July Jaunts For Both Divisions With Hot Hopefuls
By Frank & Ray Cotolo
(H) Denotes Hambletonian eligible
Hopefuls were spread out in racing events across the east coast, with eligibles competing in the Reynolds at the Meadowlands, the $150,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars at Pocono Downs for the colts and the $155,624 Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers.
The Reynolds were contested on Friday night, July 5, while the “Hudson” and “All-Stars” events were slated for July 6. The All-Stars at Pocono attracted 19 Hambletonian prospects with five divisions contested.
Brew Master (H-Glidemaster) took the field wire-to-wire in the first division of the All-Stars in 1:54.4. The post time favorite set mild fractions on the lead and had a slight challenge late in the mile as Maxamillus sat a pocket trip and attempted to steal the front in the final strides; though came a neck short. Rossini (H-Classic Photo) got away third and held that spot, while Text Winner (H-Tom Ridge) settled for fourth.
The second choice on the board, Punxsutawney (H-Glidemaster) failed to stay flat this week and was eliminated from the race passing the quarter, as was long shot Bullish (H-Cantab Hall).
Brew Master, our choice, returned $5.40 to win. William Bercury owns him, Marcus Marashian trains him and was driven to victory by Dave Palone.
Through a tough first over trip, our choice, Aperfectyankee (H-Yankee Glide) took the lead into the stretch and kicked away by 3 lengths to win the second division in 1:53.1.
Broadway Prince (H-Broadway Hall) stalked his move passing three-quarters and managed to be second best, while pace setter Major Athens (H-Andover Hall) faded to third. Atlas Peak (H-Cantab Hall) sat a pocket trip, but quit and finished fourth, in front of a breaking duo consisting of public choice Tigress’s Legacy (H-SJ’s Caviar) finishing sixth and Denver (H-Andover Hall) finishing seventh.
Being our selection on the Hambletonian Trail, Aperfectyankee paid $9.40 in the win column. He is owned, trained and driven by Jim Oscarsson.
In the third division, another of our choices, Bluto (H-Donato Hanover) sat in fourth while Crystal Phenom (H-Broadway Hall) set monstrous fractions on the lead. Once Crystal Phenom began to gallop at three-quarters, Smoother Ride (H-Yankee Glide) was first over, ready to make his move. Bluto tracked him second over and kicked home into the stretch to head Smoother Ride at the wire.
Classicality (who we encouraged readers to take seriously and was 42-1) was third and Vibe Blue Chip finished fourth. Recon (H-Andover Hall) was not a threat, finishing a distance behind the field. Bluto returned $9.00 to win. He is owned by Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding and Louie Camara and was driven by trainer Jimmy Takter.
High Bridge (H-Cantab Hall), our choice, was the only eligible in the fourth division. He sat a pocket trip and was runner up to Its Complicated, who won in 1:52.4 as the 5-1 third choice. Its Complicated is owned by Hatfield Stables, trained by Kris Hite and was driven by George Napolitano Jr. to return $12.40 to win.
Off an upset victory in the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial consolation, the Noel Daley-trained All Laid Out (H-Yankee Glide) destroyed his division as the favorite in 1:53. Getting away in the middle of the pack, he brushed to the top with less than a quarter of a mile left and from there, kicked away by 5 lengths from Sailer Eddie in second and Boffin (H-Donato Hanover) who was closing into third. Show Ticket (H-Broadway Hall) was closing for minor honors after getting shuffled, but was 10 lengths off of All Laid Out nearing the wire. Sailer Eddie held second, Boffin was third and Show Ticket was fourth.
All Laid Out returned $4.40 to the public. He is owned and trained by Noel Daley and Dave Palone was in the bike. The Hudson Filly Trot was the feature race on Saturday night at Yonkers, with five of the eight entrants heading towards the “Oaks.” The public chose Lady Broadway as their top contender, sending her off at 1-5. Heading to the start, the race became wide open as she began to gallop.
