Oh Well and Air Power are 1-2 in Ken Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week 9
The 2023 Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 5
Week Eight – Issued Thursday, July 27
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, NJ – Oh Well and Air Power are 1-2 in Warkentin’s Week 9 Road to the Hambletonian. Both are trained by Marcus Melander and are in separate Hambletonian elimination races this Saturday, July 29.
#1 Oh Well
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, S R F Stable
Second (1:52.2) in 3YO debut, then just missed in 1:52, second in NJSS Final, second (1:51.4) in a Reynolds division, new mark of 1:51.2 in a Dancer division, post two in first Hambo elimination
#2 Air Power
Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Melander, Amg Stable Inc., Rick Wahlstedt, Kenneth Kjellgren, Heights Stable
Won his 3YO debut in 1:52.1, then a 1:51 NJSS division, career best 1:50.4 NJSS Final, second with a :25.3 in a Reynolds division, broke & sixth-placed eighth in Stanley Dancer Memorial division, post six in second Hambo elimination
#3 Kierkegaard K
Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc.
Equaled Vernon Downs all-age track record of 1:50.3 in an EBC division, won Yonkers Trot elimination in 1:54.3, broke/sixth in that Final, second (1:51.4) in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division, post five in first Hambo elimination
#4 Up Your Deo
Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms, Van Camp Trotting Corp.
First win in 3YO debut @ The Big M from post 11 in 1:52 in slop, gutsy third (1:51) in NJSS Final, set a track record of 1:53.1 in a Yonkers Trot elimination, romped in 1:53.3 Final, post three in second Hambo elimination
#5 Winner’s Bet
Dexter Dunn, Domenico Cecere, Lindy Farms of Conn, Robert Rudolph
William Wellwood Memorial winner two for-two on Lasix as a 3YO, Reynolds division in 1:52.2, shot home in :26.1 for a new mark of 1:51 in a Dancer division, post ten in second Hambo elimination
#6 Kilmister
Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant, Inc.
Peter Haughton Memorial winner, won an EBC division in 1:52.4 (:26.3), strong second (1:51) in a Dancer division, post ten in first Hambo elimination
#7 Southwind Coors
Scott Zeron, Matthew Bax, Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, David Richard Hudson, Craig Wilson
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, cruised in 1:52.4 overnight @ Mohawk on July 10, post eight in first Hambo elimination
#8 Tactical Approach
Scott Zeron, Nancy Takter, Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco & Jaf Racing
Won his first two 3YO starts, a 1:52.1 NJSS division, deadheat fourth in NJSS Final, took 1:51.1 mark on June 23, third (1:51.4) in Reynolds division, third (1:51.1) in Dancer division, post eight in second Hambo elimination
#9 Gaines Hanover
Louis Roy, Claude Cadieux, Gestion J Y Blais Inc.
O’Brien Award & Breeders Crown winner, won a Goodtimes elimination in a career best 1:52.1, nosed out in that final, broke/ninth in a Dancer division, post nine in first Hambo elimination
#10 Celebrity Bambino
Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, J & T Silva Stables, Knox Services, Phil Collura
Deadheated for fourth in the NJSS Final, rallied in :26.3 to take a new mark of 1:51.3 in a Reynolds division, fourth (1:51.4) in a Dancer division, post five in second Hambo 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 | 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 |
