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The harness racing Road to the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, week 9 by Ken Warkentin.
The 2024 Hambletonian is Saturday, August 3
| Rank | Horse | Driver, Trainer, Owner | Ken Warkentin’s 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 kicked off his 3YO season with a three-ply NJSS series sweep, despite 29 days off cruised to equal his mark of 1:51 in a Reynolds division, parked to the half from post eight & third (1:50.2) in a Dancer division, post six in first Hambo elimination |
|
| 2 | T C I
(Cantab Hall) |
Dave Miller, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., Weaver Bruscemi |
O’Brien Award winner won his first two starts this season in PASS, romped in 1:53.1 over a “good” track in a Reynolds division, broke/recovered fourth in Zweig Memorial, close third (1:51.2) in a Dancer division, post one in second Hambo elimination |
|
| 3 | Sig Sauer
(Muscle Hill) |
Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Jaf Racing, Allister Stables, Caviart Farms | In just his second start of the season the NJSS & NJ Classic champion uncorked a 1:50 career best shocker @ 65-1 in a Dancer division, both McCarthy (Ramona Hill) & Daley (Broad Bahn) have won the Hambo, post eight in first Hambo elimination | |
| 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, a gallant second in Yonkers Trot Final, took charge past the half & held on for a new mark of 1:51.1 in a Dancer division, post ten in first Hambo elimination | |
| 5 | Highland Kismet
(Father Patrick)
|
Bob McClure, Mark Etsell, Highland Thoroughbred Farm Andy Miller, Julie Miller, | Unraced at two, won five of six @ Mohawk, cruised to a Goodtimes stakes record equaling 1:51.3, made it four in a row in 1:53.4 (:27) in a Mohawk overnight on June 28, struggled sixth (1:51.4) in a Dancer division, post three in first Hambo elimination | |
| 6 | Secret Agent Man
(Chapter Seven) |
Andy Miler Stable, Plouffe Racing, Patrick Hoopes, Knutsson Trotting | Late-blooming gelding followed up a firm 1:50 statement with a decisive 1:52 win in a Tompkins-Geers division, only his ninth career start, Team Orange Crush have a second & two thirds in Hambo Finals, post three in second Hambo elimination | |
| 7 | Dame Good Time
(Chapter Seven)
|
Scott Zeron, Travis Alexander, John R. Cummins | Turned some heads with back-to-back wins in 1:52.1 @ Pocono, then 1:51.1 in NYSS @ Vernon, broke second-placed third in EBC, rebounded to win the Zweig in 1:52.3 from post nine, fourth (1:50.3) in a Dancer division, post seven in second Hambo elimination | |
| 8 | Bright Star
(Muscle Hill)
|
Scott, Zeron, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Pryde Stables Inc, Caviart Farms, Plouffe & Riverview | Romped in NJSS division in 1:52.1, fourth in NJSS Final, took a new mark of 1:52.1 in Big M overnight on June 14, runner up to Karl in Reynolds division, rallied to win Big M qualifier, fourth in a Tompkins-Geers division, post eight in second Hambo elimination | |
| 9 | Daiquiri Hanover
(Bar Hopping) |
Ake Svanstedt, Stable Why Not, Tomas Anderson | Second to T C I in his 3YO debut, won a Big M overnight on June 21 in a career best 1:53.1, final quarter in :27, set the pace & third in Zweig Memorial, post ten in second Hambo elimination | |
| 10 | Caballero
(Tactical Landing) |
Scott Zeron, Trond Smedshammer, Buckstone Land Livestock, Wiesman Farms | Just one start as a 2YO, lone win this season a 1:54.1 upset in NJSS division, second (1:51.1) in Dancer division with a sharp :26.3, both Tetrick & Smedshammer have been to the mountaintop, post nine in first Hambo elimination | |
by Ken Warkentin, for The Meadowlands
