Sitting Outside the Hambletonian Spotlight

DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 Sitting outside the Hambletonian spotlight

Marcus Melander was the focus of the 2019 Hambletonian as the trainer NEW PLAYERS of the top three favorites. Now he’s back with a less heralded bunch

DOUBLE YOUR By Derick Giwner HAMBLETONIAN – 1st ELIMINATION FIRST DEPOSIT One year removed from sending out four 1. Back Of The Neck (Scott Zeron), 2-1 horses in the Hambletonian eliminations, 2. Third Shift (Ake Svanstedt), 8-1 UP TO $250 including the three favorites - Greenshoe, 3. Amigo Volo (Dexter Dunn), 7-2 Gimpanzee and Green Manalishi S - trainer 4. Big Oil (Andy Miller), 10-1 JOIN NOW Marcus Melander is back with a more under- 5. Maesteraemon (Brian Sears), 12-1 the-radar quartet that could very well make 6. Hollywood Story (Tim Tetrick), 10-1 up for the let-down on the first Saturday in 7. Ramona Hill (Andy McCarthy), 5-1 August of 2019. 8. Beads (Jimmy Takter), 9-2 Inside this issue Two $50,000 Hambletonian eliminations are set for Saturday (8/1) at The Meadowlands, with Burke trio takes aim at $375,000 Adios the top five in each advancing to the $1,000,000 HAMBLETONIAN – 2nd ELIMINATION final on August 8. For the first time since 2012, final at The Meadows, Page 4 the eliminations are being contested the week 1. Capricornus (Tim Tetrick), 15-1 2. Sister Sledge (Brian Sears), 3-1 Jay Bergman: Rivalries, past, present prior to the final rather than asking horses to race multiple heats on the same day. 3. Jula Trix Treasure (Ake Svanstedt), 6-1 and future, Page 5 Melander’s barn will send out two horses 4. Rome Pays Off (Mattias Melander), 9-2 Derick Giwner: Much uncertainty in in each elimination, in what is widely consid- 5. Threefiftytwo (Scott Zeron), 8-1 New York, Page 6 ered the most up-for-grabs Hambletonian in 6. Chestnut Hill (David Miller), 6-1 years. In the sixth race first elimination, the 7. Sky Castles (Corey Callahan), 20-1 28-year-old trainer has Maesteraemon and The Meadows $23K Super Hi-5 8. Ready For Moni (Yannick Gingras), 5-2 Mandatory Payout analysis, Page 6 Hollywood Story starting from posts five and six, respectively, in the eight-horse field. 9. Moon Bridge (Andy Miller), 20-1 Darin Zoccali: Evaluating the While less accomplished in 2020, Maester- Hambletonian Eliminations, Page 8 aemon is perhaps the most interesting horse Amigo Volo, Big Oil and the filly Ramona Hill, being sent to the post by Melander. After a all whom he faces on Saturday. On The Backstretch: Profile of trainer strong pair of qualifiers, the son of Ando- Courant Inc. owns the second charge from Per Engblom, Page 9 ver Hall has yet to be put into play by driver the Melander stable in the opening leg. Holly- Brian Sears in three pari-mutuel races while wood Story was perfect in four starts prior Analysis for $52K Pick 5 and $13K Pick coming home with good trot in each. Most to starting stakes action a few weeks back. 6 carryovers at Meadowlands, Page 11 recently, starting from the difficult post 10, Despite being unable to win, he raced well, the colt was stuck at the back of the pack at the finishing fourth in the Reynolds (7/11) and Comments? Questions? head of the lane and was loaded with late trot second behind the highly-touted Ready For Email the Editor [email protected] while catching some traffic in deep stretch. Moni in the Stanley Dancer on July 18. “He’s a good horse. He showed that in the “Hollywood Story raced well in the Dancer qualifiers earlier this year,” said Melander. but he is still a little green and needs a good “Brian (Sears) has been building him up for trip to surprise,” said Melander. To ensure proper delivery the Hambletonian. It will be very interesting The battle for favoritism in the opening of the newsletter via to see how he does this weekend.” elimination figures to come down to Back Of email, add [email protected]. Owned by S R F Stable, Maesteraemon was The Neck and Amigo Volo. The former has com to your contact list able to win in 1:52 4/5 as a 2-year-old, very much on par with his contemporaries like CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Congratulations to Ohio Sires Stakes winner Charlie May!

Charlie May set a national season’s mark of 1:53 in his $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes division for 2-year-old pacing colts on July 25 at Northfield Park.

Charlie May is a son of McArdle Trained by Steve Carter Driven by Danny Noble Owned by Donald R. Tiger of Canonsburg, PA

For information Kimberly Rinker 614-779-0269 [email protected] schedule & conditions at www.racingohio.net

THE GREATEST DAY IN HARNESS RACING $1.2 Million Hambletonian & $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks

Saturday, August 8, 2020 Elimination heats will race on Saturday, August 1

Streaming live on the Hambletonian Facebook page

Delayed Broadcast 6:00-7:00 p.m. EDT

For Hambletonian and Breeders Crown merchandise visit our store at www.hambletonianshop.com For more information visit playmeadowlands.com or www.hambletonian.com Michael Lisa/Lisa Photo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I was really happy $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks with the draw,” said won two straight races impressively at The Meadowlands, albeit in Melander of the JJ Racing Ab’sattitudeexpress just 1:52, a time that should be far eclipsed in both eliminations and Stable-owned colt. “Now Crucial the final. Amigo Volo finished three lengths behind Back Of The Neck Timmy (Tetrick, driver) in the Dancer but displayed the raw speed and talent that won him doesn’t have to push him Fortune Starlet the Breeders Crown last year when blowing out a 1:52 winning mile at out of the gate too much. Hypnotic Am The Downs at Pocono in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on July 26. He really responded good May Baby Clearly the deeper elimination of the two, the sixth race also includes to some of the changes Empire Breeders Classic winner and Dancer runner-up Third Shift we made on Saturday in Next Level Stuff and a talented son of Archangel that seems to be coming into his own the Dancer. He can be a Panem in Beads, who was a huge second in the Reynolds in 1:51 2/5 and a some- big outsider that no one eba lue hip what blocked third in the Dancer most recently. A recent equipment thinks about.” R B C addition of a hood seems to have helped the somewhat timid colt. Melander admits that Solsbury Hill “I think he was a little scared of Rome Pays Off was his top Sorella seeing things, not necessarily dirt in 3-year-old when the year his face, but drivers in front of him. started, but something Tricky Sister He got hesitant going into situations went amiss. “He trained Whose Blues and I think that it has helped him down best of all of my *Post positions to be drawn 8/1 quite a bit,” said trainer Per Engblom. 3-year-olds and I was very **Race to be held 8/8 In the second elimination (race 8), excited to start with him, driver Yannick Gingras likely ended but when we started to any discussion on where favoritism qualify he just had no power. We took some blood and it showed some will fall when he chose the Nancy trouble with his liver, so we started to treat him for that. It took a while Takter-trained Ready For Moni (5/2, before we got it to normal,” said Melander. post eight) over the Ron Burke-condi- With the issues in the rearview mirror, Rome Pays Off has posted back- tioned filly Sister Sledge (3/1, post to-back victories to start his 2020 campaign, including a strong 1:52 3/5 two). The former has just one start in first-over win in the Tompkins Geers last weekend. Mattias Melander 2020, but it was a professional 1:51 4/5 will drive the S R F Stable-owned son of Muscle Hill in the elimination. win in the Dancer with an explosive The Hambletonian eliminations are part of a power-packed 13-race Ken Weingartner/USTA Trainer Marcus Melander. 27 1/5 final quarter. Sister Sledge is card at The Meadowlands on Saturday which features Meadowlands three-for-four this year and has never pace winner Tall Dark Stranger, a match-up between 2019 Hambleto- finished off the board in 16 career nian winner Forbidden Trade and Hambletonian Oaks winner When starts. She also owns the co-fastest winning mile in the field, 1:51 2/5, Dovescry, and 2019 Dan Patch winner Bettor’s Wish. Also on the tied with Jula Trix Treasure. program is a mini-preview of the $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks, which For Melander, his hopes lie with Capricornus (post one) and Rome drew 12 horses and did not require eliminations. Eight of the dozen Pays Off (post four). Although Rome Pays Off looks better on paper, fillies compete in the third race. Melander sees Capricornus, who is still seeking his first win in four Post time at The Meadowlands is 7:15 PM, with the first Hambleton- starts this year, as a sleeper. ian elimination likely to go off shortly after the nine o’clock hour.

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DRF Harness Weekend | 3 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Burke trio takes aim at Saturday’s $375,000 Adios Final

By Jay Bergman lengths of the winner during a vicious 1:20 3/5 three quarters clocking. Sweet Truth battled bravely for the place spot only to be disqualified for Trainer Ron Burke has three horses in Saturday’s $375,000 Del Miller cutting inside the pylons during the first quarter of the contest. Individu- Adios at The Meadows, yet the sport’s leading trainer is far from over- ally timed in 1:49 1/5, Sweet Truth could be a sleeper ready to awaken. confident. The Adios goes as race 15 on The Meadows’ stakes-filled Saturday “There’s Nancy’s (Takter, Tall Dark Stranger, not entered) colt on one afternoon program and trainer Tony Alagna has three of his own in the level and then a lot in the second wave,” Burke said. “On any week any of field that could make waves. Capt Midnight (post 2), Chief Mate (post these can step up and win.” 7) and Captain Barbossa (post 8) have all flashed speed at one point or With the absence of Papi Rob Hanover in Saturday’s lineup, Burke another this year. Capt Midnight likely has the best chance of the three likely has as good a chance as any to take down the top prize, with The given the draw as well as a solid second in his elimination heat. Greek Freak (post 4) likely to be taking the most betting action. “Every- Catch The Fire won for the first time as a sophomore in last week’s thing that could go wrong for this horse last year, did,” said Burke, Adios elimination, gamely holding off Capt Midnight in a 1:49 3/5 reflecting on a freshman campaign that saw the Captaintreacherous- personal-best clocking. Mike Wilder drives him from post three for sired horse go winless in nine tries. “We gelded him towards the end of trainer John Ackley. last year and it’s definitely made a difference.” On paper that difference Trainer Nancy Takter’s No Lou Zing has to be the most improved plays out to a horse with four wins in five tries as a sophomore, including 3-year-old in North America and his performance in last week’s Adios last week’s career-best 1:49 4/5 clocking in one of three Adios elimina- elimination was nothing short of sensational. An altered son of Sweet tions. “I think he’s a horse that is just learning how to do it. I believe he’ll Lou, No Lou Zing was wide and parked before settling back through a 25 be a better 4-year-old,” Burke said, looking forward. 3/5 first quarter. Driver Josert Fonseca had him on the move before the The undefeated 2-year-old Elver Hanover hasn’t found his footing yet half in an attempt to reach Papi Rob Hanover and No Lou Zing just kept this year for Burke, but the trainer is hopeful he has him going in the digging the entire way. Now able to show speed and make a second move, right direction. “He really wasn’t any good two starts back. Last week he No Lou Zing (post 5) is a serious Adios contender. put in a better mile so I think we have him going in the right direction,” Burke is more than excited about Lou’s Pearlman, a homebred that Burke said. “But from post nine it’s going to be difficult.” looks for his fourth straight career win in the first of three $19,896 Gov. Perhaps a sleeper of sorts would be Sweet Truth, a horse that doesn’t David Lawrence divisions for 2-year-old male pacers on Saturday’s appear to match up with his other two but has quickly emerged on program. “He’s a homebred and he’s exactly what we expected him to Burke’s radar. “There was a point last year where we were ready to give be,” said Burke of the product of two horses he raced in Sweet Lou and up on him,” said Burke, “He could only go around 1:54-1:55, that was it.” the dam, Lucys Pearl. Lou’s Pearlman drew post two with Matt Kakaley The gelded son of Sweet Lou began to turn the corner some late last year, driving. The colt has captured two Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions, giving the stable some hope. including one at The Meadows on July 22 in a career best 1:51 4/5 clock- Last week Sweet Truth crossed the wire second in Papi Rob Hanover’s ing. world-record setting 1:47 1/5 mile, a feat that would have been hard to In addition to the stakes action, handicappers get a huge treat in the contemplate anywhere from his 11 lifetime past performance lines. form of a $23,311 Hi-5 carryover with a mandatory payout in the Adios. Driver Yannick Gingras actually kept him forwardly placed within three Post time is set at 11:25 AM for the 16-race extravaganza. Watch the 54th running of The Adios Stake from The Meadows this Saturday, August 1 at www.meadowsgaming.com/racing First post at 11:25 AM $50,000 Jackpot Hi-5 total pool guarantee with a mandatory payout on the 15th race – The Adios Stake with a 20 cent minimum wager. Carryover going into the Jackpot Hi-5 is $23,311.35

