Hambo and Hambo Oaks Analysis By Horse

Here we are, at the biggest day of harness racing in North America, Hambletonian day!

I break down the afternoon’s two biggest events, the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks with an assessment of each competitor. I also have some multi-race ticket ideas for you. Good luck with all your wagers on Hambo day!

The Hambletonian- Race 12

(1) CELEBRITY BAMBINO – A deserving morning line favorite as both trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras look to get a gorilla off their backs and click for their first Hambo win. He made his own luck in his elimination by being aggressive and he had a rival parked the mile that killed the flow. He obviously would be no surprise, but I think he will be an underlay in a race where their will surely be way more action shooting for a $1 million purse. I’ll play to beat him, but his is still a – TOP CONTENDER

(2) OH WELL couldn’t reach up as the 3 to 5 chalk last week in his elimination and he seems a bit win shy, but surely this race was the goal all along. The Melander starters will reportedly all race with no shoes. Will that be enough to put Oh Well over the top? Quite possibly, but he will also probably be over bet. He is a – TOP CONTENDER nonetheless.

(3) OSCEOLA – was flying late in his elimination, but he had an easy trip for the first 7/8ths of a mile. I have seen enough of him in Canada to know that he has a high turn of speed when he stays flat. Driver Doug McNair is fearless in big races. This colt has an – UPSET CHANCE.

(4) WINNERS BET – the big question with him is how he will perform being off Lasix for two consecutive weeks. To these eyes, he was easily the best horse in either elimination. Parked the mile from post 10, he just kept coming and somehow produced a 27 1/5 kicker to qualify for the final of this prestigious race. He gets a much better post and I see Dexter Dunn finding him the winning trip this afternoon. He is – THE PICK

(5) POINT OF PERFECT – It’s hard to fault his current form, but I don’t see him getting the same trip he got last week – uncontested on the lead most of the way. For me, he is one that I will – USE UNDERNEATH.

(6) UP YOUR DEO – is a bit of a mystery horse here. He missed a month following an impressive Yonkers Trot win, then barely qualified for this final. That being said, he has shown to be capable on his best day and he is in with a – LONGSHOT CHANCE

(7) SOUTHWIND COORS – kind of spun his wheels late in his elimination. In this spot I see him as an – OUTSIDER

(8) FRENCH WINE – sat a perfect trip behind the Bambino last week and that trip is very unlikely to be repeated. Another – OUTSIDER

(9) GHOSTLY CASPER – If this race totally falls apart late, the friendly ghost might catapult past them all. I don’t see that happening, but he certainly can close for a good piece of it. Let’s make him an – EXOTICS PLAYER

(10) TACTICAL APPROACH – It’s hard to count out Nancy Takter in any of these types of races, but it’s also hard to envision this colt getting the trip he needs starting from out there. He is another that could close to land in the bottom of the exotics, though. He is probably a good one to – USE ON THE BOTTOM

Selections – 4-3-1

Hambletonian Oaks

(1) WALNER PAYTON – certainly did nothing wrong in her elimination, but she got an unstressed trip on the engine that likely won’t be repeated. Can she win? Sure. But I have to play against her as an – UNDERLAID CONTENDER

(2) HEART ON FIRE got a lucky trip in her elim that is unlikely to be repeated here. I see her as a – FRINGE PLAYER

(3) BOND is the big question mark here. She put a blind bridle on last week and she was a runaway on the engine. She will likely have more equipment and probably shoeing changes for the Oaks. This isn’t the time for experimentation every week. She is one I will have to try to beat as she seems to be going the wrong way, but she is a – CONTENDER

(4) RIGHTEOUS RESOLVE chased and outfinished Bond last week. She is in with a – DECENT CHANCE

(5) RAILEE SOMETHING was good last week, and her sharp tactical speed will put her in a prime spot to get Gingras another Oaks win. She is another – CONTENDER – in a field where several can win in a race that will likely be decided by pace and trip.

(6) MAMBACITA just doesn’t look fast enough for these. I see her as an – OUTSIDER

(7) INSTAGRAM MODEL’s big late kick makes her interesting in a race that could fall apart late. She is a – LONGSHOT WITH A CHANCE

(8) KAYLEIGH S closed ground in a slowing back 1/2 last week. She is one you could use on the bottom of the Tri or Super – FRINGE PLAYER

(9) SECRET VOLO got a perfect primer last week and she is capable in this spot. The outside post only adds to her appeal for me because it ensures that she will be a viable price. I think Sears works out a winning Oaks trip – THE PICK

(10) HEAVEN HANOVER is in great form but post 10 is the great equalizer. I see her as a – FRINGE PLAYER

Selections – 9-5-1

Multi-race tickets

Race 1 – 20-Cent Pick 6 ($50K guaranteed pool) – 2567/2/6/5/15689/1236810 = $24

Race 3 – 20-Cent Pick 5 ($75K guaranteed pool, 15% takeout) – 6/5/15689/1236810/12346 = $30

Race 5 – 50-Cent Pick 4 (15% takeout) – 15689/6/12346/34 = $25

Race 9 – 50-Cent Pick 4 ($100K guaranteed pool, 15% takeout) – 57/59/3689/134 = $24

Race 12 – 50-Cent Pick 4 ($125K guaranteed pool, 15% takeout) – 134/13689/5/4,10 = $15

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink