HAPPY HAMBLETONIAN EVERYBODY!
EXCITEMENT LOOMS AS THE HAMBLETONIAN IS HERE!
EXCITEMENT?
OH, BOY, DO I EVER?
NOTE: THE HAMBLETONIAN IS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NOT AT NIGHT!
First of all, you know that I love two-year-old races and on Friday at The Meadowlands the whole card is full of "stars of the future" prospects -- and a lot of these prospects will end up in next year's Hambletonian, but before then, they will surely showing up in this fall's Breeder's Crown in November.
So make sure to check out the entry for Friday August 1, 2025, at The Meadowlands.
HAMBLETONIAN 2026 PROSPECTS
Friday August 1, 2025, at The Meadowlands contains 2yo card full of 2026 Hambletonian and Oaks prospects.
One of them is in race 2 by the name of Who's Eyes Blues (post 1) whose trainer Ron Burke said he is better than multiple track records breaker AI.
Considering AI is an accomplished two track records breaker -- one at Buffalo Raceway and another at Yonker Raceway -- says a lot about Who's Eyes Blues.
Any horse that breaks one track record -- let alone two -- will catch my attention.
AI definitely catches my attention -- BIG TIME!
Unfortunately, AI is not among 2yos in Friday's card -- he is resting and gearing up for a fall campaign with an eye toward the Breeder's Crown in November.
Meanwhile, in AI's absent, his stable mate Who's Eyes Blues should light up Friday's proceedings if he is as good as his trainer says he is.
We'll find out how good he really is Friday August 1, 2025.
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Here is an except of trainer Ron Burke's comment about Who's Eyes Blues after his win in the second division of the New York Sire Stakes ( $74,500) on Thursday evening (July 24, 2025) in 1:59.4.
Yonkers, NY - AI remained undefeated and tied the MGM Yonkers Raceway track record for a 2-year-old colt trotter when he captured the first of two $74,500 New York Sire Stakes divisions on Thursday evening (July 24) in 1:56.3.
In addition to AI's victory, driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke and sire Chapter Seven also won the other split with Who's Eyes Blues [second division of the New York Sire Stakes ( $74,500)].
AI equaled a Yonkers track record set in 2018 by Gimpanzee.
Titans Mischief (Matt Kakaley) showed strong speed and led AI early, but Gingras brought AI to the outside prior to the :28.4 quarter and had control before that station was reached. From there, AI went on to the half in :58.4 and the three-quarters in 1:28 before he closed in :28.3 to defeat Titans Mischief by 3 1/2 lengths. Spencer Hanover (Dexter Dunn) was third.
The time of 1:56.3 put AI in the record book alongside Gimpanzee, whose mile came back on Sept. 22, 2018.
Bred in New York by Steve Jones, AI is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He has earned $155,000 to go with his four-for-four record and paid $2.50 to win. He was atop a $4.30 exacta and a $6.50 trifecta.
In the second flight, Angry Pete (John Stark Jr.) was in front at the :30.2 quarter-mile marker, but Who's Eyes Blues and Gingras, who had tipped out of fourth on the second turn, moved up side-by-side with him on the way to the 1:01.1 half. Angry Pete was able to counter and quicken on the inside to keep Who's Eyes Blues on the rim, but Who's Eyes Blues finally wore him down and went by nearing the 1:30.1 three-quarters.
After Who's Eyes Blues cleared to the point, Chapter Geo J (Joe Bongiorno) took up the chase from first-over, and he had trot and gained all the way to the wire. Who's Eyes Blues was just able to stave off Chapter Geo J, though, as he got to the wire a nose to the good in a 1:59.4 mile. Chapter Geo J was a game second in his career debut and Secured (Ake Svanstedt) collected third.
A Fair Winds Farm-bred, Who's Eyes Blues competes for Burke Racing Stable LLC., Frank Baldachino, Hatfield Stables and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Who's Eyes Blues has two wins from three outings, has banked $55,906 and returned $3.90 to win. He keyed a $16.60 exacta and a $49.20 trifecta.
"The best part is I think Who's Eyes Blues might be better," said Burke when asked about AI, who also posted a track record at Buffalo for Gingras - in his first start at that track since 2016 - in the previous leg of the sire stakes. "AI is good but training down we all said Who's Eyes Blues is better. We expect both to do good things."
