Two New Names Enter Ken Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week 3
The 2023 Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 5
Meadowlands Racetrack - East Rutherford, NJ
Gaines Hanover and Crown enter Ken Warkentin’s week three Road to the Hambletonian in spots eight and nine respectively. Volume Eight remains in the top spot for trainer Noel Daley.
#1 Volume Eight
Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Sjoblom Racing, Joe Sbrocco, LA Express & JAF Racing, Mario Mazza
Dan Patch Award winner, fastest 2YO male trotter of 2022 [1:52], five-race winning streak, including the Valley Victory & Kindergarten Classic Final, second [1:56.2) in June 14 qualifier @ Magical Acres, qualifies on June 23 @ Big M, first start scheduled for July 1
#2 Special Way
Ake Svanstedt, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld
Dan Patch Award winner, richest 2YO female trotter of 2022 with $697,475, made it three-for-three this season & 10 in a row with a career best 1:51.4 in the NJSS Final, not in to go
#3 Air Power
Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Melander, Amg Stable Inc., Rick Wahlstedt, Kenneth Kjellgren, Heights Stable
Made only three starts at two, won his 3YO debut in 1:52.1, came right back to upset Ari Ferrari J in a 1:51 NJSS division, then captured the NJSS Final in a career best 1:50.4, not in to go
#4 Oh Well
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, S R F Stable
Won 2022 NJSS Final in 1:53.1, Mohawk Million & NJ Classic A Final, second (1:52.2) in 3YO debut, just missed in 1:52, then finished second again in the NJSS Final, not in to go
#5 Bond
Ake Svanstedt, Little E, L. Berg Inc.
Filly finished 2022 with six straight wins, including PASS Championship, Kindergarten Classic & Goldsmith Maid, wire-to-wire from post eight in PA Allstars division @ Pocono on June 4 in a career best 1:52.3, post four Race 10 PASS @ Pocono on June 18
#6 Up Your Deo
Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms, Van Camp Trotting Corp.
Broke his maiden in his 3YO debut from post 11 in 1:52 in the slop, upsetting Oh Well, finished third going first over in the NJSS Final, one of three for Team Svanstedt in Top 10, not in to go
#7 Tactical Approach
Scott Zeron, Nancy Takter, Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing
Won two qualifiers & first two starts as a 3YO, including a 1:52.1 NJSS division, third with a :25.4 in the slop on May 20, deadheat for fourth in the NJSS Final, not in to go
#8 Gaines Hanover
Louis Roy, Richard Moreau, Gestion J Y Blais, Inc.
O’Brien Award & Breeders Crown winner, held on to take a Goodtimes elimination in 1:52.1 second time Lasix, Louis Roy said, “I was pretty confident in my horse, he does whatever you want from anywhere”, drew post two in Goodtimes Final
#9 Crown
Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, S R F Stable
NYSS star & Matron Stakes runner up at two, second by a nose & placed first in a 1:52.4 NYSS division @ Tioga Downs on June 9, not in to go
#10 Kilmister
Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant, Inc.
2022 Peter Haughton Memorial winner, third placed second (1:53.2) to Kierkegaard K in NYSS season debut, pace compromised third (1:53.3) in a NYSS division @ Tioga Downs, post one in Empire Breeders Classic 1st division on June 16 @ Vernon Downs
road to the hambletonian playlist
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Driver | Trainer | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Dexter Cup | Fhld | Khaosan Road | Scott Zeron | Ake Svanstedt | ESPRESSO | Candy Bomber | 1:57.4 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | WALNER PAYTON | Dexter Dunn | Chris Ryder | BLONDE BOMBSHELL | SECRET VOLO | 1:51.4 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | AIR POWER | Tim Tetrick | Marcus Melander | Ari Ferrari J | Dire Straits | 1:51 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | MAMBACITA | CHECK HER OUT | 1:53.1 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | TACTICAL APPROACH | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | OH WELL | CELEBRITY BAMBINO | 1:52.1 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | SECRET VOLO | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | MAMBACITA | Tactical Mounds | 1:53.2 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | WALNER PAYTON | BLONDE BOMBSHELL | 1:53.4 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | UP YOUR DEO | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | OH WELL | TACTICAL APPROACH | 1:52 |
| May 29 | NYSS 1st Leg | V | Cecil Hanover | Mark MacDonald | Ake Svanstedt | THE GRUFFALO | CROWN | 1:52.3 |
| May 29 | NYSS 1st Leg | V | KIERKEGAARD K | Mark MacDonald | Ake Svanstedt | KILMISTER | TILLIO’S ACTION | 1:53 |
| June 2 | NJSS Final | M | AIR POWER | Andrew McCarthy | Marcus Melander | OH WELL | UP YOUR DEO | 1:50.4 |
| June 2 | NJSS Final | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | SECRET VOLO | WALNER PAYTON | 1:51.4 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | FATHER STOSH | Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. | Jill Roland | CHAMBA | Commander Frank | 1:53.4 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Spitfire Overseas | Scott Zeron | Megan Scran | HERODOTUS | Khaosan Road | 1:53.2 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Saint Louie | Dave Palone | Ake Svanstedt | ONCE IN A LIFETIME | Sintra De Vie | 1:54 |
| June 9 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | CROWN | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | Chapercraz | You Got It | 1:52.4 |
| June 9 | Goodtimes Elims | Moh | GAINES HANOVER | Louis Phillip Roy | Richard Moreau | SOUTHWND COORS | TUSCAN PRINCE | 1:52.1 |
| June 9 | Goodtimes Elims | Moh | Warrawee Yang | Scott Young | Mark Etsell | Hasty Bid | What An Angel | 1:53.3 |
| June 11 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | ONCE IN A LIFETIME | Tim Tetrick | Jim Campbell | FRENCH WINE | Saint Louie | 1:53.1 |
| June 11 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | Khaosan Road | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Kenobi | Spitfire Overseas | 1:52.3 |
| June 17 | Goodtimes Final | Moh | ||||||
| June 17 | Currier & Ives | Mea | ||||||
| June 17 | Currier & Ives | Mea | ||||||
| June 16 | EBC | V | ||||||
| June 16 | EBC | V | ||||||
| June 18 | Goodtimes Final | Moh | ||||||
| June 23 | Yonkers Trot Elims | Y | ||||||
| June 23 | Yonkers Trot Elims | Y | ||||||
| June 30 | Yonkers Trot | Y | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl |
