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East Rutherford, NJ – To no one’s surprise, Karl (Tactical Landing), the returning Dan Patch 2-year-old of the Year, takes the top harness racing spot in Week 1 of the Road to the Hambletonian by Ken Warkentin.
| Rank | Horse | Driver, Trainer, Owner | Ken Warkentin’s Comments | |
| 1 | Karl
(Tactical landing) |
Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter, Christina & Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing, Bender Sweden Inc. |
Dan Patch Award winner capped a $1M season with a 1:52.1 stakes record in the Valley Victory, went nine for ten, including the Breeders Crown, took a mark of 1:51.2, looks for a three-ply NJSS series sweep @ Big M on May 31 from post seven |
|
| 2 | T C I
(Cantab Hall) |
Dave Miller, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., Weaver Bruscemi |
O’Brien Award winner set earnings record for freshman trotters with $1,238,870 (12 – 10-2-0), PASS champ won the Peter Haughton, epic comeback in the Mohawk Million, handed Karl his only career defeat, jogged in two Big M qualifiers (1:54.1 & 1:53.2), post three in PASS division @ The Meadows on May 31 |
|
| 3 | Security Protected
(Father Patrick) |
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, Mitchell Friesen, Brad Grant, Order By Stable AB | 1:52.4 Grand Circuit winner, 11 – 4-2-3, $354,754 as a 2YO, second in PASS Final, third in Breeders Crown, Tetrick & Melander second in 2023 Hambo with Oh Well, 1:53 PA All-Stars win in 3YO debut, post seven in PASS division @ The Meadows on May 31 | |
| 4 | Mars Hill
(Muscle Hill) |
Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Willow Oak Ranch | Runner up to T C I in Wellwood Final, won Bluegrass division in 1:54.2, Todd McCarthy pulled the biggest upset in Hambo history with Cool Papa Bell @ 52-1 in 2022, second in both legs of NJSS, post eight in NJSS Final on May 31 | |
| 5 | Waterfall
(Walner) |
Brett Beckwith, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Al Libfeld | Four Alagna trainees in the Top Ten, lightly-raced son of Walner finished second by a nose in his NJSS 3YO debut, then rallied for a 1:52 win deadheat with Pantoran, post six in NJSS Final on May 31 | |
| 6 | Benny J
(Walner)
|
Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Kenneth Jacobs | Winless in six starts @ two, broke his maiden with a 1:53 NJSS decision over stablemate Mars Hill, then finished third behind stablemate Waterfall, drew the rail in NJSS Final on May 31 | |
| 7 | Pantoran
(Walner) |
Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt Inc., Stable Why Not, Tomas Anderson | Team Svanstedt sleeper held on for a 1:52 win deadheat with Waterfall in his 3YO debut, makes only his fourth career start in NJSS Final on May 31 from post five | |
| 8 | Winter Soldier
(Face Time Bourbon) |
Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna, Peter Alagna, Pryde Stables Inc. | 2YO record of 12 – 5-2-3 (mark of 1:53.1), third in the Valley Victory, McCarthy & Alagna won the 2020 Hambo with filly Ramona Hill, second (1:55.3) to Sig Sauer in Big M qualifier on May 25, post 3 in Big M overnight on June 1 | |
| 9 | Sig Sauer
(Muscle Hill) |
Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Allister Stables, Caviart Farms | Won NJSS & NJ Classic Finals, earned $279,500 with a mark of 1:53.3, Daley won $1.5M Hambo in 2011 with Broad Bahn, won Big M qualifier in 1:55.3 on May 25, not in to go @ press time | |
| 10 | Daiquiri Hanover
(Bar Hopping) |
Ake Svanstedt, Timot Stable, Inc. | Runner up in the Valley Victory, part of a Hambo battalion for Svandstedt (two-time Hambo winner & third in 2023), rallied for third (1:56.1) behind Sig Sauer in Big M qualifier on May 25, not in to go @ press time | |
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
From The Meadowlands