DRF Harness Weekend | 4 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness jaywalking By Jay Bergman BergmanJay

Rivalries: Past, Present and Future

There is simply nothing like a rivalry when it comes to bringing out the best in a sporting event. Whether it is college or professional sports, the passion brings out the best in followers as well as the athletes. Worldwide soccer may have the most passionate fans for its professional leagues. Rivalries often earn special significance, with titles such as “El Classico” to describe the Spanish competitors Barcelona and Real Madrid. The key to sports rivalries is the frequency or lack thereof that teams play each other, building one or two-time meetings as the epic Chris Gooden Photos in confrontation. Party Girl Hill (above) and Lyons Sentinel (below) could be a Harness racing doesn’t have the luxury of a schedule that pits teams or rivalry for the future. even the same horses against each other year-upon-year and thus needs to appreciate times when star power crosses and rivals turn in spectacu- lar performances, adding to the passion and drama of the sport. Over the last 10 days, the sport saw what was expected to be the first of many encounters between leading sophomores Tall Dark Stranger and Papi Rob Hanover in the Meadowlands Pace. The two had battled feverishly, though sparingly, as juveniles, with the Breeders Crown result setting up a natural rivalry that figured to blossom when the two were physically stronger this year. The Meadowlands Pace was an epic battle between two actually “great” horses that were not just hyped. Tall Dark Stranger had the advantage of post position and pres- ence on the front end over a generally speed-favoring track. Papi Rob Hanover had an outside post that turned into a brutal uncovered journey. That the outsider appeared to get the measure of favored Tall Dark Stranger at head-stretch seemed impossible before the race but looked very real when it happened. Tall Dark Stranger refused to give an inch and fought back to earn the victory. For winning driver Yannick Gingras, who claimed foul against Papi Rob Hanover in last year’s Breeders Crown and had his horse raised to victory, it was redemption of sorts. Proof in his words that Tall Dark Stranger was in the process the John Cashman, is more likely to face the boys. Manchego has only of coming back when the rival’s sulky wheels hit each other in the late one option and that’s the Steele. stretch of the Crown. Still, we’re hoping what The Meadows took away from the sport in The proof that did come out of the Meadowlands Pace is something the loss of Papi Rob Hanover a week ago, it may return this Saturday both horses will forever gain from. Years come and years go, but not with hopes of a new rivalry. While The Adios final may be the richest often does this sport generate scenarios where two great horses stand- race on the stakes-filled card, it won’t create a rivalry like one that may out from the crowd but not from each other. come out of the $107,320 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for sophomore Last Saturday, Papi Rob Hanover made his first sophomore start from pacers. That race will be the first to test last year’s champion juvenile a decent post position and in the process showed the racing world some- pacing filly Lyons Sentinel against this year’s budding star Party Girl thing it had not seen before from him. The Somebeachsomewhere-sired Hill in what shapes up clearly as a two-filly race, with other division colt blew out a 1:47 1/5 world-record setting mile in an elimination for leaders ineligible. The Adios at The Meadows, and in the process, suffered in injury that The two fillies were both at The Meadows last Saturday afternoon may turn out to be career-ending. There was no Tall Dark Stranger in and each was impressive in their own right. Party Girl Hill made it the room or on the track, and by himself, Papi Rob Hanover stood out a perfect four-for-four with a 1:49 1/5 career best clocking for driver and actually extended his lead to more than 10 lengths from the other Dexter Dunn. sophomore pacers. Trainer Chris Ryder has had his share of champion pacing fillies and In a short period of time both Tall Dark Stranger and Papi Rob mares, with Put On A Show and I Luv The Nitelife coming to mind. “I Hanover served notice that they were elite athletes with incredible think she’s got a chance to be comparable,” Ryder said of Party Girl speed and uncommon determination. The perfect set-up was in place Hill. “She was a little racy at first and Dexter (Dunn) did a great job of for a series of sophomore match-ups with nose-to-nose action mostly getting her to relax.” In last week’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory assured, regardless of track size or purse value. she showed a burst of speed to gain the front and then was able to relax Still, all is not lost, at least in 2020, as we found last Sunday when on the lead before sprinting away from a very talented filly in JK First Manchego turned back her bitter rival Atlanta in the Spirit of Massa- Lady. chusetts at Plainridge. It was the third meeting for the two brilliant Lyons Sentinel’s Mistletoe Shalee performance almost mirrored that mares this year and the race itself had the appearance of a match-race. of Papi Rob Hanover in the Meadowlands Pace, as the two both started That Manchego trotted a first quarter in 25 2/5 over a five-eighths mile from post nine and were overland and coverless. Lyons Sentinel, a track is still something I may never believe, but it was good enough to daughter of Captaintreacherous, was a brave second in that mile and convince Atlanta to take the pocket journey. Manchego’s 1:49 3/5 mile then came back last week with an authoritative 1:49 2/5 blowout, leav- followed, as did Atlanta on this day, unable to mount a challenge late. ing the highly-regarded Rocknificent in her wake. There are still many races ahead for these two imposing mares and On Saturday these two meet for the first time, with the more expe- that’s the positive news the sport has to look forward to. Of course we rienced filly Lyons Sentinel saddled with post eight and her perhaps do need them to stay healthy and fit for a reasonable period of time. soon-to-be rival landing post three. “The ball’s in her court,” said That said, the next expected meeting is unlikely to happen at The Ryder, referring to Lyons Sentinel. Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day since Atlanta, who was double- Here’s hoping these two can provide the rivalry our sport can really staked that day to the John Steele Memorial (mares only) as well as use now.

DRF Harness Weekend | 5 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness EDITOR’S EYE By Derick Giwner @harnesseyeguy THE MEADOWS From Yonkers to Vernon, there is much uncertainty in New York By Derick Giwner

On Saturday, The The casino money is running dry and the same VLT machines which Meadows is offering up have propped New York to elite status in terms of purses and racing a 16-race card starting at opportunity for well over a decade, could very well make tracks broke. 11:25 AM that features 12 Monticello Raceway remains closed with no immediate prospects for stakes races for Grand opening. Yonkers Raceway, which was supposed to start racing Satur- Circuit and statebreds days on July 25, has cancelled the return of Saturday racing through topped by the $375,000 August 8. Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs recently sent out a joint Delvin Miller Adios release stating that the former would likely have to close in Septem- Pace. The Adios also ber, well ahead of the planned November closure, and the latter will features a mandatory cut from three to two days per week, unless casino operations are up payout of the Jackpot and running by those deadlines. Saratoga Harness has changed racing Hi-5 with a carryover of dates in an effort to optimize profits so it can stay afloat. $23,311 and a guaranteed pool of $50,000. Let’s take a look at the The costs for operating a track, even on a skeleton crew, are far from players in the field and put together a ticket to go after the avail- cheap. I’ll guess and say it costs Yonkers $20,000 for maintenance, staff- able free money. ing and general costs associated with putting on a night of racing. If the track handles $600,000 and gets a somewhat standard 3% back on the meadows - Race 15 - $23,311 Hi-5 Carryover that money from ADWs, that’s $18,000. Now subtract about half of that total for the purse account and the track is left with $9,000. Doing some 1-LATER DUDES: Brian Brown-trained colt raced very well in simple math, $20,000 minus $9,000 equals an $11,000 loss every night his elimination for second and might be coming into his own after the track is open, or in the case of Yonkers, $44,000 a week. missing his 2-year-old season. Whether he has enough class is still Granted, Yonkers is owned by a large company called MGM which the big question. should be able to take the hit, but is it really fair to expect that entity to 2-CAPT MIDNIGHT: Went a huge mile first-over attacking foot the entire bill? Yes, according to the contract with the horsemen, Catch The Fire in his elimination and only lost by a head. Best of Yonkers must race a specific number of dates, but that contract also all, he didn’t seem to be tired at the end of the mile. He might be assumes VLTs are operating. Without the machines, let’s face it, there ready to pop up with a big performance. would be no racing. 3-CATCH THE FIRE: Displayed his speed with a wire-to-wire While some would give management at Yonkers a hard time, elimination win. It was a solid performance, but also one where he shouldn’t horsemen and fans of the track be thankful that the track has got away with an easy enough half that he should’ve been able to been doing its best to stay open? If my numbers are remotely correct, win. What happens when he is pressed to a 53 or 54 half? the track has already taken a $250,000 hit. Is that fair while horsemen 4-THE GREEK FREAK: He was gelded over the winter and that are racing for about $120,000 a night in purses? seems to have helped turn the light on for this son of Captaint- The purse account money is there and separate from the operating reacherous. He has early speed and form, but a BIG question in my costs, but it’s at least worth pondering whether the horsemen should mind is whether he is fast enough. help offset the losses associated with racing until the casino reopens. 5-NO LOU ZING: This guy has really picked up his game as the Maybe the horsemen could pay for half of the costs with a promise from season has progressed and he has been showing new dimensions the casino that it will make some plant improvements to the racing side with early speed in recent starts. My only knock is that his driver or add the amount the horsemen put up now to the purse account in lacks big-race experience. future years. 6-SWEET TRUTH: He dug in to dead-heat for second in the fast- Of course, all of this may be moot since without an operating casino est elimination after keeping up with Papi Rob Hanover for much at Yonkers, the purse account will likely run dry by the end of August. of the race. He’ll need to show much more to compete this time. Other tracks are clearly in the same boat. It seems logical that Sara- 7-CHIEF MATE: Colt finished well for third after chasing a slow toga will also come up short in the purse account as the calendar moves pace in his elimination. He’s clearly a good horse, but he’ll need a along. The track is supposed to stay open until December, but can it great trip to win and a good one to cash. possibly sustain that long? 8-CAPTAIN BARBOSSA: Stayed with Papi Rob Hanover Something else to consider is what happens to the two Triple Crown through sizzling fractions for the first three-quarters before call- races scheduled for September 5 or the New York Sire Stakes finals on ing it a day. This gelding is more than fast enough to win, but he’s September 12 at Yonkers if the track goes into a casino-less hiberna- stuck in an impossible spot from post eight. tion? A source with the Sire Stakes said that they would seek an alter- 9-ELVER HANOVER: Yankee Cruiser gelding was the fastest nate location to contest the races on the nearest date available should 2-year-old of 2019 but hasn’t quite put it all together yet. He’s good such a situation occur. enough to win on his best, though it seems like that may be a start The short-term fate of harness racing in New York appears to be in or two away. the hands of Governor Andrew Cuomo. While I take the virus seriously, I can’t understand why allowing a couple-hundred people in a casino .20 Super Hi-5 Ticket: is any different than the same number being permitted in Walmart. Hopefully logic will prevail and casinos will be permitted to open to a 2 / 3,5 / 1,3,4,5,8 / ALL / ALL = $48 smaller audience in the near future, thus pumping some life back into the sport in New York, but as of today, I’m not very optimistic. Watch the adios live: meadowsgaming.com/racing

