Ken Warkentin’s Final Road to the 2025 Hambletonian Presented by FanDuel

Wednesday, July 30, 2025


Road to the Hambletonian Top 10 – Final

The 100th Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 2

RankHorseDriver, Trainer, OwnerKen Warkentin’s Comments
1Super Chapter (Chapter Seven)Yannick Gingras, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti, Hanover Shoe FarmsFive-for-five in 2025, wired a 1:50.4 EBC division, won the Yonkers Trot, new mark of 1:50.3 in the Stanley Dancer, cruised in second Hambletonian elimination in 1:51.1, three-time Hambo runner up Marcus Melander sends out four finalists, Yannick Gingras picks up the drive & won last year’s Hambo with Karl, post two in Final
2Emoticon Legacy (Walner)  Louis Roy, Luc Blais, DeterminationDominated the Goodtimes Final in a Mohawk track record of 1:50.2, won the Zweig in 1:51.4, took first Hambletonian elimination in 1:51.4, Luc Blais upset the 2019 Hambo with Forbidden Trade, Louis Roy makes his Hambo debut, post three in Final
3Maryland (Chapter Seven)Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc, PCW Racing, Holly Lane Stud East Ltd, SStewartRThorn Stable2024 Dan Patch Award winner, millionaire/richest in the field, runner up in an EBC division, Zweig Memorial, Stanley Dancer Memorial division & third Hambletonian elimination, Dexter Dunn’s choice over Super Chapter, Dunn looks for first Hambo, post four in Final
4Nordic Catcher S (Six Pack)Ake Svanstedt, Little E LLCWire-to-wire in third/fastest Hambletonian elimination in 1:50.3 (:26.2), 2YO NJSS champion responded to a bridle change, Ake Svandstedt seeks his third Hambo, post six in Final 
5Maximus Mearas S (Chapter Seven)  Scott Zeron, Lucas Wallin, Kjell Magne AndersenMade 3YO debut finishing fourth in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, hard-charging runner up in second Hambletonian elimination, Lucas Wallin had the beaten favorite Rebuff in 2022, Scott Zeron goes for the Hambo grandslam, post five in Final
6Go Dog Go (Greenshoe)  Todd McCarthy, Carter Pinske, Wiesman Farms, Al LibfeldKicked of his 3YO season three-for-three, dominated a Stanley Dancer Memorial in a career best 1:50.4 (:26.1), finished third in the third Hambletonian elimination, Todd McCarthy shocked the 2022 Hambo @ 52-1 with Cool Papa Bell, post ten in Final
7Gap Kronos S (Face Time Bourbon)Tim Tetrick, Ake Svanstedt, Bruni Racing Team Inc., Part Of Dream Inc.Second in Goodtimes Final, equaled career best 1:51.4 in Reynolds division, fifth in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, finished third in second Hambletonian elimination, Tim Tetrick won the 2012 Hambo with Market Share, post seven in Final
8Greenma (Greenshoe)  Trond Smedshammer, Purple Haze StablesOnly two starts as a freshman, fresh off a PASS win he finished a fast-closing second by a nose in first Hambletonian elimination, Smedshammer won the 2004 Hambo with Windsong’s Legacy & had the beaten favorite Power To Charm in 2003, post nine in Final
9Meshuggah (Greenshoe)Bjorn Goop, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc.Fourth with traffic issues in first Hambletonian elimination & draws in with the highest lifetime earnings, PASS winner in 1:54.1, one of three finalists by Greenshoe & one of four for Marcus Melander, Swedish legend Bjorn Goop drives from the rail
10Blank (Gimpanzee)Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Melander, S R F Stable, Holly Lane Stud East LTDFlashed plenty late trot in a Dancer division, rallied third by a head in :26.3 in first Hambletonian elimination, Andrew McCarthy won the 2020 Hambo with the filly Ramona Hill, post eight in Final

KEY PREP RACES

Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps

DateStakesSiteWinnerDriverTrainer2nd Horse3rd HorseTime
May 3Dexter CupMHARD SEVENTodd McCarthyNancy TakterMY DEGENERATECIVILIAN DRONE1:53.4
May 9PASS 1st LegMeaThe Fix Is InCharlie NorrisCharlie NorrisHEY PORTERBOMBAY TOM1:54.4
May 9PASS 1st LegMeaBig ShoesRonnie Wrenn, Jr.Ron BurkeMESHUGGAHArrowhead Hanover1:52.4
May 15Battle of Bunker HillPPVARIEGATEDDexter DunnMarcus MelanderGlobal SensationMY DEGENERATE1:53.1
May 18PA AllstarsPocGive Me A YankeeSimon AllardMark AkinsGREEN MELGolazo1:55
May 18PA AllstarsPocFrank LeahyYannick GingrasRon BurkeBOMBAY TOMHonolulu Hanover1:54
May 18PA AllstarsPocLEFTIES RIGHTIESBraxton BoydJenny MelanderMESHUGGAHHEY PORTER1:53.3
May 24NJSS 1st  LegMTRAVOLTA HANOVERDexter DunnNancy TakterTE QUIERO LINDYMOUNTCASTLE1:54.4
May 24NJSS 1st LegMHIDALGOYannick GingrasRon BurkeSKY LEGACYMY DEGENERATE1:53.1
May 24NJSS 1st LegMPRECISE LANDINGTim TetrickDan DaleyGO BOOMNIGHT PHANTOM1:54
May 26NYSS 1st LegVerSUPER CHAPTERDexter DunnMarcus MelanderMONSERRATESeven Layer1:53.3
May 26NYSS 1st LegVerVARIEGATEDDexter DunnMarcus MelanderGlobal SensationKARINCHAK1:52.3
June 2NYSS 2nd LegMonBjm’s Lil ManTyler ButerJohn BergerSeven LayerSeismic Step1:55.4
June 6NJSS 2nd Leg MMR WALNER FASHIONTodd McCarthyJim CampbellHIDALGOMR DEGENERATE1:51.2
June 6NJSS 2nd LegMMOUNTCASTLEScott ZeronMarcus MelanderTOP GUN HANOVERYANNICK G KEMP1:51.2
June 6NJSS 2nd LegMONAJETPLANEAndrew McCarthyNoel DaleyMoni ManHERECOMESDAJUDGE1:52.1
June 7Goodtimes ElimMOGALEN ERSODoug McNairGregg McNairLANDING ON TIMELMC Wagon Wheel1:53
June 7Goodtimes ElimMOEMOTICON LEGACYLouis RoyLuc BlaisEugene The GeniusFadeaway Hanover1:52.1
June 8PASS 2nd LegPocMESHUGGAHScott ZeronMarcus MelanderGREENMAThe Fix Is In1:54.1
June 8PASS 2nd LegPocGO DOG GOTodd McCarthyCarter PinskeHEY PORTERArrowhead Hanover1:52.3
June 13NJSS FinalMHIDALGOYannick GingrasRon BurkeONAJETPLANE (DH)TOP GUN HAONVER (DH)1:52.4
June 13EBC DivisionVerSUPER CHAPTERScott ZeronMarcus MelanderMARYLANDHARD SEVEN1:50.4
June 13EBC DivisionVerCHAT ROOMTyler ButerJohn ButenschoenVARIEGATEDMONSERRATE1:52.3
June 14Goodtimes FinalMOEMOTICON LEGACYLouis RoyLuc BlaisGAP KRONOS SLANDING ON TIME1:50.2
June 25NYSS 3rd LegBufFadeaway HanoverJim Morrill, Jr.Sara BaillargeonBjm’s Lil ManSeven Layer1:57
June 27Yonkers TrotYSUPER CHAPTERDexter DunnMarcus MelanderVARIEGATEDHAPPY JACK B1:54.3
June 28ReynoldsMGO DOG GOTodd McCarthyCarter PinskeMR MOUTONMOUNTCASTLE1:52
June 28ReynoldsMGAP KRONOS SAke SvanstedtAke SvanstedtNORDIC CATCHER SPRECISE LANDING1:51.4
July 3Zweig MemorialVerEMOTICON LEGACYLouis RoyLuc BlaisMARYLANDMESHUGGAH1:51.4
July 11PASS 3rd LegPhlGREENMATrond SmedshammerTrond SmedshammerCheers HanoverBOMBAY TOM1:53.4
July 11PASS 3rd LegPhlFASHION GREENTim TetrickJim CampbellHEY PORTERThe Fix Is In1:52.3
July 12Stanley DancerMSUPER CHAPTERDexter DunnMarcus MelanderMONSERRATEBLANK1:50.3
July 12Stanley DancerMGO DOG GOTodd McCarthyCarter DuerMARYLANDMORDIC CATCHER S1:50.4
July 19Tompkins-GeersMONAJETPLANEAndrew McCarthyNoel DaleyHEY PORTERWARRIOR1:52.1
July 19Tompkins-GeersMGO AHEAD MAKEMYDAYDave MillerBlake MacIntoshLEFTIES RIGHTIESLT Loverboy1:53
July 26Hambo ElimMEMOTICON LEGACYLouis RoyLuc BlaisGREENMABLANK1:51.4
July 26Hambo ElimMSUPER CHAPTERDexter DunnMarcus MelanderMAXIMUS MEARAS SGAP KRONOS S1:51.1
July 26Hambo ElimMNORDIC CATCHER SAke SvanstedtAke SvanstedtMARYLANDGO DOG GO1:50.3