Ken Warkentin's ROAD TO THE HAMBLETONIAN - Week 8
East Rutherford, NJ – After an impressive performance in his Stanley Dancer division, Ready for Moni takes the top spot in Ken Warkentin’s Road to the 95th Hambletonian Week 8. Back Of the Neck jumps into the second spot after his strong 1:52 performance in his Dancer division.
1 - Ready For Moni
(Ready Cash) Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter, John Fielding, Lindy Farms of Conn, Herb Liverman, Bud Hatfield
Colts by two-time Prix D’Amerique winner Ready Cash ranked 1-2 this week, KYSS champion now with Team Takter rallied to win his 3YO debut in Dancer division in 1:51.4, “I couldn’t have scripted it any better,” Gingras said. “It’s his first start of the year and I wanted to somewhat take it easy on him. It couldn’t have worked out any better. He’s great. I think he’s ready for it. He’s going to get next week off, I’m pretty sure, and he’s ready for the (Hambletonian).”
2 - Back Of The Neck
(Ready Cash) Scott Zeron, Ake Svanstedt, Howard Taylor, Order By Stable, Judith Taylor
Won a Reynolds division @ Big M on July 11 in 1:52 with a thunderous :26.4 rally, romped in a Dancer division in 1:52, “He was really handy today, really relaxed, which is good,” Zeron said. “He’s progressively getting smarter and smarter on the track. Every start is just leading up to the Hambletonian in my eyes, so today it was like leave, let him sit, see how he feels in the hole. I was able to sit in longer than I thought I could because of the pace. Down the lane, he just finished strong. He was very well within himself.”
3 -
Ramona Hill
(Muscle Hill) Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna, Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert Leblanc, In The Gym Partners
Filly Dan Patch Award & Breeders Crown winner finished third [1:51] from post nine in her 3YO debut, unleashed a 1:50.3 career best from post ten in the Del Miller
4 - Sorella
(Muscle Hill) Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter, Elmer Fannin, Crawford Farms Racing
Filly started 2020 three-for-three with Team Takter, fresh off a 1:50.2 win in the Reynolds @ Big M on July 11, challenged first over & faded to fourth [1:51.1] in the Del Miller
5 - Hypnotic AM
(Chapter Seven) Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc.
Filly was an ultra impressive 1:51.1 [:27.3] winner in her 3YO debut, cruised in a NYSS @ Tioga Downs in 1:54.2, romped in the EBC @ Vernon Downs on July 4 in 1:53.4, third [1:51.1] with a very tough trip from post eight in the Del Miller
6 - Third Shift
(Chapter Seven) Ake Svanstedt, Mellby Gard, Inc., Ake Svanstedt
Won a NYSS division @ Vernon Downs on June 24 in 1:54.2, took an EBC division @ Vernon Downs on July 4 in 1:52.4, aggressive runner up [1:52.2] from post seven in a Dancer division
7 - Panem
(Father Patrick) Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter, Diamond Creek Racing
Filly won her 3YO debut in 1:53.4 @ Big M on June 26, second [1:51] with a :26.3 from post eight in Reynolds on July 11, second [1:50.4] with a :27.4 in Del Miller
8 - Beads
(Archangel) Jimmy Takter, Per Engblom, Renee Spahr
Son of world champion Archangel broke in his first two starts this season, then Jimmy Takter took the lines for a 1:52.2 qualifier win, parked first over & just missed in his 3YO debut in 1:51.2, has the rail in a Dancer division on July 18
9 -
Big Oil
(Father Patrick) Andy & Julie Miller, Jason, Doug & Ron Allen
Wire-to-wire in 1:55 in his 3YO debut @ Harrah’s Philadelphia on June 28, won a PA Allstars division @ Pocono Downs in 1:53.2 on July 11, third [1:52.3] in a Dancer division
10 - Amigo Volo
(Father Patrick) Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman, Pinske Stables, David J. Miller
Breeders Crown champion romped in a PA Allstars division @ Pocono Downs in 1:54 on July 11, took the lead past a :54.4 half & faded to fourth [1:52.3] in a Dancer division, post five in a PASS division @ Pocono Downs on July 26
All major stakes replays leading up to #hambo20
KEY PREP RACES Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps Date Stakes Site Winner Driver Trainer 2nd Horse 3rd Horse Time
June 19 NJSS M JULA TRIX TREASURE Ake Svanstedt Ake Svanstedt Play Trix On Me Barley 1:54
June 21 NYSS TD HYPNOTIC AM Brian Sears Marcus Melander REBA BLUE CHIP Munster 1:54.2
June 24 NYSS V THIRD SHIFT Ake Svanstedt Ake Svanstedt Take The Credit Ballcapsnbluejeans 1:54.2
June 24 NYSS V BERKERY J Scott Zeron George Ducharme Chaptiana Barn Holden 1:54.2
June 26 NJSS M Play Trix On Me Scott Zeron Linda Toscano Barley JULA TRIX TREASURE 1:53.2
June 27 $25,000 M SORELLA Yannick Gingras Nancy Takter BACK OF THE NECK SYNERGY 1:51.2
July 3 NJSS Final M Play Trix On Me Scott Zeron Linda Toscano JULA TRIX TREASURE AP Hall Of Trix 1:53.3
July 4 E. Breeders Classic V HYPNOTIC AM Brian Sears Marcus Melander LOVE A GOOD STORY NO MAS DRAMA 1:53.4
July 4 E. Breeders Classic V THIRD SHIFT Ake Svanstedt Ake Svanstedt Ballcapsnbluejeans Sir Cromwell 1:52.4
July 4 E. Breeders Classic V HOBBS Jason Bartlett Jim Campbell Take The Credit Barn Holden 1:53.3
July 11 Reynolds M JULA TRIX TREASURE Yannick Gingras Ake Svanstedt BEADS EL Ideal 1:51.2
July 11 Reynolds M SORELLA Yannick Gingras Nancy Takter PANEM RAMONA HILL 1:50.2
July 11 Reynolds M BACK OF THE NECK Scott Zeron Ake Svanstedt Play Trix On Me MAESTERAEMON 1:52
July 11 PA Allstars PD AMIGO VOLO George Napolitano, Jr. Nifty Norman SWISS HOUSE ON FIRE Hell Patrol 1:54
July 11 PA Allstars PD BIG OIL Andrew McCarthy Julie Miller CHESTNUT HILL STEEL SCHOONER 1:53.2
July 18 Stanley Dancer M BACK OF THE NECK Scott Zeron Ake Svanstedt THIRD SHIFT BIG OIL 1:52
July 18 Stanley Dancer M READY FOR MONI Yannick Gingras Nancy Takter HOLLYWOOD STORY BEADS 1:51.4
July 18 Del Miller M RAMONA HILL Andrew McCarthy Tony Alagna PANEM HYPNOTIC AM 1:50.3
July 25 Tompkins Geers M ROME PAYS OFF Mattias Melander Marcus Melander Play Trix On Me JULA TRIX TREASURE 1:52.3
July 25 Tompkins Geers M SISTER SLEDGE Yannick Gingras Ron Burke MS SAVANNAH BELLE Dubai Princess 1:51.2
Aug. 1 Hambo Elim M
Aug. 1 Hambo Elim M
