Share

Latest Articles  Sovereign Awards  Derby & Auction Prices  Santa Anita Derby Day  Wood Memorial Day  Kentucky Derby Contenders

Muscle Massive drinks champagne from the Hambletonian trophy in the winner's circle

The $1,520,333 Hambletonian, celebrating its 84th renewal, is one of the world's most prestigious harness races, featuring the best 3-year-old trotters going the standard 1 mile distance, one full lap of the Meadowlands track in New Jersey. A full field of 10 lined up behind the starter on Saturday afternoon before 25,754 spectators, with Muscle Massive sent off as the 3-10 favorite for trainer Greg Peck and driver Brian Sears over 4-1 second choice Explosive Matter, trained by Noel Daley with Ron Pierce in the bike. The rest of the field was dismissed at double digit odds, led by 10-1 third choice Hot Shot Blue Chip for trainer Jonas Czernyson and driver Mike Lachance.

The start of the 2010 Hambletonian.

When the field was sent underway, driver Brian Sears took full advantage of the inside post and sent Muscle Massive to the front immediately. He set fractions of 27 1/5, 55, and 1:23 while 1 1/2 lengths in front of Explosive Matter who sat behind in second the whole way. Entering the stretch, Sears asked Muscle Massive to pull away and he did, widening his lead the length of the stretch and finishing under wraps 6 lengths clear in a track record tying 1:50 1/5, also a new stakes record. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back from Explosive Matter to 60-1 Calchips Brute third.

 #  Horse                Driver          Win  Place   Show
 6  Muscle Massive       R Pierce      15.00   5.80   5.00
 2  Lucky Chucky         J Campbell            3.40   2.80
 5  Wishing Stone        G Brennan                    5.80

$2 Exacta  (6-2) paid               50.80
$1 Trifecta (6-2-5) paid           605.20
$0.10 Superfecta (6-2-5-3) paid    206.13
Winning Time:  1:50.0

Muscle Massive in the winner's circle

Second place finisher Lucky Chucky

Third place finisher Wishing Stone

Down the stretch in the Hambletonian Oaks with eventual winner Bar Slide second from the rail.

12-1 OK To Play battled for the lead with Springtime Volo to her inside through fractions of 28, 55 4/5, and 1:25 1/5. Entering the stretch, the pacesetter tired but 6-1 Bar Slide, who stalked the pace in fourth early, came through to take the lead at the 1/8 pole. Ultimate Cameron rallied late but Bar Slide held her off in the final strides by a nose in 1:54. It was just a head back to favorite Springtime Volo third, and neck back to 19-1 Margarita Momma fourth, in a four-horse blanket finish.

 #  Horse                Driver          Win  Place   Show
 5  Bar Slide            T Tetrick      8.40   5.00   3.60
 9  Ultimate Cameron     T Ritchie            10.80   7.00
 3  Springtime Volo      G Brennan                    4.40
$2 Exacta  (5-9) paid             106.40
$1 Trifecta (5-9-3) paid          503.60
$0.10 Superfecta (5-9-3-4) paid   293.40
Winning Time:  1:53.4 

Bar Slide in the winner's circle

The Lindy Reserve wins the Peter Haughton Memorial

A full field of ten 2-year-old trotters competed in the $523,600 Peter Haughton Memorial. 11-1 Wishing Stone was quickest away through a quarter in 27 3/5 seconds while to the outside of 53-1 Plan B in HD who stalked him second on the inside. Down the backstretch, Plan B in HD took over the lead through a half in 56 seconds, battling for the lead with 9-10 favorite Lucky Chucky into the stretch. Lucky Chucky opened up a 1 1/4 length advantage at the quarter pole through 3/4 in 1:25 3/5, but 2-1 second choice The Lindy Reserve, who sat back in fourth early, came through at the 3/16 pole to take over the lead in mid-stretch and easily held off late-running 7-1 Pilgrims Taj by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:54. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to favorite Lucky Chucky third.

Results Chart for the day Race 6

Winning driver Brian Sears said, "I had to just settle him back down.  When I was about to put him back in the hole, he responded to me well.  He stuck back in there and relaxed and I was able to save him.  No one was really coming on early, so I was able to wait pretty long before I pulled him first up.  He was very confident."

