EAST RUTHERFORD,
N.J. Defending Dan Patch winner Shake It Cerry heads up 11 distaffers
entered in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks. The race will go straight to the
final to be raced on Hambletonian Day, Sat., Aug. 2, at The New Meadowlands
Racetrack, East Rutherford, NJ.
Hambletonian week
begins on Saturday, July 26th with a prep race for the Hambletonian Oaks and
U.S. Pacing Championship and eliminations of the John Cashman Memorial, and
Lady Liberty. The evening will be centered on the theme of “Ladies Night,”
including a concert in the Backyard by Lisa Matassa, Macy’s Gift Card and
Ladies Handbag drawings as well as a special Ladies’ Night cocktail.
The leading lady
in her division, Shake It Cerry lost just once in six starts this year,
finishing third behind Designed To Be and Lifetime Pursuit in a Pennsylvania
Sires Stake at Pocono Downs in June. Her most recent win in the Del Miller
Memorial sent her over the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings.
Shake It Cerry is
owned by Solveig’s Racing Partners. She is currently ranked #8 in the latest
Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Top Ten poll.
The 11 Oaks
entrants in alphabetical order with trainers and named drivers in parentheses
are: Cee Bee Yes (Julie Miller-Marcus Miller), Cooler Schooner (Jim
Campbell-Dave Miller), Designed To Be (Julie Miller-Brian Sears), Harley Momma
(Jim Raymer-Howard Parker), Heavens Door (Åke Svanstedt-Åke Svanstedt),
Lifetime Pursuit (Jimmy Takter-Yannick Gingras), Nitro Nittany (Jim
Raymer-Howard Parker), Shake It Cerry (Jimmy Takter-Ron Pierce), Take The
Money (Julie Miller-Dave Palone), Tweet Me (Don Swick-Brett Miller), and Vanity
Matters (Jonas Czernyson-Scott Zeron)
Post positions
will be drawn and morning lines assigned on Tuesday, July 29 at the
Hambletonian Press conference and Post Position draw, at 4:00 p.m. in Victory
Sports Bar at The Meadowlands.
The $300,650 John
Cashman Jr. Memorial, $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks and $1 million Hambletonian
will be featured on a live 90-minute broadcast on CBS Sports Network from
4-5:30 p.m. [EDT] on Aug. 2.
Hambletonian Day
is closing day, and the zenith of the Championship Meet. Fans can follow the
next two action-filled weekends at meadowlandsracetrack.com
and on Twitter at #Hambo14.