One $20,000 New York Excelsior Series race for the rookie colt and gelding trotters was won by Devious Man gelding Goog Eyes in 2:02 for driver Jordan Stratton, trainer Phil Fluet and owner/breeder Bonnie Woodward. Goog Eyes broke his maiden in his fourth chance, has now pocketed $25,000 and paid $5.50 to win. The exacta was $40.20 and the trifecta kicked back $652.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT). The New York Sire Stakes circuit will be back at the oval on Aug. 5 with the fifth leg for 2-year-old trotting fillies.
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I'M VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW WHO'S EYES BLUES DOES FRIDAY AUGUST 1, 2025
I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT AI'S UPCOMING RACES AS HE IS GEARING UP FOR THE FALL.
With that said, bet Who's Eyes Blues to win/place using double betting strategy this Friday August 1, 2025.
Who's Eyes Blues (ML 3-1) is the second choice behind Magic Punk (ML 5-2).
As for the Hambletonian 2025 -- oh, boy, the anticipation and excitement on my part is enormous and I wouldn't be able to go anywhere or doing anything else other than going to the racetrack where I live to enjoy the Hambletonian.
This is one of the special days in horse racing that I wouldn't be anywhere else but at the racetrack enjoying the Hambletonian.
You won't find me anywhere else but at the racetrack.
With that said, this year's Hambletonian is a very good betting race in my opinion, in which, a horse named Maryland really caught my eyes along the Hambletonian trail, particularly toward the end of the trail.
You may recalled that I started out with Maryland as my Hambletonian trail horse allegiance prospect and then I switched to Emoticon Legacy after he broke a track record at Woodbine Mohawk when he dominated the Goodtimes Final in 1:50.2 (June 14, 2025).
From June 14 all the way to just prior to the Hambletonian Elimination races last Saturday (July 26), I was firmly an Emoticon Legacy allegiance, but after the Elimination races my feeling toward both Maryland and Emoticon Legacy changed again in different directions -- and in one direction my feeling is in favor of Maryland and in the other direction (my feeling) is away from Emoticon Legacy.
To make a long story short: In their respective Elimination races this past Saturday, Maryland impresses me more than Emoticon Legacy.
So I'm switching back to my original Hambletonian trail horse allegiance prospect Maryland for this Saturday's Hambletonian.
I think Maryland is peaking at the right time this Saturday and I will play Maryland to win to beat his likely heavy heavy favorite stable mate Super Chapter.
As for Emoticon Legacy -- I think he will be out of the money (fourth -- in my opinion).
Maryland will turn the tables on his sensational heavy favorite stable mate Super Chapter this Saturday (in my opinion).
The first time these two stable mates met was on June 13, 2025, in the EMPIRE BREEDERS CLASSIC at Vernon Downs (NY), in which, Super Chapter defeated Maryland easily in a small five-horse field.
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Here is the excerpt of what I wrote the week of June 13:
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.
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Looking back to my June 13 comment - it's a prescient comment on my part considering there were lots and lots of good Hambletonian horses on the trail.
As for this Saturday -- the same thing: It looks to be a Hambletonian Civil War battle between Maryland and his stable mate Super Chapter.
That's how I see it!
Maryland has been facing tough horses all his life, particularly on the Hambletonian trail where he was second to his stable mate Super Chapter in the EMPIRE BREEDERS CLASSIC (June 13, 2025); he was second to Emoticon Legacy in the Zweig Memorial (July 3); he was second to Go Dog Go in the Stanley Dancer (at The Big M on July 12); and most recently, he was second to an 18-1 longshot Nordic Catcher S in the Elimination race on July 26, 2025.
In the Elimination race on July 26, Maryland (2-1) and Go Dog Go (4/5 favorite) went at each other, playing cat and mouse at each other the whole race with Maryland sort of win the battle over Go Dog Go but only to lose the war to the 18-1 longshot Nordic Catcher S.
I think Maryland will run a huge race and have a break through race this Saturday (in my opinion) -- he is due for a huge performance.
With that said, here is the play:
HAMBLETONIAN PARLAY SPECIAL
The parlay rule states that only three legs per parlay IS ALLOWED but this is a spcial day, and as such, I will make an exception to the three-leg rule and make it a five-leg rule instead.
Yes, that is right: FIVE!
