Eds: The only changes are:
Oaks: Lainey W – James MacDonald;
Hambletonian: Minoan – Todd McCarthy, Captain Naughty – Brett Beckwith
$500,000 Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks (Race 9)
The Hambletonian Oaks is carded as the ninth of 16 races on a stakes-filled Saturday at The Meadowlands. The complete field, with drivers, trainers, and morning-line odds, is as follows:
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Odds
1 – Busy Miss Lissy S – Åke Svanstedt – Åke Svanstedt – 4-1
2 – Nezuko Kamado S – Scott Zeron – Marcus Melander – 2-1
3 – Custom – Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom – 8-1
4 – Setyoursightshigh – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander – 6-1
5 – Lainey W – James MacDonald – Marcus Melander – 12-1
6 – Carve – Andy McCarthy – Noel Daley – 7-2
7 – Leading Lady – Matt Kakaley – Nancy Takter – 10-1
8 – Storybook Love – Todd Ratchford – Matthew Bax – 25-1
9 – Frattina Diablo S – Todd McCarthy – Tony Alagna – 25-1
10 – Madam Cheval – Tim Tetrick – Nancy Takter – 25-1
Notes: Elimination winners Busy Miss Lissy S, Carve and Setyoursightshigh drew for posts 1-6. Morning-line odds by John Rallis.
The anticipated post time for the Hambletonian Oaks, which will be broadcast live as part of Fox Sports 2’s (FS2) coverage of Saturday’s stakes action at The Meadowlands, is 3:36 p.m. (EDT).
$1 million Grade 1 Hambletonian (Race 11)
Following is the field for the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian 101, with drivers, trainers and morning-line odds:
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Minoan – Todd McCarthy – Noel Daley – 25-1
2 – It Could Be Worse – Scott Zeron – Linda Toscano – 8-1
3 – Apex – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander – 5-2
4 – Big Ranger – Tim Tetrick – Anette Lorentzon – 2-1
5 – Captain Naughty – Brett Beckwith – Per Engblom – 15-1
6 – AI – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke – 12-1
7 – Endurance – Andy McCarthy – Chris Beaver – 5-1
8 – Magic Punk – Yannick Gingras – Åke Svanstedt – 15-1
9 – Spencer Hanover – Jason Bartlett – Marcus Melander – 20-1
10 – American Power – James MacDonald – Marcus Melander – 10-1
Notes: Elimination winners Apex and Big Ranger drew for posts 1-6. Morning-line odds by John Rallis. The anticipated post time for the Hambletonian, which will be broadcast live as part of Fox Sports 2’s (FS2) coverage of Saturday’s stakes action at The Meadowlands, is 4:51 p.m. (EDT).
By Ken Weingartner
East Brunswick, NJ – Big Ranger, who won one of last week’s two eliminations for the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, drew post 4 for Saturday’s $1 million Grade 1 final and was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 101st edition of the sport’s premier race for 3-year-old trotters.
Big Ranger, one of last week’s elimination winners, has been made the 2-1 morning line favorite in the $1 million Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian Saturday at The Meadowlands. Lisa Photo.
The remaining elimination winner, Apex, drew post 3 and was installed as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line.
Elimination winners drew for posts 1 through 6 followed by the remaining finalists in an open draw. The draws for the Hambletonian and 56th edition of the filly companion $500,000 Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks were held Tuesday (Aug. 4) during a luncheon at the Chateau Grande.
Big Ranger, Ohio’s 2025 Horse of the Year, won his Hambletonian elimination by four lengths over It Could Be Worse in 1:50 this past Saturday (Aug. 1) at The Meadowlands. The son of In Ranger-Big Blue Bird has won 12 of 14 career races and earned $547,947 for the Madison Global ownership group. Tim Tetrick will drive Big Ranger for trainer Anette Lorentzon.
The elimination was Big Ranger’s first trip to The Meadowlands, and only his third race outside of Ohio.
“It didn’t really surprise me because he’s been doing everything so handy since we got him,” said Lorentzon, who began training Big Ranger in late May after he was previously with Ronnie Gillespie, about his elim. “It’s just a different thing when you’re going to a new track, a mile track, and he hasn’t faced these kinds of horses since back in May, so you never know. I had faith in the horse, but everything had to go right, and it did.
“(The final) is a new race, but at least we got (the elimination) over with, and he showed what kind of horse he is. I’m very happy.”
Apex (#7), the other elimination winner and 2025 2-year-old male trotter Dan Patch Award winner, is one of three entries for trainer Marcus Melander. Lisa Photo.
Apex, the 2025 Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old male trotter, won his Hambletonian elimination by a nose over Endurance in 1:50.4. The son of Walner-Mission Brief has hit the board in 12 of 13 career races, winning nine and earning $1.11 million for owners Jeff Snyder, S R F Stable, and Steve Stewart. He is one of three finalists from the stable of trainer Marcus Melander.
“He hadn’t raced for a while, and I was very happy with how he raced and fought Endurance off,” Melander said about Apex, who has three wins and a second in four starts this year. “Our goal was to keep him in top (shape) and prepare him for the final. I’m happy with how he’s developed during the year. He’s raced great.”
Melander’s other finalists, Spencer Hanover and American Power, drew posts 9 and 10, respectively.
Endurance will leave from post 7 for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Chris Beaver. The son of Captain Corey-Love Session has 10 wins and three seconds in 14 career starts, with $873,842 in earnings for owners Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, and Mark Moger. He is the 5-1 third choice on the morning line.
“The horse never really surprises me,” Beaver said. “He always comes up big.
“He’s raced on the front some because I was trying to keep him away from tough competition for part of the year, but his best race is when he’s coming off the pace. I think he’s got as big a set of lungs as any horse in the race, and he loves a big track. I think as long as we can get into it, we have a good shot. It looks like Big Ranger wants to push the pace and that might work to our favor.”
The Hambletonian will be race 11 with a scheduled post time of 4:51 p.m. (EDT). The companion $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks is race 9 and will go at 3:36 p.m. Racing will begin at noon.
For free program pages, visit The Meadowlands website here.
Following is the field for the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian 101, with listed drivers, trainers and morning-line odds:
$1 million Grade 1 Hambletonian (Race 11)
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Minoan – Andy McCarthy – Noel Daley – 25-1
2 – It Could Be Worse – Scott Zeron – Linda Toscano – 8-1
3 – Apex – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander – 5-2
4 – Big Ranger – Tim Tetrick – Anette Lorentzon – 2-1
5 – Captain Naughty – Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom – 15-1
6 – AI – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke – 12-1
7 – Endurance – Andy McCarthy – Chris Beaver – 5-1
8 – Magic Punk – Yannick Gingras – Åke Svanstedt – 15-1
9 – Spencer Hanover – Jason Bartlett – Marcus Melander – 20-1
10 – American Power – James MacDonald – Marcus Melander – 10-1
Notes: Elimination winners Apex and Big Ranger drew for posts 1-6. Morning line odds by John Rallis. The anticipated post time for the Hambletonian, which will be broadcast live as part of Fox Sports 2’s (FS2) coverage of Saturday’s stakes action at The Meadowlands, is 4:51 p.m. (EDT).
by James Witherite, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Despite being defeated by Busy Miss Lissy S in her elimination last Saturday (Aug. 1), 10-time winner Nezuko Kamado S has been installed the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 56th edition of the $500,000 Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian Oaks, which goes to post this coming Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Meadowlands.
The Courant Inc. homebred leads a trio of 3-year-old trotting fillies trained by Marcus Melander to compete in the Oaks, and she looks to return to winning form after falling a neck short of Busy Miss Lissy S’ 1:51.4 mile as the 3-10 favorite in the second of three Oaks eliminations. Despite coming up just short, Nezuko Kamado S earned ample praise from trainer Marcus Melander for her performance.
“She raced very good; she came home in :26,” said Melander. “I was very happy with her and how she raced. It was slow fractions, and she couldn’t go faster than she did [to finish]. I couldn’t be happier with her. She’s got a good attitude and gait, and she wants to chase horses down. Even if she’s been winning her last couple starts on the lead, she’s better from off the pace when she can chase other horses.”
Nezuko Kamado S, who is the season’s fastest 3-year-old trotting filly to date by way of her 1:50.1 win in a division of the Grade 2 Del Miller Memorial on July 11 at the Meadowlands, drew post 2. Scott Zeron will again drive the daughter of Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos IT.
Her stablemate Setyoursightshigh, who dug deep to fend off ferocious sub-:26 charges from Leading Lady and Custom for a 1:53.1 win in the third elimination, is the 6-1 fourth choice and will start from post 4 with Dexter Dunn nominated to drive.
“She’s in good form,” said Melander of the In Range-Special Interest filly, whom he plans to race barefoot in the final. “Her year has been a little mixed, but lately it’s going in the right direction.”
Also a 10-time winner thus far, Setyoursightshigh took her mark of 1:51.4 in the Grade 2 Zweig Memorial filly division on July 19 at Vernon Downs.
Carve, who was the fastest elimination winner with a 1:51.1 win in the first split, is the 7-2 second choice, and will start from post 6 with Andy McCarthy aboard for trainer Noel Daley.
“She’s good enough to win [the Hambletonian Oaks] because she’s quick; she’s always going to put herself in the race,” said Daley of the Captain Corey-Alpine filly, who rallied up the pegs with a :26.1 closing quarter to post her fifth career victory. “She can win it; it just depends on the trip. She’s not a superstar, but she is very handy.”
The aforementioned Busy Miss Lissy S, whom trainer Åke Svanstedt drove to a 1:51.4 score in the second elimination, drew the pole and has been made the 4-1 third choice for the final.
“I’ve said all along that I’m so impressed with her every time she hits the track because she is very small, but she has the biggest heart that I have seen,” said assistant trainer Sarah Svanstedt of the Calgary Games-Hill’s Angel S filly, who races as a homebred for Panamera Racing, of Denmark. “Her instinct to know where the wire is and want to win has come a very long way.”
