RACE 1
7-Sutton – Hard-charging third in the 2016 Hambletonian, missed all of last year with foot issues, signaled he’s definitely back with an emphatic new mark of 1:50.4 three weeks ago
5-Obrigado – 2016 Dan Patch Award winner has come back from surgery last November with two solid races under him, the latest a blowout win @ Tioga Downs, $1.7 million in the bank & 43 wins in 87 starts (49.4%)
3-Muscle Diamond – Went down the road with a sparkling new mark of 1:50.1 in his return to his favorite track, then finished second in a track record @ Harrah’s Philadelphia with trot at both ends from post eight & draws inside an intriguing opener
RACE 2
4-Kissininthesand – Words can’t do justice to her gutsy win in the Lynch, then came right back to dominate the Mistletoe Shalee, freshened up with a nice qualifier chasing the classy Pure Country & draws well to dictate her fate
2-Youaremycandygirl – 2017 Dan Patch Award winner & world champion has re-energized her form on Lasix for Team Burke, clearly second best in the Mistletoe Shalee, then rammed home a decisive score in the Adioo Volo & faces another marquee rematch
8-Alexa’s Power – Returns to the Big M fresh off a new mark of 1:52 with pace at both ends from post seven in the Adioo Volo, finished a huge third from post 11 in the Mistletoe Shalee
RACE 3
1-Repentance – Still recall her gutsy win here in 1:54 back on June 8, no chance from post nine in the Mary Reynolds, chased Atlanta last out, Toscano trainee a stalking threat in good form
4-Follow Streak – has thrived in PA winning four of six & took a new mark of 1;54.3 two starts back, draws well to stretch it out on the mile track for Team Orange Crush
6-Bella Glos – The Team Takter inside threat in here won a couple in The Stallion Series recently, dealt with a sloppy track in the Tompkins, chance to resume her progress
RACE 4
6-Don’t Let’em – Yannick Gingras has won three of the last five & Takter could make it back-to-back, nosed out by Gerry with a vicious :26.3 rally last time & continues to point skyward in one of the most competitive Peter Haughton Memorials in years
5-Greenshoe - $330,000 Father Patrick first foal out of Designed To Be, 1:51.3 [$656,166] hasn’t lost anything despite early miscues & recoveries in both NJSS races, romping in that final in a sharp 1:53.3 & freshened with an easy qualifier
3-Gerry - $225,000 Muscle Hill brother to Evelyn, 1:52.2 [$305,220) overcame a slow pace to win both starts, his latest here with a :55.2 back half and :26.4 from the same inside post, Marcus Melander is loaded with four in this wild affair
RACE 5
2-Hanna Dreamgirl – This Linda Toscano trainee by Chapter Seven hasn’t missed the board in five starts, just missed with a game uncovered elimination, draws inside again to work out another stalking trip & has acclimated nicely to the mile track
1-Beautiful Sin – Set a solid pace from post seven in the slop & got nosed out by Starita last week, moves inside to take control for Yannick, who’s won three of the last four & Takter goes for three in a row
3-Special Honor – Off a couple of tough trips in the NJSS Series she roared home from out of nowhere to an 18-1 nose upset over The Ice Duchess, gets a improved post to set up another late charge for Team Orange Crush
RACE 6
1-Will Take Charge – Took advantage of an inside draw, left alertly, stayed out of trouble, worked out a nice trip & just missed to Hannelore Hanover in the Cutler. He went on the equal a world record of 1:50.3 in the Maxie Lee, and half way through a breakout year he’s won half of his 14 starts. Reunited with Tim Tetrick, he makes his second start off a sick scratch & lands the rail.
12-Hannelore Hanover – The last three Horse’s of the Year have lost on Hambo Day, Hannelore was fourth in the Steele Memorial. However, the current queen of trotting has come back better than ever going six-for-six, including her third straight Armbro Flight, and a Big M track record equaling 1:50.2 in the Miss Versatility. Great horses overcome adversity, such as her post 12 win in the Cutler in her first start of the season.
8-Marion Marauder – The 2016 Hambletonian champion, last year’s Graduate & Hambletonian Maturity winner & Cashman runner up, quickly closing in on $3 million has been pretty steady this season. After a second in the Maxie Lee, he scratched sick, then has been on his game over smaller tracks, while dominating the Cleveland Classic. Post eight is obviously no picnic, but he’s in form, loves the long stretch here & the added eighth helps.
