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HABLETONIAN PREP RACES


FEATURING SUPER CHAPTER VS GAP KRONOS S!

AND

MARYLAND VS GO DOG GO!

(I'm very excited to see this matchup!)




Saturday July 12, 2025. at The Meadowlands


Race 3.


STANLEY DANCER MEMORIAL 3 Year Old Colts & Geldings (Declaration Fee - $1,250)

Purse: $119,500.00 | Gait: Trot | Distance: 1 Mile

H PP Horse Driver Trainer Year's Best Last 3 ODDS
1 1 Hidalgo Yannick Gingras Ron J Burke 1:52.4 5-1-2 7-2
2 2 Hard Seven Todd P McCarthy Nancy C Takter 1:53.3 5-3-5 8-1
3 3 Travolta Hanover Andrew John McCarthy Nancy C Takter 1:53.4 7-4-5 15-1
4 4 Super Chapter Dexter J Dunn Marcus M Melander 1:50.4 1-1-1 9-5
5 5 Monserrate David S Miller Andrew S Harris 1:54.0 1-3-2 3-1
6 6 Blank Scott Richard Zeron Marcus M Melander 5-8-4 15-1
7 7 Gap Kronos S Ake Svanstedt Ake Svanstedt 1:51.4 1-2-5 4-1



Race 4.

STANLEY DANCER MEMORIAL 3 Year Old Colts & Geldings (Declaration Fee - $1,250)

Purse: $119,500.00 | Gait: Trot | Distance: 1 Mile

H PP Horse Driver Trainer Year's Best Last 3 ODDS
1 1 Top Gun Hanover David S Miller Nancy C Takter 1:53.0 4-2-2 8-1
2 2 Variegated Andrew John McCarthy Marcus M Melander 1:52.3 2-2-1 9-2
3 3 Go Dog Go Todd P McCarthy Carter J Pinske 1:52.0 1-1-1 7-2
4 4 Nordic Catcher S Ake Svanstedt Ake Svanstedt 1:53.1 2-1-2 6-1
5 5 Maryland Dexter J Dunn Marcus M Melander 2-2-4 9-5
6 6 Maximus Mearas S Scott Richard Zeron Lucas Wallin 1:54.4 1-2-1 4-1
7 7 Happy Jack B Yannick Gingras Ake Svanstedt 3-4-6 15-1



Check out the entries for yourself at The Meadowlands for both Friday July 11 and Saturday July 12, 2025.



ENJOY A FULL SLATE OF HARNESS RACING AT THE MEADOWLANDS, PARTICULARLY THE HAMBLETONIAN PREP RACES!

HAPPY THE MEADOWLANDS PACE EVERYBODY!

MEADOWLANDS PACE WEEK THIS WEEK!

THIS MEANS, HANRNESS FEVER RAGES ON!

HAPPY THE MEADOWLANDS PACE WEEK EVERYBODY!



First of all, this past weekend we got to see a Hambletonian prep race featuring Emoticon Legacy and Maryland, when the two went at each other in last Saturday's Zweig Stakes (July 3, 2025) at Vernon Downs (NY).

As a matter of fact, the whole field of the Zweig Stakes was full of Hambletonian eligible runners, and boy, it felt like a Hambletonian race when everybody was hustling and bustling from the start to the finish, battling each other every step of the way.

As always, Maryland was off evenly near the back of the seven-horse field -- second to last, to be precise -- despite starting from post position 2.

Meanwhile, Emoticon Legacy (post 5) was not quick off the gate either and he was off evenly in fifth place as four horses [Chat Room, Meshuggah, Onajetplane, Hildalgo] battling each other up front while jockeying for early position.

After an eight of a mile, Meshuggah emerged from the pack to set a fast pace.

Soon thereafter, Onajetplace rushed up to challenge Meshuggah for the lead while Emoticon Legacy didn't let Onajetplance off the hook very long when he quickly rushed up from fifth place to challenge Onajetplane for the lead approaching the half-mile pole.

Maryland (6/5 second choice), on the other hand with no early speed, was content to sit back next to last when crossing the half-mile pole.

Approaching the far turn, Emoticon Legacy (3/5 favorite) was leading almost by two lengths and was going strongly and looked like he was going to win very easy.

At the same time, approaching the far turn, Maryland found his best stride and he was moving in an eye-catching fashion, picking up horses one by one in a blink of an eye to go after Emoticon Legacy as track announcer blurted out, "there goes Maryland, flying, now fourth, now third, now second ... to challenge Emoticon Legacy...."

At the top of the stretch, I thought Maryland was going win the race, considering that he had a huge momentum with that eye-catching move.

Visually also looked like Maryland had a dead-aim at Emoticon Legacy approaching the eight-pole, but Emoticon Legacy had something left and held Maryland at bay to the wire, beating Maryland by one length while Meshuggah finished two lengths back in third.

The only missing from this race wre Super Chapter, Gap Kronos S, Go Dog Go, Mr Walner Fashion, and Mountcastle.

