Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Winning Key Farms Hambletonian Week 13
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
ROAD TO THE WINNING KEY FARM HAMBLETONIAN (G1)
2026 Top Ten – Week 13 – July 29
The 2026 Hambletonian takes place Saturday, August 8
| 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 finished 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, post seven in first Hambo elim, Marcus Melander sent out four finalists last year | |
| 2 | American Power (Walner) | James MacDonald, Marcus Melander, M Biasuzzi Stable Inc. | Rallied in :26.3 to win Garden State division May 16, won NJSS Platinum Division in 1:54.3 (sloppy track), took NJSS division in 1:52, third (1:51.1) in NJSS Platinum Final, second (1:52.1) in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, romped to all-age Vernon Downs track record 1:50 in Zweig Memorial, post eight in first Hambo elim | |
| 3 | Diabolic Hill (Muscle Hill) | Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mario Mazza, AC Crawford Racing Stable | Third in 3YO NJSS debut June 5, second (1:50.3) in NJSS Final, second (1:52) from in Reynolds division July 4, second (1:50.1) when favored in Zweig Memorial, post 9 in second Hambo elim | |
| 4 | Big Ranger (In Range) | Tim Tetrick, Anette Lorentzon, Madison Global | 2025 Ohio Horse of the Year broke in 3YO debut April 23, 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, after barn change set another Scioto Downs track record of 1:50.3 in OHSS division, crushed Buckeye Stallion Series division in 1:51.4 @ Scioto Downs July 25 after a 35-day layoff, post eight in second Hambo elim | |
| 5 | Endurance (Captain Corey) | Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Beaver, Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, Mark Moger | 3YO debut a track record equaling 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim May 4, second (1:51.3) in final, dominated PASS division in 1:51.4, set Currier & Ives stakes record 1:52.4, won Stanley Dancer Memorial division in 1:52, post nine in first Hambo elim | |
| 6 | Magic Punk (Wishing Stone) | Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc. | 1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup 3YO debut May 2, 1:52.1 romp in Goodtimes elim, second (1:52.2) in final, took new mark of 1:51.4 in Reynolds division, broke/seventh in Zweig Memorial, post seven in second Hambo elim, Svanstedt’s lone hope for a Hambo repeat | |
| 7 | Nix Nacken (Muscle Hill) | Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc. | 1:52.2 Grand Circuit winner at two, second (1:52.1) in NJSS Silver Division June 5, 1:50 world record for 3YO geldings in final, third (1:51) in Reynolds division, fourth (1:52.1) in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, third (1:50.2) in Zweig Memorial, post five in second Hambo elim | |
| 8 | 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, second (1:52) in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, did not race last week, post one in second Hambo elim | |
| 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 May 4, equaled 1:51.3 track record in final, 1:53.3 romp in NYSS @ Vernon Downs, dominated EBC in 1:54.4, broke/ninth in Yonkers Trot, broke/eighth in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, bounced back with strong 1:53.1 Big M qualifier July 18, post three in second Hambo elim | |
| 10 | Inexpressable (Walner) | Scott Zeron, Wallin Racing Stable Inc., Karin Walter-Mommert, | Won Kentucky Commonwealth Final in 1:53 at two, fresh off a 1:53 romp @ Harrah’s Philadelphia June 4 he rallied to upset Yonkers Trot in 2:25.3 (mile & quarter), kicked home in :25.4 to finish third (1:52.2) in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, post two in first Hambo elim, Scott Zeron seeks a Hambo grandslam | |
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
| 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 1st Leg | Mea | Captain Vodka | Ridge Warren | Robert Baggitt, Jr. | GREENARROW HANOVER | HAMLET HALL | 1:54.3 |
| May 8 | PASS 1st 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 1st Leg | M | GABES LUCK | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | MEGA SHARK | PRACTICAL MAN | 1:55.3 |
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | King Of The Wind | Joe Bongiorno | Joe Bongiorno | MAGA HILL | NEVER SAY DIE | 1:55.2 |
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | AMERICAN POWER | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | KINGMEN | ARDONNE | 1:54.3 |
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | TRILLION TIMES | Jason Bartlett | Per Engblom | Ice Fall | Be Positive | 1:57.3 |
| May 25 | NYSS 1st Leg | Ver | SEVENATO | Trond Smedshammer | Trond Smedshammer | WHO’S EYES BLUES | Highway Six | 1:54 |
| May 25 | NYSS 1st Leg | Ver | SPENCER HANOVER | Jason Bartlett | Marcus Melander | Titan’s Mischief | SECURED | 1:53.4 |
| June 5 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | READ THE ROOM | Sarah Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Highway Six | TWIN B SEVEN SINS | 1:53.2 |
| June 5 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | Silverstein | Matt Kakaley | Matthew Burkholder | AI | SEVEN GRAND | 1:53.3 |
| June 5 | NJSS 2nd 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 2nd Leg | Poc | ENDURANCE | Andrew McCarthy | Christopher Beaver | Geologic | HAMLET HALL | 1:51.4 |
| June 6 | PASS 2nd 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 3rd Leg | Buf | READ THE ROOM | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Chapter Geo J | LOU JOHN’S ACTION | 1:55 |
| June 24 | NYSS 3rd 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 | AMERICAN POWER | James MacDonald | Marcus Melander | DIABOLIC HILL | NIX NAKEN | 1:50 |
| July 23 | NYSS 4th Leg | Y | Chapter Geo J | Jason Bartlett | Noel Daley | SEVEN GRAND | WHO’S EYES BLUES | 1:54.3 |
| July 23 | NYSS 4th Leg | Y | AI | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burlke | READ THE ROOM | Silverstain | 1:54.3 |
| July 25 | Tompkins-Geers | M | NICHOLSON | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | CREATE ESCAPE | GABES LUCK | 1:52.2 |
| July 25 | Tompkins-Geers | M | MINOAN | Niko Karna | Noel Daley | Push To Start | JIM BEAM | 1:52.2 |
| Aug. 1 | Hambo Elim | M | ||||||
| Aug. 1 | Hambo Elim | M |
FanDuel Championships
Track Conditions
Updated
08/22/2026
Fast
Variant:
Weather
East Rutherford, US
8:20 am,
August 26, 2026
43°F
overcast clouds