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

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

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