Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

The Road to the Hambletonian

Updates provided weekly by The Meadowlands' Ken Warkentin
The $1.5 million Hambletonian will take place on August 5, 2006

Final Update for July 23, 2006

Mr Pine Chip tops the final Road to the Hambletonian and leads a Trond Smedshammer-trained trio into the $1.5 million classic next Saturday at the Meadowlands.   The son of SJ's Caviar remained undefeated in six starts this season with a 1:53.4 elimination win.

"He knows how to get it done, and he was very comfortable," said driver Brian Sears. "This horse doesn't know where the wire is, and he just keeps coming at the end of the mile," noted Smedshammer.

Chocolatier bounced back from his miscue in the Stanley Dancer Memorial with a strong rally for second in his elimination.

"This is a real confidence builder," said driver DR Ackerman. "He trotted very strong through the lane."

After setting a hot pace in the Stanley Dancer Memorial, Blue Mac Lad came from behind to finish third in his Hambletonian elimination.

"My primary concern was getting him qualified, and he had a tough race in the Dancer," said driver George Brennan. "I wanted to make it as easy on him as I could get, and he trotted home real strong."

Glidemaster grinded first-over and held gamely for second.    John Campbell goes for an unprecedented sixth Hambletonian victory.    Trainer Blair Burgess pulled the biggest Hambletonian upset with Amigo Hall [$57] in 2003.

Here Comes Herbie reeled off the fastest elimination, going wire-to-wire in a lifetime best of 1:52 with trainer Trond Smedshammer in the bike.

"The horse felt very good," said Smedshammer. "They're not going to do much this week. This horse, especially, is definitely better with less work."

Berto Primo gives trainer Kevin Thomas his second finalist in three years. He finished fourth with Justice Hall in 2004.

Jimmy Takter and John Fielding are both seeking redemption with Capetown Hall and Global Glide. They had last year's early season favorite Ken Warkentin, who broke in his elimination and failed to qualify.

Date Stake Track Winner Owners, Trainer, Driver 2nd Horse, 3rd Horse Time
5/13, Dexter Cup, Fhld, A Rod, Schnittker Kelks, Paul Doherty, George Brennan, FRANK THE HANDS, WILDWOOD DAYS, 1:58.1

5/29, NJSS -1st Leg, M, Rock The Universe, Let It Ride, Triple A , Ross Croghan, Ron Pierce, BRIND’AMOUR, MAN ABOUT TOWN, 1:56

5/29, NJSS -1st Leg, M, KEYSTONE SAVAGE, King, Hartley, et al, Dane Snyder, Brian Sears, DC’s Piggy Bank, Her Muscle Man , 1:56

5/29, NJSS -1st Leg, M, IRA K, Ira Kristel, John Shultz, Yannick Gingras, MONEY TALKS, Tasty Max , 1:56.1

6/8, NJSS * 2nd Leg, M, MAKE YOU MINE, Brittany Farms, et al, Ron Gurfein, Mike Lachance, RACE FAN, BLUE MAC LAD, 1:56

6/8, NJSS * 2nd Leg, M, IRA K, Ira Kristel, John Shultz, Yannick Gingras, Tasty Max, KEYSTONE SAVAGE, 1:56.4

6/8, NJSS * 2nd Leg, M, Enough Talk, Crossing Paths, Matthew Butcher Jr, Matthew Butcher Jr, GLOBAL GLIDE, BRIND’AMOUR, 1:57.2

6/10, Goodtimes Elim, Wdb, Kelso, Fuller & Rightmyer, Les Fuller, Mark MacDonald, Mr Lemon, Majestic Son, 1:56.3

6/10, Goodtime Elim, Wdb, ALGIERS HALL, Smith, Stark et al, John Stark Jr., John Stark Jr., GLIDEMASTER, Celebrity Surfer, 1:56

6/15, NJSS * 3rd Leg, M, Tasty Max, Marvin Meyer, Paul Wojtowicz, John Campbell , BLUE MAC LAD, MAN ABOUT TOWN, 1:56

6/15, NJSS * 3rd Leg, M, MAKE YOU MINE, Brittany Farms et al, Ron Gurfein, Mike Lachance, Enough Talk, KEYSTONE SAVAGE, 1:55.1

6/15, NJSS * 3rd Leg, M, DC’s Piggy Bank, Dave Clayville, Mickey Burke, George Brennan, IRA K, JOHNNY MUSCLES, 1:55.1

6/16, Goodtimes, Wdb, HERE COMES HERBIE, Cutting Edge Stable, Tr Smedshammer, Tr Smedshammer, CHOCOLATIER, WINBAK JOSEPH, 1:54.2

6/17, Goodtimes, Wdb, Majestic Son, David Reid, et al, Mark Steacy, Trevor Ritchie, GLIDEMASTER, Lovin Every Moment, 1:53.2

6/22, NJSS Final, M, BLUE MAC LAD, Einari Kalle Vidgren, Tr Smedshammer, Brian Sears, MAKE YOU MINE, DC’s Piggy Bank, 1:54

6/30, Dickerson Historic, M, JOHNNY MUSCLES, A. Homestead, et al, Jan Johnson, Jan Johnson, RC ROYALTY, IRA K, 1:54.4

7/8, SF Dancer Elim, M, HERE COMES HERBIE, Cutting Edge Stable, Tr Smedshammer, Tr Smedshammer, CAPETOWN HALL, IRA K, 1:53.2

7/8, SF Dancer Elim, M, MR PINE CHIP, Sbrocco et al, Tr Smedshammer, Tr Smedshammer, RACE FAN, GLOBAL GLIDE, 1:54.3

7/8, SF Dancer Elim, M, CHOCOLATIER, Ackerman et al, Doug Ackerman, Doug R. Ackerman, BLUE MAC LAD, MACDEEN STAR, 1:53.1

7/15, SF Dancer Final, M, MR PINE CHIP, Sbrocco et al, Tr Smedshammer, Brian Sears, BLUE MAC LAD, HERE COMES HERBIE, 1:52

7/79, Hambletonian E, M, MR PINE CHIP, Sbrocco et al, Tr Smedshammer, Brian Sears, GLIDEMASTER, BLUE MAC LAD, 1:53.4

7/29, Hambletonian E, M, HERE COMES HERBIE, Cutting Edge Stable, Tr Smedshammer, Tr Smedshammer, CHOCOLATIER, BERTO PRIMO, 1:52

Coming Up
8/5, Hambletonian, M

*Those horses in BOLD ALL CAPS are eligible to The Meadowlands Pace