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Apex Remains #1 in Week 11 of Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Apex still #1 off his Stanley Dancer Memorial win on July 11 with Diabolic Hill holding steady at #2. Both American Power and It Could Be Worse move up this week after second place finishes in their Dancer Divisions.

Rank	Horse	Driver, Trainer, Owner	Ken Warkentin’s Comments
1	Apex (Walner)	Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander. Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable, Steve Stewart	Dan Patch Award winner rallied to finish second by a neck to stablemate American Power in 3YO debut June 5, held off Diabolic Hill for a new mark of 1:50.3 in NJSS Platinum Final, won Stanley Dancer Memorial division in 1:52 July 11, Melander: “He’s feeling better every week, I don’t want to peak him too early, and I think he’ll go straight to the Hambletonian eliminations.” Not in to go
2	Diabolic Hill (Muscle Hill)	Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mario Mazza, AC Crawford Racing Stable	Won Big M qualifier in 1:53.3 on May 8, wire-to-wire in 1:53.2 Big M qualifier May 29, third in 3YO NJSS debut June 5, second in NJSS Final June 12, second (1:52) from post nine in Reynolds division July 4, did not race last week, not in to go
3	Endurance (Captain Corey)	Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Beaver, Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, Mark Moger	Unleashed track record equaling 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim in 3YO debut, then a gallant second in final, dominated PASS division in 1:51.4 June 6, set Currier & Ives stakes record 1:52.4 June 26, won Stanley Dancer Memorial division in 1:52 July 11, Beaver: “Today, he was in with some good horses, he kind of had his way, but it wasn’t really his kind of trip.” Not in to go
4	Magic Punk (Wishing Stone)	Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc.	1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup 3YO debut, romped to new mark of 1:51.1 in first Goodtimes elim, second (1:52.2) in final, took new mark of 1:51.4 in Reynolds division July 4, did not race last week, not in to go
5	American Power (Walner)	James MacDonald, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc	Rallied in :26.3 to win Garden State division May 16, won NJSS Platinum Division in 1:54.3 (sloppy track) May 23, took new mark of 1:52 in NJSS June 5, third (1:51.1) in NJSS Platinum Final July 4, second in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11, not in to go
6	It Could Be Worse (Captain Corey)	Tim Tetrick, Linda Toscano, Bay’s Stable, Pat & Mark Huber, Bill Elliott, Camelot Stable	KYSS winner in 1:53 at two, just missed going wire-to-wire in 1:51.3 3YO debut June 12, unleashed an eye-catching new mark of 1:50.3 in Reynolds division July 4, second in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11, not in to go
7	Big Ranger (In Range)	Tim Tetrick, Anette Lorentzon, Madison Global	2025 Ohio Horse of the Year broke in 3YO debut, fourth in Oak Grove Derby elim, wire-to-wire in Silver conso in 1:52.3, set Scioto Downs track record 1:51.2 in OHSS May 25, after barn change set another track record of 1:50.3 in OHSS division @ Scioto Downs with Tim Tetrick, did not race last four weeks, post six in Buckeye Stallion Series @ Scioto Downs July 25
8	Neighver Punt (Bar Hopping)	Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, M Biasuzzi Stable Inc	One of five Marcus Melander trainees in Top Ten, has blossomed @ three upsetting a Goodtimes elimination in 1:51.4, rallied to upset final in 1:52, fourth (1:53) in Reynolds division July 4 after missing three weeks, did not race last week, not in to go
9	Spencer Hanover (Chapter Seven)	Jason Bartlett, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Synder, Arthur Pronti	Breeders Crown champion won Oak Grove Derby elim in 1:53.4 in 3YO debut, equaled 1:51.3 track record in final, 1:53.3 romp in NYSS @ Vernon Downs May 25, dominated EBC in 1:54.4 June 12, broke/ninth in Yonkers Trot June 26, broke/eighth in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11, not in to go
10	Nix Nacken (Muscle Hill)	Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc.	1:52.2 Grand Circuit winner at two, just missed in a NJSS Silver Division June 5, romped to 1:50 world record for 3YO geldings in that final, third (1:51) in Reynolds division July 4, fourth in Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 11, not in to go