DRF Harness Weekend | 6 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness 95th Anniversary Hambletonian Champagne

"Serious opulence and ﬁnesse[...] ripe, red-berried fruit and 95 self-evident expertise.” Evaluating the eliminations for the 2020 Hambletonian

Amigo Volo late. His speed makes him dangerous for Team Orange Crush and he isn’t too far behind the best of these. In a weird scenario, at the track Maesteraemon completes the inside five in the first elimination, and those five actually finished 1-2-3-4-5 in the same Dancer division. By Darin Zoccali AtTheTrack7 Of the two Marcus Melander trainees in the first elimination, I prefer Hollywood Story, who I liked quite a bit in the Dancer and he raced very well. Driver Tim Tetrick will have to work out a trip here One of my favorite times of year is upon us. It’s Hambletonian though, because I have to believe that Ramona Hill and Beads to his season at The Meadowlands. In a year where we didn’t even know if outside will be aggressive off the gate, and Tetrick does not want to The Hambletonian could happen, I am grateful just to have the race get away last here, so tactics early-on will be critical. Based on race- occur. Sure, it will not be a typical Hambletonian Day. For the first shape, I think Melander could be up against it making the final with time in a long time, I won’t be at The Meadowlands for the event, but I both his colts here. Ramona Hill may be the greatest post-10 horse of will be supporting the racetrack and the event from home. all time. Give her post 10 and she just takes off from the gate and domi- For the first time since 2012, the Hambletonian Eliminations will nates. If you make the argument that she needed her first race and the take place the week prior to the Hambletonian Final. While I appreci- Del Miller signals where she is physically coming into this, she is as ated the rich history of the event with the same-day eliminations, as a good as any in here and has a huge chance. bettor, I am glad to see this format return. Knowing the field for a full The second elimination appears to be Sister Sledge vs. Ready week as opposed to a couple of hours makes a big difference. Person- For Moni on paper, and Yannick Gingras, who was listed on both, ally, I struggled going into Hambletonian Day forming opinions announced on Twitter that he is taking Ready For Moni. It’s an ironic about certain horses and then changing that opinion based on what I twist for Gingras as he takes the Nancy Takter colt over the Ron saw in the eliminations. In fact, the only winner I selected when the Burke filly, while five years ago, Gingras drove both Mission Brief eliminations were contested on the same day since 2013 was Marion and Pinkman to victories in their Hambletonian eliminations and Marauder. I picked Trixton, but that year the race went straight to the chose the Burke trained Mission Brief over the Jimmy Takter trained Final. So, I welcome this change. Pinkman, who would go on to win the Final. Sister Sledge will be The landscape of the 2020 Hambletonian has changed dramatically. racing without Lasix, which could have played a part in Gingras’ deci- The winter-book favorite, Real Cool Sam, who looked like a superstar sion, as we have seen horses struggle when taken off the medication last year, did not even make the race. I cannot remember the last time in this spot before. Ready For Moni fired a huge shot in his first start that happened. Amigo Volo, who appeared to be the next in line to carry off the layoff and trainer Nancy Takter has won a ridiculous 39.6% of that torch, has looked far from unbeatable this year. His two wins have her starts at The Meadowlands this season (25 for 63). come in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition, but he has struggled There are two wild cards in the race. The first is Rome Pays Off, one in open company, including a disappointing fourth-place finish in the of the four that Marcus Melander has entered into the Hambletonian. Stanley Dancer Memorial where he struggled home in just 29 seconds. He had a solid 2-year-old campaign that saw him earn over $330,000, The first elimination is a field of eight and seems to pack a bit more including a runner-up finish in the Breeders Crown. His qualifiers in horsepower than the second elimination. Back Of The Neck drew the preparation for his 3-year-old season didn’t look like much, but it has pole and enters the elimination in peak form for trainer Ake Svanst- been a different story when the tote board has been turned on. He has edt, who has no less than four shots at his second Hambletonian won both starts this year, including a very impressive 1:52 3/5 perfor- win. It took a monstrous effort from Sorella to chase him down in a mance in the Tompkins Geers against a solid field that included Jula 26 second final quarter in his 3-year-old debut and in his two subse- Trix Treasure, who he meets again in this elimination. quent starts he has looked nothing short of sensational. He overcame The other wild card is Moon Bridge. There just is not much speed in a trip in the Reynolds that saw him dead last at the head of the stretch, this field and I fully expect Andy Miller to blast off the gate here. He will trotting a 26 4/5 final quarter to win from an impossible spot. The likely have to clear Sister Sledge early, and if he does, and avoids a retake following week in the Stanley Dancer, he was much the best, winning from the filly, he may forget to stop. He may not have the accomplish- in 1:52 and appearing to have plenty left in the tank for the Hambo. ments of others entered in the Hambletonian, but speed on this track, Svanstedt also sends out Third Shift in this elimination, a horse that this time of year, in a field lacking early foot, is a dangerous thing. really developed over the winter and was dominant in New York My predictions for who will qualify for the Hambletonian Final, in before finishing a good second to his aforementioned stablemate in no particular order: the Dancer two weeks ago. Elimination One: Back Of The Neck, Third Shift, Amigo Volo, Big Amigo Volo starts to the outside of the two Svanstedt trainees Oil, Ramona Hill and he looks to build upon a dominant win in the Pennsylvania Sire Elimination Two: Sister Sledge, Rome Pays Off, Ready For Moni, Stakes last week. While he hasn’t looked like a Hambletonian favor- Chestnut Hill, Moon Bridge ite so far this season, his most recent win was very impressive and It is truly a wide-open year for the Hambletonian. Marcus Melander could indicate that the gelded son of Father Patrick is moving in the and Ake Svanstedt have a combined 8 of the 17 horses entered (four right direction. Big Oil was a decent third in the Dancer behind Back each), but there are certainly others who can spoil their Hambleton- Of The Neck and Third Shift, moving to the inside and trotting past ian party. Enjoy Hambletonian 2020!

