24 entered in Hambo; 23 fillies in Oaks

Twenty-four 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters have been entered in this year's 85th renewal of the $1.5 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands. The elimination fields will be drawn late Tuesday morning, with the entries divided into three splits to be contested Saturday, July 31. The top three finishers in each, plus the richest horse among the fourth-place finishers, will advance to the $1.5 million final on Aug. 7.

 

Included among the entries are the 2009 Peter Haughton Memorial winner Holiday Road, who has won both his 2010 starts this year including a national season's best 1:52.4 effort at the Big M on July 2. Trainer Greg Peck won last year's Hambo with Muscle Hill so he is looking for back-to-back victories in the trotting classic. Also entered is reigning divisional champion Lucky Chucky, who finished second behind Holiday Road in the second of his wins in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division July 17 at the Meadowlands. Trainer Chuck Sylvester is in search of his fifth Hambletonian trophy.

 

Trainer Jimmy Takter has entered four horses into the Hambletonian: Hard Livin, Muscle Massive, Senor Glide and On The Tab, the latter being the only trotter with a chance to win this year's Triple Crown having earlier scored a victory in the Yonkers Trot.

 

Trainer Trond Smedshammer has entered three into the Hambo: Boztheman, Break The Bank K and Pilgrims Taj, the 2009 Breeders Crown Champion he only recently began conditioning after a barn change.

 

Also, 23 three-year-old fillies will be divided into three eliminations July 31 for the Hambletonian Oaks. Included among the entries are the 2009 Dan Patch Award champion Poof She's Gone, Dan Patch runner-up Costa Rica, and recent Elegantimage winner Ultimate Cameron.