Busy Miss Lissy S’ other win this season came in a division of the Grade 3 New York New York Mile, at MGM Yonkers Raceway, which she won by 7-3/4 lengths in 1:54.1.
The Hambletonian Oaks is carded as the ninth of 16 races on a stakes-filled Saturday at the Big M. The complete field, with nominated drivers, trainers, and morning-line odds, is as follows:
$500,000 Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks (Race 9)
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Odds
1 – Busy Miss Lissy S – Åke Svanstedt – Åke Svanstedt – 4-1
2 – Nezuko Kamado S – Scott Zeron – Marcus Melander – 2-1
3 – Custom – Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom – 8-1
4 – Setyoursightshigh – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander – 6-1
5 – Lainey W – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander – 12-1
6 – Carve – Andy McCarthy – Noel Daley – 7-2
7 – Leading Lady – Matt Kakaley – Nancy Takter – 10-1
8 – Storybook Love – Todd Ratchford – Matthew Bax – 25-1
9 – Frattina Diablo S – Tim Tetrick – Tony Alagna – 25-1
10 – Madam Cheval – Tim Tetrick – Nancy Takter – 25-1
Notes: Elimination winners Busy Miss Lissy S, Carve and Setyoursightshigh drew for posts 1-6. Final driver changes are due by Thursday (Aug. 6) at 10 a.m. (EDT) and will be announced shortly thereafter. Morning line odds by John Rallis.
The anticipated post time for the Hambletonian Oaks, which will be broadcast live as part of Fox Sports 2’s (FS2) coverage of Saturday’s stakes action at the Meadowlands, is 3:26 p.m. (EDT).
by James Witherite, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Apex, Marcus Melander’s millionaire trainee, stamped himself as a likely favorite for next week’s $1 million Grade 1 Hambletonian by way of a gutsy 1:50.4 win the first $100,175 elimination for the 101st edition of the classic for 3-year-old trotters on Saturday (Aug. 1) at the Meadowlands. Big Ranger delivered a statement win in the second elimination, leaving his nine foes well in his wake for a decisive 1:50 score.
After teaming Apex to wins in the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship and his division of the Grade 3 Stanley Dancer Memorial, Dexter Dunn floated the Walner-Mission Brief colt forward into midfield from post 7 as AI (driven by Yannick Gingras) split fellow leavers Captain Naughty (Jason Bartlett) and American Power (James MacDonald) to secure the lead through a :27.3 first quarter. Midway up the backstretch, Dunn angled Apex wide to flush Inexpressable (Scott Zeron) out from fourth, but Inexpressable charged ahead to clear the front at the :56.4 half-mile station, leaving Apex uncovered and 2 lengths off the lead with the toughest part of the race ahead of him.
“I knew it was going to be a tough mile no matter what we did with him,” said Dunn. “We got away in a pretty good position, but we were only in for a little bit and out the rest of the mile.”
Inexpressable threw down a :26.4 third quarter through the far turn, but Apex managed to gradually grind forward and sweep to the lead with 150 yards to go. Though Apex made easy work of Inexpressable, Endurance and Andy McCarthy posed a major threat down the grandstand side nearing the winning post after slipstreaming Apex’s cover on the far turn.
“I thought Andy was going to pass me late in the stretch (with Endurance), but [Apex] really dug deep and wanted to fight him off,” said Dunn.
Apex indeed proved up to the challenge, gamely parrying Endurance by a nose to record his ninth career win from 13 starts — and his third from just four tries this year — for the partnership of Jeffrey Snyder, SRF Stable and Steve Stewart.
American Power split foes to save third out of a failing pocket; Captain Naughty and AI rounded out the top five finishers.
“He’s got that winning attitude,” concluded Dunn. “I think he’ll probably be sharper next week, as well; he’d only had three starts this year, and this should tighten him up a bit.”
On the strength of a four-race win streak, Big Ranger entered his elimination as the 2-5 favorite, and Tim Tetrick sustained a measured move with him out of midfield to clear the front with nine-sixteenths to go after losing cover on the backstretch. Following a :55.3 half, Big Ranger braced for a first-over challenge from Nix Nacken (Dunn) on the far turn, and the pair drew 2-1/2 lengths clear of Magic Punk (Gingras) midway through the far turn.
Nix Nacken forced Big Ranger to throw down a :26.4 third quarter, but the In Range-Big Blue Bird colt still had a :26.3 kicker left in the tank. Big Ranger knocked three-fifths of a second off his lifetime mark with his victorious 1:50 effort and extended his record for trainer Anette Lorentzon to a perfect three-for-three after winning nine of his first 11 starts under the care of Ronnie Gillespie.
It Could Be Worse (Scott Zeron) emerged out of traffic to narrowly save second, 4 lengths in arrears, from Magic Punk; Spencer Hanover (Jason Bartlett) and Minoan (Andy McCarthy) rounded out the top five finishers.
“I was like, ‘This is a real horse,’” said Tetrick. “He impressed me from day one. He’s super smart, he’s got big lungs, he’s a real animal.
“He went under the wire strong, he was doing his work good. I got to sit behind horses on the first turn, and he settled good. When Yannick (Gingras) crossed over (to the lead with Magic Punk, before Big Ranger made his move), he bullied his way to the front, and when he got there, he relaxed. … He passed a lot of tests today.”
With his elimination win, Big Ranger passed the $500,000 mark in career earnings for owner Madison Global. He paid $2.80 to win.
The top five finishers from each elimination have earned berths to the Hambletonian final, which will take place next Saturday (Aug. 8). By virtue of their victories, Apex and Big Ranger are guaranteed to draw a post position between 1 and 6. The barrier draw will take place Tuesday (Aug. 4) at a luncheon at the Chateau Grande, in East Brunswick, N.J.
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A pair of upsets landed in the trio of $50,175 eliminations for the Hambletonian Oaks at The Meadowlands on Saturday night (Aug. 1) with Carve and Busy Miss Lissy S finding the winner’s circle in their respective eliminations while Setyoursightshigh, off the slight third choice in the betting, also clinched a victory.
Carve skimmed through a seam at the pylons to nab the first Hambletonian Oaks elimination in a 1:51.1 mile. Driver Andy McCarthy thrusted Carve to the point around the first turn but settled for the pocket as Madam Cheval brushed forward from the widest draw to take command into a :28 first quarter. Lainey W then lunged out of third into the backstretch to swoop to the top, shuffling Carve into third to a :56.2 half. Stuck at the pylons to three-quarters in 1:24.3 with first-up Ygritte and second-over Jailbird Jog to her outside, Carve awaited a gap in the stretch that soon opened as leader Lainey W sprinted for the finish. Carve surged inside of Lainey W late in the stretch to bag a 1-1/2-length win with Madam Cheval holding third.
“I really didn’t know how to play this race,” Andy McCarthy said after the race. “She’s got so much early speed, but sometimes if I use her too much early she doesn’t finish quite as strong. Once I saw Timmy [Tetrick with Madam Cheval] was on the gate and moving forward, I thought this should work out. She was on the muscle tonight. As soon as I had clearance to get through, I figured she had enough trot to finish it off.”
Noel Daley trains Carve, a daughter of Captain Corey-Alpine, for lessees Patricia Stables, L A Express Stable and Sjoeblom Racing. She won her fifth race from 17 starts, earning $296,198, and paid $10.80 to win.
Busy Miss Lissy S converted a pocket trip into an upset in the second Hambletonian Oaks elimination, staving off a late charge from 1-5 favorite Nezuko Kamado S for a lifetime-best 1:51.4 victory. After taking the lead to a :27.2 first quarter, Busy Miss Lissy S yielded command to pocket-popping Frattina Diablo S in the backstretch and coasted behind the leader to a :57 half. But once Nezuko Kamado S pulled off the pylons from fourth and pushed up the rim, driver Ake Svanstedt loomed out of the pocket with Busy Miss Lissy S and attacked for the lead to three-quarters in 1:25.2. She then reached for the finish under pursuit from Nezuko Kamado S to hold onto the victory by a neck with Frattina Diablo S settling for third and Storybook Love earning the last berth into the final.
“She didn’t race great last time [in the Zweig Filly Trot], but she also has been up and down with the training and the heat; the weather hasn’t really been in our favor,” Sarah Svanstedt of Team Svanstedt said. “I have said all along I am so impressed with her every time she hits the track because she’s very small but she has the biggest heart that I have seen. Just her instinct to know where the wire is has come a long way. She’s very small but she fights, so I love her.”
Ake Svanstedt trains Busy Miss Lissy S, a filly by Calgary Games-Hill’s Angel S, for owner Panamera Racing. She won her eighth race from 14 starts this season, earning $273,427, and paid $18.40 to win.
Driver Dexter Dunn circled Setyoursightshigh to the lead and nabbed easy fractions while holding strong against a cavalry charge to win the final Oaks elimination in 1:53.1. Dunn looped from the pocket after a :27.3 first quarter to lead up the backstretch to a :58 half before gradually accelerating through the remainder. Setyoursightshigh clocked three-quarters in 1:26.3 and spun for home with an ample cushion to withstand a flurry of rivals late for the win by a neck. Leading Lady recovered from a break at the start to rally for second with Custom finishing third.
“She was all class last year and didn’t start the season off that flashy this year, but Marcus [Melander] and the team have got her back on track,” Dunn said after the race. “She was excellent at Vernon and felt great tonight. I got pretty cheap fractions tonight, but the way she felt was really impressive. She definitely wasn’t tired, just a little lonely up there. She was going pretty good.”
Marcus Melander trains Setyoursightshigh, a daughter of In Range-Special Interest, for owners Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, AMG Stable Inc. and K. Kjellgren Livs Ab Inc. The filly won her 10th race from 17 starts, earning $823,997, and paid $7.40 to win.