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DRF Harness Weekend | 8 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Did you ever want to know more about the people involved in the harness industry? Editor Derick Giwner combs the harness landscape each week to profile a new personality from the sport.

trainer per engblom What kind of car do you drive? Derick Giwner I’m Swedish, so of course I drive a Volvo. In just his second full year as a trainer, Per Engblom has guided his stable to over $3.2 million in earnings. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? You came here from Sweden in 1999 as a 19-year-old but A good steak; I’m more of a candy person, so something sugary. went back home after a handful of years. Why did you What is your favorite track to race at? come and what made you come back? I’ve been fortunate to race at Solvalla, Vincennes, Meadow- When I came out of school, I was going to stay for a year. I was lands, Woodbine and Mohawk, but a good nice day at the Red grooming for Jimmy (Takter) and my older sister Pernilla was Mile when you have a horse racing in a big race in front of the already working for him. Connie Svenson, who was the second owners and a nice crowd, that is pretty special. trainer for Jimmy then, offered me a job. I went home to take care of my visas and I came back and stayed five years, two What is your favorite big event in racing? years as a groom and three years as a second trainer for Jimmy. Then my visas ran out and I went home to the trainer’s school The Prix d’Amerique. It is so special and you need such a special in Sweden to see and learn more. I worked for Ake Svanstedt horse to even compete in that race. To win it is even more amaz- for a period and for Stall Tilly. Then I had my own stable for five ing and someone actually gets to do that every year. years, but somewhere in the back of my mind I always wanted to come back. I was always passionate about training young How often is racing on your mind? horses, 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, where in Sweden it is mostly older horses. I always wanted to give it a shot before I got too old I wouldn’t say 24/7, but probably too often. Sometimes I have to be and figured I could always go back to Sweden better about relaxing and thinking about other stuff. It is not just racing I think about, but the horses I care for and how to improve Are there any thoughts in your head about returning to or care for them. That is on my mind pretty much all the time. Sweden again? What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? Not at this point. The way the racing is back home and the way Family time, of course, but to relax a little bit, play golf. life is treating me here, I’m very happy in my position right now. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness racing? I’m a big soccer fan, especially British soccer from the Premier league; Liverpool. Don’t be afraid to try. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? What was your favorite moment in harness racing? Some people see me as quiet. One guy told me that I look grumpy Sometimes it is the small things that make you feel good. Like and angry all the time, but I’m not. I’m usually pretty happy and when I had a 2-year-old win my first race at Solvalla. When we when you get to know me, I tend to talk a lot too. won the Canadian Trotting Classic with Kadabra. He had gotten beat in the World Trotting Derby and wasn’t the favorite going What is one word that describes harness racing for you? into the Canadian Trotting Classic. We worked with him and got him to the point where he was dominant for the rest of the sea- Passion or lifestyle. son. That was a really sweet moment and really the first super- big race I was a part of winning. My sister was a groom for the How did you get started in the sport? horse. Her and I were up in Canada taking care of the training of the horse for Jimmy. It was pretty special. Also, obviously My dad was a small trainer in Sweden who usually trained the night where we won six Breeders Crowns at Woodbine. That about 10 to 15 horses. He was a trainer, driver and blacksmith. I was sweet too. come from the same track where Jimmy (Takter) and Per (Erik- kson) come from, Mantorp. I grew up going to the track with my dad and obviously my family lived and breathed our operation CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 even though it was small.

