Hambletonian Day Selections

It promises to be a great Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands on Saturday but a bit sad as well as the closing-day card also says farewell to the current grandstand as the new grandstand will be in operation for opening night of the fall card on November 23.  The old building had seen a lot of great racing but the changing landscape of gaming has made the building obsolete, a vestige of a different era.

This year the Hambletonian promises to be a wide-open affair.  I wouldn't be surprised to see someone shock in the eliminations.  However, when the day is done I suspect the final will be won by one of the favorites.  If I had to select a horse now before the eliminations, I wouldn't be surprised to see Royalty For Life in the winners circle getting the hardware.  In the Oaks, I am looking for Mistery Woman to score a minor upset against Bee A Magician.

There will be a new source of funds to deepen the wagering pool as wagering from France will be co-mingled with the pools at the Meadowlands for the trotting races (they will not take the pacing events) for the first time.  In addition to the import of Euros into the wagering pools, there are some guaranteed pools available for the taking:

1st Race - $20,000 guarantee for the Early Pick-5
3rd Race - $30,000 guarantee for the Early Pick-4
7th Race - $50,000 guarantee for the Late Pick-5
12th Race - $100,000 guarantee for the Late Pick-4

Those wagering on the late Pick-4 should be aware it begins with the final of the Hambletonian meaning you won't be able to construct your final ticket(s) until post positions are set up.  If you plan on playing the Pick-4 make sure you pay attention to the post position draw so you are not caught trying to find out which horse is what number.

Those who wager via TVG or 4NJBETS on the Late Pick-5 and win will be getting a 20% bonus on their earnings.  Why it is great they offer the bonus, you have to wonder why it is not offered on-track as that is where the track gets the biggest bang per the dollar.

Gates open at 10:00am for the first post at 11:50AM.

Anyway, here are my preliminary predictions for the wagering program.  My selections may change depending on betting in the race as the goal is to look for value when wagering. As a disclosure, my track record on Hambletonian Day stinks, a lousy 2 for 31 since the venerable race came to the Meadowlands (I missed one year due to a death in the family).  Of course, every dog has their day so here is hoping I get to howl when the day is over.

1st Pace - $125,000; Miss New Jersey Final - 3yo Fillies NJ Sired (No Show Wagering)
3 - Ms Caila J 3-1)Fra (Allard, 7-2)
2 - I Luv The Nitelife (Tetrick, 3-5)
7 -Jerseylicious (Callahan, 3-1)
1 - Authorize (Pierce, 20-1)

2nd Trot - $321,700; Merrie Annabele Final - 2yo Fillies
  3 - Lifetime Pursuit (Gingras, 8-5)
  6 - Shake It Cerry (Pierce, 5-2)
  2 - Heaven's Door (Sears, 12-1)
10 - Cooler Schooner (Campbell, 8-1)

3rd Trot - $55,000; Ima Lula Final - 4yo Mares
3 -  One More Ginny (Filion, 5-1)
7 -  Personal Style (D Miller, 5-2)
9 -  Maven (Gingras, 9-5)
1 -  Real Babe (Pierce, 8-1)

4th Pace - $217,100; Lady Liberty Final - FFA Mares
2 - Krispy Apple (Sears, 6-1)
6 - Androvette (Tetrick, 2-1)
8 - Drop The Ball (Callahan, 5-2)
5 - Rocklamation (Gingras, 3-1)

5th Trot - $280,500; Peter Haughton Memorial Final - 2yo Colts and Geldings
4 - Southwind Spirit (Sears, 8-1)
3 - Father Patrick (Gingras, 6-5)
1 - Nuncio (Campbell, 8-5)
2 - Derby (Schnittker, 12-1)

6th Trot - $75,000; Vincenes - FFA
5 - Cedar Dove (Pierce, 6-1)
9 - Coco Linday (Zeron, 3-1)
2 - Take My Picture (Morrill, 9-2)
1 - Beatgoeson Hanover (D Miller, 15-1)

7th Trot - $70,000; Hambletonian - 3yo Open - Heat 1, Elimination 1
8 - Royalty For Life (Sears, 8-5)
3 - Dewycolorintheline (Schnittker, 8-1)
1 -  Punxsutawney (Callahan, 12-1)
2 - Smilin Eli (Tetrick, 5-2)

8th Trot - $70,000; Hambletonian - 3yo Open - Heat 1, Elimination 2
3 - Your So Vain (A Miller, 12-1)
1 - Wheeling N Dealin (Filion, 2-1)
2 - Aperfectyankee (Oscarsson, 5-2)
8 - Creatine (Lachance, 6-1)


9th Trot - $70,000; Hambletonian - 3yo Open - Heat 1, Elimination 3
6 - Spider Blue Chip (Pierce, 5-2)
1 - Possessed Fashion (Campbell, 4-1)
5 - Corky (D Miller, 2-1)
2 - Murmur Hanover (Waples, 9-2)

10th Trot - $318,350; John Cashman Jr. Memorial Final - FFA
4 - Guccio (Takter, 20-1)
9 - Market Share (Tetrick, 6-5)
6 - Mister Herbie (Jamieson, 4-1)

11th Trot - $500,000; Hambletonian Oaks Final - 3yo Fillies
4 - Mistery Woman (D Miller, 9-2)
3 - Classic Martine (Pierce, 15-1)
2 - Bee A Magician (Sears, 2-5)
7 - To Dream On (Gingras, 12-1)

12th Trot - $1,000,000; Hambletonian Final - 3yo Open
The top three finishers in races 7, 8, and 9 plus the fourth place finisher with the highest earnings return for the final.

13th Pace - $250,000; New Jersey Classic - 3yo Open NJ Sired
  2 - Emeritus Maximus (Tetrick, 10-1)
  6 - Word Power (Morril, 8-5)
11 - Johnny Rock (A Miller, 7-2)
  1 - Rockin Amadeus (Gingras, 8-1)

14th Pace - $213,550; US Pacing Championship Final - FFA
1 - A Rocknroll Dance (Tetrick, 8-1)
2 - Warrawee Needy (Jamieson, 5-2)
3 - Sweet Lou (Gingras, 3-1)
5 - Golden Receiver (Callahan, 8-1)

15th Pace - $40,000; Auld Lang Syne Thanks For The Memories - FFA
8 - Fred And Ginger (Pierce, 3-1)
7 - Dapper Dude (Campbell, 8-1)
1 - Shoobee's Place (Brennan, 15-1)
2 - Versado (A Miller, 6-1)