The missing horses will show up in their prep race(s) in the next couple of weeks.



AS FOR THIS WEEKEND -- EXCITEMENT OVER THE MEADOWLANDS PACE TURNS DISAPPOINTMENT!



Dan Patch Award-winner Louprint, the 7-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $656,000 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds, will miss the Grade 1 event and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks following an emergency procedure Monday to remove a testicle, co-owner Mark Weaver said.

Dr. Jen Smith performed the procedure after the issue was discovered Monday morning (July 7, 2025).

"They were able to get him into surgery right away and removed the testicle without any compromise of his intestines," Weaver said.

"The best case scenario is that he would miss a few weeks, but we'll let his recovery determine the timeline. Hopefully, he will be racing in Lexington in August, but we won't force anything."



IT'S A BUMMER!

I WAS LOOKING TO PLAY HIM THIS WEEKEND!


He's the best horse in the field, and now, I have to find another horse to play.


IT'S A BUMMER!


NO DESPAIR!

I'VE GOT ONE!



Updated field for the $656,000 Meadowlands Pace

PP – HORSE – DRIVER – TRAINER – ODDS

1 – Papis Pistol – Dave Miller – Sam DePinto – 9-2

2 – Papi’s Rocket – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 20-1

3 – Knockout Round – Andy McCarthy – Tony Alagna – 25-1

4 – Prince Hal Hanover – Todd McCarthy – Dr. Ian Moore – 7-2

5 – Captain Optimistic – Dexter Dunn – Nancy Takter – 3-1

6 – Fallout – Tim Tetrick – Tony Alagna – 6-1

7 – Joel And The Jets – Louis Roy – Dr. Ian Moore – 15-1

8 – Manolete – Scott Zeron – Bruce Saunders – 12-1

9 – Madden Oaks – Braxten Boyd – Cam Capone – 5-2



Now it defaults to Madden Oaks as the 5/2 favorite from post position 9 -- NO, THANK YOU!


I'll take my chances on Fallout from post position 6 at 6-1 morning line odd.

Bet Fallout to win, place, show using double down betting strategy.

Fallout was an outstanding 2yo colt and toward the end of last year (2024) he was rank 2nd behind Maryland as the best 2yo in the country.

He fell out of favor lately and that's why he is 6-1 against this group.

So I like Fallout a lot in this race, and I think he has an excellent shot of winning the Meadowlands Pace this Saturday July 12, 2025.



HAPPY THE MEADOWLANDS PACE WEEK EVERYBODY!


ENJOY THE MEADOWLANDS PACE THIS SATURDAY EVERYBODY!

DID I SAY THAT I LOVE TWO-YEAR-OLD RACES?

OBLITERATION IS ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH DAZZLE D'ORO!



According to trainer Steve Asmussen, Obliteration will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special (Aug. 2, 2025).

This puts Obliteration on a collision course with another exciting two-year-old colt named Dazzle d'Oro who won his debut race on Sunday June 29, 2025.

Obliteration just won the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes by 10 1/2 lengths on Saturday July 5 (2025) at Saratoga, earning a whopping 91 Beyer Speed Figure after winning his debut race on June 12 (2025) at Churchill Downs by 7 1/2 lengths.


A 91-Beyer?

Very fast for a two-year-old this time of the year!


Can you say, "A Star In The Making?"



However, standing in the way of his potential stardom is another "Star In The Making" named Dazzle d'Oro, who dazzled on his debut race in a six-furlong race in a dazzling 1:08.65 on a fast Churchill Downs track just one week ago on Sunday June 29, 2025.

Dazzle d'Oro earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85 for his five-length win.

That puts him on par with Obliteration on speed figure and talent terms.

However, on talent term, I think Dazzle d'Oro will go on to better things as the distance gets longer and longer; whereas, I think, Obliteration is a miler horse.

For now, these two 2yos are very exciting horses to look forward to later this summer and fall.


But first thing first: The Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special (Aug. 2, 2025).


I can't wait!

HARNESS RACING FEVER, ANYONE?

I DO -- BIG TIME!!!



The Meadowlands Pace is a couple of weeks away -- July 12, to be precise -- but the entries for the 2025 Meadowlands Pace were taken early today (July 1, 2025) and exactly 10 3-year-old pacing colts had been entered with no morning line or post position assigned.

The morning line and post position will be assigned early in the week of July 12, 2025.


The horses entered in alphabetical order are:



CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC

FALLOUT

JOEL AND THE JETS

KNOCKOUT ROUND

LOUPRINT

MADDEN OAKS

MANOLETE

PAPIS PISTOL

PAPI'S ROCKET

PRINCE HAL HANOVER



One horse stands out from that list is LOUPRINT who just won the $1 million North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk on June 14,2025.

So LOUPRINT should be a very short-price favorite comes Saturday July 12, 2025.

Stay tuned!

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT CAUGHT MY EYES!


A STAR IN THE MAKING DAZZLED ON DEBUT!




