If Karl and T C I duke it out, who can win the Hambo?

You never know what can happen in a horse race.

That could well be the case in Saturday’s $1,050,000 Hambletonian Trot Saturday afternoon (Aug. 3) at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, NJ.

The most prestigious event in harness racing, the Hambletonian is for three-year-old trotting colts. This is the 99^th edition of the race that is named in honor of the founding father (sire) of all harness racehorses in the sport.

This year’s Hambletonian features the two top three-year-olds in the sport, Karl (Tactical Landing) an T C I (Cantab Hall). Karl is the morning line favorite, T C I the second choice in the race.

It’s sorta expected that one of these two colts will win the race. They both have Hall of Fame drivers, Karl with Yannick Gingras for trainer Nancy Takter, and T C I with David Miller driving for trainer Ron Burke.

Last year at age two, T C I beat Karl by a nose, but Karl came back and beat T C I in the Breeders Crown to wrap up Two-Year-Old Horse of the Year honors.

These two standout horses have yet to face each other this season that has created immense controversary on how the race will be contested.

But what happens if Karl and T C I end up duking it out during the race? Who might be able to pick up the pieces and the winner’s share of the purse at $525,000?

There are eight other contenders in the race. Some of whom may not have a shot at winning, but you never know what can happen in a horse race. That is why we race ‘em.

One of the possible contenders is Secret Agent Man (Chapter Seven) from post seven for the Andy Miller Stable, J Plouffe Racing, Patrick Hoopes and Knutsson Trotting.

Julie Miller trains the gelding who has two wins in six starts on the year. He was 4^th in his Hambo elim last week, but prior had won his last two starts, the fastest a 1:50.3 lifetime mark in an overnight event. He then followed it up with a 1:52 score in the $76,700 Tompkins-Geers Stake, all at the Meadowlands.

He has shown the ability to win from both on and off the pace for driver Andy Miller.

Highland Kismet (Father Patrick) is always a threat. He may have been fourth in his Hambo elim, but still was timed in 1:51 with a last quarter in :26.1. He has five wins in eight starts for driver Bob McClure.

Private Access (Muscle Hill) is a strong darkhorse in the race. Drew poorly with post nine, but this colt shows good gate speed and figures to use to try and get good position to score from. Last week he nearly caught T C I, losing by a neck in 1:50.4.

Bella’s Musclehill (Muscle Hill) gets Scott Zeron for the first time and it’s the Hambletonian, a race that Scott is very familiar with, having won it twice, including last year’s upset with Tactical Approach. Was a game second to Karl last week in 1:50.4.

Horses can’t read the tote board. They can’t tell us if they are feeling good or not or what is wrong with them. We can only hope they race true to form. The trainers and drivers will know when they sit behind them on the track if they are eager, calm, on the bit, doing the same as they did last time out.

It should be a great day of racing Saturday at the Meadowlands. And you never know what can happen in a horse race.

For a free Meadowlands race program, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink