The inaugural Hambletonian Maturity
drew a full field of 14 trotters for the $484,850 mile and one-eighth event on
July 5 at the Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, NJ.
Created by the Hambletonian Society and
the Meadowlands as a racing opportunity for the previous year’s Hambletonian
and Oaks-eligible horses, the event drew both the 2013 Oaks winner and Dan
Patch Horse of the Year, Bee A Magician and the Hambletonian champion, Royalty
For Life.
Though not a new concept – a race for
older Hambletonian eligibles was sometimes included in the Hambletonian Stakes
from the 1930s to the early ‘70s, the 21st century version was created
in 2011 when the Hambletonian Society saw an opportunity to provide an
additional stake event for four-year-olds returning to the races.
“In 2011 we signed a new host agreement
with The Meadowlands for the Hambletonian and included a Maturity, capitalizing
on the industry trend and Jeff Gural’s desire to see horses continue racing
through extended careers,” said Tom Charters president of the Hambletonian
Society, which owns and administrates the race.
“In order to do it as a stake we needed
to start funding it back in 2012. We also wanted it to have a different
distance and larger field. The SBOA of NJ and The Meadowlands have been great
partners all along and saw the value in doing an innovative race like this.”
Meadowlands Track owner Jeff Gural
echoed those sentiments about a race that provides a unique spectacle in its
first edition.
“Keeping our stars on the racetrack is
vital to the appeal of our industry to its fans. This race was created
with that ideology in mind. Having 14 horses going a mile and one-eighth
for $484,850 is literally something we never see and I think this is a race
that can really captivate the fans.”
Like the Hambletonian and Oaks, the
Maturity conditions prohibit the use of Lasix, the only race day medication
permitted in New Jersey. The distance of a mile and eighth provides a fairer
shot for the possibility of 16 horses on the gate.
With no eliminations, post positions
were determined by an open draw.
All starters in the race will receive
money, with the winner receiving 50% of the purse. One percent of the total
purse will be paid to the owners of those finalists finishing 6 through 14. The
remainder of the purse for the Maturity will be divided 50-24-16-10% for the
horses finishing second through fifth.
There were 32 original eligibles. Entrants are listed in post-position order
with named driver, trainer and morning line:
1.
Your So Vain – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt (8-1)
2.
Sweet Justice – Corey Callahan – Bruce Saunders (15-1)
3.
Bambino Glide – Marcus Miller – Julie Miller (15-1)
4.
Fico – Tyler Smith – Staffan Lind (30-1)
5.
Wheeling N Dealin – Jody Jamieson – Luc Blais (6-1)
6.
Royalty For Life – David Miller – George Ducharme (3-1)
8.
Spider Blue Chip – Ron Pierce – Chuck Sylvester (8-1)
9.
High Bridge – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter (30-1)
10.
Master Of Law – Scott Zeron – Frank Antonacci (30-1)
11.
Major Athens – John Campbell – Rich Gillock (30-1)
12.
Possessed Fashion – Tim Tetrick – Tom Fanning (30-1)
13.
Bee A Magician – Brian Sears – R. Nifty Norman (4-1)
14.
Creatine – Mike Lachance – Bob Stewart (6-1)