KEY PREP RACES

Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps

Date	Stakes	Site	Winner	Driver	Trainer	2nd Horse	3rd Horse	Time
May 2	Dexter Cup	M	MAGIC PUNK	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	Southwind Alamo	WHO’S EYES BLUES	1:53.1
May 4	Oak Grove Elim	OG	SPENCER HANOVER	Jason Bartlett	Marcus Melander	Geologic	IMPOSSIBLE BI	1:53.4
May 4	Oak Grove Elim	OG	Silverstein	Dave Miller	Matthew Burkholder	REQIUEM	KINGMEN	1:52.3
May 4	Oak Grove Elim	OG	ENDURANCE	Andrew McCarthy	Christopher Beaver	AI	NIX NAKEN	1:51.3
May 8	PASS 1^st Leg	Mea	Captain Vodka	Ridge Warren	Robert Baggitt, Jr.	GREENARROW HANOVER	HAMLET HALL	1:54.3
May 8	PASS 1^st Leg	Mea	Fineline Hanover	Ridge Warren	Ron Coyne, Jr.	Dilly Hanover	R TOMMY COLLINS	1:53.2
May 16	Battle of Bunker Hill	PR	NEBBIOLO	Sarah Svanstedt	Ake Svantedt	MIDWIND CHIMP	Water Slide	1:54.2
May 16	Oak Grove Derby	OG	SPENCER HANOVER	Jason Bartlett	Marcus Melander	ENDURANCE	REQUIEM	1:51.3
May 18	PA Allstars	Poc	MR PENNER	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	MINOAN	Captain Vodka	1:52
May 18	PA Allstars	Poc	HIGHLAND DESTINY	Scott Zeron	Nancy Takter	JIM BEAM	DOLLAR DRAFT	1:52.2
May 18	PA Allstars	Poc	Fineline Hanover	Todd McCarthy	Ron Coyne, Jr.	NEIGHVER PUNT	Confident Volo	1:52.2
May 23	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	GABES LUCK	Scott Zeron	Nancy Takter	MEGA SHARK	PRACTICAL MAN	1:55.3
May 23	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	King Of The Wind	Joe Bongiorno	Joe Bongiorno	MAGA HILL	NEVER SAY DIE	1:55.2
May 23	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	AMERICAN POWER	Dexter Dunn	Marcus Melander	KINGMEN	ARDONNE	1:54.3
May 23	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	TRILLION TIMES	Jason Bartlett	Per Engblom	Ice Fall	Be Positive	1:57.3
May 25	NYSS 1^st Leg	Ver	SEVENATO	Trond Smedshammer	Trond Smedshammer	WHO’S EYES BLUES	Highway Six	1:54
May 25	NYSS 1^st Leg	Ver	SPENCER HANOVER	Jason Bartlett	Marcus Melander	Titan’s Mischief	SECURED	1:53.4
June 5	NYSS 2^nd Leg	TD	READ THE ROOM	Sarah Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	Highway Six	TWIN B SEVEN SINS	1:53.2
June 5	NYSS 2^nd Leg	TD	Silverstein	Matt Kakaley	Matthew Burkholder	AI	SEVEN GRAND	1:53.3
June 5	NJSS 2^nd Leg	M	AMERICAN POWER	Mattias Melander	Marcus Melander	APEX	DIABOLIC HILL	1:52
June 5	Goodtimes Elim	MO	MAGIC PUNK	Yannick Gingras	Ake Svanstedt	Strobe Light	WOLFPACK CROWN	1:52.1
June 5	Goodtimes Elim	MO	NEIGHVER PUNT	Yannick Gingras	Marcus Melander	Touchedbyanangel	Royal Captain	1:51.4
June 6	PASS 2^nd Leg	Poc	ENDURANCE	Andrew McCarthy	Christopher Beaver	Geologic	HAMLET HALL	1:51.4
June 6	PASS 2^nd Leg	Poc	HIGHLAND DESTINY	Scott Zeron	Nancy Takter	MINOAN	Captain Vodka	1:54.1
June 12	NJSS Final Platinum	M	APEX	Dexter Dunn	Marcus Melander	DIABOLIC HILL	AMERICAN POWER	1:50.3
June 12	NJSS Final Silver	M	NIX NACKEN	Dexter Dunn	Marcus Melander	King Of The Wind	MAGA HILL	1:50
June 12	EBC Division	Ver	SPENCER HANOVER	Jason Bartlett	Marcus Melander	TWIN B SEVEN SINS	SEVEN GRAND	1:54.3
June 13	Goodtimes Final	MO	NEIGHVER PUNT	Dexter Dunn	Marcus Melander	MAGIC PUNK	Strobe Light	1:52
June 24	NYSS 3^rd Leg	Buf	READ THE ROOM	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	Chapter Geo J	LOU JOHN’S ACTION	1:55
June 24	NYSS 3^rd Leg	Buf	Highway Six	Jeff Gregory	Jeff Gregory	TWIN B SEVEN SINS	SEVEN GRAND	1:56.4
June 26	Yonkers Trot Final	Y	INEXPRESSABLE	Tim Tetrick	Lucas Wallin	KINGMEN	Silverstein	2:25.3
June 26	Currier & Ives	Mea	ENDURANCE	Andrew McCarthy	Christopher Beaver	HAMLET HALL	Captain Vodka	1:52.4
July 4	Reynolds	M	IT COULD WORSE	Tim Tetrick	Linda Toscano	Southwind Alamo	NIX NACKEN	1:50.3
July 4	Reynolds	M	MAGIC PUNK	Yannick Gingras	Ake Svanstedt	DIABOLIC HILL	Southwind Fargo	1:51.4
July 11	Stanley Dancer	M	ENDURANCE	Andrew McCarthy	Christopher Beaver	IT COULD BE WORSE	Silverstein	1:52
July 11	Stanley Dancer	M	APEX	Dexter Dunn	Marcus Melander	AMERICAN POWER	INEXPRESSABLE	1:52
July 19	Zweig Memorial	V
July 23	NYSS 4^th Leg	Y
July 25	Tompkins-Geers	M
July 25	Tompkins-Geers	M
Aug. 1	Hambo Elim	M
Aug. 1	Hambo Elim	M