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 | |
FanDuel Championship Night
Track Conditions
Updated
04/27/2024
Fast
Variant:
Weather
East Rutherford, US
10:55 pm, May 2, 2024
74°Fclear sky
Wind: 9 mph
Pressure: 1012 mb
Visibility: 10 km