The road to the Hambletonian can be a more profitable trip for bettors than the August classic itself. That is, along the way, from May to August, many great eligible colts and fillies engage in races that can become major scores for those of us following the herd of hopefuls. In fact, we can wind up winning more money on races leading to the event than we can ever win on the Hambo’s field of 10.
The sophomore season for filly and colt trotters enjoys a healthy menu of races nationally and state-restricted and in all of them the connections dream of making it to the classic trot that first Saturday in August. This passion has owners, trainers and drivers on the cutting edge of their performances, with a dream that fuels top performances, strategy and enthusiasm that rarely show in overnights or local track series.
Though the best fillies of the crop will probably wind up in the Hambletonian Oaks, battling their own division, the soph fillies’ connections all dream of being in the field with the boys on Hambo day. This year, with Rachel Alexandra’s thoroughbred victory against the boys, owners of fillies seek to present the next Continentalvictory into the Hambletonian mix. That trotter made a strong male crop look silly in 1996. And the year before, when the colt Tagliabue won the final, one of the greatest trotting fillies ever, CR Kay Suzie, would have arguably won had she not broken stride in her heat and been left out of the final field (later that year, sound and in stride, “Suzie” defeated the boys in the Breeders Crown with no effort).
So we are following all of the soph-trotters through May, June and July, trying to sensationalize upon the stops along the road. And so far, this year, a number of new faces have shown up to complicate the usual expectations of last year’s frosh crop. Read on for this week’s assessment of the scene.
Hambo-watch
We continue now with our exclusive views of sop colts and fillies on the road to the Hambletonian as potential Hambo and Hambo Oaks participants keep coming and offer great betting opportunities.
On Wednesday, May 27, Wedding Dress, a filly by Hambo champ Muscles Yankee, defeated colts in an $11,000 overnight at the Meadowlands. Driven by John Campbell (who also guided her sire to a Hambo win for the same trainer, Chuck Sylvester), “Dress” showed considerable strength against a tepid field of promising colts. She was forced to race first over through the last half and was able to pass the inside leader late to win in 1:56.2.
Wednesday, June 3, Dress goes up against her division in a $38,400 New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) leg at the Meadowlands. She is certainly the best of this group and perhaps her division. This race should be easy for her and important for Sylvester to assess her chances against the boys if she continues to race healthy through June and July.
Explosive Matter, the second future-book Hambo choice to Muscle Hill among 2008 two-year old trotters, romped in a qualifier, winning by 10 ½ lengths in 1:55.2 on the morning of May 28. Noel Daley is the trainer of the son of Cantab Hall. “Matter” won five of six starts last year, earning over $342,000.
On May 27 at Chester Downs, six splits of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) action for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings produced a trio of public choices, with breaks in stride ruining if for the other three choices.
The winners were Top Chef, Citation Lindy and Keystone Activator. In this triad of events, Photoforwin was impressive in the victory by the latter. He dueled strongly throughout the middle of the race before surrendering. So far this season, Photoforwin has not had the greatest luck; he is far better than his rewards so far. Keep an eye on him.
Top choices Sir Caviar, Road Rash and Jaavos Boy each made breaks in their respective miles. This set up wins for Shermans Mountain, Tagyoureithanover and Crystal Sizzler. But all three failures are moot, especially that of Road Rash. In our first Hambo-watch two weeks ago we introduced this colt after his shocking 75-1 victory over highly touted My Back Pages. One break won’t stop this colt’s journey to August. As well, Jaavos Boy could come back much less a favorite next time and smoothly destroy a field.
Wager log
Our freebee last week, Calchips Brute, another Hambo hopeful from the Trond Smedshammer barn, finished third at 7-1.
The PASS trotting fillies at the Meadows on Tuesday, May 26 were investments in the future, as it turned out.
In Race 4 we liked Eagle Score. She went off at 7-1 and never got on gait. The public choices in the race also tanked, delivering an undeserved win for Caviar Russe, who paid $71.40. In Race 6, our choice, Classy Broad, was second at 13-1, a heartbreaking loss to 11-1 shot Spiceberry Hanover. In Race 8, Dover Miss was second and our outsider, Smedshammer’s Perfect Prelude, was fourth at 15-1.
In Race 10 our choice, Timelesswinner Two, turned out to be the 8-5 choice and lost, finishing third. In Race 12, the PASS nightcap, Photomania was fourth at 8-1.
A note for Yonkers fans, the track does not race again until Saturday night, June 6, when it will be featuring eliminations for the Art Rooney and Lismore paces. The former is an essential soph-pace affair that becomes more important with the division in turmoil since two potential top contenders are in question of appearing at all this season.
The regular five-program-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) at Yonkers resumes the week of June 8. First post for all racing programs is 7:10 p.m.
For more than three decades, Frank Cotolo has been active in pari-mutuel racing as a player and an author. Aside from articles in Gambling Times, Sulky and Turf & Sport, he was the editor of TIMES: in harness magazine (in print and on line) for fifteen years and won a John Hervey Award—the industry’s top writing honor.
The opinions of Youbet Update writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Youbet.com or its subsidiaries.
Related articles by Zemanta
