Hambo eligibles score in Tompkin-Geers Stakes

The Grand Circuit came back to town at The Meadowlands Saturday night (July 23) with four divisions of the Tompkin-Geers Stakes for three-year-old harness racing trotting fillies and colts, many of whom are eligible for the Hambletonian Trot.

In the $35,750 first division for trotting fillies, it was all Mon Cheval (Father Patrick) with driver Jimmy Takter stealing the show as the race favorite.

Penelope (Todd McCarthy) was first on the lead with Brickhouse Babe (David Miller) to the opening quarter mile in :28 second. Then Takter made a quick move to take command before the half mile in :56 with Mon Cheval.

Mon Cheval then led the field to the three-quarters in 1:23.4 with no challenges on the outside. She then held off Brickhouse Babe in the stretch to win by three quarters of a length in 1:52. Penelope was third.

MON CHEVAL REPLAY

It was the third win this year for Mon Cheval, who is from the world champion mare Shake It Cerry. She is trained by Nancy Takter for the Solveig’s Racing Partners of East Windsor, NJ, who also bred the filly. She paid $4.20 to win.

In the 11^th race $36,250 second division for trotting fillies, it was a game 12-1 Gracelyn Hanover (Walner) and driver Corey Callahan grinding out an impressive first-over victory.

The 45-1 Dancin On The Wall (Andy McCarthy) was the pacesetter in the race all the way until mid-stretch. With Dreamonhigh (Todd McCarthy) sitting in the two-hole, Dancin On The Wall cut the mile to the quarter in :27.1 and the half in :57.1.

Then Callahan came first-over in the backstretch with Gracelyn Hanover followed by Palermo Hanover (Dexter Dunn) as they had gained on Dancin On The Wall past the three-quarters in 1:25.

As they started down the stretch, Dancin On The Wall began to fade as Gracelyn Hanover took command just held off Dreamonhigh to win by a neck in 1:52.3. Adore Me (David Miller) was third.

GRACELYN HANOVER REPLAY

It was the second win this season for Gracelyn Hanover. She paid $27.40 to win for trainer John Butenschoen. The filly is leased by Harmony Oaks Racing Stable of Sorrento, FL.

The 3^rd race $44,000 Tompkins-Geers Stake for three-year-old trotting colts saw S I P (Bar Hopping) and driver Corey Callahan grind it out to the lead over Brave By Design (Joe Bongiorno) by the opening quarter mile in :27.1. She then held off a strong first-over move by Stride The Hill (Andy McCarthy) and just barely held him off from taking the lead past the half in :55.3.

Once the threat from Stride The Hill was over, S I P and Callahan had no more challenges past the three-quarters in 1:24 and then went on to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:52. Brave By Design was second with Letsdoit (Dexter Dunn) third.

S I P REPLAY

It can be safe to say that Double Deceiver’s (Cantab Hall) ticket to the Hambletonian was stamped as he scored an impressive wire-to-wire triumph in winning the 7^th race $43,500 Tompkins-Geers Stake for the trotting colts.

Driver Dave Miller sent the 6/5 favorite Double Deceiver right out to the lead from the start with Finn Palema (Ake Svanstedt) grabbing the two-hole trip. Double Deceiver cut fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:25.4 with no one taking a shot at coming first-over.

Then down the stretch, Svanstedt came after them with Finn Palema and kept getting closer and closer until they ran out of racetrack with Double Deceiver winning by a neck in 1:52.3. Classic Hill (Dexter Dunn) was third.

DOUBLE DECEIVER REPLAY

It was the second win in just five starts this year for Double Deceiver. The time of the mile tied his all-time best race record. He is trained by Carter Pinske and co-owned by the Pinske Stables, and Makenna Lynn Pinske, paying $4.40 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink