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Ken Warkentin’s Hambletonian 2024 WinterBook Top Ten

Friday, December 29, 2023

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.	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, Nancy Takter looks to go back-to-back, Gingras is a three-time Hambo runner up
2	T C I (Cantab Hall)	Dave Miller, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., Weaver Bruscemi	Set an earnings record for a 2YO trotters with $1,238,870, ten wins & two seconds in 12 starts, PASS champ won the Peter Haughton & staged an epic comeback in the Mohawk Million, The Buckeye & Burke seek that elusive first Hambo

3	Daiquiri Hanover (Bar Hopping)	Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt Inc., Stable Why Not, Tomas Anderson	Runner up in the Valley Victory, two-time Hambo winner & third in 2023 with Up Your Deo Team Svandstedt have a battalion that includes Mr Bluebird, Situationship, Amazing Catch, Flying Kronos S, Tony Adams S & Southwind Metric
4	Winter Soldier (Face Time Bourbon)	Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Peter Alagna, Pryde Stables Inc.	Consistent colt compiled a record of 12 – 5-2-3, with a mark of 1:53.1, third in the Valley Victory, also in the wings for Team Alagna is Mars Hill, Waterfall & Bright Star, McCarthy & Alagna won the 2020 Hambo with the filly Ramona Hill
5	Security Protected (Father Patrick)	Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, Howard Taylor, Brad Grant, Order By Stable AB	Steady son of Father Patrick was a Red Mile Grand Circuit winner in 1:52.4, sports a record of 11 – 4-2-3, $354,754, second in the PASS Final & third in the Breeders Crown, Tetrick & Melander were second in 2023 with Oh Well, Melander also has Wild Ticket
6	Sig Sauer (Muscle Hill)	Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Allister Stables, Caviart Farms	Lightly-raced son of Muscle Hill went four for five, winning NJSS & NJ Classic Finals, earned $279,500 with a mark of 1:53.3, McCarthy & Daley had 2023 Winterbook favorite Volume Eight, Daley won a $1.5M Hambo in 2011 with Broad Bahn
7	Hankins Hanover (Walner)	Dave Miller, Nifty Norman, Pinske Stables, David Hoese	Walner sent out four finalists in 2023, a record of 11 – 3-3-2, $136,511, 1:54.4 NJSS winner, second to Karl in the Bluegrass, Nifty Norman was fourth from post 10 in 2020 with Amigo Volo
8	Spaaaanzano (Coraggioso)	Aaron Merriman, Chris Beaver, Spaaaartners, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming	Son of Coraggioso, 1:52.4, $677,398, co-owned by announcing legend Tom Durkin, record 7 – 5-1-0, $272,150, Ohio Sires Stakes standout, second as even money favorite in final
9	Keep Asking (Chapter Seven)	Scott Zeron, George Ducharme, W.J. Donovan, Joe Sbrocco, Jim Winske, George Ducharme Stable	11 – 6-1-1, $283,813, took a mark of 1:54 mark in NYSS @ Vernon Downs, four-ply sweep of MASS Sires Stakes @ Plainridge, Ducharme won the 2013 Hambo with Royalty For Life, The Money Man won his third in 2023 with Tactical Approach
10	MARS HILL (Muscle Hill)	Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Willow Oak Ranch	Son of Muscle Hill kicked off his career winning two NJSS divisions, runner up to T C I in the Wellwood Final & won a Bluegrass division in a career best of 1:54.2