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Volume Eight Tops Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian Week 1

Friday, June 2, 2023

Volume Eight, the fastest two year old trotter of 2022, takes the top spot in Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian Week 1. Three fillies also make the week 1 list with Special Way coming in at number two, Walner Payton taking the fourth spot and Bond in at number six.

ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN

Week One – Issued Thursday, June 1

The 2023 Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 5

Rank	Horse	Driver, Trainer, Owner	Ken Warkentin’s Comments
1	Volume Eight (Chapter Seven)	Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Sjoblom Racing, Joe Sbrocco, LA Express & JAF Racing, Mario Mazza	Dan Patch Award winner, fastest 2YO male trotter of 2022 [1:52], finished his campaign with five in a row, including the Valley Victory & Kindergarten Classic Final, has not qualified as of June 1
2	Special Way (Walner)	Ake Svanstedt, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld	Dan Patch Award winner, richest 2YO female trotter of 2022 with $697,475, won seven of nine starts, capped by a Canadian record 1:52 in the Breeders Crown, two-for-two this season, has the rail in NJSS Final on June 2
3	Kilmister (Chapter Seven)	Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant, Inc.	Peter Haughton Memorial winner in 1:53.3, third in the KY Championship Final, Breeders Crown & Valley Victory, took a mark of 1:52.3 & banked $414,121, third placed second (1:53.2) to Kierkegaard K in NYSS season debut on May 29
4	Walner Payton (Walner)	Dexter Dunn, Chris Ryder, Kenneth Jacobs	Dominated NJSS Final, mark of 1:52.2 in ISS division @ The Red Mile, second in KY Championship Final, Bluegrass & Breeders Crown, banked $674,900, won 3YO debut in 1:51.4, then second to Special Way, post five in NJSS Final on June 2
5	Oh Well (Muscle Hill)	Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, S R F Stable	Peter Haughton Memorial runner up won NJSS Final in 1:53.1, Mohawk Million & NJ Classic A Final & banked $748,380, second (1:52.2) in 3YO debut, then just missed in 1:52, post seven in NJSS Final on June 2
6	Bond (Southwind Frank)	Ake Svanstedt, Little E, L. Berg Inc.	Prolific filly closed out 2022 with six straight wins, including PASS Championship, Kindergarten Classic & Goldsmith Maid, took a mark of 1:52.3 & banked $587,264, romped in Big M qualifier in 1:54 (:26), post eight in PA Allstars division @ Pocono on June 4
7	Tactical Approach (Tactical Landing)	Scott Zeron, Nancy Takter, Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing	Prominent in KY Commonwealth Series at two, won his two qualifiers & first two starts as a 3YO, including a 1:52.1 NJSS division, third with a :25.4 in the slop on May 20, post two in NJSS Final on June 2
8	Air Power (Muscle Hill)	Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Melander, Amg Stable Inc., Rick Wahlstedt, Kenneth Kjellgren, Heights Stable	Made only three starts at two, won his 3YO debut in 1:52.1, came right back to upset Ari Ferrari J in a 1:51 NJSS division on May 13, post six in NJSS Final on June 2
9	Up Your Deo (Walner)	Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms, Van Camp Trotting Corp.	Second placed ninth in last year’s NJSS Final, broke his maiden in his 3YO debut from post 11 in 1:52 in the slop on May 20, upsetting Oh Well, post five in NJSS Final on June 2
10	Celebrity Bambino (Muscle Hill)	Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, J & T Silva Stables, Knox Services, Phil Collura	Breeders Crown elimination winner in 1:53.2, second in that final & in a NJ Classic A Final, also won Garden State Stake in 1:55.1 (in slop) & Valley Victory elimination in 1:53.4, banked $311,719, second (1:52.2) in 3YO debut, then fourth (1:52.3), post two in NJSS Final on June 2

Date	Stakes	Site	Winner	Driver	Trainer	2nd Horse	3rd Horse	Time
May 6	Dexter Cup	Fhld	Khaosan Road	Scott Zeron	Ake Svanstedt	ESPRESSO	Candy Bomber	1:57.4
May 13	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	WALNER PAYTON	Dexter Dunn	Chris Ryder	BLONDE BOMBSHELL	SECRET VOLO	1:51.4
May 13	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	AIR POWER	Tim Tetrick	Marcus Melander	Ari Ferrari J	Dire Straits	1:51
May 13	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	SPECIAL WAY	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	MAMBACITA	CHECK HER OUT	1:53.1
May 13	NJSS 1^st Leg	M	TACTICAL APPROACH	Scott Zeron	Nancy Takter	OH WELL	CELEBRITY BAMBINO	1:52.1
May 20	NJSS 2^nd Leg	M	SECRET VOLO	Brian Sears	Marcus Melander	MAMBACITA	Tactical Mounds	1:53.2
May 20	NJSS 2^nd Leg	M	SPECIAL WAY	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	WALNER PAYTON	BLONDE BOMBSHELL	1:53.4
May 20	NJSS 2^nd Leg	M	UP YOUR DEO	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	OH WELL	TACTICAL APPROACH	1:52
May 29	NYSS 1^st Leg	V	Cecil Hanover	Mark MacDonald	Ake Svanstedt	THE GRUFFALO	CROWN	1:52.3
May 29	NYSS 1^st Leg	V	KIERKEGAARD K	Mark MacDonald	Ake Svanstedt	KILMISTER	TILLIO’S ACTION	1:53
June 2	NJSS Final	M
June 2	NJSS Final	M
June 3	PASS 1^st Leg	Mea
June 3	PASS 1^st Leg	Mea
June 9	NYSS 2^nd Leg	TD
June 9	NYSS 2^nd Leg	TD
June 9	Goodtimes Elims	Moh
June 9	Goodtimes Elims	Moh
June 17	Goodtimes Final	Moh
June 17	Currier & Ives	Mea
June 17	Currier & Ives	Mea
June 16	EBC	V
June 16	EBC	V
June 18	Goodtimes Final	Moh
June 23	Yonkers Trot Elims	Y
June 23	Yonkers Trot Elims	Y
June 30	Yonkers Trot	Y
July 1	Reynolds	M
July 1	Reynolds	M
July 2	PASS	Phl
July 2	PASS	Phl
July 8	Zweig Memorial	V
July 8	Zweig Memorial	V
July 15	Stanley Dancer	M
July 15	Stanley Dancer	M
July 15	Del Miller	M
July 15	Del Miller	M
July 19	NYSS 3^rd Leg	Buf
July 19	NYSS 3^rd Leg	Buf
July 22	Tompkins-Geers	M
July 22	Tompkins-Geers	M
July 29	Hambo Elimination	M
July 29	Hambo Elimination	M