Captain Groovy with a back half in :53.1, draws well for sharp connections
1-Ehrmantraut – Where on earth did that mile come from last week? Surprised us when he shook loose in a torrid :25.3, back half in :54, rewarded with the rail to prove it was no fluke
RACE 6
4-Reign Of Honor – Went all the way for a new mark of 1:52.3 here, holding on in :26.4 fresh off the bench, then a solid third to Gimpanzee @ Tioga, maturing nicely for Team Melander
3-Don’t Let’em – Look out when the real Don’t Let’em shows up! 1:50.2 Reynolds Stake winner here last season put it all together in that second qualifier for Team Takter & draws inside a wide open division
8-Soul Strong – Like Don’t Let’em he was also a Hambo finalist last year & third in the Breeders Crown, just missed in the second qualifier, tough draw, yet looks ready for Team Svanstedt
RACE 7
1-Tall Dark Stranger – Dan Patch Award winning colt streaked to a 1:49 mark in his latest qualifier here, lands the rail to face a salty group of older foes, but tough to go against
2-Western Joe – Joe followed up a narrow loss with a perfect trip score last week, exploding home in :25.4, back half in :53.1, now moves inside & poised to step back up
9-The Devil’s Own N – Relentless NZ bred crushed them first over again enroute to lowering his mark again to 1:49 last week, back half in :53, moves outside, but watch out if he can catch some live cover
RACE 8
3-Franco Totem N – Dropped from the Open & just missed with sharp pace @ both ends, proven horse-for-the-course now draws an improved post for his key third try off the bench
1-Ideal Feeling – Brushed & held on with a class drop n pop move, taking a sparkling new mark of 1:48.4, bumped back up brimming with confidence from the rail for a red-hot barn
10-Flaming Flutter N – Don’t believe I’ve ever seen an 11YO take a new mark of 1:49.1 from post nine as the heavy favorite in his US debut, now gets a double class hike & post ten in a very strong field
RACE 9
4-Sintra – Forced grind gamely from post nine into a :53.3 back half to just miss fresh off the bench, gets a big chance to follow up from a better post for Team Burke
9-Geez Joe – Fired out from the rail, got shuffled & still prevailed with a breathtaking :25.3 last week, moves outside, but he’ll likely get the fractions he needs again to make his late move
2-Filibuster Hanover – Just one for 18 last season, but liked the way he prepped @ Gaitway, no chance after a slow start in the Roll With Joe, draws well for his second start off the bench to give Team Burke more power in here
RACE 10
8-Gimpanzee – Two-time Breeders Crown champ came back roaring in the first leg @ Tioga as the heavy favorite & seems headed for more great things
9-Steuben Hanover – 2019 Hambletonian winning trainer returns, Luc Blais (Forbidden Trade) ships in a razor sharp son of Trixton fresh off a new mark of 1:52.1 @ Mohawk
6-Chin Chin Hall – 1:52.1 Muscle Hill winner on Hambo Day last year, solid runner up to Grandma Heidi here, then followed Gimpanzee @ Tioga, a solid opportunist
RACE 11
8-Shamwow – Dominant winner in 1:50.2 ere on June 6, fresh off a solid third in the Graduate @ Tioga, tough post, but these connections always seem live
2-Hayden Hanover – Improved result in his second start off the bench, fired out from post eight & just missed out of a shuffle in :26.3, now a big threat from a better post
1-Thinkbig Dreambig – Beaten chalk a couple of weeks ago took charge & faded after only eight starts last year, moves inside, must fear the raging Takter barn
RACE 12
7-Roll Away Joe – No factor from post nine chasing superior foes in his much-needed comebacker, owns plenty of back class & now drops into a logical spot
8-Kerrin Joseph A – Pulled a 39-1 upset from post nine here back in early November of 2019, Gaitway qualifier was inconclusive, but beware of this strong closer if the race sets up right
2-Always Flashing A – Got shuffled out in his US debut on Lasix a couple of weeks ago, expect some improvement with another inside draw in a wide-open field
RACE 13
10-Sams A Champ A – 8YO veteran took a mark of 1:50 here last season, had to make up a ton of ground in his Gaitway qualifier, post ten hurts, but the long stretch here helps
6-Our Positano N – Finished well enough in the Gaitway qualifier to be a strong consideration here together with his 1:50.2 speed badge taken last year
8-Iwillmakleyousaywow – Showed speed in a lively qualifier, has had plenty of experience & success here & has enough back class to overcome post eight in this camera-shy field