RACE 7
4-Nutcracker Sweet – Like Stay Hungry, his slow start in the Pace did him in, had a brutal trip in NA Cup & just missed in the Hempt Final, draws a bit better & The White Knight will likely have him within closer striking range this time
2-Courtly Choice – Convincing winner in the Pace takes another supplemental gamble after three weeks off, The Buckeye has been able to unleash his blinding speed with the right moves & his inside draw facilitates another stalking trip
3-Stay Hungry – Came up a tad shy in another final when he flew home to hit the board in the Pace, like Courtly Choice he’s missed three weeks, but look for him to be more forwardly placed in this tight rematch of seven Pace finalists
RACE 8
5-Wolfgang – Team Takter’s top gun came out impressively in the Goodtimes, then after missing some time due a minor surgical procedure roared back with the mile of his life to dominate his Dancer division. Takter looks for his fifth Hambo in what could be his swan song. Yannick Gingras tries for that elusive first Revere Bowl. Takter said he’s his most reliable horse. Post five may make him work a tad, but he’s peaking perfectly, and we haven’t seen anything close to his best.
6-Crystal Fashion – Jim Campbell sends out one of the most consistent entrants 23 years after his storybook Hambo win with his brother John & Tagliabue. Rides in on a three-race winning streak, fresh off a sterling rally here last week, no worse than second in eight starts this season, including two nose losses and a major victory in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial. Plus, you get Market Share Man Tim Tetrick.
7-Atlanta – The brilliant Chapter Seven filly takes the plunge against the boys, riding high with a five-race winning streak & two track records this season. Plus, she draws into the first heat. Rick Zeron has always believed she was special, maturing under ideal conditions in Florida this past winter. Zeron said she recovers quickly, she’s calm & workmanlike, she covers the ground perfectly, they’ve never found her bottom & never scratched halfway down. Scott Zeron looks for his second Hambletonian in three years.
RACE 9
9-Six Pack – This big, strong & powerful NYSS star has risen to the major leagues with a track record in the EBC Final, a close second from post nine in the Beal & fresh off a world record of 1:50 in his Dancer division. #1 rated in the Road to the Hambletonian Top 10, Ake Svanstedt looks for back-to-back Hambos using his brush n crush style. Svanstedt said simply he’s a horse who wants to win & likes everything about him, and after throat surgery last year he was a different horse.
3-Classichap – Trond Smedshammer climbed the mountaintop in 2004 with Triple Crown champion Windsong’s Legacy. The American Viking is back with a blossoming son of Chapter Seven, who has come to hand quickly. He scored his first win in aggressive fashion in 1:51.1, then finished a solid second to Wolfgang in the Dancer. The inside draw affords an ideal stalking trip.
8-You Know You Do – The 2017 Peter Haughton Memorial winner has been looming boldly in only four starts this season for Team Takter. Runner up & race timed in 1:50.2 in his last two here, the latest chasing Six Pack, you know he’s ready to deliver if the fractions & trip set up right from his outside assignment.
RACE 10
6-Tae Kwon Deo – Winner of Sweden’s Breeder’s Crown at two flashed some more late life in the Reynolds Memorial, acclimated now, switches to Johnny Takter & may have landed in an ideal spot to shine
12-Helpisontheway – NYSS track record setter @ Tioga Downs pulled a gallant upset here in the Tompkins Memorial, then rallied from a tough spot to win again @ Yonkers, looks like the one to beat despite post 12
7-Scirocco Rob – Has gotten on a roll & arrives fresh off three in a row, including a new mark of 1:53, a PASS division & well controlled Grand Circuit score @ The Meadows, may be the one to knock off in this wide-open affair
RACE 11
3-All Bets Off – His stablemate Check Six came “charging hard” for the upset in last year’s edition, maybe it’s his turn. The newly-minted triple millionaire took a mark of 1:48 in the June 9 Preferred, had a tough first over trip in the Ben Franklin & got shuffled from post 11 in the Haughton. Now he moves inside with some good n fresh Matt Kakaley Adios karma.
6-Western Joe – Horse-for-the-course Joe comes in fresh off a well-deserved & sparkling new mark of 1:47.3 with sharp speed at both ends, given a text book drive by Scottie Z last week. For the early-season Preferred star, seven of his eight wins have come at the Big M this season, and he was a solid third in the Graduate. With Mcwicked stuck in the second tier this may pave the way for another stalk n pop tally.