On the closing day of Churchill Downs's spring meet -- Sunday June 29, 2025 -- a 2yo colt named Dazzle d'Oro dazzled the six-furlong proceeding in a dazzling performance, covering the distance in a "dazzling" swift 1:08.65 on a fast Churchill Downs main track while beating a stellar group of 10 2yo colts.

Dazzle d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro - Sunnysammi, by First Defense) was a $250,000 KEESEP24 yearling purchase and he is trained by Tom Amoss.

Dazzle d'Oro had seven workouts listed on his DRF past performance with the first on May 6 (2025) working at Keenland at 3 furlongs on a fast track in 37 3/5 seconds (35/64) and his most recent workout was at Churchill Downs on June 18 (2025) when he did it on a fast track at 5 furlongs in 59 3/5 seconds (7/23).

Prior to that last workout he had another five-furlong at Churchill Downs (fast track) on June 11 when he went in 59 4/5 (2/10) and the rest are at Keenland with all works at four furlongs with two of them were bullit works in 46 3/5 and 46 4/5 with the other two were 48 and change.

So Dazzle d'Oro showed brilliance in the morning and he showed that brilliance in his debut race.

Dazzle d'Oro was off among the three quickest from the gate while exiting from post position 4, and he contested the pace with other two fleeted foot rivals for much of the first three furlongs.

The trio, with Dazzle d'Oro being sandwhiched by his two fleeted foot rivals, continued to go at each other while setting very fast fractions of 21.33 seconds, 44.47 seconds, 56.23 seconds, to complete the six-furlong race in 1:08.65.



Very fast for a two-year-old this time of the year.



Sent off as the 9/5 favorite off fast seven workouts, Dazzle d'Oro pulled away from the other two fleeted foot rivals at the top of the stretch while continued strongly to the wire to win by five lengths with the third horse finished 8 lengths further back behind the second place finisher and the rest were one or two lengths in a bunched group behind the third horse.


To put that into perspective, a maiden special weight race for 3yo fillies going one mile on the main track running 22.59 seconds, 45.20 seconds, 1:09.38, 1:21.49, finished in 1:34.03 for the mile race.

This race's fractions were set by a 3yo filly California shipper named Margarita Girl who had three prior race that were very fast running lines, setting very fast fractions in all three of her prior races with 21 and change and 44 and change.

Margarita Girl once again showed her brilliance early speed to make all of the fractions only to fade to next to last in this race.

The point is, without Margarita Girl making all those fractions, the pace of this race would have been much slower, and perhaps the final time as well.


For a better comparison, consider the Bashford Manor Stakes an hour later for two-year-old colts running six furlongs with the fractions of 21.39 seconds, 44.39 seconds, 56.21 seconds, and the finish time of 1:08.61.

The Bashford Manor Stakes won by an 8-1 odd in the betting Romeo with a 5-2 second choice in the betting Comfort finishing second and the 6-5 favorite Password finishing third.


Another better comparison is a race run one and a half hour later in the Debutante Stakes for 2yo fillies at six furlongs with the fractions of 21.29 seconds, 44.82 seconds, 56.88 seconds, and the finish time of 1:09.71.

The Debutante Stakes won by a 3-1 third choice in the betting Percy's Bar with a 43-1 Jaboss in second and a 5-1 fifth choice in third, while the 5/2 favorite Americathegreat finished fourth.


The Bashford Manor race is for horses of the same sex as the race that Dazzle d'Oro race and the finish times are identical for both races with Dazzle d'Oro's time of 1:08.65 while the finish time of the Bashford Manor of 1:08.61 -- exactly the same!

However, the Bashford Manor field contains winners with the winner of that race came out of a stakes race at Saratoga on June 5 (2025) in the (5 1/2 furlongs) Tremont Stakes ($145k) while the race Dazzle d'Oro ran was a maiden special weight race.

Looking at the field of the Bashford Manor I see fast horses particularly the winner (Romeo) who went 22 1/5, 44 4/5, 57 seconds flat in the Tremont Stakes but only to fade to finish third, beaten 11 1/4 lengths.

Romeo, I think, will be a very good horse but maybe suited to sprinting while Dazzle d'Oro will be suited to longer races, in my opinion.


The way he pulled away from his two early speed rivals and at the same time maintained and even increased his margin of victory from other rivals was very impressive.


Here's an excerpt of the article taken from the DRF:


Off impressive debut, Dazzle d'Oro targeting Saratoga Special

The 2-year-old colt Dazzle d'Oro sent his trainer, Tom Amoss, traveling back in time. Amoss thought about when he first came to Churchill Downs in the early 1990s, and a conversation with the late Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Lynn Whiting.

"He told me if you ever have a horse work five-eighths from the gate in under a minute, you've got a runner," Amoss said.

Dazzle d'Oro, who had breezed through the spring at Keeneland, moved to Churchill and had his first work there June 11, going five-eighths from the gate in 59.80. And, yes, he is a runner.


Dazzle d'Oro ran to his work and his 9-5 favoritism, beating 10 maidens while making his debut June 29 at Churchill. Going straight to the lead under Jose Ortiz, Dazzle d'Oro never had an anxious moment, winning by three over Blackout Time, who had almost eight lengths on the third-place finisher. He clocked 1:08.65 for six furlongs, which yielded a strong 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

"So often with first-time starters you have a horse make a mistake at the gate. We just wanted a clean break and a fair shot, and he performed well," said Amoss, who thinks Dazzle d'Oro can run farther and rate off the pace. "We never entertained the idea, he was just speedy. He's got a great mind. As Jose says, he listens really well."

A $250,000 yearling purchase, Dazzle d'Oro, by Bolt d'Oro, campaigns for Robert Delaney Jr.'s Late Night Stables, and connections have designs on the Aug. 2 Saratoga Special. Dazzle d'Oro will join Amoss's Saratoga string sometime next week.

********************



I'm very excited about this 2yo colt and I can't wait to see him races next, which I think will be the Ellis Juvenile at Ellis Park on August 10 at seven furlongs.

Or he may end up at Saratoga in races like the Saratoga Special on August 2 and/or Hopeful Stakes in September.

Knowing Tom Amoss is a native of Kentucky and based his horses at Ellis Park I think he will send Dazzle d'Oro to the Ellis Juvenile instead -- that is the most likely race for Dazzle d'Oro.

Stay tuned!



P.S.


This past weekend we got to see Hambletonian prep races when Super Chapter trots away in Friday's $300,000 Grade 2 MGM Yonkers Trot from well off-the-pace but still having plenty in reserve to secure a 1:54.3 victory as the 1/9 favorite.

Lookout for Super Chapter in the Hambletonian and he will be a force to be reckoned with in that race comes August 2, 2025.


Another dangerous horse and a force to be reckoned with (in the Hambletonian) is Gap Kronos S who won his Hambletonian prep race, the Frank Reynolds Memorial at The Meadowlands this weekend (June 28), pulling away from a very good field of 10 horses.

The most impressive thing about Gap Kronos S in this weekend's race is that, he seemed to have no shot at being in the money at all after breaking from post position 9 and being hung very wide -- about five wide -- in the first turn and continued to be wide on the backstretch when his rivals left no room for him to insert himself in the line.

So the best way for his driver to do was to stay wide and try to hustle to the front before the far turn to avoid being hung three or more wide because other horses were already moving outside to pass the leaders.

Gap Kronos S' driver did just that by hustling his mount very fast approaching the far turn, using a lot of energy in doing so, because the horses to his inside were not going to let anybody go by and cut in front of them -- and rightfully so.

In the end, Gap Kronos S was able to go past the leaders and cut in front of them and continued thereafer willingly while the rest give chase but to no avail as Gap Kronos S had plenty left at the end to win by almost three lengths as the 9/5 favorite.

Very impressive considering the circumstance of the race coming from post 9 and they didn't make it any easier for him to race at all.

A better post position in the Hambletonian and he'll be a force to be reckoned with -- no doubt! -- a live longshot!

He won't be among the favorites but he'll be somewhere at 12-1 or longer in the betting, in my opinion!


Meanwhile, Emoticon Legacy is scheduled to run next in the Zweig on July 3 (2025) at Vernon Downs (NY), running against -- who else? -- last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland.



ENJOY HARNESS RACING THIS WEEKEND EVERYBODY!

ANYONE GOT A HARNESS RACING FEVER LATELY?

I DO -- BIG TIME!!!





MARYLAND'S UP AND COMING 3YO SENSATION STABLE MATE SUPER CHAPTER IS PREPPING FOR THE HAMBLETONIAN!



One of the biggest programs of the year at MGM Yonkers Raceway is this weekend Friday (June 27), led by the Grade 2 $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot and the Grade 2 $200,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals for 3-year-old colts and geldings, the first legs of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns.


Super Chapter (post one, Dexter Dunn listed to drive for Marcus Melander) heads the MGM Yonkers Trot, which will go as race seven on the card.

Super Chapter is two-for-two so far this year, having won his division of the New York Sire Stakes and Empire Breeders Classic, both at Vernon Downs.

Stablemate Variegated (post three, Scott Zeron) also won in the NYSS at Vernon and was the sire stakes champion a year ago, while Chat Room (post four, Tyler Buter listed to drive for John Butenschoen) was another EBC victor at Vernon.

Hard Seven (post five, Todd McCarthy listed to drive for trainer Nancy Takter) captured the 2025 Dexter Cup at the Meadowlands.




The full field is as follows:


Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer

1-Super Chapter-Dexter Dunn-Marcus Melander

2-Happy Jack B-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt

3-Variegated-Scott Zeron-Marcus Melander

4-Chat Room-Tyler Buter-John Butenschoen

5-Hard Seven-Todd McCarthy-Nancy Takter



Super Chapter with post one is the 'lock of the night!'

Go all in on Super Chapter!



