Three New Contenders Make Ken Warkentin’s 2024 Road to the Hambletonian Week 4
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN
Week Four – Issued June 19, 2024
The 2024 Hambletonian is Saturday, August 3
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, NJ—Karl and TCI remain 1-2, but three newcomers vault into Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian in Week 4. Highland Kismet debuts at #3 after a stakes record performance in the Goodtimes. Situationship takes the fifth spot after going two for two in the NYSS and EBC. Bright Star makes the list at #7 after a score in a Meadowlands overnight.
Rank | Horse | Driver, Trainer, Owner | Ken Warkentin’s Comments | |
1 | Karl
(Tactical landing) |
Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter, Christina & Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing, Bender Sweden Inc. | Dan Patch Award winner, $1M freshman kicked off his 3YO season with an effortless three-ply NJSS series sweep (new mark of 1:51 in final), trained sharply @ Big M on June 14, returns in a few weeks | |
2 | T C I
(Cantab Hall) |
Dave Miller, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., Weaver Bruscemi | O’Brien Award winner set earnings record for freshman trotters with $1,238,870 (12 – 10-2-0), two-for-two this season, won 1:52.2 PASS division @ The Meadows & PASS division in 1:53.3 @ Pocono Downs, did not race last week/not in to go | |
3 | Highland Kismet
(Father Patrick)
|
Bob McClure, Mark Etsell, Highland Thoroughbred Farm | Unraced at two, a “project horse” for 2023 O’Brien Award winning trainer Mark Etsell has come bursting on the scene winning four of five @ Mohawk, cruised to a Goodtimes stakes record equaling 1:51.3 for 2019 Hambo winning driver Bob McClure, not in to go | |
4 | Security Protected
(Father Patrick) |
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, Mitchell Friesen, Brad Grant, Order By Stable AB | 1:53 PA All-Stars win in 3YO debut, wire-to-wire in 1:53.3 PASS division @ The Meadows, won a PASS division @ Pocono Downs in 1:54.2, did not race last week/not in to go | |
5 | Situationship
(Chapter Seven) |
Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc, Little E, Tomas Anderson | Developed into a Grand Circuit player as a freshman, two-for-two this season, won divisions of NYSS & EBC, both in a career best 1:52.1 @ Vernon Downs, not in to go | |
6 | Daiquiri Hanover
(Bar Hopping) |
Ake Svanstedt, Stable Why Not, Tomas Anderson | Valley Victory runner up finished a solid second to T C I in his 3YO debut, Svanstedt a two-time Hambo winner & third in 2023, did not race last week, post four in a Big M overnight on June 21 | |
7 | Bright Star
(Muscle Hill) |
Scott, Zeron, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Pryde Stables Inc, Caviart Farms, Plouffe & Riverview | Romped in a NJSS division in 1:52.1, fourth in NJSS Final, posted a decisive score in a Big M overnight on June 14 in 1:52.1 with three-time Hambo winner Scott Zeron, not in to go | |
8 | Mars Hill
(Muscle Hill) |
Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Willow Oak Ranch | Kicked off 3YO season with a second in both legs of NJSS, broke/ninth from post eight in NJSS Final, rallied to upset older foes with career best 1:53 in Big M overnight on June 14, not in to go | |
9 | Benny J
(Walner) |
Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Kenneth Jacobs | Broke his maiden with a 1:53 NJSS decision over stablemate Mars Hill, then third to Waterfall & second to Karl in NJSS Final, beaten favorite faded to eighth in Big M overnight on June 14, not in to go | |
10 | Waterfall
(Walner) |
Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Al Libfeld | Second by a nose in his NJSS 3YO debut, rallied for a 1:52 win deadheat in Leg 2, then fifth in NJSS Final, fourth after a tough trip in Big M overnight on June 14, not in to go |
Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Driver | Trainer | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
May 11 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | CABALLERO | Trond Smedshammer | Trond Smedshammer | WATERFALL | Bella’s Muscle Hill | 1:54.1 |
May 11 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | KARL | Yannick Gingras | Nancy Takter | SOUTHWIND METRIC | PICK POCKET | 1:53.2 |
May 11 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | BENNY J | Andrew McCarthy | Tony Alagna | MARS HILL | DUKE OF WALNER | 1:53 |
May 18 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | BRIGHT STAR | Scott Zeron | Tony Alagna | MARS HILL | SOUTHWIND METRIC | 1:52.1 |
May 18 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | KARL | Yannick Gingras | Nancy Takter | Tony Adams S | DUKE WALNER | 1:52.2 |
May 18 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | PANTORAN DH | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | BENNY J | 1:52 | |
May 18 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | WATERFALL DH | Todd McCarthy | Tony Alagna | BENNY J | 1:52 | |
May 19 | PA Allstars | Poc | SECURITY PROTECTED | Tim Tetrick | Marcus Melander | WHITE SHOE HANOVER | Ordained | 1:53 |
May 19 | PA Allstars | Poc | Blackhawk Zette | Matt Kakaley | Robert Baggitt, Jr. | SKYDIVER | LONGFELLOW S | 1:53.3 |
May 19 | PA Allstars | Poc | Usain Hanover | Tyler Buter | Nifty Norman | Luke The Spook | FOR JULY | 1:53.3 |
May 27 | NYSS 1st Leg | Vern | SITUATIONSHIP | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | It Wasnt Me | THINKER MONKEY | 1:52.1 |
May 27 | NYSS 1st Leg | Vern | WILD TICKET | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | NOTTINGHAM | VICTOR LASZLO | 1:55.4 |
May 27 | NYSS 1st Leg | Vern | DAME GOOD TIME | Scott Zeron | Travis Alexander | Sir Pinocchio | Devastate | 1:51.1 |
May 31 | NJSS Final | M | KARL | Yannick Gingras | Nancy Takter | BENNY J | Tony Adams S | 1:51 |
May 31 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | SECURITY PROTECTED | Dave Palone | Marcus Melander | Blackhawk Zette | Luke The Spook | 1:53.3 |
May 31 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | T C I | Dave Miller | Ron Burke | Ordained | COORS HANOVER | 1:52.2 |
June 3 | NYSS 2nd Leg | Mont | KEEP ASKING | Tyler Buter | George Ducharme | Super Duper Cooper | NOTTINGHAM | 1:56 |
June 3 | NYSS 2nd leg | Mont | Sir Pinocchio | Jason Bartlett | Ed Hart | FLY BY | Crazy Brother Jim | 1:56.3 |
June 7 | Goodtimes Elim | Moh | Top Mast | Sylvain Filion | Dustin Jones | PICK POCKET | Shermont | 1:53.4 |
June 7 | Goodtimes Elim | Moh | HIGHLAND KISMET | Bob McClure | Mark Etsell | PRIVATE ACCESS | WINTER SOLDIER | 1:54 |
June 8 | PASS 2nd Leg | Poc | SECURITY PROTECTED | Braxton Boyd | Marcus Melander | Blackhawk Zette | COORS HANOVER | 1:54.2 |
June 8 | PASS 2nd Leg | Poc | T C I | Dave Miller | Ron Burke | DAIQUIRI HANOVER | Ordained | 1:53.3 |
June 14 | EBC | Vern | SITUATIONSHIP | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Sir Pinocchio | THINKER MONKEY | 1:52.1 |
June 14 | EBC | Vern | WILD TICKET | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | FLY BY | DAME GOOD TIME | 1:53.3 |
June 15 | Goodtimes Final | Moh | HIGHLAND KISMET | Bob McClure | Mark Estell | PRIVATE ACCESS | Top Mast | 1:51.3 |
June 15 | Currier & Ives | Mea | Splendid | Chris Lems | Todd Rooney | Father Mike | I’m Out | 1:53.4 |
June 15 | Currier & Ives | Mea | SPAAANZANO | Aaron Merriman | Chris Beaver | Memorynimagination | Bird And Grenade | 1:53.3 |
June 21 | Yonkers Trot Elim | Y | ||||||
June 26 | NYSS 3rd Leg | Buf | ||||||
June 28 | Yonkers Trot | Y | ||||||
June 29 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
July 4 | Zweig Memorial | Vern | ||||||
July 13 | Stanley Dancer Mem. | M | ||||||
July 15 | NYSS 4th Leg | Y | ||||||
July 19 | PASS 3rd Leg | Phl | ||||||
July 20 | Tompkins-Geers | M | ||||||
July 27 | Hambletonian Elim | M |