DRF Harness Weekend | 9 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Lisa Photo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Per Engblom has a potential top 2-year-old trotting filly in Altar, a Diamond Creek Racing-owned daughter of Father Patrick. Which is the best horse you’ve ever been involved with? Father Patrick. He was complete. He was fast, sound, strong and 11 years or so and we are the same. We try feed, we try trainings we try good-gaited. shoeing. With Jimmy’s magic touch, he made it work, of course with us helping him too. I learned that there is not just one way to train a good Which horse is/was your all-time favorite? horse. There are many ways to accomplish the same thing. If one way is not working, you can’t be afraid to move onto the next thing. Either Kadabra or Father Patrick. Those are two horses that when I was working with Jimmy I was around them most of the time. It was You train on the Takter farm. Does Jimmy still lend a helping two different periods of my life, but they are two special horses and it hand? is hard to separate them. With some of the 3-year-olds. That is the deal we had, he was going What’s the one race that you most want to win? to be my mentor with that group of horses. It is not like he is a part of the everyday operation, but if I ask him for help to go over a horse or Obviously I’m here so it is easy to say the Hambletonian, but the one sit behind one if needed, he’s there. I’m very fortunate to have it like race that is really special to me as a Swede is the Swedish Derby for that. My 2-year-olds this year, I’ve been more on my own. I think we 4-year-olds. It is such a hard race to win. It is six eliminations over 1 have a couple of good ones there. 5/8 miles and you have to finish first or second just to make the final. That is a race I always dreamt about winning growing up. I’m prob- What do you think of your chances with Beads in the ably on the wrong side of the Atlantic to win it, but that was always my boyhood dream. Hambletonian eliminations? When I got him in January I felt he is a really strong horse, but we How many horses do you have in your barn? hit some rough patches, especially with his behavior. It is not like About 40. he is a hot horse, he is just a little uncertain and careful. He is not a very confident horse, but he has the speed and strength to really You went out on your own in 2019 after Jimmy Takter retired. fight with them. He showed that both in the Reynolds and Stanley Dancer. Even though he only had $20,000 on his card, he’s right there How would you rate your performance? with them. Obviously post position will be key, along with racing luck. If we get through the elimination, I think he will excel and get Medium-plus. We had a good year last year, winning close to $3 mil- even better in the final. lion, especially in Kentucky winning three Sire Stakes finals. We won the Dexter Cup and a couple of big races. We didn’t score big in the Breeders Crown. We won a couple of eliminations and we went Is Beads steady enough now to turn over to a catch-driver to flat in the finals. I felt there are things we could’ve improved and we let him out a notch? are still working on improving them. I’m not disappointed. I’m very fortunate to have gotten the horses I have from my owners and from We’ll see. The first week Jimmy (Takter) drove him, he said he Jimmy, too. We learn every day and the last couple of weeks we’ve hadn’t worked with him that much. The second week he said he was really been getting into shape. We have a couple of nice 2-year-olds much better. Jimmy hasn’t really been part of his training but he’s and things seem to be going well right now. helped me a lot driving him because he has a really steady hand with horses like that. I think he taught him a lot those three races he sat What were the most important lessons you learned from behind him, if you count the qualifier, too. If we aren’t there now, we aren’t that far from it. There have been some discussions. Jimmy over your years working for him?

Like I said, don’t be scared of trying new things. I worked for Jimmy for CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

DRF Harness Weekend | 10 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 You mentioned having some nice 2-year-olds. Who are you highest on? Altar, of course. She broke the first week but then had two impressive wins in the New Jersey Sire Stakes and won the final in-hand. She’s been a (1:)54 horse pretty much under wraps, so I have high hopes for her. Spy Booth is a nice colt and was third in the Sire Stakes final from a bad post. He had breakers around him and didn’t At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping get a smooth trip, but he finished good. I also have a couple of other information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring nice ones. you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or If you could choose any horse in history to train, which horse simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. would it be and why? Happy Handicapping! A horse I read a lot about and I’ve seen videos of where he looked Thursday, july 30 absolutely great is Nevele Pride. He was kind of a mean horse going into stud, but I would’ve loved to have seen him race live and been RACE 2 around him back then. (8) MACHO MARTINI has How has COVID-19 affected your life and business? looked green at times and sensational when it counted We’ve been fortunate, close family and even far away, everybody in his two wins so far and he has been healthy. Of course my kids have been staying home and could be a star in the making. doing homeschooling, which has been a test, but it’s been working I’ll stick with him here. out. Business-wise, I’ve been good. I’m fortunate to have some of -Garnet Barnsdale the greatest owners in the business and they’ve been supportive. We’ve had a lot of stakes horses that weren’t ready, but the shutdown Friday, july 31 made it a little harder to be ready for the season and know when to be ready. It’s been a little bit of a challenge, but in the long run at the RACE 1 end of the season, maybe we’ll look back on it and it will be good that we didn’t race them so hard earlier. There is a $52,655 Pick 5 carryover starting in the If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what first race. The early part of would it be? this sequence features a pair of Trackmaster Rating races I’m not a great politician like that. Maybe we could do more with which if the shaky favorites publicity. I see what they do in Sweden with the national betting and don’t come to play could be wide-open. Thankfully (7) INSTA the V75 wager that travels around with a rolling jackpot. It has been GLAM in the fourth race seems like a legitimate single to provide a great success. It is really hard to expand, but if tracks could work people with a medium budget to spread elsewhere. Below is my together to really develop their product, we could get more interest. suggested play. For complete analysis of the entire card, click here. If there is more interest, we could get more owners. If there is one thing we really need in this sport, it is more owners. We are fortu- .20 Ticket: 1-4,6,7,8,9 / 2,3,6,9 / 1-4,6,8,10 / 7 / 5,9 = $89.60 nate to have the ones we have, but it is always nice to have more. How do you view the future of harness racing? RACE 4 - $13,524 PICK 6 CArrYOVEr I see this sequence as potentially more formful. Again, INSTA We have some tough tests ahead of us with casinos and slots. The GLAM is the key in the opening leg as this barn rarely takes it easy dream world is we have to stand on our own feet. We have to at least in an elimination where you can choose your post in the final. The work towards that. I see that they are doing great things up at Mo- middle legs seem to have between 2 and 4 contenders each and I’ve hawk and even back home this year has been very good. It is doable used my favorites from those races. The last leg is where anything but it takes a little bit of work. can happen, and while I hate doing it, I had to press the ALL button. When I can use every horse I like in the first five legs and the last is Time for the stretch drive: wide open, it simply makes sense to press ALL. After that you can Best Horse You Ever Saw: Maybe I’m a little biased when I say Moni come back with smaller tickets keying the horses you like best in the Maker, but when she was racing in the Elitloppet when I was 18 years final leg. old, the way she crushed the field there was just amazing. I was fortunate enough to work with her when I started with Jimmy (Takter). .20 Ticket: 7 / 5,9 / 2,5 / 1,2,7 / 3,6 / ALL = $48 -Derick Giwner Best Driver Ever: Orjan Kihlstrom - He’s phenomenal. His feel for the horses and his horsemanship as a driver is second to none. He has natural talent. full card analysis / past performances