MGM Grand Messenger Stakes elimination winners Twisted Destiny (Dunn listed to drive for Chris Ryder) and Odds On No Limit (Matt Kakaley listed to drive for trainer Travis Alexander) had differing luck in the open draw for the final as Twisted Destiny got post three while Odds On No Limit landed the eight-hole.

Ryder also has another entrant in the field in World Of Wishes, who will start from post two with Joe Bongiorno listed.

The MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final is race eight on the program.



Here's a full look at the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes draw:


Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer

1-Manolete-Scott Zeron-Bruce Saunders

2-World Of Wishes-Joe Bongiorno-Chris Ryder

3-Twisted Destiny-Dexter Dunn-Chris Ryder

4-Fast Choice-Doug McNair-Jared Bako

5-Dandy Ideal-Jason Bartlett-Hunter Oakes

6-Banderas-Jordan Stratton-Tony Alagna

7-Papi's Rocket-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

8-Odds On No Limit-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander



AE-Jon I Love Dat



Additionally, there will be a pair of Grade 3 $50,000 Park MGM Pace divisions (races two and four) and two Grade 3 $50,000 New York New York Mile splits (races three and six) for fillies on the docket.

The opening Park MGM Pace tilt features New York Sire Stakes and Grand Circuit star The Last Martini (post three, Doug McNair listed to drive for Jared Bako), and Please Be You (post one, Scott Zeron listed to drive for Linda Toscano), coming off a victory in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund final at the Meadowlands, goes for another stakes title in the second.

In the New York New York Mile, Royal Mission (post one, Scott Zeron listed to drive to for Marcus Melander), last year's NYSS champion, takes on 2024 Pennsylvania champion Shes A Shoe In (post two, trainer Ray Schnittker listed to drive) in the first section, and O'Brien Award winner Monalishi (post five, Yannick Gingras listed to drive for trainer Blake Macintosh) comes south from Canada to take on the undefeated-in-2025 EL Nightwish (post three, Dexter Dunn listed to drive for trainer Lucas Wallin) in the other grouping.



ENJOY HARNESS RACING THIS WEEKEND EVERYBODY!

HARNESS RACING FEVER, ANYONE?

A FULL DOSE OF HARNESS RACING STARTING THIS WEEKEND TO AUG 2!



MEANWHILE HERE IS A HARNESS RACING LEADERBOARD STANDING!



The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, which will continue weekly on Wednesdays through the Grand Circuit season.



[The Grand Circuit season in 2025 refers to a series of premier harness racing events held at various locations throughout the year. ]



The polls are based on votes by the members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association to determine leaders of the divisions.

As of this week, Louprint, who just won the $1 million North American Cup at Woodbine Mohawk on June 14, 2025, is the leader with Twin B Joe Fresh in second and a 3yo pacing filly Miki And Minnie in third place in the standing.

Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 2 – 6/25/2025.

3cp = 3yo male pacer
mp = male pacer
mt = male trotter
fp = filly pacer
ct = colt trotter
hp = horse pacer
g = gelding

In harness racing, the letter "H" typically indicates that a horse is a "horse" which, in the context of racing programs and Thoroughbred racing, specifically refers to an unaltered male horse (a stallion) that is 5 years old or older -- hence, an hp is a horse pacer.


Rank Name Age/Sex

1. Louprint (3cp)

2. Twin B Joe Fresh (5mp)

3. Miki And Minnie (3fp)

4. Emoticon Legacy (3ct)

5. Ken Hanover (5hp - or 5yo horse pacer)

6. Dial Square S (5mt)

7. Brue Hanover (5gp)

8. Chantilly (3fp)

9. Mossdale Ben N (7gp)

10. Nijinsky (4hp)

FOLLOW BY (in that order): Smooth Dream, Aardie B Miki N, Super Chapter, Private Access, Bythemissal, Captain Albano, Madden Oaks, up to Maryland in 28th place -- yes, that is right: my former Hambletonian horse watch prospect dropped all the way to 28th.

My newly Hambletonian watch horse Emoticon Legacy made the list in fourth behind the 'no surprise' leaders Louprint and Twin B Joe Fresh.

But the BIG surprise, for me, is the 3yo pacing filly Miki And Minnie in third ahead of Emoticon Legacy -- that is a huge surprise!

Anyhow, I'll take Emoticon Legacy in fourth place with a lot of momentum and confidence heading to August 2.

Stay tuned!

"HOT" "HOT" HAMBLETONIAN TRAIL!

THE TRAIL IS SO HOT THAT I AM ALREADY HAVING A HAMBLETONIAN FEVER!




It all started what amounted to a simmering chill the weekend of June 13 (2025) when a Hambletonian prep race took place featuring Maryland versus his up and coming 3yo sensation stable mate Super Chapter -- and now, it turns into a full blown Hambletonian fever.



The symptom?


Here it is:




HARNESS RACING: HAMBLETONIAN IMPLICATION!

