New Number One in Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week 6
The 2023 Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 5
Week Six – Issued Wednesday, July 5
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, NJ – Air Power takes over the top spot in Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian Week Six. Driven by Mattias Melander and trained by Marcus Melander, Air Power rallied in last week’s Reynolds division for an impressive second place finish. Fabulous filly Special Way still retains the second spot with Kierkegaard K moving down to the third spot after breaking in the Yonkers Trot Final.
#1 Air Power
Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Melander, Amg Stable Inc., Rick Wahlstedt, Kenneth Kjellgren, Heights Stable
Won his 3YO debut in 1:52.1, upset Ari Ferrari J in a 1:51 NJSS division, then took the NJSS Final in a career best 1:50.4, rallied from a tough spot in :25.3 to finish second in a Reynolds division
#2 Special Way
Ake Svanstedt, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld
Dan Patch Award winner, three-for-three in 2023 (10 in a row) with a career best 1:51.4 in the NJSS Final, scratched out of a July 1 Big M qualifier with a minor issue & qualifies in a couple of weeks
#3 Kierkegaard K
Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc.
Wire-to-wire in 1:53 NYSS, equaled the Vernon Downs all-age track record of 1:50.3 in an EBC division, dominated a Yonkers Trot elimination in 1:54.3, broke/sixth in the Final, reportedly hit his knee, he’s fine & connections agree he’s more of a big-track horse
#4 Bond
Ake Svanstedt, Little E, L. Berg Inc.
Prolific filly finished 2022 with six straight wins, three-for-three this season, wire-to-wire in PA Allstars @ Pocono in 1:52.3, lowered her mark to 1:51.4 in PASS @ Pocono, dominated a Reynolds division from post eight in 1:53.1 (:26.4)
#5 Up Your Deo
Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms, Van Camp Trotting Corp.
Broke his maiden in his 3YO debut @ The Big M from post 11 in 1:52 in the slop, third going first over in the NJSS Final, set a track record of 1:53.1 in a Yonkers Trot elimination, won Final in 1:53.3
#6 Celebrity Bambino
Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, J & T Silva Stables, Knox Services, Phil Collura
Breeders Crown elimination winner at two, deadheated for fourth in the NJSS Final, fresh off the bench rallied in :26.3 to take a new mark of 1:51.3 in a Reynolds division
#7 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, second again in the NJSS Final, second (1:51.4) in a Reynolds division
#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
#9 Volume Eight
Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Sjoblom Racing, Joe Sbrocco, LA Express & JAF Racing, Mario Mazza
Dan Patch Award winner, second [1:56.2) in June 14 qualifier @ Magical Acres, third (1:54.4) in a June 24 qualifier 19 @ Big M, finished fifth (1:53.4) in his 3YO debut
#10 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, post three in Zweig Memorial
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 | UP YOUR DEO | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | CHAPERCRAZ | CROWN | 1:53.1 |
| June 23 | Yonkers Trot Elims | Y | KIERKEGAARD K | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | TILLIO’S ACTION | Ari Ferrari J | 1:54.3 |
| June 30 | Yonkers Trot | Y | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl |
