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Saturday, August 3, 2013

M1 - Royalty For Life, Creatine and Spider Blue Chip won the Hambletonian heats



EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Royalty For Life, Creatine and Spider Blue Chip won the $70,000 elimination heats leading to the $1 million Hambletonian final on Saturday afternoon at The Meadowlands Racetrack.

The three heats trimmed the field of 23 down to 10 for the final, the richest event in harness racing
Royalty For Life starts from the rail. Spider Blue Chip starts along side in post 2. Creatine has post 4.
The top three finishers in each elimination advanced to the final, along with Dontyouforgetit, the richest fourth-place finisher.

The field in post order: Royalty For Life, Spider Blue Chip. Corky, Creatine, Dontyouforgetit, High Bridge, Aperfectyankee, Lauderdale, Smilin Eli and Wheeling N Dealin.

Royalty For Life continued to peak at the right time. He won the first elimination heat under wraps in 1:52. 

The colt, foaled in Massachusetts, extended his winning streak to three, including The Meadowlands’ Stanley Dancer Memorial, after breaking stride in his first three starts. 

Brian Sears put Royalty For Life on the lead approaching the opening quarter and they remained solidly in charge the rest of the way.

“He’s getting more starts in him and some more confidence,” Sears said. “He’s getting to know what we’re trying to do out there. He’s a little more comfortable. I look for him to be even better in the final.”

Royalty For Life, trained by George Ducharme for Alfred Ross, Raymond Campbell, Jr. and Paul Fontaine, beat Smilin Eli by 1 3-4 lengths with High Bridge third.

Creatine was the well-rated winner of the second elimination heat in 1:52 4/5 for driver Mike Lachance, trainer Bob Stewart and owners Diamond Creek Racing.

Taking charge early from post 8, Creatine got his third win in seven starts.

“Just to be in the Hambletonian is something very special,” said Lachance, a four-time Hambletonian winner. “It’s a dream for a young driver. For an old driver, it’s an even bigger dream.”

Wheeling N Dealin, last season’s Dan Patch Award winner, finished two lengths behind the winner with Aperfectyankee third.

Speed held once again in the final heat as Spider Blue Chip took the third and final elimination in 1:53 4/5. Ron Pierce drove for trainer Chuck Sylvester and owners David Mc Duffee and Melvin 
Hartman.

Corky was second with Lauderdale third.