MARYLAND VS SUPER CHAPTER


A field of 10 Hambletonian-eligible trotters will go behind the starting gate Friday (June 13, 2025) in the $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male trotters at The Meadowlands.


[Please check out The Meadowlands' entries for the Friday card.]


ENJOY FRIDAY NIGHT OF HARNESS RACING AT THE MEADOWLANDS EVERYBODY!


The lineup includes three of this season's four fastest sophomore boys: Mr Walner Fashion, Mountcastle and Onajetplane.

The morning-line favorite, Mr Walner Fashion at 3-1, heads to the race 2-for-2 this year and is coming off a 1:51 2/5 score in a $25,000 second-round NJSS division June 6 (2025) at The Big M.

The mark is tied for the season's best; Mountcastle also trotted 1:51 2/5 in his NJSS prelim later that same night. Both horses won by a head.


However, on the same day (Friday June 13) my eyes are on Maryland running against his stablemate Super Chapter at Vernon Downs (NY), race 8, in the EMPIRE BREEDERS CLASSIC Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings.

A small field of five -- it looks to be a two-horse race between Maryland (ML 9-5) and his stablemate Super Chapter (ML 8-5) in what looks like a preview of the Hambletonian Civil War battle.

Super Chapter is the race's favorite (ML 8/5) and he has post position 3, while Maryland is the second choice and he will break from the outside post 5.

Advantage to Super Chapter in this race but he will have to earn it with Maryland in the same race.

Easy exacta!


MY PLAY OF THE NIGHT: HIGHLAND KISMET

Race 12 (The Meadowlands): $50K Graduate 2nd leg for 4YO Trotters

HIGHLAND KISMET has unlimited potential and Nancy Takter has been charged with trying to get the most out of him. The first qualifier two weeks ago seemed to be going along smoothly when he made what looked like a speed break to me -- HIGHLAND KISMET broke strides.

Nancy Takter, his trainer, said she thought maybe the miscue was because his hobbles were too tight.

So for this race I think she plans to correct the hobbles so they will be a little loose.

Bet HIGHLAND KISMET to win, place using double down!


ON THE SAME NIGHT [JUNE 14] AT WOODBINE MOHAWK THERE ARE STAKES RACES AND ONE IN PARTICULAR IS THE $1,000,000 NORTH AMERICA CUP


The Woodbine Mohawk race card is full of good betting races headlined by the North America Cup, race 11, in which, I like the 7/5 morning line favorite Louprint (post 4) in a full field of 10.

It's a $1 million race and a prep for the Meadowlands Pace (July 12) and as such anything can happen in a full field of 12.

Having said that, the likely winner is the 7/5 morning line favorite Louprint.

He is the best horse in the field and likely to go down in odd -- 4/5 or even money is my guess.


Also in the card, race 10, a cinch horse in Chantilly.

Bet Chantilly (ML 1-1) to win and put a lot of money on her because she is going to win this race at a very short price.

This is the easiest money you'll ever going to get on any card for this Saturday June 14, 2025.



Chantilly crowned Canada's Horse of the Year for 2024


Chantilly, the 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year (2024) was also named the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year (2024).

She became just the fifth 2-year-old - and only the third pacing filly - to be named Canada's Horse of the Year, joining the likes of Emilie Cas El, Whenuwishuponastar, Somebeachsomewhere and JK She'salady.


Chantilly, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, set a career best 1:49.4 mark while easily besting a field of 10 in the lone $140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series event for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday, May 24 (2025) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. It was the first OSS Gold event of 2025.

Millar Farms' homebred daughter of Big Jim out of Shiraz Seelster, who was sent off at 1/9, is now undefeated through all 11 career starts. It was her second pari-mutuel win of 2025 and pushed her career earnings to $897,756.

Starting from the rail, driver James MacDonald positioned Chantilly fourth in the early going. The pair took the lead with a strong brush before reaching the half in :55. They opened up on the field from there through the three-quarters in 1:21.4 and came home in :28 to win by 4-1/2 lengths over Wickedpace (Jody Jamieson) on a cold, windy night. Perfectly Chic (Bob McClure) was third.

"[Chantilly's] high gear is just something else, MacDonald told Woodbine Mohawk Park's Chad Rozema. "I was able to clear the lead pretty, pretty easily. And then she's just one of those horses -- and I've only driven a few of them in my life -- where you feel like you're absolutely crawling ...

You've got to be careful with her, because she's just got unbelievable speed.

"She's just a special horse. She's passed every test with flying colours. I would have liked to go :52 with the brakes on, but she's got other plans.

Sometimes when you put her in top gear she's just relentless with her speed. Hopefully, she keeps carrying on to bigger and better things.

Whether that means Chantilly will be entered against the boys in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup or the Fan Hanover for sophomore fillies -- both have their finals on June 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park -- will be up to her owner George Millar, said Chantilly's trainer Nick Gallucci.

"It's going to be George Millar's call, said Gallucci, indicating she'll get next week off. "We'll just see what happens, and I'm good with whatever decision he makes."