12-Mcwicked – After overcoming breathing issues & multiple throat surgeries, he has emerged at age seven as the sport’s current top free for aller. After he was too far back in the Mohawk Gold Cup, he capitalized on perfect cover trips in the Ben Franklin & Haughton. Tuned up with a “Mcwicked” :25 explosion at Mohawk, yet must find a way out of second tier city.
RACE 12
5-Phaetosive – Trond’s great history of award-winning fillies include Stroke Play, Housethatruthbuilt, Blur & 2008 Oaks upsetter Creamy Mimi. The American Viking has been singing this filly’s praise for a while, and now she’s blown away the opposition in her last three, the latest two were stunning. Her post is a bit demanding, yet with her talent & the way she’s trending, the sky is the limit.
4-Manchego – The 2017 Dan Patch Award winner lost her footing in the Beal Final, was spectacular in her Del Miller nose loss in 1:49.4 & never looked better in her elimination last week. The soon-to-be millionaire draws an ideal midpack post, Gingras & Takter look for five Oaks in a row, and Takter goes for his eighth Oaks.
1-Plunge Blue Chip – Faded to third last week with shoes on, and reportedly will go back to barefoot, just as she was in her amazing 1:49.4 world record upset of Manchego in the Del Miller, which came after missing three weeks. Now the fastest 3YO trotter in history, Svanstedt said she has focus & she has everything.
RACE 13
Wolfgang - Would only be making his fifth start of the season with plenty of time to recover from the first heat, visually impressive @ Mohawk & his strong comeback in the Dancer, never doubt Team Takter’s expertise in prepping one for the big dance, Yannick finally gets his dueSix Pack - Has proven he not only belongs, but he can dominate the top ones with his take charge style, Ake Svanstedt did a masterful job of preserving Perfect Spirit for last year’s final, has a similar task ahead with his outside heat assignment Crystal Fashion - Jim Campbell’s gelding is a prime opportunist with his sheer consistency & relentless rallies, won nine of 20 going into his heat & beat Six Pack in the Beal, plus you get The Bionic Man, who’s been to the mountaintop with Market Share
RACE 14
9-Ariana G – Two-time Dan Patch Award & Breeders Crown winner & 2017 Oaks champion has destroyed the boys back-to-back in the Graduate & Hambletonian Maturity, set a world record of 1:50.2 in the Graduate, will likely have no issues taking control from post nine again
2-Broadway Donna – Two-time Dan Patch Award winner has gotten hot at the right time, she trounced Caprice Hill with a new mark of 1:51.1 here two starts back, was parked in a track record mile @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, lands back inside @ The Big M
4-Emoticon Hanover – 2017 Breeders Crown champion was a runner up to Hannelore Hanover in the Armbro Flight, the multiple world record setter was left in the wake of a revved up Broadway Donna here back on Pace Night, inside draw & tactical speed always puts her in play
RACE 15
1-Shartin N – 12-time winner this season bounced back from her speedy defeat in the Golden Girls to crush foes in the Great Northeast Open Series with a new mark of 1:48.4 @ Pocono, returns with the rail to control her destiny
5-Windsun Glory – Recovered from her debacle in the Golden Girls with two straight wins here with a :25.3, then :26.1 in the slop, equaled her lifetime mark of 1:50 with authority last week for Team Burke, hot form may pay off again
4-Pure Country – Three-time Dan Patch Award winner closed from far back to hit the board in the Golden Girls, last year’s Lady Liberty upsetter, Breeders Crown winner & TVG champion freshened by Team Takter & draws inside for The White Knight
RACE 16
3-More The Better N – The Crocodile Man has done well this season with downunder imports, his latest gem here rallied from a tough spot to win his US debut over Sunfire Blue Chip, then scratched sick, tuned up with a strong qualifier & lands the rail
6-Dontellmeagain – Hammered down to 2-1 favorite & capitalized on a dreamy pocket ride to take a mark of 1:47.2 in the Graduate Final, no factor with a slow start in the Haughton, demanding post here, yet has the gate speed to seize position
1-Great Vintage – 1:49.2 winner here this season draws inside & has been revved up in his last two since the sick scratch & fresh off a hard-fought win in a Yonkers Open, 10YO warhorse kicks off a solid Takter entry
