No change in Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian
No change in Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian
East Rutherford, NJ – No changes to Ken Warkentin’s Week 5 Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian but there is plenty of racing action this weekend. No. 1 Apex & No. 4 Diabolic Hill make 3YO debuts in the NJSS, No. 3 Endurance heads to Pocono and No. 5 Big Ranger moves to a new barn.
ROAD TO THE WINNING KEY FARM HAMBLETONIAN (G1)
2026 Top Ten – Week 5 – June 3
The 2026 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian (G1) will take place Saturday, August 8
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Rank |
Horse |
Driver, Trainer, Owner |
Ken Warkentin’s Comments |
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1 |
Apex (Walner) |
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander. Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable, Steve Stewart |
Dan Patch Award winner, money leader ($871,798), won NJSS & NJ Classic Finals, Peter Haughton Memorial & Mohawk Million in 1:51.4, rallied to win Big M qualifier in 1:53.3 (:26.1) May 22, post 11 second tier draw for 3YO debut in NJSS June 5 |
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2 |
Spencer Hanover (Chapter Seven)
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Jason Bartlett, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Synder, Arthur Pronti |
Breeders Crown champion dominated Oak Grove Derby elim in 1:53.4 in 3YO debut, equaled 1:51.3 track record in final, easily made it three-for-three this season with a 1:53.3 romp (track good) in NYSS @ Vernon Downs May 25, aiming for the EBC June 12 |
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3 |
Endurance (Captain Corey)
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Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Beaver, Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, Mark Moger |
First crop of 2021 Hambo winner Captain Corey, won six of eight starts, including two KYSS Finals, second in Mohawk Million, track record equaling 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim in 3YO debut, then a gallant second in final, drew the rail in PASS division June 6 | |
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4 |
Diabolic Hill (Muscle Hill) |
Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mario Mazza, AC Crawford Racing Stable |
Breeders Crown elimination winner, close second in final, beat Spencer Hanover in Valley Victory in 1:53.3, banked $506,636, won Big M qualifier in 1:53.3 on May 8, wire-to-wire in 1:53.2 Big M qualifier May 29, McCarthy: “He felt super and is nice and tight for next week.” Makes 3YO debut from rail in NJSS June 5 |
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5 |
Big Ranger (In Range)
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Anette Lorentzon, Madison Global |
2025 Ohio Horse of the Year went seven-for-seven, track records @ Scioto Downs & Dayton, broke in 3YO debut April 23, 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, then underwent a barn change, not in to go |
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6 |
American Power (Walner)
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Mattias Melander, Marcus Melander, M Biasuzzi Stable Inc |
Beat Spencer Hanover in 1:55.3 qualifier May 16, rallied in :26.3 again to win Garden State division May 16, then won NJSS Platinum Division in 1:54.3 over sloppy track May 23, post three in NJSS June 5 |
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7 |
AI (Chapter Seven) |
Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc, Weaver Bruscemi LLC |
Won NYSS Final, second in Kindergarten Final, banked $395,073, in 3YO debut second (1:51.4) in Oak Grove Derby elim, fourth (1:52.1) from post three in Final, did not race last two weeks, post two in NYSS @ Tioga Downs June 5 (Race 6) |
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8 |
Ardonne (Tactical Landing)
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Scott Zeron, Megan Scran, Philip Steinberg |
Won elimination in 1:54.4 & final William Wellwood Memorial in 1:52.4, second by a head to Apex in NJSS Final, banked $289,150, won his first Big M qualifier in 1:55.1 May 15, rallied for third behind American Power in 3YO debut May 23, post nine in NJSS June 5 |
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9 |
Magic Punk (Wishing Stone) |
Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc. |
Second in Wellwood &Peter Haughton, third in Kindergarten Final, banked $220,878, 1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup in 3YO debut, fourth (1:54.1) in Big M qualifier May 29, post seven in first Goodtimes elim June 5 as 9-5 ML favorite with Yannick Gingras |
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10 |
Nebbiolo (Captain Corey) |
Sarah Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc. |
Rare Pinto from first crop of Captain Corey rattled off four in a row last Fall, dead heat fourth in Valley Victory, dominated 3YO debut in Bunker Hill Trot @ Plainridge in 1:54.2, fifth win in nine career starts, did not race last week, not in to go | |