[End of Symptom]




The symptom is going to get worse when the up and coming 3yo sensation Go Dog Go tunes up for the Hambletonian in a race this weekend (June 28, 2025) in the Reynolds Memorial at The Meadowlands against Mr Walner Fashion, Gap Kronos S, and Maximus Mearas S -- all are Hambletonian-bound.

Also this weekend, Super Chapter, a Kentucky champion from 2024 and a stable mate of Maryland, is scheduled to take on just four rivals – Hard Seven, Happy Jack B, Chat Room and Variegated – at Yonkers Raceway on Friday night June 27, 2025.


If you read the "symptom" above you know that Super Chapter was the morning line favorite over his stable mate -- two-year-old champion Maryland -- in the Friday June 13 (2025) race.

If you didn't catch that race, Super Chapter reeled off a 1:50 4/5 Empire Breeders Classic win at Vernon Downs that night over his fancy stable mate Maryland to improve his 2025 record to two-for-two.

In that race Super Chapter went wire to wire in 1:50 4/5, just one-fifth off all-age track record.


Yes, that is right: 1/5 off the track record.



THAT WILL CATCH MY ATTENTION QUICKLY!!!


He did it against last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland while beating his fancy stable mate almost by two lengths with Hard Seven in a further distance third in a small field of five.


SPEAKING OF TRACK RECORD, ANOTHER HAMBLETONIAN-BOUND DID JUST THAT!




Emoticon Legacy absolutely crushed his foes by more than three lengths in the Goodtimes at Woodbine Mohawk Park (June 14, 2025) in a Canadian record 1:50 2/5, a mark he now shares with three older horses – Alrajah One It, Atlanta and Gaines Hanover.

At the end of the mile he was clearly pulling away from a good horse Gap Kronos S (who runs this weekend against Go Dog Go).

Trainer Luc Blais after the Goodtimes win: "I know he has lots of speed. He just has to control his emotions."

Emoticon Legacy is scheduled to run next in the Zweig on July 3 (2025) at Vernon Downs (NY), running against -- who else? -- last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland.



DID I SAY I AM HAVING A FEVER?



OH, BOY! -- DO I EVER?



THE WEEKEND COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!


THE JULY 3RD COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!


THAT IS NOT TO SAY AUGUST 2!


HOW AM I GOING TO SURVIVE UNTIL AUGUST 2?


UNTIL THEN IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY VERY EXTRA EXTRA FULL BLOWN FEVER!


OH, MY!!!

DID I SAY THAT I'M A HORSE RACING JUNKIE?


MEANWHILE THE FEVER RAGES ON!



Also scheduled to join Emoticon Legacy in running against last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland are Monserrate, Hidalgo, and Onajetplane -- all are Hambletonian-bound.



AS I STATED ABOVE THAT ... ANY HORSE ... CAME CLOSE TO OR BREAKING A TRACK RECORD WILL CATCH MY ATTENTION QUICKLY!!!


OH, BOY! -- DOES IT EVER?


Emoticon Legacy absolutely catches my attention big time!


He tied a Canadian track record of 1:50 2/5, a mark he now shares with three older horses -- yes, this 3yo is now in the company of his elders.

That says a lot!



If you follow me all along this past spring about the Kentucky Derby trail, in which, I swore my Derby horse allegiance to Cornucopian [as my Derby horse].

And then, all of a sudden, a horse named American Promise broke a track record winning the Virginia Derby and I quickly switched my Derby horse allegiance prospect from Cornucopian to American Promise.


The same thing happens here: I just switched my Hambletonian horse allegiance prospect from Maryland to Emoticon Legacy after he tied the Canadian track record of 1:50 2/5.



IT'S A NO-BRAINER!!!



So from now on, I swear my Hambletonian horse allegiance prospect to Emoticon Legacy.


MARK YOUR CALENDAR: July 3 (2025) at Vernon Downs (NY).



I CAN'T WAIT!!!




MEANWHILE, ENJOY FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT OF HARNESS RACING THIS WEEKEND, EVERYBODY!

LADY CANTERBURY EXCITEMENT SPECIAL!


EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR AS THE LADY CANTERBURY STAKES DAY IS HERE!



On this special day, the Lady Canterbury Stakes day, I will attempt to take a stab at the Lady Canterbury race itself and give you the winner of the race.

For the rest of the Canterbury card, I strongly encourage you all to follow our very own Angela Hermann -- she might give you winners meanwhile.

I also urge you all to support horse racing by betting Canterbury races through your simulcast signal at your racetrack.

Betting Canterbury races whenever you can means supporting horse racing in general -- and at the same time you may even get some enjoyment out of it.

On this special day, or on any other days for that matter, please bet on Canterbury races per Angela Hermann as your guide.

As stated above, I will only give you one winner on the entire card of the Lady Canterbury day as I'm not a specialized Canterbury horse handicapper. Hopeless not! -- Angela Hermann is your specialized Canterbury horse handicapper.

So by all means, follow her and play Canterbury races as much as you can.



The best way to play the races on this Lady Canterbury day is to use a parlay betting strategy.

However, since I'm not a specialized Canterbury horse handicapper, I could only find one winner on the entire Lady Canterbury card, and as such, I will have to find winners from other racetracks to include in the parlay scheme.

This is not a problem when using parlay betting strategy as it states that you can use races from any racetrack(s) available to you.

In other words, the parlay play doesn't have to come from the same single racetrack.


With that said, here is the Lady Canterbury Parlay Special:




1st leg:

1 1/8 Miles
The Lady Jacqueline Stakes
Fillies & Mares 3 Year Olds And Up
STAKES Purse: $250,000


Date: Saturday June 21, 2025
Track: Thistledown
Race: 11
Surface: dirt

Horse: Where's My Ring (ML 2-1 favorite)

Bet Where's My Ring to win.



2nd leg:

1 1/8 Miles
The Ohio Derby (Grade III)

3 Year Olds
STAKES Purse: $500,000


Date: Saturday June 21, 2025
Track: Thistledown
Race: 12
Surface: dirt

Horse: Clever Again (ML 9-5 favorite)

Bet Clever Again to win.




3rd leg:

1 Mile
The Lady Canterbuy Stakes
Fillies & Mares 3 Year Olds And Up
STAKES Purse: $75,000


Date: Saturday June 21, 2025
Track: Canterbury Park
Race: 5
Surface: turf


Horse: Cupids Crush (ML 5-2 favorite)

Bet Cupids Crush (ML 5-2) to win and put all of the accumulated money on Cupids Crush to win because she is going to win the Lady Canterbuy Stakes this Saturday June 21, 2025.

Cupids Crush's post time odd is likely to be 3/5 or lower (in my opinion) despite a 5/2 morning line odd.

Hey, a win is a win instead of chasing some longshots in hope of a big payoff as most horseplayers often do to no avail.

Take the easy money!


I will say this:


This is the easiest money you'll ever going to get on the Lady Canterbury card or on any other cards on Saturday June 21, 2025.



THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PLAYING CANTERBURY RACES!



ENJOY CANTERBURY RACES EVERYBODY!

I LOVE TWO-YEAR-OLDS: THEY'RE THE FUTURE!




I was and still am very excited about an expensive and well-bred 2yo colt making his debut race at Churchill Downs on Sunday June 1, 2025.

It was a 5-1/2-furlong race for 2yo colts on dirt and his name is Cannoneer (by Into Mischief - Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon).

Cannoneer finished third as a 2-1 favorite in that debut race and from the look of it -- it was a good debut race despite not winning the race.

The future is bright for this 2yo colt and the sky is the limit.

He is trained by Brad Cox, and he costs $1,750,000 as a yearling.

His dam, Catch the Moon, produced FOUR graded stakes winners: Girvin, Midnight Bourbon, Cocked and Loaded, and Pirate's Punch.



AS EXCITED AS I WAS WITH CANNONEER I AM EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT THIS VERY EXPENSIVE TW0-YEAR-OLD COLT AS WELL!


I LOVE TWO-YEAR-OLDS: THEY'RE THE FUTURE!


At this year’s (2025) OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing went to a sale-topping $3 million to secure a gray or roan colt by Gun Runner out of the winning Liam's Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to graded stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O.

According to Zedan, he revealed the colt had been named Brant in honor of the prominent eastern-based owner-breeder Peter Brant of White Birch Farm.

The record $3-Million OBS purchase named Brant is gearing up at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert and should be ready for a debut race later this summer, if he progresses well enough.

Brant has been on a steady work regiment since mid-April for trainer Bob Baffert.

On Saturday June 14 (2025) at Santa Anita, the colt worked four furlongs in 49 seconds.

At the under-tack show prior to the sale, Brant blazed an eighth of a mile in 9.60 seconds to command top dollar.

He is out of the winning Liam's Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to graded stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O.



Pappacap won the Best Pal (Gr II) in 2021, fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (Gr I) in 2021, 2nd in the American Pharoah and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2021, fourth in the Florida Derby in 2022, second in both the Pat Day Mile and the Woody Stephens in 2022.


Works at Santa Anita:

Brant worked 4f, June 14th, in 49.00 (h) finishing 40/83
Brant worked 4f, June 9th, in 49.60 (h) finishing 45/69
Brant worked 4f, June 2nd, in 48.20 (h) finishing 15/54
Brant worked 5f, May 26th, in 1:01.40 (hg) finishing 11/18
Brant worked 3f, May 3rd, in 38.60 (h) finishing 19/22
Brant worked 3f, Apr 25th, in 37.20 (h) finishing 4/6
Brant worked 3f, Apr 18th, in 37.80 (h) finishing 7/8
Brant worked 2f, Apr 11th, in 24.20 (h) finishing 1/3
Brant worked 2f, Apr 4th, in 24.80 (h)



I'm very excited about this two-year-old and I can't wait to see him hitting the racetrack competing.

Stay tuned!