Each elimination winner earned draw protection between posts 1 and 6 for the final, taking place as the co-feature to Hambletonian No. 101 next Saturday (Aug. 8).
Featured LIVE on America’s Day at The Races.
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Free streaming of the Meadowlands in-house show at rtn.tv and playmeadowlands.com; also on the Meadowlands Facebook & YouTube pages. Available on PCs, mobile devices, DISH Network, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
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DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASES HAMBLETONIAN “GLORY”
Much has changed since the year 2000 when the Y2K transition dominated millennium fears and Tiger Woods was ranked as the world’s greatest golfer.
What has remained constant over the past 25 years is the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, which has continued to unfold each year as the premier event in harness racing, producing unforgettable human and equine stories.
The 100th Anniversary of the Hambletonian: The Road to Glory, a documentary presented by the Hambletonian Society, chronicles America’s Trotting Classic from 2000 through 2025. The film begins with Yankee Paco, the first Canadian-sired Hambletonian winner, whose victory signaled the growing international participation in the race, and concludes with Nordic Catcher S, driven and trained by Swedish Hall of Famer Åke Svanstedt, trotting into the history books as the 100th winner of the Hambletonian.
The documentary culminates with highlights from the landmark 100th Hambletonian, contested on Aug. 2, 2025, and serves as the closing feature of a 60-minute retrospective celebrating the brightest jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown. The program will air on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, Aug. 2, at 3 p.m. (EDT).
Produced by the award-winning team at Cujo Productions, the documentary features a script by 12-time Hervey Award winner Dave Briggs and narration by Greg Blanchard, who hosted Hambletonian coverage on CBS Sports Network from 2021 through 2025. Blanchard's historical perspective and distinctive narration bring the century-long story of the Hambletonian to life. Following its television premiere, the documentary will also stream across all Hambletonian Society and Meadowlands social media platforms beginning Monday, Aug. 3.
The Hambletonian has been contested at several different venues in its 100-year history, but the longest running host site is the one-mile oval of the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., which will present the 101st Hambletonian on Saturday, Aug. 8, for the 45th consecutive year.
Each year the Hambletonian brings together the top horses, trainers and drivers from around the world, provides a showcase for the hopes and dreams of every owner, breeder and caretaker, and delivers an extraordinary sporting event for spectators and bettors.
The Road To Glory relives the last 25 years of the “Greatest Day in Harness Racing.”
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Cranbury, NJ – Dan Patch Award winner Apex, MGM Yonkers Trot champion Inexpressable and multiple stakes winners Diabolic Hill, Endurance and Spencer Hanover were among 19 horses entered Tuesday (July 28) for the 101st edition of the Hambletonian Stakes, for 3-year-old trotters, at The Meadowlands.
Two $100,175 eliminations will be held Saturday (Aug. 1) at The Big M. The top five finishers from each elim will advance to the $1 million Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian final on Aug. 8 at The Meadowlands.
Twenty-one horses entered the companion filly event, the Hambletonian Oaks, resulting in three $50,175 eliminations Saturday at The Meadowlands. The top three finishers from each elim plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will advance to the $500,000 Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks final, also on Aug. 8.
Elimination winners will draw for post positions 1 through 6 in the final. All other finalists will be placed in an open draw for the remaining post positions. The draws for the finals of both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks will be conducted on Aug. 4 during a luncheon from 2-5 p.m. at The Chateau Grande in East Brunswick, N.J.
Apex, the No. 1-ranked horse in Meadowlands announcer/analyst Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian, and Spencer Hanover were among four horses entered by trainer Marcus Melander. The others were American Power and Nix Nacken.
After beginning this season with a neck loss to American Power, Apex has won the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship in a career-best 1:50.3 on June 12 and a division of the G3 Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 11, all at The Meadowlands. The son of Walner-Mission Brief has won eight of 12 lifetime races and earned $1.06 million. His victories last year included the Mohawk Million and Peter Haughton Memorial, both Grade 1 stakes.
Apex will leave from post 7 in a field of nine in the first Hambletonian elimination, with Dexter Dunn in the sulky.
American Power also is in the first elimination, where he will leave from post 8 with driver James MacDonald. American Power was second to Apex in the Dancer and heads to his Hambletonian elim off a win in the G2 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial on July 19 at Vernon Downs. He won in a career-best 1:50, which is tied with Nix Nacken for the fastest mile of the season by a 3-year-old trotter.
Leaving from the outside post 9 in the first elimination will be Endurance, who has won three consecutive races, including a Dancer division, for trainer Chris Beaver and driver Andrew McCarthy. His only loss in five starts this season was a second-place finish behind Spencer Hanover in the inaugural Oak Grove Trotting Derby on May 16 at Oak Grove.
Inexpressable, who won the G2 Yonkers Trot on June 26 at Yonkers Raceway, will start from post 3 in the first elimination, with Scott Zeron listed to drive for trainer Lucas Wallin. The Yonkers Trot is the first jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown, followed by the Hambletonian and Kentucky Futurity. Nine horses have captured the Trotting Triple Crown since its inception in 1955, the most recent being Marion Marauder in 2016.
Also in the first elim is Ardonne, who won the G1 William Wellwood Memorial last year. He will start from post 5 with trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt.
Spencer Hanover, this season’s richest 3-year-old trotter with $393,391, will start from post 3 in the second Hambletonian elimination. He was a G1 Breeders Crown champion at age 2 and won this year’s Oak Grove Trotting Derby on May 16 and the Empire Breeders Classic on June 12 at Vernon Downs. Jason Bartlett will drive Spencer Hanover for trainer Melander.
The second elimination also includes Diabolic Hill, who won last year’s G1 Valley Victory Stakes and was second to Apex in this year’s New Jersey Sire Stakes championship and to American Power in the Zweig. He will leave from post 9 with Todd McCarthy driving for trainer Annie Stoebe.
Magic Punk, who won the G3 Dexter Cup on May 2 at The Meadowlands, will start from post 7 in the second elim, with Yannick Gingras driving for trainer Svanstedt, while 2025 Ohio Horse of the Year Big Ranger, who has won 11 of 13 career races, will leave from post 8 with Tim Tetrick driving for trainer Anette Lorentzon.
The Hambletonian eliminations are races 7 and 9.
Turning to the Hambletonian Oaks, Nezuko Kamado S is this season’s fastest sophomore trotting filly thanks to her 1:50.1 triumph in a division of the G2 Del Miller Memorial on July 11 at The Meadowlands. Unbeaten in four starts in 2026, she will leave from post 5 in the second Oaks elimination, with Scott Zeron in the sulky for trainer Melander.
The second elim also includes Storybook Love, who was a Breeders Crown winner last year, and starts Saturday from post 3 with Todd Ratchford driving for trainer Matt Bax.
Jailbird Jog, this season’s richest 3-year-old trotting filly with $295,275, will start from post 4 in the first Oaks elimination. Her wins this season include the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks on May 16, a Del Miller Memorial division on July 11 and the Tompkins-Geers Stakes on July 25 at The Meadowlands. James MacDonald will drive for trainer Jason McGinnis.
Also in the first elimination is New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Madam Cheval, who will leave from post 7 with Tim Tetrick driving for trainer Nancy Takter.
The third elimination finds Dan Patch Award winner Setyoursightshigh, who heads to her race off a win in the G2 Zweig Memorial Filly Trot on July 19 at Vernon. She has finished worse than second only once in 16 lifetime starts, with nine victories, and will leave from post 1 with Dunn driving for Melander on Saturday.
Leading Lady, who missed by a neck in both the Zweig and New Jersey Sire Stakes championship, will leave from post 5 in the third elim. Another Takter trainee, she will have Matt Kakaley in the sulky.
The third elimination also includes Victorianas Secret, who is coming off a victory in the G3 Moni Maker Stakes on July 18 at Eldorado Scioto Downs and will leave from post 2 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. driving for trainer Vernon Beachy.
The Hambletonian Oaks eliminations are races 1, 4 and 6.
Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT). For free TrackMaster past performances for The Big M, visit the track’s website here.
Following are the fields for the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks eliminations.
Hambletonian Elimination 1 – Race 7
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer
1 – Practical Man – Jordan Stratton – Tom Fanning
2 – Captain Naughty – Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom
3 – Inexpressable – Scott Zeron – Lucas Wallin
4 – Highland Destiny – Scott Zeron – Nancy Takter
5 – Ardonne – Åke Svanstedt – Åke Svanstedt
6 – AI – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
7 – Apex – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
8 – American Power – James MacDonald – Marcus Melander
9 – Endurance – Andrew McCarthy – Chris Beaver
Hambletonian Elimination 2 – Race 9
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer
1 – It Could Be Worse – Tim Tetrick – Linda Toscano
2 – Minoan – Andrew McCarthy – Noel Daley
3 – Spencer Hanover – Jason Bartlett – Marcus Melander
4 – Kingmen – Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom
5 – Nix Nacken – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
6 – Requiem – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Matt Burkholder
7 – Magic Punk – Yannick Gingras – Åke Svanstedt
8 – Big Ranger – Tim Tetrick – Anette Lorentzon
9 – Diabolic Hill – Todd McCarthy – Annie Stoebe
10 – Wolfpack Crown – Troy Beyer – Victoria Stratton
Hambletonian Oaks Elimination 1 – Race 1PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer
Ygritte – Mattias Melander – Marcus Melander
Lainey W – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
All Time Trot S – Yannick Gingras – Åke Svanstedt
Jailbird Jog – James MacDonald – Jason McGinnis
Carve – Andrew McCarthy – Noel Daley
Days Away – Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom
Madam Cheval – Tim Tetrick – Nancy Takter
Hambletonian Oaks Elimination 2 – Race 4
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer
1 – Crossover – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
2 – Frattina Diablo S – Tim Tetrick – Tony Alagna
3 – Storybook Love – Todd Ratchford – Matt Bax
4 – Busy Miss Lissy S – Åke Svanstedt – Åke Svanstedt
5 – Nezuko Kamado S – Scott Zeron – Marcus Melander
6 – R Ro – Tyler Buter – John Butenschoen
7 – Emmas Mystery CCL – Andrew McCarthy – Noel Daley
Hambletonian Oaks Elimination 3 – Race 6
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer
1 – Setyoursightshigh – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
2 – Victorianas Secret – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Vernon Beachy
3 – Southwind Chaska – Tim Tetrick – Jim Oscarsson
4 – One Belle – Scott Zeron – Matt Bax
5 – Leading Lady – Matt Kakaley – Nancy Takter
6 – Custom – Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom
7 – Islandgirl Hanover – Trond Smedshammer – Trond Smedshammer
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By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – With just nine days remaining until the 101st edition of the Winning Key Farms Hambletonian, The Meadowlands will continue to make changes designed to make the track experience better for the bettor as well as the horsemen and horsewomen who compete on a consistent basis at The Big M.
First and foremost, management at the mile oval has decided that an earlier start would be a good move, so, effective immediately, post time will be 15 minutes earlier than what it has been for some time, with the first race now scheduled to go at 6:20 p.m.
Racing will be conducted this weekend on the usual Friday (July 31)-Saturday (Aug. 1) basis.
“We have been trying to finish earlier by decreasing the time between races,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “And for the last several weeks, we have had an entry box that’s been supporting 15-race programs.
“At the end of the day, we have decided on the earlier post time in an effort to complete our race cards before midnight. We also will eventually go back to 14-race programs on a consistent basis, but if we have enough horses to go with 15 races, we will then offer our horsemen and women the opportunity to race.”
The new post time goes into effect just in time for the third leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes. There will be nine leg three divisions for 2-year-olds contested on the 15-race Friday card, with an additional pair of non-betting events that will take place during the live simulcast show (at 6 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.).
Only one horse on the betting program is two-for-two in the NJSS. The Julie Miller-trained Wall Of Fame has won her two dashes by a combined 7½ lengths facing Platinum level filly trotters. Miller’s husband, Andy, will be in the bike.
There is also a horse in the second non-bettor who has two wins in as many NJSS tries. The Megan Scran-schooled Aintmyfirstro Deo, who has been competing in the Platinum level colt and gelding pacing division, is a gelded son of Perfect Sting-Some Renditions who will be driven by Scran’s significant other, Scott Zeron.
DOUBLE ELIMINATION: There will be three eliminations conducted Saturday night for the Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old trotting fillies. From those three contests, which are carded as the first, fourth and sixth races, the top three finishers from each seven-horse field plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest career earnings will advance to the $500,000 final.
If all goes as expected, the top two horses in the division will collide in the Aug. 8 final. Jailbird Jog (race one) has been beyond impressive in taking the July 11 Del Miller and July 25 Tompkins-Geers, both from well off the pace.
The daughter of Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S is trained by Jason McGinnis and driven by five-time defending O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s top pilot, James MacDonald. They have drawn post four.
Marcus Melander trains Nezuko Kamado S (race four), the filly who, as of now, is the Oaks favorite. Nezuko Kamado S defeated Jailbird Jog when the two met in the July 4 Reynolds. The Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos IT product is a perfect four-for-four this year and will be driven by Zeron from post five.
With two elims, the $1-million Winning Key Farms Hambletonian will see the top five from each dash advance to the final. A total of 19 horses dropped into the entry box.
Unlike the Oaks, this division’s big two will face each other in their elimination.
Apex, the winter book favorite who was the divisional champion from last year, has won two of three starts this season. The first was the $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Platinum division final, the other, a $145,650 division of the Stanley Dancer.
Trainer Melander’s colt by Walner-Mission Brief is driven by Dexter Dunn. The pair will depart from post seven in race seven.
Endurance went a brutal first-over trip when he provided cover for eventual winner Spencer Hanover in the May 16 Oak Grove Derby. That is the only loss of the season in five tries for the colt by Captain Corey-Love Session, who is trained by Chris Beaver and driven by Andy McCarthy. They have drawn post nine.
THE SCHEDULE: Live harness racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis through Sept. 12 with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.
There are some exceptions to those rules.
The 101st edition of the $1-million Hambletonian is on Saturday, Aug. 8, and that card begins at noon.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, racing will begin at 7 p.m.
In addition, there is a Thursday program scheduled. It will take place on Aug. 6.
Finally, there will be no live racing at The Meadowlands on Friday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 28, due to preseason football at MetLife Stadium.
A NEW BETTING MENU: When racing resumes Friday, the new betting menu will be in its second week, and the menu will be in play for the foreseeable future. Two things that players likely noticed last week was the absence of the second 20-cent Pick-5, but that loss has set up a big rebirth. The 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 has returned.
This is the wagering menu for Friday’s 15-race program:
· Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
· Races 4-9: 20-cent Pick-6
· Races 6-9: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
· Race 7: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
· Races 8-14: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
· Races 10-13: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
· Races 11-12: $2 Daily Double
· Races 13-15: $3 Pick-3
· Races 14-15: $5 Late Double
· Race 15: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
This is the wagering menu for Saturday’s 14-race program:
· Races 1-5: 20-cent Pick-5
· Races 4-9: 20-cent Pick-6
· Races 6-9: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
· Race 7: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
· Races 8-14: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7
· Races 10-13: 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
· Races 11-12: $2 Daily Double
· Races 12-14: $3 Pick-3
· Races 13-14: $5 Late Double
· Race 14: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)
The two Pick-4s with guaranteed pools are offered in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
The link is https://handicapping.ustrotting.com/
“We believe this gives us the most exciting wagering menu in the sport,” said Settlemoir. “There are plenty of opportunities to make scores with the types of wagers that the players want.”
GET YOUR HAMBO MERCH: Be ready for the 101st edition of The Hambletonian by getting some great Hambletonian merchandise.
The 2026 collection is now available, so check out some great hats, hoodies, tees and other apparel at www.hamboshop.com.
Any item you purchase comes with free shipping, so get busy, and get your Hambletonian merchandise before the big day!
If you prefer to buy your items in person, the merchandise will be available for purchase at The Meadowlands when the Hambletonian eliminations (Aug. 1) and final (Aug. 8) take place.
COME TO THE DRAW: Head for the Chateau Grande in East Brunswick, NJ, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and catch a special event on the harness racing calendar when the post position draws for the $1-million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks are conducted, and while you are there, enjoy some great food.
The luncheon begins at 2 p.m., with the draws for the Hambo and Oaks kicking off at 3 p.m.
The Big M’s TV production team will be there, with a special appearance by former Big M simulcast show personality – and current FOX Sports harness racing analyst – Jessica Otten serving as host with Ken Warkentin assisting providing interviews.
The post draw can be viewed live on The Meadowlands Facebook page as well as The Meadowlands YouTube Channel for those who cannot attend.
The event is open to the public, but please RSVP here.
IT’S LIVE ON FOX: The Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks will be telecast live to a national television audience on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The show can be seen as part of the New York Racing Association’s “Day at the Races” coverage of the Thoroughbred action from Saratoga Race Course.
For those who would like to see the Hambletonian Oaks and Hambletonian live on TV, they should tune in to FOX Sports 2 (FS2) at 3 p.m.
Post time for the Oaks is 3:21 p.m. The Hambo is set for 4:35 p.m.
DOCUMENTING “GLORY”: Much has changed since the year 2000, when the Y2K transition dominated millennium fears and Tiger Woods was the world’s greatest golfer.
What has remained constant in the ensuing 25 years was the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands unfolded as a spectacular event that featured human and equine stories of all shapes and sizes.
The 100th Anniversary of the Hambletonian: The Race to Glory, a documentary presented by the Hambletonian Society, lays out the champions of America’s Trotting Classic from the year 2000 – when Yankee Paco, Canada’s first Hambletonian-sired champion signaled the entrance of international participation in the race – ending with 2025, when Nordic Catcher S, driven and trained by Swedish Hall of Famer Ake Svanstedt, trotted into the history books as the 100th winner of the storied stakes event.
The 100th edition of the Hambletonian took place on Aug. 2, 2025, and will be the closing feature of a 60-minute retrospective of the brightest jewel in trotting’s Triple Crown to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 3 p.m.
It will also be streamed on all Hambletonian Society and Meadowlands social media platforms beginning Sunday, Aug. 2.
A CLOSE RACE: With just five race cards remaining in the Winter-Spring-Championship Meet, Brett Beckwith has opened up some daylight on his closest pursuer in the battle for who will walk away with the title as top driver at The Big M.
Beckwith, whose 146 wins led The Big M in 2025, currently has 95 victories. Joe Bongiorno is next with 88.
The duo is incredibly close when it comes to how effective they have been for their backers. Beckwith wins at a rate of 21.4 percent, while Bongiorno scores at a 20.8 percent clip.
WHO’S ON THE SHOW? This weekend, John Rallis, fresh off last week’s appearance as interviewer on CBS Sports Network’s live presentation of the Adios at The Meadows, and Derick Giwner, the editor at DRF Harness, will be back on the Sam McKee Memorial Set sharing their insights and selections alongside Big M simulcast show host Dave Little.
Rallis will be on the desk Friday serving as co-host, with Giwner getting in the chair Saturday.
Ken Warkentin will be in his place at the top of the grandstand calling the action for both programs, while Gary DiLeo will handle interviews from the paddock with winning connections Friday night.
Rallis will interview winning connections in the winner’s circle on Saturday’s program.
GET YOUR FREE PROGRAMS: To show appreciation to its loyal fan base, The Meadowlands offers free program pages for every race of every race card on its website.
Go to playmeadowlands.com, then click on the “news” dropdown to get the past performances at absolutely no cost.
CHECK OUT FACEBOOK AND X: Check out The Meadowlands on Facebook (@meadowlandsracetrack) for race replays, interviews, carryover updates, promotional videos and much more.
Everything Meadowlands is also available by going on X. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.
Stay in touch with The Big M talent duo of Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).
BET THE METS IN FANDUEL: Meadowlands regulars who love to plunk down a bet or two on professional sports, know all they have to do is head for the FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 betting facility of its type in North America.
It couldn’t be easier to do, as it’s located inside the grandstand at The Big M. There are massive TV screens and self-service betting terminals, which enable fans to watch and wager in comfort while having some great food and drink.
On Thursday (July 30), the Miami Marlins travel to CitiField for a 7:10 p.m. game with the New York Mets.
The Mets are the -130 favorite on the money line with their ace, Nolan McLean, pitching, but a +176 underdog laying 1½ runs in the game that has an under/over of 7 runs.
Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, go here.
The FanDuel Sportsbook is open for business Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. – midnight.
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Two shows this week, with a preview for Saturday already up on the site and a Livestream with Edison Hatter Live on track Saturday Night at The Meadowlands to sort out the finalists for the Hambo and the Hambo Oaks.
For Full newsletter and Videos CLICK HERE -
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Southwind Chaska produced the best performance of her season when she raced at the Meadowlands three weeks ago, and trainer Jim Oscarsson thinks that should bode well for his filly’s next visit to the Big M for Saturday’s Hambletonian Oaks eliminations.
Southwind Chaska, a multiple graded stakes winner and fastest 2-year-old female trotter (1:51.4) of 2025, will compete in the third of three $50,175 elims for the Hambletonian Oaks, for 3-year-old female trotters, on Saturday (Aug. 1). The top three finishers from each elim plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will advance to the $500,000 Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks final on Hambletonian Day, Aug. 8, at the Meadowlands.
In her most recent start, on July 11 at the Big M, Southwind Chaska came her last quarter in a race-best :26.3 to rally for a second-place finish behind Nezuko Kamado S in a division of the Grade 2 Del Miller Memorial. Southwind Chaska was a half-length behind the winner in a race timed in 1:50.1 – the fastest mile of the year for sophomore filly trotters.
“She was really good in her last start,” said Oscarsson, who saw Southwind Chaska’s only two previous races this season end with a sixth-place finish in a preliminary leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes on June 5 at the Meadowlands and a third-place finish in a conditioned race against older male rivals on June 20 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
“She trained good all winter, I was happy with her, but she was a little bit too heavy at the start of the season and was not too good the first two starts. I think she needed those two races. I think she is in good shape now. I’m looking forward to Saturday to see what she can do.”
Southwind Chaska is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in her Hambletonian Oaks elimination, which also includes 2025 Dan Patch Award winner Setyoursightshigh, Victorianas Secret, and Leading Lady. Setyoursightshigh defeated Leading Lady by a neck in the Grade 2 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Filly Trot at Vernon Downs on July 19, one day after Victorianas Secret won the Grade 3 Moni Maker Stakes at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Tim Tetrick will be in the sulky behind Southwind Chaska, who leaves from post 3 in the seven-filly field.
“She has a good post,” Oscarsson said. “If she has a good day, she can beat them; she’s a really good horse. I’m happy to have her.”
A daughter of Tactical Landing-Southwind Chai, Southwind Chaska was purchased for $15,000 at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Last year, she hit the board in 10 of 13 races, winning six, and earned $245,842. Her victories included divisions of the Bluegrass (in her 1:51.4 mile) and International Stallion stakes, both Grade 3, at Lexington’s Red Mile.
“She’s a strong, speedy horse,” said Oscarsson, who trains Southwind Chaska for the ownership group of Oscarsson Racing Stable, John Cummins, and Sven H Racing. “She grew a lot (over the winter). She’s more of a horse. I’m happy about that.
“If she has a helmet to follow, she can go fast in the last quarter. But (last year) in Kentucky, she was on the lead, and she was really nice too.”
The third Hambletonian Oaks elimination is race 6.
In the first elim (race 1), Jailbird Jog is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for driver James MacDonald and trainer Jason McGinnis. She will leave from post 4. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S has five wins and two seconds in eight races this season, with her victories including the inaugural Oak Grove Trotting Oaks on May 16 at Oak Grove Racing & Gaming, her division of the Del Miller Memorial on July 11, and the Tompkins-Geers Stakes in a career-best 1:51.2 on July 25 at the Meadowlands.
Nezuko Kamado S is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the second elimination (race 4) for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Marcus Melander. The daughter of Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos IT is unbeaten in four races this year.
Also on Saturday, the Meadowlands will host two eliminations for America’s Trotting Classic, the Hambletonian Stakes, with the top five finishers from each elim returning for the $1 million Grade 1 final on Aug. 8. Dan Patch Award winner Apex is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the first (race 7) and Big Ranger, Ohio’s 2025 Horse of the Year, is the 3-1 choice in the second (race 9).
Elimination winners will draw for post positions 1 through 6 in the final. All other finalists will be placed in an open draw for the remaining post positions. The draws for the finals of both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks will be conducted on Tuesday (Aug. 4) during a luncheon from 2-5 p.m. at The Chateau Grande in East Brunswick, N.J.
Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at the Meadowlands. For free TrackMaster past performances, visit the track’s website here.
Ken Weingartner
Media Relations Manager
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Eliminations for the Winning Key Farms Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks highlight this Saturday’s (August 1) race card.
Dining for the Pink buffet is still available, and reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BigM.
Saturday, August 1 is also the track’s annual seafood food truck festival. Thirty-two vendors will be dishing up some delicious food – everything from lobster rolls, to fried clams to ceviche and crab fries. There will also be plenty of non-seafood items available including BBQ, empanadas, burgers, rice balls and more. Full truck listing can be found here - https://playmeadowlands.com/event/seafood_fest/
Table and dining options are limited for the greatest day in harness racing – Hambletonian Day, Saturday, August 8th.
Admission is just $5 and includes a commemorative Hambletonian hat for adults and kids. Doors open at 10 am with the first race at 12 noon. Parking is free.
While Café and Lounge tables have sold out, there are still a few remaining bar seats and promenade tables available for purchase. Bar seating is $75 (the $75 is a food and beverage credit), and promenade tables seat four; admission is included with the $300 ticket.
Admission and promenade tables can be purchased at https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/meadowlandsracetrack/2026-hambletonian.
Those looking for outdoor dining can now make reservations for the West Apron VIP tent. The $74.95 menu includes a fresh corn salad, grilled flank steak, sausage three ways, creamy lemon pasta, BBQ chicken and mac & cheese. Diners can end the meal with homemade brownies, cookies and ice cream. Reservations can be made by calling 201-TheBigM (843-2446).
Outdoor dining is also available at the Backyard Bar & Grill. The BBQ menu features pulled pork, mac and cheese, hot dogs, hamburgers, and more. The umbrella-covered tables are $100 and seat 4 people. Tables can be purchased at https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/meadowlandsracetrack/2026-hambletonian.
All things Hambletonian can be found at https://playmeadowlands.com/hambletonian-news/
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East Rutherford, NJ – Hambletonian hopefuls Apex and Endurance won their respective divisions of the Grade 3 Stanley Dancer Memorial, for 3-year-old male trotters, on Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands, both as favorites and both in 1:52.
The Grade 1 Hambletonian, America’s Trotting Classic for 3-year-olds, is Aug. 8 at the Meadowlands. Eliminations, if necessary, are slated for Aug. 1 at the Big M. Apex is No. 1 in Meadowlands announcer/analyst Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian rankings while Endurance entered Saturday ranked No. 4.
Marcus Melander-trained Apex fought off stablemate American Power in the stretch before pulling away for a 1-1/2-length win in the second Dancer division, going for a purse of $144,650. Inexpressable finished third.
Long shot Jim Beam led the field to the opening quarter in :28.3 before driver Dexter Dunn moved Apex to the top on their way to the half in :57.2. American Power made a first-over bid on the final turn and, after reaching three-quarters in 1:26, pulled even with Apex in the lane. Apex, though, came home in :26 to secure the victory.
Apex turned on the jets and threw down a :26 final quarter to seal victory in his division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial.
Apex, last year’s divisional Dan Patch Award winner, has won back-to-back starts since a second-place finish by a neck to American Power in his seasonal debut. The son of Walner-Mission Brief has captured eight of 12 career races and earned $1.06 million for owners Jeff Snyder, S R F Stable, and Steve Stewart. The colt was bred by the Mission Brief Stable.
“I think he’s feeling better and better every week now,” Melander said about Apex. “I feel like he’s in good form at this point and I’m looking forward to the next couple weeks here.
“It’s a long season and I don’t want to peak him too early. I’m very happy with how his schedule has been looking so far. I think we’ll just go straight now to the (Hambletonian) eliminations in three weeks.”
Sent off as the 1-9 favorite, Apex paid $2.20 to win.
In the first Dancer division, going for a purse of $145,900, driver Andrew McCarthy and Endurance posted a half-length win over It Could Be Worse with Silverstein another half length back in third.
Endurance posted his third win in a row with his 1:52 score in the Stanley Dancer Memorial. Lisa Photo.
It Could Be Worse went to the front from post 7 in a :28.2 opening quarter before McCarthy put Endurance in motion from third and grabbed the lead on the way to a :57.3 half. Nix Nacken, who had been parked out from the start, pulled alongside Endurance as they reached three-quarters in 1:25.2, but Endurance turned away that challenge before keeping It Could Be Worse and Silverstein at bay through the stretch.
Endurance, a son of Captain Corey-Love Session, has four wins in five starts this season for trainer Chris Beaver. He has won three in a row since a second-place finish in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby on May 16.
“I was impressed (in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby); he went a really tough trip,” Beaver said. “Every race since, he was in pretty soft, but he had plenty of trot every time. Today, he was in with some good horses. He kind of had his way, but it wasn’t really his kind of trip, either.”
For his career, Endurance has won 10 of 13 races and earned $848,799. The colt is owned by Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, and Mark Moger. He was bred by Steve Stewart and Martti Ala-Seppala.
“I think he’s kind of a special colt,” Manes said. “Chris bought him and asked us if we wanted to be partners with him and he’s turned out to be far more than what we ever expected.”
Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Endurance paid $3.40 to win.
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Vernon, NY – American Power became the fastest trotter ever at Vernon Downs on Sunday night (July 19) as he captured the $300,000 Grade 2 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot for 3-year-olds in 1:50.
American Power won the Grade 2 Zweig Memorial Open Trot in 1:50 at Vernon Downs. Fotowon photo.
Nix Nacken (driven by Dexter Dunn) left from post 8 and worked to a first-quarter lead in :26.3. He used a :29 second quarter to be first to the half in :55.3. American Power (James MacDonald) exploded first-up as they headed around the final turn and led to three-quarters in 1:23.1.
As they entered the stretch, Nix Nacken and American Power continued to battle. American Power pulled away but had to brace for a late charge from Diabolic Hill (Todd McCarthy). American Power remained a length clear at the finish, with Diabolic Hill second and Nix Nacken third.
The previous track record of 1:50.3 was set by Atlanta in 2018.
American Power is a 3-year-old colt by Walner. He is owned by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc. and trained by Marcus Melander. It was his fourth win in six starts this season. He paid $7.18 to win.
Melander-trained Setyoursightshigh (Dexter Dunn) won the $139,000 Grade 2 Zweig Memorial Filly Trot, besting Leading Lady by a neck in 1:51.4.
Leading Lady (Matt Kakaley) led the pack to the first quarter in :26.4. Soon after that, Setyoursightshigh took control and led to the half in :55.4. Madam Cheval (Tim Tetrick) made the first move going first-over around the final turn. Setyoursightshigh was first to three quarters in 1:24.3.
Third-place finisher Madam Cheval went outside, and second-place finisher Leading Lady went inside. Leading Lady kept coming but Setyoursightshigh dug in and won a thriller in a lifetime best of 1:51.4.
Setyoursightshigh, a 2025 Dan Patch Award winner, is a 3-year-old filly by In Range. She is owned by Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, AMG Stable, and K Kjellgren Livs AB Inc. It was her second win of the season and her ninth career victory. She paid $10.62 to win.
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Washington, PA — The Friday (June 26) harness racing card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows gave racing fans a featured attraction in the Currier & Ives Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings, along with a glimpse of the future in two Pop-Up Series divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Endurance lived up to his name in the $90,675 Currier & Ives for 3-year-old colt trotters, overcoming post 9 in the 10-horse field to establish a stakes record with a 1:52.4 victory.
Unhurried early, Endurance and regular driver Andy McCarthy avoided the brisk early fractions and settled mid-pack. When Hamlet Hall moved first-over, McCarthy followed at the three-eighths, but stalled cover left Endurance three-wide approaching the five-eighths. As the leaders began to tire, Endurance and McCarthy found room along the rail and held off Hamlet Hall to secure the victory.
A 3-year-old son of Captain Corey, Endurance now owns nine wins in 12 starts and has earned more than $750,000 for trainer Chris Beaver and owners Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Mark Moger.
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Magic Punk worked out a perfect pocket trip behind 9-5 favorite Diabolic Hill and went by in deep stretch to record a 1-length victory in the second of two colt and gelding divisions of the W.N. Reynolds Memorial for 3-year-old trotters at The Meadowlands Saturday night.
A colt by Wishing Stone-I D Entity No, Magic Punk scored in the $34,125 dash in a lifetime-best 1:51.4 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ake Svanstedt while lifting his lifetime numbers to seven wins in 12 starts, good for earnings of just over $366,000. He paid $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering.
It Could Be Worse took the $33,625 opening division for males by 1 length in a lifetime-best 1:50.3 for Tim Tetrick and Linda Toscano, going all the way on the point after taking over just after the quarter. The Captain Corey-Emiliciousboomboom colt rebuffed a stiff challenge from 1-5 favorite Nix Nacken, who rallied well from first-over after racing sixth down the backside, engaged the leader turning for home, but faltered late to third as Southwind Alamo rallied to get second.
Sent to the gate as the 6-1 second choice, It Could Be Worse returned $14.20 to win.
Nezuko Kamado S (Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos IT) won the $33,225 first division for fillies in a lifetime-best 1:52.1 for Scott Zeron and Marcus Melander, holding off Jailbird Jog by a big nose. The 6-5 favorite returned $4.40.
Custom (Walner-Goldy Mary FR) took the $33,725 second female split surging late after picking up a live second-over trip for Jason Bartlett and Per Engblom. She returned $3.80 as the 4-5 favorite after winning for the sixth time from just 13 lifetime tries.
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Yonkers, NY – Add an extra quarter of a mile to the $250,000 Grade 2 MGM Yonkers Trot, and you have a recipe for a wild finish. That proved to be the case on Friday night (June 26) when Inexpressable and driver Tim Tetrick rallied off of a third-over cover trip and charged by the field to capture the opening leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Inexpressable rallied late to capture the $250,000 Grade 2 MGM Yonkers Trot Friday night. Mike Lizzi photo.
With favored Spencer Hanover starting from the second tier, Requiem, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. was the first to the front but yielded quickly to AI with Yannick Gingras. Second choice Silverstein then advanced rapidly and secured the front before the :29.1 opening quarter had been reached. The complexion of the race changed on the second turn when Spencer Hanover made a break.
With little movement on the outside, Matt Kakaley slowed the fractions, with Silverstein hitting the half and three-quarters in :58.1 and 1:27.2, respectively. With about a half-mile remaining in the mile and one-quarter contest, Dexter Dunn moved Kingmen to the outside and flushed Requiem to gain cover. Tetrick advanced third-over with Inexpressable as the pace picked up.
The field hit the 1:56 mile marker with Silverstein still in control and looking strong, and he had control into the stretch. However, he was slowing down noticeably at that point, opening the door for the closers. AI looked to the inside but couldn’t advance. However, Kingmen rallied wide and had plenty of trot to overtake the leader but not enough to stall the Lucas Wallin-trained Inexpressable, who motored on past to a neck victory. Kingmen held second with Silverstein third, followed by AI and fifth-place finisher Nordic Dancer S.
The mile and one quarter time was 2:25.3.
It was just the third race of the year and second win for Inexpressable, an impeccably-bred son of Walner from the same immediate family as Maryland. Owned by Wallin Racing Stable and Karin Walter-Mommert and a 7-1 offering, Inexpressable paid $16.68 to win. He keyed a $136.32 exacta and a $493.88 trifecta.
“Last thing I wanted to do was make a break early,” said Tetrick. “He’s a big, strong colt, and he seems like he’s got big lungs.”
Trainer Wallin suggested that Inexpressable would be pointed towards the Stanley Dancer next (July 11 at the Meadowlands).
A $325,000 Lexington Selected yearling, Inexpressable is the first foal from the Cantab Hall-sired Ineffable, she a half-sister to 2021 Mohawk Million winner Venerable.
In the first of two $55,000 divisions of the Grade 3 New York New York Mile for 3-year-old trotting fillies, the Ake Svanstedt-trained and Jonathan Ahle-driven Busy Miss Lissy S scored impressively, winning virtually wire-to-wire in 1:54.1. A daughter of Calgary Games bred in Sweden, Busy Miss Lissy S won for the first time in three starts as the 9-5 second choice in the field of five.
Owned by breeder Panamera Racing, Busy Miss Lissy S returned $5.88 to win with Myths And Legends second and Wishuponastar Deo third. Favored R Ro broke at the outset and was never in contention.
Emmas Mystery CCL and Todd McCarthy needed every inch of the stretch but finally went past pace-setter Sparks on the wire to capture the second $55,000 New York New York division. A Muscle Hill-sired filly, Emmas Mystery CCL raced from off-the-pace in third as Sparks led from the outset for Ake Svanstedt. With three-eighths of a mile remaining, McCarthy gave Emmas Mystery CCL her cue, and she forced the action through the final turn and right to the wire, prevailing in a 1:56.3 mile. Sparks was second and Atlantic Summer third.
Winning Key Inc. owns Emmas Mystery CCL and Noel Daley trains the filly who returned $3.14 as the public choice.
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Milton, ON — Marcus Melander pupil Neighver Punt worked from mid-field off a covered trip and gradually reeled in his competition to score the winning blow late and take the C$240,000 Grade 2 Goodtimes Stakes, for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, on Saturday night (June 13) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Royal Captain ripped off the wings of the gate to take the lead to a :26.3 first quarter chased by Dream For Peace and Classified rolling into third. Touchedbyanangel gapped the top three from fourth but gathered speed into the backstretch to swoop to the lead before a :55.4 half, at which point 3-5 favorite Magic Punk pulled off of the pylons from fifth to lead an outside attack.
Magic Punk advanced up the rim through the last turn to match strides with Touchedbyanangel while tracked by Strobe Lite from second over and Neighver Punt from third over. Touchedbyanangel grasped to his diminishing lead past three-quarters in 1:24.2 and resisted Magic Punk’s charge until the final eighth of a mile. Strobe Lite built momentum off cover as did Neighver Punt down the center of the track once Magic Punk hit the front. Neighver Punt, as he did to win his elimination, laid sight on the leader and extended for the finish to reach the line a winner in 1:52 by 1-3/4 lengths. Magic Punk clung to second from Strobe Lite in third while Touchedbyanangel held onto fourth.
“We just had no early go there,” driver Dexter Dunn said after the race. “He was a little shy [of the starter]. We got away back, but we were following two favorites so I knew we would get a good drag into it. I had nurse him on the last turn quite a bit but he really exploded off a helmet up the straight. He was struggling a little bit with his gait [being shoeless], but they had the pulldown blind on him tonight. I pulled them down going around the last turn and got him up on the bit. In the homestraight, when I really asked him, he was gold.”
A colt by Bar Hopping out of the Donato Hanover mare Twice Is Right, Neighver Punt won his second race from four starts this season and his third race from 13 starts in his career, earning $230,654 for owner Courant Inc. Trainer Marcus Melander collected his first victory in the Goodtimes Stakes while Dexter Dunn earned his second, his first coming back in 2022 when steering Fast As The Wind to victory. Sent the second choice in the betting, Neighver Punt paid $7 to win.
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Milton, ON— Yannick Gingras flew into Woodbine Mohawk Park for a pair of drives in the two C$30,000 Goodtimes Eliminations – a Grade 2 event for trotting 3-year-olds – on Friday night (June 5) and found the winner’s circle with both, guiding 4-5 favorite Magic Punk and 4-1 third choice Neighver Punt to victories.
In the first elimination, Magic Punk floated off the wings from post seven and gradually advanced to take the lead from Greenarrow Hanover past a :28 first quarter. As Magic Punk cleared, second-choice Strobe Lite tipped off the pylons from fourth and marched uncovered up the rim to reach for the lead into a :56 half. Gingras obliged to sit the pocket moving for the final turn and readied to pounce with his charge. Magic Punk spurted out of the pocket past three-quarters in 1:24.3 and slid away from Strobe Lite in the stretch to register an easy 2-3/4-length win. Wolfpack Crown grabbed third from Greenarrow Hanover while Land The Plane earned the last berth into the final.
“Ake [Svanstedt] said he’d be a little aggressive in the post parade and races two-fingered,” Gingras said after the race. “He had a lot of trot; push-button in the race. I used him a couple of times the way the race shook out, but he was well in hand. It was easy to let James [MacDonald] go – his horse was one of the horses to beat – and I figured I’d get him getting to the top of the stretch. It was no worries.”
Magic Punk, a colt by Wishing Stone out of the Explosive Matter mare I D Entity NO, remained unbeaten from two starts this year with his other win coming in the Grade 3 Dexter Cup last month at The Meadowlands. Ake Svanstedt trains the six-time winner from 10 starts, with C$427,879 earned, for owner Magic Punk Inc. He paid $3.50 to win.
Gingras fished cover for a second-over tow and successfully downed even-money favorite Touchedbyanangel in the final strides of a 1:51.4 mile in the second Goodtimes elimination.
After 8-5 second choice Exactly broke stride behind the gate, Royal Captain fired from post 6 to take the lead from pylon-starter Classified ripping into a :26.3 first quarter. Touchedbyanangel planted into fourth ahead of Neighver Punt and strode along up the backstretch until Gingras began creeping off the pylons approaching a :55.4 half, at which point driver Doug McNair pulled off the cones to push for the lead into the far turn. Royal Captain clung to a diminishing advantage with Touchedbyanangel looming to three-quarters in 1:24 and gave way in the stretch while McNair’s charge hustled for the finish. Neighver Punt had clear sailing in the final eighth and persisted to reel in the loose leader with every stride late for a neck victory on the finish. Royal Captain held third with Classified finishing fourth and Dream For Peace closing for the last spot into the final.
“[I was told] he’s easy to drive, so I figured him out in the post parade,” Gingras said after the race. “I was confident in the middle of the last turn, but when we kicked for home Dougie [McNair] took off a little bit and I was like ‘alright, we’ll be second’ but he was still trotting. Down late he really dug in, so credit to the horse.”
Marcus Melander trains Neighver Punt, a colt by Bar Hopping out of the Donato Hanover mare Twice Is Right, for owner Courant Inc. The colt collected just the second win of his career from 12 starts, pushing his career earnings to C$110,654, and paid $10.60 to win.
The post positions for the Goodtimes Final were drawn following the eliminations. The elimination winners earned the right to draw first for posts 2 through 6. Below is the field for the Goodtimes Final, which will take place on the undercard of the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup next Saturday (June 13):
$240,000 Grade 2 Goodtimes Final
PP-Name-Driver-Trainer
1-Strobe Lite-James MacDonald-Ben Baillargeon
2-Wolfpack Crown-Louis Roy-Tyler Moore
3-Magic Punk-Yannick Gingras-Ake Svanstedt
4-Touchedbyanangel-Doug McNair-Duane Marfisi
5-Neighver Punt-Yannick Gingras-Marcus Melander
6-Dream For Peace-Mark MacDonald-Shawn Steacy
7-Land The Plane-Jody Jamieson-Carl Jamieson
8-Royal Captain-Tyler Jones-R. Dustin Jones
9-Classified-Louis Roy-Matt Bax
10-Greenarrow Hanover-Bob McClure-Shawn Steacy
AE-I Am-Trevor Henry-Herbert Holland -
Plainville, MA — After moving with speed and decisiveness past the quarter, Nebbiolo went on to score an impressive victory in the Grade 3 $100,000 Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge Park on Saturday afternoon (May 16).
Nebbiolo (driven by Sarah Svanstedt) settled in fourth off the gate while Who’s Eyes Blues (Nick Graffam) and Create Escape (Johnathan Ahle) engaged in a skirmish to the quarter in a speedy :26.3. After Create Escape finally established the lead, Svanstedt pulled Nebbiolo and bolted to the front.
Nebbiolo had a two-length lead at the half, but Who’s Eyes Blues moved first-over and pushed the issue to three-quarters and around the last turn. But that last turn also saw Who’s Eyes Blues make a break, leaving Nebbiolo with a three-length advantage entering the stretch. Svanstedt kept him focused down the lane and Nebbiolo trotted home unencumbered by three lengths to win in a lifetime best 1:54.2. Midwind Chimp (Mattias Melander) finished second and Water Slide (Matty Athearn) was third.
It was the first start and win of 2026 for the Hambletonian Stakes-eligible Nebbiolo, a son of Captain Corey-Via Lattea IT, who is owned by breeder Knutsson Trotting Inc. and trained by Ake Svanstedt. The colt paid $6.20 to win.
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Oak Grove, KY — Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel hosted the inaugural editions of the $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $300,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks on Preakness Saturday (May 16), which saw Spencer Hanover emerge supreme from a game stretch battle in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a powerhouse performance by Jailbird Jog to take the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks.
Driver Jason Bartlett masterfully steered Spencer Hanover to a track-record-equaling 1:51.3 to slide by 2-5 favorite Endurance (driven by Andy McCarthy) and win the Oak Grove Trotting Derby.
Leaving from the pylon post, Bartlett settled toward the middle of the pack and worked a seat right behind Endurance as Silverstein hustled out of post 9 to lead into a :26.2 first quarter. With longshot Geologic (Marvin Luna) parked and attempting to push forward from midpack on the rim, McCarthy was forced to angle Endurance off the pylons moving to the second turn and advance toward Silverstein on the march to a :54.4 half. Bartlett caught cover from Endurance heading for the backstretch and strode comfortably perched while the odds-on favorite gradually ground by tiring Silverstein to three-quarters in 1:22.4.
Jason Bartlett and Spencer Hanover won the $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby. Tony Centonze Photography.
Endurance remained on the muscle but fatigued turning for home as Bartlett tipped outside to lay his attack, and he surged by with fresh legs to snag victory by a half-length. Endurance fought to hold his ground but settled for second while Requiem (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rallied for third and Ai (Yannick Gingras) weaved from a pocket trip for fourth.
“In the first turn, it was a battle between me and Andrew (McCarthy), who wanted to follow who,” winning driver Bartlett said after the race. “Me, Marcus (Melander) and Mattias (Melander) last week said we hoped we could get the second-over trip behind Endurance next week. (Spencer Hanover) loves a target and he’s just a good horse.”
Marcus Melander trains Spencer Hanover, a 3-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-Secret Passion, for owners Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti. He won his fifth race from 15 starts in his career, earning $924,889, and paid $10.28 to win. His win in 1:51.3 tied the track record for 3-year-old trotting colts set in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby eliminations by Endurance.
Jailbird Jog (Anthony MacDonald) capitalized stylishly off quick early fractions the race before to blow out her competition with a 7-3/4-length romp in the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks.
MacDonald settled into seventh from post 2 behind a :26.2 skirmish to the first quarter, in which Victorianas Secret (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) came out on top of the shuffle to lead the field by the grandstand first time. Victorianas Secret carried her momentum to a :54.3 half, at which point MacDonald had Jailbird Jog rolling three wide around parked and tiring Little Road (Brady Brown) to loop into contention. She caught cover from Carve (Andy McCarthy), who pulled off the pylons from third, into the backstretch and bided her time following the helmet to three-quarters in 1:23. Once Carve cleared, Jailbird Jog zipped by and quickly widened to an open-length lead before coasting by the beam geared down for a 1:52.2 win, equaling her lifetime best. Victorianas Secret held second with maiden Chiquita Ba-beeman (Scott Zeron) grabbing third and Custom (Jason Bartlett) recovering from a break at the start for fourth.
“I looked right leaving the gate and everybody’s fired up and leaving, and coming to the half I know Toddy’s horse (Naked And Famous) was in a tight spot, and it’s racing (so) I’m not going to let him out,” winning driver MacDonald said after the race. “I put her in gear in the backstretch and she’s just a super nice filly; she’s very unassuming. When you look at her, you’d never think she’s that fast, but she’s crazy fast. The filly’s just been a real treat for us and all of our clients. I’m just really happy for them. Anybody could’ve driven her today, that’s for sure; I didn’t do anything special.”
Eric Patalan trains Jailbird Jog, a 3-year-old filly by Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S, for owners Thestable Jailbird Jog, P23 Bloodstock and Hutchison Harness LLC. She won her fifth race from 14 starts, earning $298,532, and paid $18.22 to win.
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Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track.
Chris Beaver pupil Endurance (driven by Andy McCarthy), who set the track record for 2-year-old trotting colts last year, added another Oak Grove track record to his resume with a fierce 1:51.3 effort in his seasonal debut, muscling first-up for the win in the third of three $50,000 eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Derby. McCarthy waited in third with the 1-2 favorite while Big Ranger (Ronnie Gillespie) hustled to lead in a :27.1 first quarter and continued through a :56 half, at which point Endurance angled off the pylons and built his momentum in the backstretch. Endurance hit his best stride after three-quarters in 1:23 and collared Big Ranger coming off the final turn before spurting away for a 1-1/2-length win over AI (Yannick Gingras), who popped off a pocket trip for second. Nix Nacken (Dexter Dunn) earned the last berth into the final in third and Big Ranger tired to fourth.
Endurance, with Andy McCarthy, set a track record with his victory in the third of three $50,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby eliminations. Tony Centonze Photography.
Lowering the previous track record set last year by Yannick G Kemp of 1:52.3, Endurance added a seventh win to his card from nine starts and has now earned $582,450 for owners Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Mark Moger. The colt by Captain Corey-Love Session paid $3.18 to win.
Andy’s younger brother Todd McCarthy uncorked a track-record effort in the first of three $30,000 eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks while landing a 14-1 stunner with Noel Daley trainee Naked And Famous in a 1:51.2 mile. McCarthy motored his charge out of post 7 to a snug lead in a steep :26.4 opener and carried her speed through a :55.3 half and a sprint to three-quarters in 1:22.3 to successfully string along her competition. Naked And Famous spun for home on a widening lead and hit the beam 7-1/2 lengths better than 2-1 favorite Jailbird Jog (Anthony MacDonald) closing for second. Carve (Andy McCarthy) gave pursuit from a pocket trip for third to earn the last spot into the final while Wishuponastar Deo (Jason Bartlett) finished fourth.
Naked And Famous, a daughter of Six Pack-Sleep Tight My Luv, won her fifth race from 13 starts and has now earned $196,950 for owner CTC Stable. She lowered the track record for 3-year-old trotting fillies of 1:51.4 set two years ago by Woman Of Passion and paid $31.90 to win.
Breeders Crown winner Spencer Hanover scored in the first of the Oak Grove Trotting Derby eliminations on the day, delivering as the 2-5 favorite in a 1:53.4 effort. After a pair of breaks early from Premier Bluebird (Kyle Wilfong) and Ceo Joe (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), Spencer Hanover floated towards the lead past a :28 first quarter to pocket early leader Geologic (Yannick Gingras) and strolled from there through middle fractions of :27.3 and 1:25.3. He coasted to the finish 2-3/4 lengths better than Geologic with Impossible Bi (Marcus Miller) checking in third another 14 lengths behind.
Marcus Melander trains Spencer Hanover, a colt by Chapter Seven-Secret Passion, for owners Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti. He paid $2.86 to win.
Trainer Matt Burkholder took the top two spots in the other Oak Grove Trotting Derby elimination with 2-5 favorite Silverstein (David Miller) scampering to a 1:52.3 win over stablemate Requiem (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Miller brushed Silverstein to the lead out of post 3 after a :27.1 opener and pocketed Requiem on the way to a :56.2 half. He held steady speed up the backstretch as Chapel (Stephane Guelpa) mildly pushed uncovered on the rim until stalling on the march to three-quarters in 1:24.2. As Chapel retreated, Miller accelerated for home with Silverstein and held a snug advantage while drifting in the stretch for a two-length victory over Requiem. Kingmen (Jason Bartlett) kicked from second-over for third to make the final and Lethal Legacy (Todd McCarthy) finished fourth.
Naked And Famous, with Todd McCarthy, set a track record with her victory in the first of three $30,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks eliminations. Tony Centonze Photography.Silverstein collected his fifth win from 13 starts, earning $395,340 for owner Dark Horse Farm LLC. He paid $2.88 to win.
A few races after Naked And Famous surprised on the lead, odds-on favorite Victorianas Secret (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) cruised to a 1:53.3 victory in the second of three Oak Grove Trotting Oaks eliminations. Wrenn secured the point with his charge out of post 7 and pocketed Degas (Anthony MacDonald) into a :27.3 first quarter. Victorianas Secret continued on a comfortable lead to a :57.1 half and through three-quarters in 1:25.1 as Degas swelled from the pocket and readied an attack for the stretch drive. Victorianas Secret responded to the challenge in the lane, staving off Degas in hand by 1-1/2 lengths while longshot Chiquita Ba-beeman (Atlee Bender) snagged the last berth into the final in third. Julie Palema (Tyler Miller) checked in fourth.
Vernon Beachy trains Victorianas Secret, a 3-year-old filly by Tactical Landing-Victoriana, for owner Ryan Smith. She won her third race from 10 starts, earning $100,600 in her career, and paid $2.62 to win.
Custom (Jason Bartlett) landed a knockout blow to 2-5 favorite Setyoursightshigh (Dexter Dunn) in the final Oak Grove Trotting Oaks elimination with an explosive late burst to win in 1:52.4. Bartlett sat mid-pack to a :27.1 first quarter cut by Setyoursightshigh and raced locked at the pylons by parked Burningforyourlove (Stephane Guelpa) as she soon flushed cover from Ginger Tree Lex (Andy McCarthy) in fourth. Bartlett continued mired in traffic to a :55.4 half and gradually inched off the pylons in a tight pocket while Setyoursightshigh strode handily to three-quarters in 1:24.1 under a slight challenge from first-up Country Glide (David Miller). Setyoursightshigh quickened for home as Country Glide faltered, giving room for pocket-sitter Little Road (Brady Brown) to take a late shot. But Bartlett found clearance out of the two path to the center of the track in the stretch and swiftly reached top gear to nail Setyoursightshigh at the line by a half length. Little Road held third to qualify for the final while Country Glide settled for fourth.
Per Engblom trains Custom, a filly by Walner-Goldy Mary FR, for owners Engblom Farm LLC and Thomas Lind-Holm. She won her fourth race from nine starts, earning $61,320 in her career, and paid $8.78 to win.
The top three finishers from each elimination will go through an open draw for their respective finals, the $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $300,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks. The pair of finals are the headline events at Oak Grove on Preakness Saturday (May 16), the culminating day of the $2.75 million Festival of Racing and a card that will be followed by a concert from country music star Jake Owen. Post time for the special Saturday card is 12:45 p.m. (CDT).
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The Hambletonian Society, which owns and administers America’s premier trotting race, the $1 million Hambletonian, is proud to announce the addition of Winning Key Farm, owned by Patty Key, as the race’s title sponsor.
Founded in 1926, the Hambletonian will celebrate its 100-year anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J.
Patty Key, who re-envisioned the dynastic operation started and run by her late husband, Bob, into a boutique breeding and racing operation, welcomed the opportunity to participate in the historic anniversary of the Hambletonian.
“Winning Key Farm is honored to sponsor the 101st edition of the Hambletonian. The prestige and excitement that this race brings to trotting fans is second to none,” said Key.
“With its international audience, the Hambletonian is the perfect opportunity to promote our farm and bring attention to the quality yearlings that we will be offering in this and future years,” she continued.
Patty and Bob Key’s Winning Key Farm has been one of the most prolific and successful Standardbred breeding and racing operations for the last four decades. Located in Worthington, Pa., Winning Key Farm housed more than 300 horses at one point.
The Keys, in partnership with the late John Glesmann, bred and raced 1993 Hambletonian champion American Winner. American Winner was a son of Super Bowl and the Speedy Somolli mare BJ’s Pleasure, who Key and Glesmann purchased as a yearling. A superior trotter, BJ’s Pleasure was successful on the track but shone as a broodmare. She was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2001 as the dam of 20 foals with more than $3.3 million in collective earnings. Both American Winner and Bob Key, who passed away in 2021, were inducted to Immortals of the Hall of Fame in 2025.
Patty Key has continued her late husband’s legacy while putting her distinctive stamp on the farm in recent years, reducing the broodmare band and acquiring top-shelf stallion shares and mares to rebrand the Winning Key name at both yearling sales and racetracks.
Over the last four years, Winning Key has remained in the top 20 breeders by earnings list amidst far larger and more established farm names. She was also part-owner of the 2022 Dan Patch champion freshman trotter Volume Eight, and retained her interest in him as a stallion at Hanover Shoe Farms. His exciting first crop of yearlings will hit the sales rings this fall.
It is Key’s belief that sponsoring the Hambletonian will give the farm an elevated and international platform to showcase its breeding program and further raise the profile of the Winning Key name.
“Your next trotting champion might be waiting right here at Winning Key Farm,” Key remarked. “We can be your ‘Key to Success!’”
The Winning Key Farm Hambletonian will headline a stakes-laden race card and be nationally televised on FOX Sports and CBS Sports Network. The farm will also be featured in the Winning Key Road to the Hambletonian and the 101st Hambletonian broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
“The Hambletonian Society is honored to welcome Winning Key Farm as the title sponsor for our 101st Hambletonian,” said Hambletonian Society president and chief executive officer John Campbell. “Winning Key has made it their mission to breed Standardbreds that compete at the upper echelons of our sport which fits perfectly with the Hambletonian Society’s mission of offering and promoting the highest quality stake races.
“We thank Patty Key for her vision and commitment to the Hambletonian and look forward to their participation in the greatest day in harness racing.”
First contested in 1926 at the Syracuse Fairgrounds in New York, the Hambletonian Stake was created by the Hambletonian Society to promote the Standardbred trotting breed. The race has been hosted by the Meadowlands since 1981, the longest-running venue for the sought-after event.
Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands is consistently the highest-handling event in harness racing, generating more than $115 million in single-day wagering since 2010.
