East Rutherford, NJ (My Sportsbook) - Seventeen of trotting's top three-year- old colts and geldings are now in contention for the $1.5 million Hambletonian, while 27 fillies will pursue the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks.
The colts will contest two $100,000 eliminations, slated as races three and five on Saturday's card at the Meadowlands. The top five finishers in each elimination advance to the 80th edition of the $1.5 million Hambletonian on Saturday, August 6. The fillies were split among three $35,000 eliminations for the Hambletonian Oaks, races two, four and six, with the top three in each, plus the fourth-place filly with the highest lifetime earnings overall, advancing to the $750,000 final, also on August 6.
Post time is 5 p.m. for Saturday's card, which also features a quartet of $250,000 Classic Series Finals for older horses. Paid admissions will receive a John Campbell bobblehead (while supplies last), in honor of his record five Hambletonian victories. Paddock Park will host a variety of activities from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., including live music by The Characters and Mojo, air hockey, a rock wall and an inflatable obstacle course.
Superfecta wagering will be available in all races on Saturday's program. The Pick 4 wager will be available on races 10 through 13, while the Pick 6 will span races 7 through 12.
Ken Warkentin, the 2004 Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year and winner of 10 of his 12 career starts, heads the field for the first elimination. He has drawn post six with David Miller listed to drive. In his most recent start, the Jimmy Takter trainee, named for the Meadowlands' track announcer, captured an open event for sophomore trotters in 1:52.3. A $26,000 yearling purchase, Ken Warkentin is owned by Christina Takter of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, John Fielding and the Maple Leaf's right winger Tie Domi, both of Toronto, the Windsor Stable [Jan Hoibye] of Sweden.
Classic Photo, winner of the two major preps for the Hambletonian, the Stanley Dancer Trot at the Meadowlands and the Goodtimes at Woodbine, tops the field for the second elimination. He has drawn post position nine with Ron Pierce listed to drive. Trained by Erv Miller, Classic Photo has been first or second in seven of eight starts in 2005 and has a mark of 1:53.1. Lifetime, he has six wins, four seconds and one third from 16 starts and a bankroll of $431,976 for the ownership of H.W. Wright of Morton, Illinois; Mystical Marker Farms of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and Jack and Peggy Hood of Valparaiso, Indiana. He was an $87,000 yearling purchase at the Kentucky Standardbred Sale.