With the favorite eliminated, Andie Sophia cleared the lead from Royal Assets (H-Donato Hanover) passing the quarter. Caneel Hall tried to follow Andie Sophia but went off stride. Andie Sophia was on the lead with ease, while Royal Assets sat the pocket. Southwind Cocoa (H-Chocolatier) began her move and Andie Sophia rated on the lead. Time To Kill (H-Muscles Yankee) followed her second over but gapped. Southwind Cocoa applied pressure to the leader but began to drop back after three-quarters. Cha Cha Magic (H-Kadabra), our choice, was sitting at the cones watching everything unfold.
Southwind Cocoa was eliminated from the win into the stretch; she was losing ground. Off a pocket trip, Ray Schnittker gave his filly the cue and Royal Assets began her bid. Andie Sophia dug in and held off Royal Assets by a head in 1:53. Royal Assets was second, Southwind Cocoa was third and Cha Cha Magic finished fourth. Andie Sophia was the second choice on the board, paying $8.50 to win. She is owned by Harmon Racing Stable LLC, Comfortably Numb Stable and Adam Friedland, trained by Rob Harmon and was driven by Larry Stalbaum.
Hambletonian winter book favorite Wheeling N Dealin (H-Cantab Hall) debuted at Mohawk on Saturday night against an overnight field. Sent off the 1-5 favorite, he sat fourth and followed cover past three-quarters, losing ground into the stretch and regaining it but settling for fourth. It was the first loss for the Dustin Jones trainee, entering the season with a nine-for-nine resume.
The Grand Circuit made a pit stop in the swamplands of East Rutherford, New Jersey, bringing with it the Reynolds stakes to the Meadowlands. Two divisions of the $54,978 Mary Reynolds Stakes for the fillies and one division of the $50,278 Scott Frost Reynolds for the colts were contested on the Meadowlands’ Friday night card. The Mary Reynolds kicked off the Daily Double, being contested on both legs. Shared Past (H-Chocolatier) took the lead, until True Day Dream brushed to the top. Miss Steele (H-Muscles Yankee) sat in third and Vintage Oaks (H-Muscles Yankee) was in fourth. Ma Chere Hall (H-Deweycheatumnhowe) came first over and began her pursuit for the lead.
At three-quarters, Miss Steele came second over as Ma Chere Hall was only a length behind leader True Day Dream. It was a two-horse race into the stretch. True Day Dream fought hard, but Ma Chere Hall got her neck in front and won at the wire, with Miss Steele finishing third and Shared Past in fourth. Ma Chere Hall was the post time favorite and our choice, returning $3.80 to win. She is owned by Walnut Hall Limited, Aldebaran Park Inc. and Joe Sbrocco, trained by Jonas Czernyson and was driven by Corey Callahan.
To Dream On (H-Credit Winner) took the field gate to wire in her division, winning in 1:54 with ease. Mistery Woman (H-Donato Hanover) was the only threat, trotting a pocket trip but settling for second. Raring To Go S (H-From Above S), our choice, trotted along and finished third, then came Perfect Alliance (H-Credit Winner) finishing fifth and Alston Hall (H-Deweycheatumnhowe) finishing sixth as no threat. As the second choice, To Dream On paid $5.40 to win. She is owned by Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and Sam Goldbond, trained by Jimmy Takter and was driven by Yannick Gingras.
A quintet gathered behind the starting gate for the lone division of the Scott Frost Reynolds. Spider Blue Chip (H-Andover Hall) was the pacesetter and through soft fractions easily held off pocket-sitter Creatine (H-Andover Hall) to win in 1:52.3. Muscle Mountain (H-Muscles Yankee) was not a threat in third and Banco Solo (H-Master Glide) was not a threat, fading to fourth. Caveat Emptor (H-Deweycheatumnhowe) completed the field of five, finishing fifth as the longest shot on the board.
Spider Blue Chip went off the favorite and returned $5.00 to win. He is owned by David Mc Duffee and Melvin Hartman, trained by Chuck Sylvester and was guided to victory by David Miller.
Keep watching the Hambletonian Trail blog for updates and races involving eligibles through July and for live coverage from TwinSpires on Hambletonian day. Read race results at the special section archived at the Hambletonian Society web site.
