East Rutherford, NJ – The stage is set for the 2013 88th edition of the Hambletonian Trot, harness racing’s most prestigious race with 23 three-year-olds entered. The Hambletonian is the second leg of the trotting Triple Crown and features purses totaling more than $1.4 million.
The three first heat eliminations will each be contested for a purse of $70,000. The first three horses in the official order of finish from each race will return for the final, plus the one horse finishing fourth with the highest lifetime earnings, to provide 10 horses for the $1.2 million final. It is a true test of stamina as the ten horses in the final will have raced twice in one day.
Featured in the seventh race first elimination heat will be Dewycolorintheline for owner/trainer/driver Ray Schnikkter from post three.He is the only possible contender for the Trotting Triple Crown after winning the first jewel, the Yonkers Trot, last Saturday at Yonkers Raceway for a purse of $450,000. The early favorite in the race is Royalty For Life in post eight. He has won his last two starts impressively. Other contenders include High Hope and Smilin Eli.
The eighth race second elimination heat is headed by the 2012 Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year, Wheeling n Dealin, who drew post position 1.
Undefeated in nine starts last year, Wheeling n Dealin is winless in three outings so far in 2013. But last week was a close second to High Bridge at
the Meadowlands. Other standouts include Dontyouforgetit and Aperfectyankee. In post four is Jacks To Open, who was sold on Sunday at the Meadowlands Summer Mixed Sale for $122,000 and the new owners promptly entered him in the Hambletonian.
The ninth race final elimination heat features Corky (post 5) and Spider Blue Chip (post 6), both of whom have won their last start, All Laid Out and Lauderdale, who was third last week to Dewycolorintheline in the Yonkers Trot.
Post positions for both the Hambletonian and the companion Hambletonian Oaks for fillies were drawn at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. Below
are the fields, in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers..
First Elimination Hambletonian Race 7 est. off: 2:24 pm
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Punxsutawney-Tim Tetrick
2-Smilin Eli-Tim Tetrick
3-Dewycolorintheline-Ray Schnittker
4-High Bridge-Yannick Gingras
5-Super Classic-Brian Sears
6-Dreams Of Thunder-George Brennan
7-E L Rocket-Yannick Gingras
8-Royalty For Life-Brian Sears
Second Elimination Hambletonian Race 8 est. off: 2:51 p.m.
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Wheeling N Dealin-Sylvain Filion-Dustin Jones
2-Aperfectyankee-Jim Oscarsson-Oscarsson
3-Your So Vain-Andy Miller
4-Jacks To Open-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Nick Surick
5-Celebrity Maserati-Tom Jackson-Susanne Strandqvist
6-Caveat Emptor-Steve Smith-Ray Schnittker
7-Dontyouforgetit-Yannick Gingras
8-Creatine-Mike Lachance
Third Elimination Hambletonian Race 9 est. off: 3:18 pm
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Possessed Fashion-John Campbell
2-Murmur Hanover-Randy Waples
3-Banco Solo-Ron Pierce
4-All Laid Out-Tim Tetrick
5-Corky-David Miller
6-Spider Blue Chip-Ron Pierce
7-Lauderdale-Corey Callahan
$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks Race 11 est. off: 4:14 pm
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Fashion Athena-John Campbell
2-Bee A Magician-Brian Sears
3-Classic Martine-Ron Pierce
4-Mistery Woman-David Miller
5-Coffeecake Hanover-Jim Morrill Jr.-Ron Burke
6-Frau Blucher-Jim Morrill Jr.-Chris Oakes-8-1
7-To Dream On-Yannick Gingras
8-Time To Kill-Simon Allard-Ross Croghan
9-Handover Belle-Mike Lachance
10-Ma Chere Hall-Corey Callahan
By Steve Wolf
Miss USA Erin Brady helped with the draw for the 2013 Hambletonian
Lisa Photo
