Fiery upset in second Hambo Oaks elim

Heart On Fire (Father Patrick) rushed late onto the scene with a blast up the pylons to upset at 36-1 in the second $40,000 Hambletonian Oaks harness racing elimination on Saturday (Jul. 29) at The Meadowlands.

Todd McCarthy commanded early speed with the filly and fitted her into a hole entering the first turn while Bond (Ake Svanstedt) blitzed the opening quarter in :25.4. Heart On Fire held her four-hole spot to the half in :53.4 and remained on the pylons as the outer flow materialized to chase the leading Bond, who hit three-quarters in 1:22.4.

The rail opened for Heart On Fire as Secret Volo and Righteous Resolve shifted outside to attack the leader. Heart On Fire and Righteous Resolve caught Bond in sync, but Heart On Fire produced the best finish and motored past Righteous Resolve to win the second elimination in 1:51.2.

Secret Volo also got past Righteous Resolve to take second, missing the win by three-quarters of a length. The latter held third with Kayleigh S flying at the end for fourth. The flagging Bond just hung onto fifth and the last spot in the final. The judges investigated possible pylon violations but did not take any action.

HEART ON FIRE REPLAY

Heart On Fire was winless in six prior starts this year. She is now five-for-18 lifetime with $309,347 in earnings. The Tony Alagna trainee’s biggest win came in the Kentuckiana at two last year. Eric Good of Davidsonville owns the filly.

Walner Payton (Walner) was third to hold the lead but first to the line in a strong victory in the second elimination.

The filly’s nose emerged first from post six, but Mambacita (Scott Zeron) and Railee Something (Yannick Gingras) moved ahead entering the first turn. Mambacita took the front first, soon overtaken by Railee Something, and Walner Payton consolidated command as she worked wide to take over just past the quarter in :27.4.

Dexter Dunn rated Walner Payton’s half to :55.3 and popped the plugs while heading towards three-quarters in 1:24.2. Railee Something popped the pocket on the final turn and put Walner Payton to a drive. The challenger dug into her down the stretch, and several other closed, but Walner Payton stiff-armed them all to take the first elimination in 1:51.4.

Railee Something narrowed the margin to a half-length and finished second. Heaven Hanover (Tim Tetrick) and Instagram Model (Andrew McCarthy) came on late and were third and fourth, respectively. Mambacita hung onto fifth.

WALNER PAYTON REPLAY

Walner Payton, a mild upsetter at 9/2, was second by a neck in the Tompkins-Geers last week and has hit the board in every start this year. The filly’s record now reads six-for-20, and she’s earned $693,089. The 1:51.4 clocking tied her career best. Chris Ryder trains the filly for Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville.

The provisional final field for the Hambletonian Oaks, based on finishing position in the elims, in alphabetical order is as follows:

Bond (Southwind Frank)

Heart On Fire (Father Patrick)

Heaven Hanover (Father Patrick)

Instagram Model (Chapter Seven)

Kayleigh S (Chapter Seven)

Mambacita (Tactical Landing)

Railee Something (International Moni)

Righteous Resolve (Resolve)

Secret Volo (Walner)

Walner Payton (Walner)

For ongoing race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink