Haughton Elims Contested

July 25, 2007



The field for the $487,000 Peter Haughton Memorial was decided from a pair of $20,000 elimination races on Wednesday night at the Meadowlands.

Blue York Yankee and driver Brian Sears rallied from seventh at the top of the stretch to win the first elimination, race five, in 1:58 flat. Trained by Trond Smedshammer, Blue York Yankee is a full-brother to Blue Mac Lad, who finished third in the 2006 Hambletonian. The regally bred son of Muscles Yankee-Vernon Blue Chip was a $180,000 yearling purchase at the Harrisburg Sale. He is owned by Einari Kalle Vidgren of Iislami, Finland.

Surtees Hanover, with Dave Palone in the sulky, picked up his fourth straight win with a 1:57.3 mile in the second elimination, race six. A $77,000 yearling purchase, Surtees Hanover is perfect so far in his career. Jonas Czeryson trains the Andover colt for owner Robert Rosenheim Stables of Sharon, Connecticut.

In addition to the elimination winners, the following colts also advanced to the Peter Haughton Final on Thursday, August 2: Celebrity Rocky, Credit AS, Credit Press, Keystone Blitz, First Pleasurelane, Nautical Notion, Ocean Front and Tapas Bar.