Colts And Fillies Congregate In Sires Stakes And Grand Circuit Action

Hambletonian hopefuls continue their journey to the first Saturday in August on Friday, May 26 at the Meadows and the Meadowlands, with fillies contesting in three divisions of the $72,000 Currier & Ives Trot and colts and fillies going in the second preliminary for the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS).

Division one of the Currier & Ives attracts “Oaks” contenders Sparkle Plenty, Monee Bank, Sheez On A Cruze, Caviart Wonder and Fine Tuned Lady and, of them, favoritism will likely lean with Fine Tuned Lady. The obvious counter contender to the decisive favorite will likely be Sheez On A Cruze, entering off a sharp closing effort in a division of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS).

However, Caviart Wonder appears to be rounding back into form after breaking and missing the board in the PASS two weeks ago. Off a wire-to-wire win at Harrah’s Philadelphia, she should provide value.

Cool Cates, Sianna Hanover, and Dangle Then Deke are the Oaks eligibles in division two. Both entering off sharp efforts in the PASS, the majority of the play should be centered on Cool Cates and Sianna Hanover. Yet, exiting The Stallion Series, Massive Risk appears to be improving enough to be able to compete with the A-level gals. At the very least, she’ll be a good enough price to complete exotics.

The last Currier & Ives division gathers Oaks-aiming Broadway Idole, Treviso, Pennys N Dimes and Temple Ruins, with Treviso being the likely contender for the public. For us, Trixie Dust may be the best price we can snag from this race. Also exiting The Stallion Series, she raced consistently well to start the season and may, too, be ready for the big leagues. For exotics, watch Lexi Marie once again, as she will be a long price that could possibly hit the board with the right circumstances.

In the NJSS, the colts and the fillies go in one dash respectively for the second preliminary. Starting with the fillies, seven of the nine competitors are Oaks hopefuls, them being Ice Attraction, Romancing Rachel, Cameron Hill, Feed Your Head, Dream Baby Dream, Evelyn, and Glitzey Gal.

With Glitzey Gal probably being the favorite, the ambiguities in the form of many of her challengers make this race potentially profitable. Off a poor, locked-up trip against Glitzey Gal in the first leg, Evelyn may finally get the opportunity to display her ability against this group of weaker trotters. She should be sent off similar odds to her debut, which would be great value for this gal making her second start of the season.

Dream Baby Dream should also offer value. Second to Ariana G last week, she may be able to work out a similar trip to once again enhance the exotics

In the colt split, King On The Hill, What The Hill, Southwind Woody, Deacon Tony, Signal Hill, New Jersey Viking, Southwind Cobra and Fly On are all the Hambo hopefuls going. Dominant in his division last week, What The Hill again seems like the prominent threat and will be difficult to defeat.

If any value is contained within this race, it likely is with Deacon Tony potentially upsetting his stable mate. Burning up in a heated pace duel in the first round last week, Deacon Tony faltered to finish second to the favorite Long Tom. While he has raced mostly on the lead, he may be better off sitting off the pace and trying to chase down rivals for a chance at a check.

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The racing of classic divisions—soph-colt-and-filly trotters—on their quest to the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks finals continues its exclusive, extended coverage from TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society. Recaps of races covered in this blog can be found at the archive section of the web’s home for the Hambletonian Society.