By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The horses are
now set for the two marquee 2-year-old trotting events at The Meadowlands on
Hambletonian Day (Saturday, Aug. 7) as eliminations got field sizes down to 10
for the $275,000 (est.) Peter Haughton Memorial for colts and geldings and
$300,000 (est.) Jim Doherty Memorial for fillies Friday night at The Big M.
King Of The North stamped himself as
the favorite in the Haughton with an easy score in his elim in 1:56.1 for
driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ray Schnittker. The colt, a son of
Walner-Check Me Out, used a quick burst of speed to get by early leader
Temporal Hanover heading to the half and tripped that beam in a sleepy :57.3.
The 4-5 favorite maintained the lead
from there, recording a 1¼-length win over the pocket-sitting 6-5 second choice
Temporal Hanover. The final time was three-and-two-fifth-seconds slower than
his lifetime best, much to the delight of his trainer.
“He’s like a professional soldier,”
said Schnittker. “He got cheap fractions, which is good for next week. He
didn’t have to do much. He just had to brush for an eighth of a mile. I was a
little concerned with the horse in the two-hole because I wanted to win so we
can get a better post draw for the final.”
Elimination winners get to draw for
post positions one through six in both the Haughton and Doherty.
“He’s a really nice horse,” said
Schnittker. “He’s like a 5-year-old. Hopefully, he gets the job done next
week.”
Global Pandemic, B A Superhero and
Looks Like Moni finished third through fifth, respectively, in the six-horse
field (with one scratch) to earn spots in the final.
King Of The North paid $3.60 to win
after upping his stats to four wins from four lifetime starts.
Robertsin (a gelding by Muscle
Hill-Sina) won the other Haughton elim in wire-to-wire fashion for driver
George Brennan and trainer Nik Drennan. In winning for the first time in four
career starts, Robertsin trotted the mile in 1:54.4 after hitting the wire
three-quarters-of-a-length to the good and returned $4.60 to win as the 6-5
public choice.
“I liked him right along,” said
Brennan. “He’s been drawing bad posts [post nine in all three career starts
heading into Friday] but he got to see the left side of the starter car tonight
[post five] and didn’t surprise me at all. He trotted home well into the wind.
He’s awful good. Winning this race so we could draw a good post for the final
was definitely on my mind. You’re not just looking to qualify for the final and
hope you draw well. I think it’s a great way to do it.”
Letsdoit S, Classic Hill, Fast As The
Wind and S I P finished second through fifth, respectively, in the seven-horse
field to punch their tickets to the final.
Joviality S (Chapter Seven-Pasithea
Face S) challenged leader Delilah Hanover on the far turn before going on to a
convincing 2¼-length score in the lone Doherty elim. The Marcus Melander
trainee, who was driven by Brian Sears, stopped the clock in a lifetime-best
1:54.1 in winning for the second time in three lifetime outings. She paid $7.60
as the second choice in the wagering.
With Venerable having received a bye,
the top nine in the official order of finish qualified for the final. Finishing
second through ninth, respectively, were Jiggy Jog S, Valentina Blu, Brickhouse
Babe, Raised By Lindy, 9-5 favorite Mon Cheval (who went a brutal trip from
post 10), Peyton Hanover, Delilah Hanover and Pink Gypsy.
A LITTLE MORE: MacDonald led the driver’s colony
with three winners. … Per Engblom trained a pair of winner’s circle visitors. …
A carryover of $10,855 served as the catalyst for a total pool of $51,845 in
the 20-cent Pick-6. Those holding winning tickets collected $2,720.04. …
All-source wagering totaled $2,632,322. ... Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20
p.m. A pair of eliminations for both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks
highlight the card.
