Haughton and Doherty eliminations

 

The cream of the freshman trotting crop thus far is well represented in two $20,000 elimination races each for the Peter Haughton and Jim Doherty Memorials housing two-year-old colts and fillies respectively. Their collective aim is to make it through to next week's rich finals on Hambletonian Day, August 6.

 

The undefeated Rubio takes on six rivals in the fourth race. The tractable son of Cantab Hall has had the right answer each week for trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Yannick Gingras, most recently a 1:56.1 Kindergarten score by a widening three lengths. Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding and Brixton Medical share ownership of Rubio.

 

The tenth race division fields eight and boasts several precocious colts yearning to advance to the $295,000 final.

 

Takter has a powerful presence here as well in the Italian bred son of French super horse Ready Cash known as Victor Gio IT. Blessed with tremendous speed, Victor Gio IT went off-stride in his first foray under the lights and will require careful handling. Fortunately, Yannick Gingras is able to provide that guidance for the ownership group of Christina, Takter, Antonio Somma & Frencesco Ruscigno of Italy and Nicolas Pietro De Mitri of Sweden.

 

He'll face Ronnie Burke's What The Hill, winner of the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) final in 1:55.2 earlier this month. What The Hill has speed on both ends and may have a seasoning edge on his chief rival. Burke Racing, Our Horse Cents and J&T Silva own the imposing son of Muscle Hill.

 

These Grand Circuit stakes are designed to showcase extreme talent and ideally provide the stage for intriguing match-ups. The fillies for the Doherty split into a pair of eights and if their past performance is any indicator, next week's $305,000 final has the potential to be one of those races we recall fondly.

 

The amazing Ariana G is clearly the one to beat in the first division, race two. She's been nothing short of spectacular thus far, romping to a 1:53.4 win in the NJSS filly final by a widening seven lengths under wraps for Gingras. She's also a Takter pupil, owned by the breeders Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

 

Those same connections will bring another prodigy to the party in race eight with That's All Moni. Add George Segal's storied Brittany Farms to the registration with Mssr's Katz and Libfeld and you have the group that shelled out $230,000 for this close sibling to the legendary Snow White. She boasts a pair of PA Sires Stakes wins coming in for trainer Takter and the Yannick Gingras may face one of those "difficult" choices a driver must sometimes face if both fillies advance as expected.

 

Also among the Friday features is a $25,000 Open trot which older stars like Obrigado, JL Cruze and Hannelore Hanover will use as a springboard into supporting Free For All stakes on the Hambletonian card.

 

For the horseplayer, we offer a free look into the $50,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 wagers each week.

 

Come on along and see the best of the best battle for the big money at The Meadowlands. Post time is 7:15 p.m.