Thatsnotmyname wins the Merrie Annabelle

The distaff counterpart to the Haughton is the $525,800 Merrie Annabelle for 2-year-old trotting fillies. 14-1 Bone A Fide battled for the lead with 41-1 Ipo Blue Chip through a quarter of 28 1/5 and a half in 56 2/5, before 5-1 Costa Rica took over the lead at the top of the stretch through 3/4 in 1:26. 6-1 Thatsnotmyname, who sat in midpack 5th early, closed with a rush on the outside to win by 3/4 length in 1:55 1/5. It was another 1/4 length back to 14-1 Bone A Fide third, while 9-10 favorite Cantab It All finished fourth.

Results Chart for the day Race 3

Winning driver Dave Miller said, "We planned going into the race to race her off cover. It worked out.  I was a little nervous going around the last turn when Ronny (Pierce and Costa Rica) cleared and opened up, but she loves chasing horses down and she doesn't stop until she gets by them.  She's really mature mentally.  Right from the start she showed the right attitude to be a good horse and she just proved it again."

Hypnotic Blue Chip wins the US Pacing Championship

Just seven older pacers went to post in the $328,750 U.S. Pacing Championship. 14-1 Hypnotic Blue Chip opened up a 3 length lead around the clubhouse turn getting the initial quarter in 27 seconds before being passed by 7-1 Bettor Sweet on the backstretch. Bettor Sweet led by 1 1/2 lengths through a half in 54 seconds and 3/4 in 1:21 2/5. Hypnotic Blue Chip came back on the outside to regain the lead in midstretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths over late-running 3-5 favorite Mister Big in 1:47 4/5. It was just a head back to 26-1 Won The West third.

Results Chart for the day Race 4

Winning driver Dave Miller said, "I didn't know if he would get the front as easy as he did.  I was thinking to leave and maybe try to work out a trip.  He grabbed the lead and I settled him in.  John (Campbell) came with Bettor Sweet and I figured that was a good horse to follow.  I was able to stick until the last turn then I moved him and he exploded."

Slave Dream wins the Nat Ray

The $300,000 Nat Ray Free-For-All Invitational featured ten older trotters ging the standard 1 mile distance. 9-2 second choice Lanson and 5-1 Glen Kronos battled for the lead around the clubhouse turn through an initial quarter mile of 27 4/5, but driver Andy Miller hustled 3-5 favorite Slave Dream to the front entering the backstretch taking the turn wide, getting the half in 55 2/5 and 3/4 in 1:23 1/5 while 2 lengths in front of Glen Kronos. Slave Dream left the rest of the field in his wake through the stretch, opening up to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:50 1/5, equaling the all-ages world record for a trotters on a mile track. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 54-1 Gift Kronos third.

Results Chart for the day Race 8

Winning driver Andy Miller said, "He was as good as he has ever been today. He has been great all year.  He went a mile in 1:50 1/5 pretty handily today.   He is an amazing animal.  He's got the Breeders Crown left (on August 22).  That is probably it for this year.  We will shut him down and get him ready for next year."

More Hambletonian info:

• The Meadowlands
• Meadowlands Hambletonian special - with profiles for all the horses, past performances for the race, and articles
• USTA Hambletonian Special - lots of articles and other special items for the Hambo.
• Hambletonian recap from the Meadowlands, includes the Hambo Oaks
• Hambletonian website
• Hambletonian History - a nice overview, plus go to the Archives on the menu at the top to get a recap, chart, photo of the winner, and video for each year
• 2009 Hambletonian and Oaks results won by Muscle Hill and Broadway Schooner
• 2008 Hambletonian and Oaks results won by Deweycheatumnhowe and Creamy Mimi
• 2007 Hambletonian and Oaks results won by Donato Hanover and Danae
• 2006 Hambletonian and Oaks results won by Glidemaster and Passionate Glide
• 2005 Hambletonian and Oaks results won by Vivid Photo and Jalopy
• 2004 Hambletonian and Oaks results won by Windsong's Legacy and Silver Springs

Photos ©2010 Walter Pitcher

Back to Horse-Races.Net main page