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
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Date |
Stakes |
Site |
Winner |
Driver |
Trainer |
2nd Horse |
3rd Horse |
Time |
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May 2 |
Dexter Cup |
M |
MAGIC PUNK |
Ake Svanstedt |
Ake Svanstedt |
Southwind Alamo |
WHO’S EYES BLUES |
1:53.1 |
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May 4 |
Oak Grove Elim |
OG |
SPENCER HANOVER |
Jason Bartlett |
Marcus Melander |
Geologic |
IMPOSSIBLE BI |
1:53.4 |
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May 4 |
Oak Grove Elim |
OG |
Silverstein |
Dave Miller |
Matthew Burkholder |
REQIUEM |
KINGMEN |
1:52.3 |
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May 4 |
Oak Grove Elim |
OG |
ENDURANCE |
Andrew McCarthy |
Christopher Beaver |
AI |
NIX NAKEN |
1:51.3 |
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May 8 |
PASS 1st Leg |
Mea |
Captain Vodka |
Ridge Warren |
Robert Baggitt, Jr. |
GREENARROW HANOVER |
HAMLET HALL |
1:54.3 |
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May 8 |
PASS 1st Leg |
Mea |
Fineline Hanover |
Ridge Warren |
Ron Coyne, Jr. |
Dilly Hanover |
R TOMMY COLLINS |
1:53.2 |
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May 16 |
Battle of Bunker Hill |
PR |
NEBBIOLO |
Sarah Svanstedt |
Ake Svantedt |
MIDWIND CHIMP |
Water Slide |
1:54.2 |
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May 16 |
Oak Grove Derby |
OG |
SPENCER HANOVER |
Jason Bartlett |
Marcus Melander |
ENDURANCE |
REQUIEM |
1:51.3 |
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May 18 |
PA Allstars |
Poc |
MR PENNER |
Ake Svanstedt |
Ake Svanstedt |
MINOAN |
Captain Vodka |
1:52 |
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May 18 |
PA Allstars |
Poc |
HIGHLAND DESTINY |
Scott Zeron |
Nancy Takter |
JIM BEAM |
DOLLAR DRAFT |
1:52.2 |
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May 18 |
PA Allstars |
Poc |
Fineline Hanover |
Todd McCarthy |
Ron Coyne, Jr. |
NEIGHVER PUNT |
Confident Volo |
1:52.2 |
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May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
GABES LUCK |
Scott Zeron |
Nancy Takter |
MEGA SHARK |
PRACTICAL MAN |
1:55.3 |
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May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
King Of The Wind |
Joe Bongiorno |
Joe Bongiorno |
MAGA HILL |
NEVER SAY DIE |
1:55.2 |
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May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
AMERICAN POWER |
Dexter Dunn |
Marcus Melander |
KINGMEN |
ARDONNE |
1:54.3 |
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May 23 |
NJSS 1st Leg |
M |
TRILLION TIMES |
Jason Bartlett |
Per Engblom |
Ice Fall |
Be Positive |
1:57.3 |
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May 25 |
NYSS 1st Leg |
Ver |
SEVENATO |
Trond Smedshammer |
Trond Smedshammer |
WHO’S EYES BLUES |
Highway Six |
1:54 |
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May 25 |
NYSS 1st Leg |
Ver |
SPENCER HANOVER |
Jason Bartlett |
Marcus Melander |
Titan’s Mischief |
SECURED |
1:53.4 |
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June 5 |
NYSS 2nd Leg |
TD |
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June 5 |
NJSS 2nd Leg |
M |
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June 5 |
Goodtimes Elim |
MO |
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June 5 |
Goodtimes Elim |
MO |
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June 6 |
PASS 2nd Leg |
Poc |
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June 12 |
NJSS Final |
M |
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June 12 |
EBC Division |
Ver |
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June 12 |
EBC Division |
Ver |
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June 13 |
Goodtimes Final |
MO |
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June 19 |
Yonkers Trot Elim |
Y |
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June 24 |
NYSS 3rd leg |
Buf |
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June 26 |
Yonkers Trot Final |
Y |
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June 26 |
Currier & Ives |
Mea |
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July 4 |
Reynolds |
M |
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July 4 |
Reynolds |
M |
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July 11 |
Stanley Dancer |
M |
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July 11 |
Stanley Dancer |
M |
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July 19 |
Zweig Memorial |
V |
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July 23 |
NYSS 4th Leg |
Y |
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July 25 |
Tompkins-Geers |
M |
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July 25 |
Tompkins-Geers |
M |
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Aug. 1 |
Hambo Elim |
M |
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Aug. 1 |
Hambo Elim |
M |
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by Ken Warkentin, for The Meadowlands
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