Hambletonian eliminations drawn and ready

Stanley Dancer Memorial division winners Holiday Road and He's A Demon, along with reigning divisional champion Lucky Chucky, all drew into the same Hambletonian elimination Saturday at the Meadowlands. With 24 entries into the trotting classic for 3-year-old colt and geldings, the field was divided into three elims, with the top three in each, plus the richest fourth-place finisher, will advance to the $1.5 million nationally-televised final on Aug. 7.

 

The winner of the 2009 Peter Haughton Memorial final, Holiday Road has won both his starts in 2010, including a national season's best 1:52.4 score July 2 at the Meadowlands. The Greg Peck trainee followed up that effort with a 1:54 victory in a Dancer split, holding off a late-closing Lucky Chucky by a half length. Holiday Road will leave from post two with Brian Sears driving, with Lucky Chucky and John Campbell leaving from post five.

 

As for He's A Demon, the Ontario-based colt of trainer Jeff Gillis made his first trip outside his home province a winning one as he posted a career-best 1:53.1 in a Dancer split, also his first-ever stakes engagement. Jody Jamieson, who shares ownership of He's A Demon, will leave from post seven.

 

Yonkers Trot winner On The Tab drew post two in the first Hambo elim. David Miller gets the driving assignment from trainer Jimmy Takter, who has four entries in this year's 85th renewal of the trotting classic.

 

Takter's Muscle Massive, who won the third Dancer division July 17 at the Big M, landed post one in the third elim, with Ron Pierce getting the drive. Also in the split leaving from post four is 2009 Breeders Crown champion Pilgrims Taj (Mike Lachance named to drive), who recently moved into trainer Trond Smedshammer's barn. 

 

Here are the fields for the three Hambletonian eliminations:

 

1st elimination

Horse    Driver

1 Take My Picture          Jeff Gregory

2 On The Tab     David Miller

3 Temple Of Doom         David Miller

4 Pretty Boy Lindy         Tim Tetrick

5 Cassis           Tim Tetrick

6 Boztheman     Brian Sears

7 Arriba Amigo   Trevor Ritchie

8 Wishing Stone            John Campbell

 

2nd elimination

1 Mystery Photo            Andy Miller

2 Holiday Road              Brian Sears

3 Coco Lindy     Tim Tetrick

4 Break The Bank K       Dave Palone

5 Lucky Chucky John Campbell

6 Senor Glide    Daniel Dube

7 He’s A Demon            Jody Jamieson

8 Plan B In HD   John Campbell

3rd elimination

1 Muscle Massive          Ron Pierce

2 Winning Fireworks       John Campbell

3 Perseverando  TBA

4 Pilgrims Taj    Mike Lachance

5 Pilgrims Chuckie         Mike Lachance

6 Flex The Muscle         Ray Schnittker  

7 Hard Livin       Yannick Gingras

8 RC Gallent Image        George Brennan