The second edition of the modern day Hambletonian Maturity is the
richest restricted race for four-year-olds, with a purse of $443,300. The
inaugural Maturity drew a field of 14 including the defending Hambletonian
champion Royalty For Life and the Oaks winner Bee A Magician.
The Maturity is raced over 1-1/8 miles. The six-horse field, in
post order, is Father Patrick, Shake It Cerry, Resolve, Gural Hanover, Il Sogno
Dream and JL Cruze.
Of the six, four who competed in last year’s Hambletonian or Oaks
and two were ineligible to the richest race for three-year-old trotters but
have blossomed since that all-important stake payment deadline.
Two-time Dan Patch divisional champion Father Patrick drew the
rail in the Maturity, race 11 on a star-studded card anchored by the Crawford
Farm Meadowlands Pace. The four-year-old son of Cantab Hall pulled double duty
this spring, racing and breeding a select group of mares. Father Patrick now
has another chance to wear a Hambletonian blanket after an ill-timed gallop at
the start of last year’s Hambletonian took him out of the race entirely.
The 2014 Hambletonian was won by Trixton, since retired to stud,
but the fourth and fifth place finishers in the race have returned for another
go. Il Sogno Dream, driven by Aaron Merriman from post five, makes his sixth
start of the year and his first return engagement at The Meadowlands since last
year’s Breeders Crown.
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| Il Sogno Dream & Aaron Merriman courtesy of Deuce Photo |
“He was really good right off the bat when I started back with him
this year,” said trainer Chris Beaver. “I don’t know that he’s gotten a whole
lot better since last year but he just missed one check so I am happy with
that.
“I was surprised to see just six in the race, but the owners [Bill
& Dan Manes, Leonard LC and Randy Christopher] wanted to go and I knew we
would get back at least half the starting fee. They are game owners and hey –
we were 90-1 in the Hambletonian and they were gung ho about it. Part of it is
the experience of being in these races. We have the Charlie Hill, Maple Leaf,
Allerage Trot and the Dayton Derby so he has a full schedule.”
Last year’s final check-getter in the Hambletonian was Resolve,
owned by Hans Enggren, who won the Hambletonian 30 years ago with Prakas.
Resolve moved into the barn of Ake Svanstadt for his four-year-old campaign and
it was Svanstadt who steered last year’s Maturity winner Your So Vain to
victory. Resolve has been a solid third in his last four starts and is looking
for his first in the win column this year.
Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry was fourth in the
Oaks last year but has found her best stride of late, nearly running down JL
Cruze in his record-setting 1:49.4 mile last week.
The gelding Gural Hanover was a problem child in his early stages
and therefore not staked extensively other than NY Sire Stake races. He racked
up more than $400,000 under trainer Ron Burke in that lucrative program and
supplemented back into the Maturity this year.
Perhaps the light entry box is a reflection on JL Cruze (post six
for trainer Eric Ell and driver John Campbell.) Owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar Jr.,
and Stephen Iaquinta paid $50,000 to supplement JL Cruze to the Hambletonian
Maturity and he was assigned a morning line of 3/5. The $35,000 purchase has
been an absolute buzzsaw, with 15 wins in 17 starts this season, including the
Super Bowl, Singer Memorial, Shiaway St Pat and swept the Graduate Series,
scripting the fastest trotting mile at The Meadowlands of 1:49.4 in the
process.
The Hambletonian Maturity is race 11 on Saturday’s 14-race card at
The Meadowlands. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
(Deuce photo of Il Sogno Dream & Aaron Merriman)
