Volume Eight remains top contender in Ken Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week Four
The 2023 Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 5
Week Four – Issued Thursday, June 22
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, NJ – Volume Eight retains the top spot in Week Four of Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian. Kierkegaard K makes his debut in the fourth spot after his himpressive all-aged track record in the Empire Breeders Classic. Southwind Coors also jumps into the top ten in the eighth spot after his impressive Good Times victory last week.
#1 Volume Eight
Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Sjoblom Racing, Joe Sbrocco, LA Express & JAF Racing, Mario Mazza
Dan Patch Award winner, fastest 2YO male trotter of 2022 [1:52], five-race winning streak, including the Valley Victory & Kindergarten Classic Final, second [1:56.2) in June 14 qualifier @ Magical Acres, post one in qualifier 19 on June 24 @ Big M
#2 Special Way
Ake Svanstedt, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld
Dan Patch Award winner, richest 2YO female trotter of 2022 with $697,475, made it three-for-three this season & 10 in a row with a career best 1:51.4 in the NJSS Final, not in to go
#3 Air Power
Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Melander, Amg Stable Inc., Rick Wahlstedt, Kenneth Kjellgren, Heights Stable
Made only three starts at two, won his 3YO debut in 1:52.1, came right back to upset Ari Ferrari J in a 1:51 NJSS division, then captured the NJSS Final in a career best 1:50.4, not in to go
#4 TKierkegaard K
Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc.
Won two qualifiers & first two starts as a 3YO, including a 1:52.1 NJSS division, third with a :25.4 in the slop on May 20, deadheat for fourth in the NJSS Final, not in to go
#5 Bond
Ake Svanstedt, Little E, L. Berg Inc.
Filly finished 2022 with six straight wins, including the PASS Championship, Kindergarten Classic & Goldsmith Maid, wire-to-wire in PA Allstars @ Pocono in 1:52.3, then lowered her mark to 1:51.4 in PASS @ Pocono to go two-for-two this season, not in to go
#6 Oh Well
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, S R F Stable
Won 2022 NJSS Final in 1:53.1, Mohawk Million & NJ Classic A Final, second (1:52.2) in 3YO debut, just missed in 1:52, then finished second again in the NJSS Final, not in to go
#7 Kilmister
Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant, Inc.
2022 Peter Haughton Memorial winner, third placed second (1:53.2) to Kierkegaard K in NYSS season debut, third (1:53.3) in a NYSS division @ Tioga Downs, took a mark of 1:52.4 in an Empire Breeders Classic 1st division, not in to go
#8 Southwind Coors
Scott Zeron, Matthew Bax, Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, David Richard Hudson, Craig Wilson
Just one for 11 as a 2YO, yet has matured into a Goodtimes winner in 1:52, second (1:52.1) by a neck to Gaines Hanover in his elimination, then nosed out that rival in the final, not in to go
#9 Gaines Hanover
Louis Roy, Richard Moreau, Gestion J Y Blais, Inc.
O’Brien Award & Breeders Crown winner, held on to take a Goodtimes elimination in 1:52.1, second (1:52) by a nose in the Goodtimes Final third time Lasix, not in to go
#10 Up Your Deo
Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms, Van Camp Trotting Corp.
Broke his maiden in his 3YO debut from post 11 in 1:52 in the slop, upsetting Oh Well, finished third going first over in the NJSS Final, one of four for Team Svanstedt in Top 10, post four in the first Yonkers Trot elimination
road to the hambletonian playlist
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Driver | Trainer | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Dexter Cup | Fhld | Khaosan Road | Scott Zeron | Ake Svanstedt | ESPRESSO | Candy Bomber | 1:57.4 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | WALNER PAYTON | Dexter Dunn | Chris Ryder | BLONDE BOMBSHELL | SECRET VOLO | 1:51.4 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | AIR POWER | Tim Tetrick | Marcus Melander | Ari Ferrari J | Dire Straits | 1:51 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | MAMBACITA | CHECK HER OUT | 1:53.1 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | TACTICAL APPROACH | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | OH WELL | CELEBRITY BAMBINO | 1:52.1 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | SECRET VOLO | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | MAMBACITA | Tactical Mounds | 1:53.2 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | WALNER PAYTON | BLONDE BOMBSHELL | 1:53.4 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | UP YOUR DEO | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | OH WELL | TACTICAL APPROACH | 1:52 |
| May 29 | NYSS 1st Leg | V | Cecil Hanover | Mark MacDonald | Ake Svanstedt | THE GRUFFALO | CROWN | 1:52.3 |
| May 29 | NYSS 1st Leg | V | KIERKEGAARD K | Mark MacDonald | Ake Svanstedt | KILMISTER | TILLIO’S ACTION | 1:53 |
| June 2 | NJSS Final | M | AIR POWER | Andrew McCarthy | Marcus Melander | OH WELL | UP YOUR DEO | 1:50.4 |
| June 2 | NJSS Final | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | SECRET VOLO | WALNER PAYTON | 1:51.4 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | FATHER STOSH | Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. | Jill Roland | CHAMBA | Commander Frank | 1:53.4 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Spitfire Overseas | Scott Zeron | Megan Scran | HERODOTUS | Khaosan Road | 1:53.2 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Saint Louie | Dave Palone | Ake Svanstedt | ONCE IN A LIFETIME | Sintra De Vie | 1:54 |
| June 9 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | CROWN | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | Chapercraz | You Got It | 1:52.4 |
| June 9 | Goodtimes Elims | Moh | GAINES HANOVER | Louis Phillip Roy | Richard Moreau | SOUTHWND COORS | TUSCAN PRINCE | 1:52.1 |
| June 9 | Goodtimes Elims | Moh | Warrawee Yang | Scott Young | Mark Etsell | Hasty Bid | What An Angel | 1:53.3 |
| June 11 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | ONCE IN A LIFETIME | Tim Tetrick | Jim Campbell | FRENCH WINE | Saint Louie | 1:53.1 |
| June 11 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | Khaosan Road | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Kenobi | Spitfire Overseas | 1:52.3 |
| June 16 | EBC | V | KILMISTER | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | Cecil Hanover | Sevecheetah | 1:52.4 |
| June 16 | EBC | V | KIERKEGAARD K | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | TILLIO’S ACTION | Chapercraz | 1:50.3 |
| June 17 | Currier & Ives | Mea | Commander Frank | Mike Wilder | Norm Parker | Tailgate Buzz | Fire N Lightning | 1:53.4 |
| June 17 | Currier & Ives | Mea | HERODUTUS | Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. | Ron Burke | Express Man | Rumble Strips | 1:55 |
| June 17 | Goodtimes Final | Moh | SOUTHWND COORS | Scott Zeron | Matthew Bax | GAINES HANOVER | TUSCAN PRINCE | 1:52 |
| June 18 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | BOND | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | RAILEE SOMETHING | BELLA MACCHIATO | 1:51.3 |
| June 23 | Yonkers Trot Elims | Y | ||||||
| June 23 | Yonkers Trot Elims | Y | ||||||
| June 30 | Yonkers Trot | Y | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl |
