Major movement in Ken Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week 7
Major movement in Ken Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week 7
East Rutherford, NJ – Apex wins again& remains #1 this week but big shakes in #2-10. Diabolic Hill moves up to #2 after his second place finish in the NJSS Final and Big Ranger moves into third off another track record. Neighver Punt moves up to #5 off his Goodtimes upset while a 1:50 world record performance moves Nix Nacken back onto the list at #8.
|
Rank |
Horse |
Driver, Trainer, Owner |
Ken Warkentin’s Comments |
|
|
1 |
Apex (Walner) |
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander. Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable, Steve Stewart |
Dan Patch Award winner rallied from post 11 to finish second by a neck to stablemate American Power in 3YO debut June 5, final quarter in :25.2, held off Diabolic Hill for a new mark of 1:50.3 in NJSS Final, not in to go |
|
|
2 |
Diabolic Hill (Muscle Hill) |
Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mario Mazza, AC Crawford Racing Stable |
Won Big M qualifier in 1:53.3 on May 8, wire-to-wire in 1:53.2 Big M qualifier May 29, first over third 3YO NJSS debut June 5, hard-charging second in NJSS Final June 12, not in to go |
|
|
3 |
Big Ranger (In Range)
|
Tim Tetrick, Anette Lorentzon, Madison Global |
2025 Ohio Horse of the Year broke in 3YO debut, fourth in Oak Grove Derby elim, wire-to-wire in Silver consolation in 1:52.3, set Scioto Downs track record 1:51.2 in OHSS May 25, underwent a barn change before another track record of 1:50.3 in OHSS division @ Scioto Downs with Tim Tetrick, not in to go | |
|
4 |
Spencer Hanover (Chapter Seven)
|
Jason Bartlett, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Synder, Arthur Pronti |
Breeders Crown champion won Oak Grove Derby elim in 1:53.4 in 3YO debut, equaled 1:51.3 track record in final, then a 1:53.3 romp (track good) in NYSS @ Vernon Downs May 25, made it four-for-four in 2026 dominating EBC in 1:54.4 June 12, not in to go, second leading money winner this season pointing for Yonkers Trot |
|
|
5 |
Neighver Punt (Bar Hopping) |
Mattias Melander, Marcus Melander, M Biasuzzi Stable Inc |
One of five Marcus Melander trainees in Top Ten, suddenly blossomed @ three upsetting a Goodtimes elimination in career best 1:51.4, stormed to upset final in 1:52, not in to go |
|
|
6 |
Magic Punk (Wishing Stone) |
Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc. |
1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup in 3YO debut, fourth (1:54.1), romped to a new mark of 1:51.1 in first Goodtimes elim, second (1:52.2) as beaten favorite in final, not in to go |
|
|
7 |
Endurance (Captain Corey) |
Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Beaver, Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, Mark Moger |
Unleashed track record equaling 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim in 3YO debut, then a gallant second in final, dominated PASS division in 1:51.4 June 6, did not race last week & not in to go |
|
|
8 |
Nix Nacken (Muscle Hill) |
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc. |
1:52.2 Grand Circuit winner at two, just missed in a NJSS Silver Division June 5, then romped to an astounding 1:50 world record for 3YO geldings in that final, not in to go |
|
|
9 |
American Power (Walner) |
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc |
Rallied in :26.3 to win Garden State division May 16, won NJSS Platinum Division in 1:54.3 (sloppy track) May 23, took new mark of 1:52 in NJSS June 5, third (1:51.1) in NJSS Final, not in to go |
|
|
10 |
Highland Destiny (Greenshoe) |
Scott Zeron, Nancy Takter, Highland Thoroughbred Farm |
Unraced at two, now four-for-four as a sophomore, winning PA Allstars division in 1:52 May 18, then a PASS division @ Pocono in 1:54.1 June 6, did not race last week & not in to go | |
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
|
Date |
Stakes |
Site |
Winner |
Driver |
Trainer |
2nd Horse |
3rd Horse |
Time |
|
May 2 |
Dexter Cup |
M |
MAGIC PUNK |
Ake Svanstedt |
Ake Svanstedt |
Southwind Alamo |
WHO’S EYES BLUES |
1:53.1 |
|
May 4 |
Oak Grove Elim |
OG |
SPENCER HANOVER |
Jason Bartlett |
Marcus Melander |
Geologic |
IMPOSSIBLE BI |
1:53.4 |
|
May 4 |
Oak Grove Elim |
OG |
Silverstein |
Dave Miller |
Matthew Burkholder |
REQIUEM |
KINGMEN |
1:52.3 |
|
May 4 |
Oak Grove Elim |
OG |
ENDURANCE |
Andrew McCarthy |
Christopher Beaver |
AI |
NIX NAKEN |
1:51.3 |
|
May 8 |
PASS 1st Leg |
Mea |
Captain Vodka |
Ridge Warren |
Robert Baggitt, Jr. |
GREENARROW HANOVER |
HAMLET HALL |
1:54.3 |
|
May 8 |
PASS 1st Leg |
Mea |
Fineline Hanover |
Ridge Warren |
Ron Coyne, Jr. |
Dilly Hanover |
R TOMMY COLLINS |
1:53.2 |
|
May 16 |
Battle of Bunker Hill |
PR |
NEBBIOLO |
Sarah Svanstedt |
Ake Svantedt |
MIDWIND CHIMP |
Water Slide |
1:54.2 |
|
May 16 |
Oak Grove Derby |
OG |
SPENCER HANOVER |
Jason Bartlett |
Marcus Melander |
ENDURANCE |
REQUIEM |
1:51.3 |
|
May 18 |
PA Allstars |
Poc |
MR PENNER |
Ake Svanstedt |
Ake Svanstedt |
MINOAN |
Captain Vodka |
1:52 |
|
May 18 |
PA Allstars |
Poc |
HIGHLAND DESTINY |
Scott Zeron |
Nancy Takter |
JIM BEAM |
DOLLAR DRAFT |
1:52.2 |
|
May 18 |
PA Allstars |
Poc |
Fineline Hanover |
Todd McCarthy |
Ron Coyne, Jr. |
NEIGHVER PUNT |
Confident Volo |
1:52.2 |
|
May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
GABES LUCK |
Scott Zeron |
Nancy Takter |
MEGA SHARK |
PRACTICAL MAN |
1:55.3 |
|
May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
King Of The Wind |
Joe Bongiorno |
Joe Bongiorno |
MAGA HILL |
NEVER SAY DIE |
1:55.2 |
|
May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
AMERICAN POWER |
Dexter Dunn |
Marcus Melander |
KINGMEN |
ARDONNE |
1:54.3 |
|
May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
TRILLION TIMES |
Jason Bartlett |
Per Engblom |
Ice Fall |
Be Positive |
1:57.3 |
|
May 25 |
NYSS 1st Leg |
Ver |
SEVENATO |
Trond Smedshammer |
Trond Smedshammer |
WHO’S EYES BLUES |
Highway Six |
1:54 |
|
May 25 |
NYSS 1st Leg |
Ver |
SPENCER HANOVER |
Jason Bartlett |
Marcus Melander |
Titan’s Mischief |
SECURED |
1:53.4 |
|
June 5 |
NYSS 2nd Leg |
TD |
READ THE ROOM |
Sarah Svanstedt |
Ake Svanstedt |
Highway Six |
TWIN B SEVEN SINS |
1:53.2 |
|
June 5 |
NYSS 2nd Leg |
TD |
Silverstein |
Matt Kakaley |
Matthew Burkholder |
AI |
SEVEN GRAND |
1:53.3 |
|
June 5 |
NJSS 2nd Leg |
M |
AMERICAN POWER |
Mattias Melander |
Marcus Melander |
APEX |
DIABOLIC HILL |
1:52 |
|
June 5 |
Goodtimes Elim |
MO |
MAGIC PUNK |
Yannick Gingras |
Ake Svanstedt |
Strobe Light |
WOLFPACK CROWN |
1:52.1 |
|
June 5 |
Goodtimes Elim |
MO |
NEIGHVER PUNT |
Yannick Gingras |
Marcus Melander |
Touchedbyanangel |
Royal Captain |
1:51.4 |
|
June 6 |
PASS 2nd Leg |
Poc |
ENDURANCE |
Andrew McCarthy |
Christopher Beaver |
Geologic |
HAMLET HALL |
1:51.4 |
|
June 6 |
PASS 2nd Leg |
Poc |
HIGHLAND DESTINY |
Scott Zeron |
Nancy Takter |
MINOAN |
Captain Vodka |
1:54.1 |
|
June 12 |
NJSS Final Platinum |
M |
APEX |
Dexter Dunn |
Marcus Melander |
DIABOLIC HILL |
AMERICAN POWER |
1:50.3 |
|
June 12 |
NJSS Final Silver |
M |
NIX NACKEN |
Dexter Dunn |
Marcus Melander |
King Of The Wind |
MAGA HILL |
1:50 |
|
June 12 |
EBC Division |
Ver |
SPENCER HANOVER |
Jason Bartlett |
Marcus Melander |
TWIN B SEVEN SINS |
SEVEN GRAND |
1:54.3 |
|
June 13 |
Goodtimes Final |
MO |
NEIGHVER PUNT |
Dexter Dunn |
Marcus Melander |
MAGIC PUNK |
Strobe Light |
1:52 |
|
June 24 |
NYSS 3rd leg |
Buf |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 26 |
Yonkers Trot Final |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 26 |
Currier & Ives |
Mea |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 4 |
Reynolds |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 4 |
Reynolds |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 11 |
Stanley Dancer |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 11 |
Stanley Dancer |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 19 |
Zweig Memorial |
V |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 23 |
NYSS 4th Leg |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 25 |
Tompkins-Geers |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 25 |
Tompkins-Geers |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug. 1 |
Hambo Elim |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug. 1 |
Hambo Elim |
M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by Ken Warkentin, for The Meadowlands
- Categories
- USA
Comments