13-1 upset win in $525,000 Hambletonian Oaks

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Last season’s Breeders Crown divisional champion Warrawee Michelle (Walner) made swift amends from a tepid beginning to her sophomore harness racing season to, in her fourth start of the year, bag gold in the $525,000 Hambletonian Oaks final on Saturday (Aug. 3) at the Meadowlands.

Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt pushed off the wings with 13-1 Warrawee Michelle out of post two to secure a seat in fourth as her stablemate French Champagne motored forward with Miss I La to take the lead after a :26.2 first quarter. R Melina followed French Champagne’s brush to the backside and soon planted herself onto the lead all while Svanstedt sat cozy in fourth, but with even-money favorite Elista Hanover on his back.

R Melina strode by the half in :54.3 as Elista Hanover tried to get started on the outside, forcing Svanstedt’s hand to lift Warrawee Michelle into action. Warrawee Michelle advanced from the flush through the final turn and loomed nearer to R Melina coming to three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Rounding the bottom corner, Warrawee Michelle spurted forward to a lead that quickly widened as R Melina got hooked with the fast-closing Date Night Hanover to her inside and French Champagne to her outside. The added cushion proved enough for Warrawee Michelle, as she then evaded a late push from last year’s Dan Patch divisional champ Buy A Round down the center of the track to win in 1:51.3 by a half length. Allegiant rallied from third-over for third and Miss I La emerged around the stretch traffic for fourth.

The Oaks win for Warrawee Michelle, her first victory of the year, was just her second start following a minor throat operation.

WARRAWEE MICHELLE REPLAY

“She had some problems, and we did the throat surgery,” Svanstedt said after the race. “After that, she was normal again. She raced good last time and today she was super. We were out early and horses were coming from behind, but I gave her full speed as we came through the stretch.”

Warrawee Michelle, who wrapped her freshman season with a win in the $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, became just the 11th filly in harness racing history to achieve the double, which was last accomplished by 2018 Oaks winner Manchego. Trainer-driver Svanstedt scored his first victory in the Hambletonian Oaks.

Out of the Yankee Glide mare Sound Check, Warrawee Michelle races for owners Åke Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc. and Young Guns. She won her fifth race from 13 starts and has now earned $747,875. Off the sixth choice in the betting, she paid $29.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands