Venerate Tops Ken Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week 1

Week One – May 26

The 2021 Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 7

Team Orange Crush tops Ken Warkentin’s first 2021 Road to the Hambletonian with Mohawk Million winner Venerate.  Ake Svanstedt has a strong team of contenders, four of which make the week one list. 

1 | Venerate

Dan Patch Award winner of $772,914, won the Mohawk Million from post ten, took a mark of 1:51.4 in the KYSS Final, Team Orange Crush on board in three of last five Hambos, entered to qualify @ The Big M on May 29

2 | In Range

Second in the PASS Final & Breeders Crown, Melander was second, third & fifth last year, and had three finalists in 2019, took a mark of 1:52.3 in his 3YO debut in PASS with the Market Share Man in the bike, not in to go this week

3 | On A Streak

An O’Brien Award winner of $740,947 for the 2019 Hambo upsetters, Breeders Crown upsetter at 9-1 in 1:52.4 & 15-1 in the William Wellwood Memorial, third (1:55.2) in his 2021 debut @ Phl, not racing this week

4 | Lindymusclemania

One of four Svanstedt trainees in the Top Ten, graduate of the Kindergarten Series won his lone qualifier @ The Big M in 1:53.2, then unleashed an impressive 1:51.4 NJSS division with a :26.4, post two in NJSS Final on May 28

5 | Mon Amour

Another from 2017 Hambo winner Team Svanstedt, second (1:53.2) in his NJSS 3YO debut, then cruised to a new mark of 1:52 reunited with Yannick Gingras, has the rail in the NJSS Final on May 28

6 | Cuatro De Julio

Won nine of 14 starts at two, including divisions of KYSS in 1:51.4 & ISS 1:51.3, dominated his 3YO debut in a 1:53.1 NJSS division, then finished second (1:52.3) with a late misstep, drew post seven in the NJSS Final on May 28

7 | Captain Corey

This Svanstedt trainee won his first five career starts, including the PASS Final in 1:53.3, also won a Reynolds division @ The Big M in 1:54.4, won his first 3YO qualifier in 1:54.1, not in to go this week

8 | Southwind tyrion

Part of the Svanstedt battalion, won five of seven, 1:51.1 winner in ISS, also won the NJSS Final & Garden State Stake, second in the Wm. Wellwood Mem., back in full training & qualifying on June 12

9 | Anoka Hanover

Fillies have won two of the last three Hambos, Dan Patch Award winner made it eight in a row with an easy sophomore debut in a track record equaling 1:52.3 PASS division @ Phl on May 21

10 | Bee Forever

You have a lot to live up to with a Horse of the Year on both sides of your pedigree.  This son of Muscle Hill out of Bee A Magician saved his best for last with a 1:54 upset in the Valley Victory for Victor Kirby and trainer Nifty Norman.  The very consistent Jack Fire gives Nifty a solid one-two punch. 

KEY PREP RACES

Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps

Date	Stakes	Site	Winner	Driver	Trainer	2nd Horse	3rd Horse	Time
May 1	Dexter Cup	Fhld	Incommunicado	Yannick Gingras	Ake Svanstedt	Sunny Crockett	Fifty Ways	1:56.3
May 14	NJSS	M	CUATRO DE JULIO	Lucas Wallin	Marie Ortolan Bar	MON AMOUR	LOCATELLI	1:53.1
May 14	NJSS	M	LINDYSMUSCLEMANIA	Dexter Dunn	Ake Svanstedt	REALLY FAST	BEE FOREVER	1:51.4
May 14	NJSS	M	Narzario	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	KILDARE KING	CRICKET FASHION	1:53
May 15	PASS	Mea	Whiskey Blue	Dan Charlino	Ron Burke	Capstone	Mister Boinga	1:53.4
May 15	PASS	Mea	IN RANGE	Tim Tetrick	Marcus Melander	Jujubee	Lepanto	1:52.3
May 15	PASS	Mea	JOHAN PALEMA	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	ARNOLD N DICKY	TAKE ALL COMERS	1:53.2
May 21	NJSS	M	LOCATELLI	Yannick Gingras	Nancy Takter	SONOFAMISTERY	CRICKET FASHION	1:52.4
May 21	NJSS	M	MON AMOUR	Yannick Gingras	Ake Svanstedt	CUATRO DE JULIO	KILDARE KING	1:52
May 28	NJSS Final	M
June 4	NYSS	V
June 18	EBC	TD
June 23	PASS	Phl
July 10	Reynolds	M
July 13	NYSS	YR
July 17	Dancer	M
July 17	Dancer	M
July 23	PASS	Mea
July 24	Tompkins-Geers	M
July 31	Hambo Eliminations	M