East Rutherford, NJ — After four decades in the harness racing business, Doug Paul and his family will see a dream come true Saturday when Bill’s Man races in the $1.2 million Hambletonian Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Bill’s Man will be the Pauls’ first starter in the sport’s premier race for 3-year-old trotters, the Hambletonian. If that were not enough, the Pauls also will make their first appearance in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, for 3-year-old female trotters, with Fine Tuned Lady.
“We’re excited,” said Paul, whose family operates a real estate management company in Wilmington, Del. “We’re all looking forward to it. It’s everybody’s dream (to be in the Hambletonian). It’s on everyone’s wish list that ever gets into the business.”
Paul’s father, Ralph, got the family started in racing and Paul continues the tradition with his mother, Rosalind.
Bill’s Man is owned by the Pauls’ M And L of Delaware and Wisconsin’s Bill Wiswell. The Pauls and Wiswell have been partners on horses for several years. Wiswell is the “Bill” in Bill’s Man. The colt’s original name was Credit Volo. He was one of only two horses they bought with trainer John Butenschoen in 2015. The other was Fine Tuned Lady.
“For a small stable, that’s not too bad,” Paul said. “Bill normally picks out the colts and we normally pick out the fillies. We got a Hambo contender and one in the Hambo Oaks. I told him we ought to quit after that. We’ll never do that again.”
Bill’s Man (Credit Winner-Silver Springs) is 5-1 on the morning line in the first of two $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations Saturday. International Moni is the 5-2 favorite in the first elimination and Devious Man is the 5-2 choice in the second. The top five finishers from each elimination advance to the $1 million final later in the day.
“I think with the right type of trip, right type of day, he’s as good as anyone in there,” Paul said about Bill’s Man, who has won two of nine races this year and earned $115,986. “I don’t think going two heats will bother him. He’s a big, strong good looking horse.”
Fine Tuned Lady (Cantab Hall-Poster Princess) is 10-1 on the morning line in the Hambletonian Oaks. The filly has won three of eight races this year and earned $79,689. Ariana G is the 6-5 favorite.
“Ariana G looks like she’s much the best, but other than that I think we’re competitive with the field,” Paul said.
In addition, Dude’s The Man will race for the Pauls in the $224,400 Sam McKee Memorial for older male pacers.
The Hambletonian final, Hambletonian Oaks and McKee Memorial will air live on CBS Sports Network during a 90-minute broadcast beginning at 4 p.m.
Corey Callahan, who has won eight consecutive driving titles at Dover Downs, will drive Bill’s Man and Fine Tuned Lady.
“We’ll be up there on Saturday, cheering them on,” Paul said. “We’ll be nervous, but a good nervous. That’s what you get into the game for, to be able to compete in these types of races.”
By Tia Lanette, a senior at Rutgers University, is writing as part of the Clyde Hirt Workshop.
Following are the Hambletonian elimination fields.
Hambletonian Elimination (race eight)
PP-Horse-Sire-Dam Sire-Driver-Trainer-Line
1 – Southwind Woody by Muscle Hill from a Pine Chip mare – Matt Kakaley – Ron Burke – 12/1
2 – Bill’s Man by Credit Winner from a Yankee Glide mare – Corey Callahan – John Butenschoen – 5/1
3 – Guardian Angel AS by Archangel from an Allstar Hall mare – Jason Bartlett – Anette Lorentzon – 10/1
4 – Giveitgasandgo by Yankee Glide from an Andover Hall mare – Corey Callahan – John Butenschoen – 8/1
5 – International Moni by Love You from a Speedy Crown mare – Scott Zeron – Frank Antonacci – 5/2
6 –Stealth Hanover by Andover Hall from a Credit Winner mare – Francisco Del Cid – Francisco Del Cid – 30/1
7 – Victor Gio It by Ready Cash from a Pine Chip mare – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter – 6/1
8 – Long Tom by Muscle Hill from a Windsong’s Legacy mare – Tim Tetrick – Marcus Melander – 3/1
9 – Jake by Muscle Hill from an Andover Hall mare – Dan Dube – Luc Blais – 8/1
Hambletonian Elimination (race nine)
PP-Horse-Sire-Dam Sire-Driver-Trainer-Line
1 – What The Hill by Muscle Hill from an Angus Hall mare – David Miller – Ron Burke – 3/1
2 – Seven And Seven by Chapter Seven from a Kadabra mare – David Miller – Tom Durand – 8/1
3 – Sortie by Explosive Matter from a Tagliabue mare – Andy McCarthy – Noel Daley – 10/1
4 –Shake it Off Lindy by Crazed from a Love You mare – Brett Miller – Frank Antonacci – 20/1
5 – Dover Dan by Andover Hall from a Royal Troubador mare – Brian Sears – John Butenschoen – 8/1
6 – Enterprise by Chapter Seven from a SJ’s Caviar mare – Tim Tetrick – Marcus Melander – 9/2
7 – Southwind Cobra by Muscle Hill from a Broadway Hall mare – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 15/1
8 – Achille Duharas by Andover Hall from a Pine Chip mare – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter – 20/1
9 – Devious Man by Credit Winner from a Garland Lobell mare – Andy Miller – Julie Miller-5/2
10 – Perfect Spirit by Andover Hall from a Kadabra mare – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt – 12/1
$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks
PP-Horse-Sire-Dam Sire-Driver-Trainer-Line
1 – Southwind Avanti by Muscle Hill from a Windsong's Legacy mare – Jason Bartlett – Anette Lorentzon – 10/1
2 – Dream Together by Muscle Hill from a Andover Hall mare – Daniel Dube – Luc Blais – 8/1
3 – Caviart Wonder by Muscle Massive from a Conway Hall mare – Andy McCarthy – Noel Daley – 20/1
4 – Ariana G by Muscle Hill from a Cantab Hall mare – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter – 6/5
5 – Magic Presto by Kadabra from a Muscles Yankee mare – Brian Sears – R. Nifty Norman – 5/1
6 – Fine Tuned Lady by Cantab Hall from a Pine Chip mare – Corey Callahan – John Butenschoen – 10/1
7 – Feed Your Head by Muscle Hill from a Donerail mare – Tim Tetrick – Jimmy Takter – 6/1
8 – Sunshine Delight by Credit Winner from a Cantab Hall mare – Brett Miller – Staffan Lind – 20/1
9 – Overdraft Volo by Yankee Glide from a Tagliabue mare – Andy Miller – Julie Miller – 10/1
10 – Dream Baby Dream by Muscle Hill from a Andover Hall mare – Rod Allen – Rod Allen – 15/1