With that exception, let's start the 'Hambletonian Day' off with a BANG!
A 'Bang?'
Oh, boy, do we ever?
Miki And Minnie, race 2, will start us off with a BANG!
1ST LEG:
Date: Saturday August 2, 2025.
Track: The Meadowlands
Race: 2
Bet Miki And Minnie (ML 5-2) to win.
2ND LEG:
Date: Saturday August 2, 2025.
Track: The Meadowlands
Race: 4
Bet Onajetplane (ML 7-2) to win and place using double down betting strategy and you should be going home as a winner.
Onajetplane was one of the contenders on the Hambletonian trail but he didn't qualify in the Elimination race, so he ends up in a much easier race and he should win this race as he was competing against Harness' best 3yo trotters on the trail.
This field is nothing what he had faced on the trail, so he'll win this race easily and the 'BANG!' should continues.
In other words, the parlay bankroll should be accumulating after this race.
3RD LEG:
Date: Saturday August 2, 2025.
Track: The Meadowlands
Race: 5
Bet Manolete (ML 6-1) to win and place using double down betting strategy and you should be going home as a winner.
4th LEG:
Date: Saturday August 2, 2025.
Track: The Meadowlands
Race: 12 (THE 100TH HAMBLETONIAN)
Bet Maryland (ML 3-1) to win and place using double down betting strategy and you should be going home as a winner.
Elimination winners Nordic Catcher S (ML 9-2), Super Chapter (ML 5-2), and Emoticon Legacy (ML 4-1) landed in post position 6, 2, 3, respectively.
Maryland, on the other hand, landed on post position 4.
The speedster Meshuggah (ML 20-1) landed on post position 1 and surely he will set the pace, but how long can he hold on to the lead?
Like the Kentucky Derby, the pace of the Hambletonian will be very fast early and horses usually are jockeying for post position early, creating all kinds of movement in the early part of the race.
Look for Maryland to settle near the back of the pack as he doesn't have quick early speed.
Look for either Super Chapter or Emoticon Legacy to make the first move entering the backstretch and by the halfway point on the backstretch, Super Chapter will take over the lead and Emoticon Legacy right behind him in second while the rest give chase.
Approaching the far turn, look for Maryland to make an "eye-catching" devastating and killer move like he did against Emoticon Legacy in the Zweig Memorial (July 3) when track announcer blurted out, "there goes Maryland, flying ..., now fourth, now third, now second, to challeng Emoticon Legacy ..."
If he makes that kind of a move like he did in the Zeig Memorial, Maryland is your 2025 Hambletonian winner -- and I expect him to.
He is peaking at the right time, in my opinion!
OUR HAMBLETONIAN PARLAY SPECIAL CONTINUES!
HERE IS HOW TO PLAY THE WHITNEY!
HAMBLETONIAN/WHITNEY PARLAY SPECIAL
After the fourth leg with Maryland as the anchor fourth and last leg of the Harness side of the parlay, we bridge it to thoroughbred side of the parlay and play the Whitney Stakes as the fifth and last leg of our "exception" five-leg parlay special.
5TH LEG:
Date: Saturday August 2, 2025.
Track: Saratoga
Race: 11
Bet Fierceness (ML 9-5) to win and hedge that win bet by betting an exacta with Sierra Leone on top of Fierceness.
Yes, that is right: We're using a "two-horse" betting strategy in combination with the parlay betting strategy.
This means that, use all of the accumulated money from the previous legs, the fourth leg from the Harness side of the parlay, and divide it by 6.
For example, if the accumulated money from the previous legs is $100,
divide $100 by 6 = 16.666666 which is equivalent to 17.
If the result is an odd number, which it is (17), round it up to an even number, which is 18.
Now subtract $18 from $100 which equals to $82.
This $82 is the win bet amount on Fierceness.
But the $18 is your exacta amount to bet or should I say the insurance premium amount to protect your $100 win bet.
Simple enough?
Exacta denomination is $2, 18 / $2 equals to 9 exacta denominations.
Bet Exacta: $18 Sierra Leone / Fierceness [for a probable return of $54 (9 x $6)].
ENJOY THE HAMBLETONIAN/WHITNEY PARLAY SPECIAL, EVERYBOY!
HAPPY HAMBLETONIAN/OAKS, EVERYBOY!