Lasix – Yes or No?: No - If everything like that was banned and we Meadowlands (FRI) Analysis Harrah’s Philly (FRI) Analysis had zero tolerance like we have at home, where it is 14-days-out for a shot of bute and stuff like that, we really could clean the sport up. If Mohawk Park (FRI) Analysis Mohawk Park (SAT) Analysis everyone wasn’t racing every week, we could race them one or two years longer. I’d be the first one to sign up for something like that. Yonkers (FRI) Analysis Meadowlands (SAT) Analysis Favorite TV Show?: I’m big into documentaries or biographies.

Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters, but I don’t mind pacers at all. I DHP PPs harness eye PPs trackmaster PPs free PPs started out with four pacers and I have one colt that’s qualified in (1:)53 with a 26 last quarter by Captaintreacherous. I have a nice Always B Miki. Want full-card analysis? Visit DRF.com/harness

DRF Harness Weekend | 11 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARNESS INDUSTRY

post positions. The connections of Catch The Fire, after winning the $250K on the line in Aug. 15 Milstein at Northfield draw for selection order, choose post 3, while The Greek Freak’s camp opted for post 4. Papi Rob Hanover’s withdrawal opened a spot for MGM Northfield Park’s premier event on the racing calendar, the Captain Barbossa, who drew in as the fourth-place finisher with the Carl Milstein Memorial, a by-invitation-only event for the sport’s highest career earnings. top 3-year-old pacers, will be raced for a $250,000 purse on Saturday READ MORE night, August 15. Uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancella- tion of two of Northfield’s earlier stakes events in 2020, the Battle of Fillies ready for 2020 Hambletonian Lake Erie and the Cleveland Trotting Classic. READ MORE Sister Sledge might not have attracted overwhelming attention heading into this year’s Hambletonian, but as one of two fillies in Saturday’s (Aug. 1) eliminations at The Meadowlands, she should find Back Of The Neck leads Svanstedt Hambo foursome plenty of eyes on her now. READ MORE Ake Svanstedt believes Back Of The Neck has got it all, which is everything a horse needs in the Hambletonian. Back Of The Neck is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the first of Swan For All fillies sweep stakes action Saturday’s two $50,000 Hambletonian Stakes eliminations at The Meadowlands. The colt is a nose from being unbeaten in three races Rock Swan and Swan Bomb, a pair of trotting fillies sired by Indiana’s this season and will start from post one with Scott Zeron in the sulky leading trotting stallion Swan For All, were victorious in their respec- for trainer Svanstedt. tive $31,500 divisions of the Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotting READ MORE fillies at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, July 29. It was the third round of the seven round series for the sophomore fillies. Little Brown Jug to go on without fans READ MORE

In accordance with Governor Mike DeWine’s latest directive, the Multiple carryovers on Adios Day at The Meadows Delaware (OH) Grand Circuit harness racing meet, including the 75th Little Brown Jug (September 24), will be conducted without spectators. Saturday’s $375,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the The Delaware County Fair will conduct only a Junior Fair this year. Orchids promises to be exciting, and now, The Meadows has upped the “It is a disappointing day for us. We have been working diligently ante by adding a Super Hi-5 wager on the Adios with a $50,000 guar- with the Delaware County Health Department and we felt we could antee. In addition to the $23,311 Super Hi-5 carryover, the program put on a safe event on a smaller scale,” said Tom Wright, director of offers two total-pool carryovers: $2,441.84 in the Early Pick 4 (race 3), racing and president of the Delaware County Agricultural Society $1,908.78 in the Early Pick 5 (race 2). The Adios Day card gets under- Board. “We respect the directive and will do our part to make sure we way at the special post time of 11:25 AM. have a safe event for all.” READ MORE READ MORE Action Uncle heads quintet of Ohio-bred races at Scioto Papi Rob Hanover’s injury makes for wide-open Adios The undefeated Action Uncle is back in action on Saturday at Scioto When Papi Rob Hanover blazed to a world-record 1:47 1/5 in last Downs in the $122,000 Ohio State Fair race for 3-year-old colt trotters. week’s eliminations for the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, the The Virgil Morgan Jr trainee starts from post two in a field of 10 as the harness racing world eagerly anticipated what he might do for an encore 5-2 morning-line favorite for regular driver Brett Miller. in the $375,000 Adios final on June 1. Alas, it won’t happen, as Papi Rob Also on the card is Ocean Rock, who set a 1:48 4/5 track record in Hanover has been withdrawn from the final with what his owner David his last start at Scioto Downs. He’s 9-5 on the early line for trainer McDuffee describes as a stress fracture of his left front coffin bone. Christi Noble and driver Dan Noble in the $118,000 Ohio State Fair for With Papi Rob out, attention turned to Catch The Fire and The sophomore colt pacers. Greek Freak, the other elimination winners, who got to select their The 15-race card on Saturday kicks off at 6:15 PM.

DRF Harness Weekend | 12 | July 30, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness