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East Rutherford, NJ – No change to the harness racing top ten in Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian Week 5. There will undoubtedly be some movement next week, with eight of the ten horses racing this weekend.
ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN
Week Five – Issued June 26, 2024
The 2024 Hambletonian is Saturday, August 3
| 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, $1M freshman kicked off his 3YO season with an effortless three-ply NJSS series sweep (new mark of 1:51 in final), trained sharply @ Big M on June 14, last raced on May 31 & drew post 6 in W.N. Reynolds division |
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| 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), two-for-two this season, won 1:52.2 PASS division @ The Meadows & PASS division in 1:53.3 @ Pocono Downs, drew post 6 in W.N. Reynolds division |
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| 3 | Highland Kismet
(Father Patrick) |
Bob McClure, Mark Etsell, Highland Thoroughbred Farm | Unraced at two, has come bursting on the scene winning four of five @ Mohawk, cruised to a Goodtimes stakes record equaling 1:51.3 for 2019 Hambo winning driver Bob McClure, drew post seven in a Mohawk overnight (Race 10) on June 28 | |
| 4 | Security Protected
(Father Patrick) |
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, Mitchell Friesen, Brad Grant, Order By Stable AB | 1:53 PA All-Stars win in 3YO debut, wire-to-wire in 1:53.3 PASS division @ The Meadows, won a PASS division @ Pocono Downs in 1:54.2, 3-2 ML favorite from the rail in Yonkers Trot Final, “He’s always been a pretty nice, handy horse, and this year he’s more mature and a true professional,” said Tetrick. | |
| 5 | Situationship
(Chapter Seven) |
Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc, Little E, Tomas Anderson | Developed into a Grand Circuit player as a freshman, two-for-two this season, won divisions of NYSS & EBC, both in a career best 1:52.1 @ Vernon Downs, drew post eight in Yonkers Trot Final | |
| 6 | Daiquiri Hanover
(Bar Hopping) |
Ake Svanstedt, Stable Why Not, Tomas Anderson | Valley Victory runner up finished a solid second to T C I in his 3YO debut, held off stablemate Amazing Catch to win a Big M overnight on June 21 in a career best 1:53.1, final quarter in :27, not in to go | |
| 7 | Bright Star
(Muscle Hill) |
Scott, Zeron, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Pryde Stables Inc, Caviart Farms, Plouffe & Riverview | Romped in a NJSS division in 1:52.1, fourth in NJSS Final, took a new mark of 1:52.1 in a Big M overnight on June 14 with three-time Hambo winner Scott Zeron, post eight in W.N. Reynolds division | |
| 8 | Mars Hill
(Muscle Hill) |
Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Willow Oak Ranch | Second in both legs of NJSS, broke/ninth from post eight in NJSS Final, rebounded to upset older foes with career best 1:53 in Big M overnight on June 14, not in to go | |
| 9 | Benny J
(Walner) |
Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Kenneth Jacobs | Broke his maiden with a 1:53 NJSS decision over stablemate Mars Hill, then third to Waterfall & second to Karl in NJSS Final, eighth in Big M overnight on June 14, post three in W.N. Reynolds division | |
| 10 | Waterfall
(Walner) |
Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms, Al Libfeld | Second by a nose in his NJSS 3YO debut, rallied for a 1:52 win deadheat in Leg 2, then fifth in NJSS Final, fourth after a tough trip in Big M overnight on June 14, post eght in W.N. Reynolds division | |
by Ken Warkentin, for The Meadolwands
