Here is Ken Warkentin’s Road To The Hambletonian Top Ten Poll for this week.
Rank | Horse | Driver, Trainer, Owner | Ken Warkentinās Comments | |
1 | Karl
(Tactical landing) |
Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter, Christina & Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing, Bender Sweden Inc. |
Dan Patch Award winner, $1M freshman kicked off his 3YO season with an effortless three-ply NJSS series sweep, despite 29 days off cruised to equal his lifetime mark of 1:51 in W.N. Reynolds division to go four-for-four this season |
|
2 | T C I
(Cantab Hall) |
Dave Miller, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., Weaver Bruscemi |
OāBrien Award winner set earnings record for freshman trotters, won a 1:52.2 PASS division @ The Meadows & PASS division in 1:53.3 @ Pocono Downs, romped to an easy 1:53.1 win over a āgoodā track in W.N. Reynolds division making him three-for-three in 2024, post four in Zweig Memorial |
|
3 | Highland Kismet
(Father Patrick) |
Bob McClure, Mark Etsell, Highland Thoroughbred Farm | Unraced at two, has come bursting on the scene winning five of six @ Mohawk, cruised to a Goodtimes stakes record equaling 1:51.3 for 2019 Hambo winning driver Bob McClure, easily made it four in a row in 1:53.4 (:27) in a Mohawk overnight on June 28 | |
4 | Situationship
(Chapter Seven) |
Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc, Little E, Tomas Anderson | Won divisions of NYSS & EBC, both in a career best 1:52.1 @ Vernon Downs, broke briefly from post eight & overcame a tough trip to finish a gallant second in Yonkers Trot Final, not in to go | |
5 | Bright Star
(Muscle Hill) |
Scott, Zeron, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Pryde Stables Inc, Caviart Farms, Plouffe & Riverview | Romped in a NJSS division in 1:52.1, fourth in NJSS Final, took a new mark of 1:52.1 in a Big M overnight on June 14, solid runner up up to Karl from post eight in W.N. Reynolds division, no in to go | |
6 | Security Protected
(Father Patrick)
|
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, Mitchell Friesen, Brad Grant, Order By Stable AB | 1:53 PA All-Stars win in 3YO debut, wire-to-wire in 1:53.3 PASS division @ The Meadows, won a PASS division @ Pocono Downs in 1:54.2, broke on the first turn & finished seventh as the even money favorite in Yonkers Trot Final, post two in Zweig Memorial | |
7 | Daiquiri Hanover
(Bar Hopping) |
Ake Svanstedt, Stable Why Not, Tomas Anderson | Finished a solid second to T C I in his 3YO debut, held off stablemate Amazing Catch to win a Big M overnight on June 21 in a career best 1:53.1, final quarter in :27, post five in Zweig Memorial | |
8 | Mars Hill
(Muscle Hill) |
Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Willow Oak Ranch | Second in both legs of NJSS, broke/ninth from post eight in NJSS Final, rebounded to upset older foes with career best 1:53 in Big M overnight on June 14, did not race last two weeks, post three in Big M qualifier #14 on July 6 | |
9 | Benny J
(Walner) |
Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Kenneth Jacobs | First win a 1:53 NJSS decision over stablemate Mars Hill, then third to Waterfall & second to Karl in NJSS Final, eighth in Big M overnight on June 14, sixth in a W.N. Reynolds division, not in to go | |
10 | Waterfall
(Walner) |
Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Al Libfeld | Second by a nose in NJSS 3YO debut, rallied for a 1:52 win deadheat in Leg 2, then fifth in NJSS Final, fourth after a tough trip in Big M overnight on June 14, fourth from post eight in W.N. Reynolds division, not in to go |
Ā by Ken Warkentin, for The Meadowlands