Hambletonian Day Run Down

Saturday (August 6) is Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands.  As in past years, Hambletonian Day is a star-studded card, full of racing's royalty.  Will the all-time race record fall on a warm humid afternoon?  Can Pure Country, the filly starting from post position 11, defeat the boys in the Cane Pace?  Which horse out of the troika of Always B Miki, Freaky Feet Pete, and Wiggle It Jiggleit will cross the wire first or will another horse shock?

Then there is the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks.  Will Jimmy Takter sweep the Open and filly divisions of the stake once again or will some other trainer(s) be celebrating when the dust settles?  Will this be a favorite-laden card or will upsets abound?

Underneath all of this, the under current will be asking if this is the last time we will ever see such a race card anywhere in the United States?  Of course, this is all dependent on the New Jersey voters come November.  Finally there is an organized campaign to get voters to vote in the affirmative as Our Turn NJ has arrived.   But this is a matter for another day.  Saturday is all about great racing.

This year I intend to take advantage of the Betting Exchange; trying to lock in odds on favorites at a price I like instead of being subjected to 1-5 or 2-5 shots as well as trying to lock in big prices on morning line long shots I like.  Of course, the pari-mutuels will be visited as well, exotics are a big part of my wagering strategy on a day like this.

As my tradition, I will be providing you with my selections for the Meadowlands card, along with my disclosure that Hambletonian Day is not one of better days when it comes to making a profit.  However, every dog has their day and here's hoping this dog gets to bark instead of whimpering at the end of the day.

Here are my picks:

1st Pace - $13,000; NW $11,500 Last 4 Starts
8  Vague Traces (A Miller, 4-1)
7  Calvin B (Callahan, 5-2)
2  Polak A (B Miller, 8-1)
4  Art History (Ti Tetrick, 3-1)

2nd Pace - $94,675; Shady Daisy 
1  Penpal (Lachance, 6-1)
3  Darlinonthebeach (D Miller, 9-5)
4  Blue Moon Stride (Mccarthy, 4-5)
2  Kiss Me Onthebeach (Sears, 12-1)

3rd Trot - $188,350; Fresh Yankee - 1 1/8 miles
  4  Hannelore Hanover (Gingras, 2-5)
  9  Shake It Cerry (D Miller, 20-1)
  6  Jewels In hock (Campbell, 5-1)
12  Swishnflick (Macdonald, 40-1)

4th Trot - $294,450; Peter Haughton Memorial 
4  Victor Gio It (Goop, 3-1)
1  King On The Hill (Ti Tetrick, 6-1)
6  Rubio (Gingras, 5-2)
2  What The Hill (D Miller, 4-1)

5th Trot - $306,500; Jim Doherty Memorial
1  Ariana G (Gingras, 7-5)
5  Chezatter (D Miiller, 5-2)
3  Broadway Idole (Sears, 8-1)
6  Waffle Cone (Campbell, 30-1)

6th Trot - $273,600; John Cashman Memorial
5  Resolve (Svanstedt, 2-1)
4  Homicide Hunter (Goodell, 12-1)
7  JL Cruze (Campbell, 3-1)
9  Honor And Serve (Sears, 15-1)

7th Pace - $200,000; Cane Pace - 1 1/8 Miles
11  Pure Country (B Miller, 4-1)
  1  Check Six (Gingras, 3-1)
  4  Control The Moment (Sears, 2-1)
  3  Jk Will Power (D Miller, 10-1)

8th Trot - $70,000; Hambletonian Elimination 
1  Bar Hopping (Ti Tetrick, 9-5)
9  Reigning Moni (Macdonald, 4-1)
4  Milligan's School (A Miller, 10-1)
2   Lagerfield (Gingras, 12-1)

9th Trot - $70,000; Hambletonian Elimination
4  Marion Marauder (Zeron, 3-1)
5  Southwind Frank (Gingras, 4-5)
1  Jimmy William (Ti Tetrick, 20-1)
9  Waitlifter K (Kakaey, 10-1)

10th Trot - $75,000; Vincennes Invitational
10  Natural Herbie (Yoder, 20-1)
  3  Musical Rhythm (Campbell, 5-2)
  7  World Cup (Bongiorno, 6-1)
  6  Wings Of Royalty (Sears, 4-1)

11th Pace - $225,500; US Pacing Championship
4  Freaky Feet Pete (Tr Tetrick, 5-1)
3  Always B Miki (D Miller, 3-5)
6  Wiggle It Jiggleit (Teague, 3-1)
1  Dealt A Winner (A Miller, 15-1)

12th Trot - $500,000; Hambletonian Oaks Final
6  All The Time (Gingras, 9-5)
7  Broadway Donna (D Miller, 7-2)
2  Celebrity Eventsy (Campbell, 6-1)
1  Caprice H12ill (Ti Tetrick, 5-2)

13th Trot - $1,000,000; Hambletonian Final (Top 5 from races 8 and 9 return)
    Marion Marauder (Zeron)
    Southwind Frank (Gingras)
    Bar Hopping (Ti Tetrick)
    Milligan's School (A Miller)

14th Pace - $35,000; Open
1A  Mel Mara (Callahan, 2-1)
   8  Rockin Ron (Gingras, 3-1)
   2  Mcardles Lightning  (D Miller, 6-1)
   5  Rockeyed Optiist (B Miller, 4-1)

15th Pace - $235,950; Lady Liberty - 1 1/8 Miles
12  Lady Shadow (Gingras, 7-5)
  4  Katie Said (B Miller, 25-1)
10  Sassa Hanover (Kakaley, 15-1)
  5  Solar Sister (Sears, 4-1)

16th Pace - $10,200; NW $7,500 Last 5 Starts
  7  Barimah A (Ti Tetrick, 5-2)
  4  Hope For Badlands (Zeron, 3-1)
10  City Pie (Ginsburg, 6-1)
  3  Victorydaze Wilwin (Martin, 20-1)