Goodtimes Finalists Lead Stakes-Bound Contenders At Mohawk; Empire Finals At Vernon

The undercard of the North America Cup features the first major summer stakes event for the glamour-boy trotters with the $251,000 Goodtimes Trot on Saturday, June 17.

Hambo hopefuls make up nine of the ten competitors in the Goodtimes Final, with Mass Production being the sole ineligible. Leading the hopefuls is Enterprise, who is undefeated over five starts in his career. He will likely be the public choice for that record as well as his front-racing style in a field of mainly closers.

However, this is Enterprise’s first real stakes test aside from his endeavors in state-bred competition. Likely to be challenged by some first-over bait, he may not have what it takes to hold them off. That said, Shake It Off Lindy should improve in his second start of the season and be positioned to sweep up the pieces. Also a possibility, Guardian Angel As could work out a trip if he shows speed from post 10, but such a prerequisite is difficult to claim. He has the speed to place himself into the race, but it’s questionable whether he will or not.

Vernon Downs will host the finals of the Empire Breeders Classic Sunday, June 18. The fillies, going for $228,250, feature “Oaks” eligibles Maewegonow, Sunshine Delight, Ostrich Blue Chip, and Stars N Sparkles. Favored in this race, though, should be Barn Bella from post 9 off a track-record performance at Tioga Downs. And, since she will leave from the far outside, she should be at a disadvantage.

Trond Smedshammer sends Celebrity Ruth from post 2. Exiting a win at Tioga in a sires stakes division, she’s in a much better position than Barn Bella to put herself into the mix and also not risk becoming a victim of circumstance. She should work out a trip.

The colt final, going for $252,000, lines up hopefuls Top Flight Angel, Another Chapter, Such An Angel, Bill’s Man and Devious Man, with Devious Man leading the charge. If he is somehow not sent off the favorite, then consider him the value of the race.

Regardless, Such An Angel, off a second-place finish to Bill’s Man in the elimination last week, should be a good price. Expect him to be placed well enough to carry himself into the mix given some sort of mixing up occurs on the front.

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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.