Karl Lands Top Spot in Ken Warkentin’s 2024 Road to the Hambletonian Week 1

Wednesday, May 29, 2024


Karl Lands Top Spot in Ken Warkentin’s 2024 Road to the Hambletonian Week 1

ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN

Week One – Issued May 29, 2024

 

The 2024 Hambletonian is Saturday, August 3

 

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ – To no one’s surprise, Karl, the returning Dan Patch 2-year-old of the Year, takes the top spot in Week 1 of the Road to the Hambletonian by Ken Warkentin.

 

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 capped a $1M season with a 1:52.1 stakes record in the Valley Victory, went nine for ten, including the Breeders Crown, took a mark of 1:51.2, looks for a three-ply NJSS series sweep @ Big M on May 31 from post seven
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), PASS champ won the Peter Haughton, epic comeback in the Mohawk Million, handed Karl his only career defeat, jogged in two Big M qualifiers (1:54.1 & 1:53.2), post three in PASS division @ The Meadows on May 31
3 Security Protected

(Father Patrick)

Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, Mitchell Friesen, Brad Grant, Order By Stable AB 1:52.4 Grand Circuit winner, 11 – 4-2-3, $354,754 as a 2YO, second in PASS Final, third in Breeders Crown, Tetrick & Melander second in 2023 Hambo with Oh Well, 1:53 PA All-Stars win in 3YO debut, post seven in PASS division @ The Meadows on May 31
4 Mars Hill

(Muscle Hill)

Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Willow Oak Ranch Runner up to T C I in Wellwood Final, won Bluegrass division in 1:54.2, Todd McCarthy pulled the biggest upset in Hambo history with Cool Papa Bell @ 52-1 in 2022, second in both legs of NJSS, post eight in NJSS Final on May 31
5 Waterfall

(Walner)

Brett Beckwith, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Al Libfeld Four Alagna trainees in the Top Ten, lightly-raced son of Walner finished second by a nose in his NJSS 3YO debut, then rallied for a 1:52 win deadheat with Pantoran, post six in NJSS Final on May 31
6 Benny J

(Walner)

 

Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Kenneth Jacobs Winless in six starts @ two, broke his maiden with a 1:53 NJSS decision over stablemate Mars Hill, then finished third behind stablemate Waterfall, drew the rail in NJSS Final on May 31
7 Pantoran

(Walner)

Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt Inc., Stable Why Not, Tomas Anderson Team Svanstedt sleeper held on for a 1:52 win deadheat with Waterfall in his 3YO debut, makes only his fourth career start in NJSS Final on May 31 from post five
8 Winter Soldier

(Face Time Bourbon)

Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna, Peter Alagna, Pryde Stables Inc. 2YO record of 12 – 5-2-3 (mark of 1:53.1), third in the Valley Victory, McCarthy & Alagna won the 2020 Hambo with filly Ramona Hill, second (1:55.3) to Sig Sauer in Big M qualifier on May 25, post 3 in Big M overnight on June 1
9 Sig Sauer

(Muscle Hill)

Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Allister Stables, Caviart Farms Won NJSS & NJ Classic Finals, earned $279,500 with a mark of 1:53.3, Daley won $1.5M Hambo in 2011 with Broad Bahn, won Big M qualifier in 1:55.3 on May 25, not in to go @ press time
10 Daiquiri Hanover

(Bar Hopping)

Ake Svanstedt, Timot Stable, Inc. Runner up in the Valley Victory, part of a Hambo battalion for Svandstedt (two-time Hambo winner & third in 2023), rallied for third (1:56.1) behind Sig Sauer in Big M qualifier on May 25, not in to go @ press time
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
May 31 PASS 1st Leg Mea
June 3 NYSS 2nd Leg Mont
June 7 Goodtimes Elim Moh
June 8 PASS 2nd Leg Poc
June 14 EBC Vern
June 15 Goodtimes Final Moh
June 15 Currier & Ives Mea
June 23 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