The 2004 Hambletonian
 Windsong's Legacy © Amelia Baldree 2004 |
Two Down, One
to Go Windsong's Legacy, who last was seen winning the Hambletonian, won the Yonkers Trot, the second leg of the trotting Triple Crown. Regular driver Trond Smedshammer tracked the pace set by Tom Ridge and Cantab Hall, last year's Trotter of the Year, then flew past them in the final stages of the race to steal the victory. The field stayed in single file throughout the race with Tom Ridge in the lead. They continued in single file down the stretch until Windsong's Legacy, and then Cantab Hall, came out around a tiring Tom Ridge. Cantab Hall finished second and Tom Ridge third. The final leg is the Kentucky Futurity at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, in October. The first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, the Cane Pace Final, is on Labor Day at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey. The elimination for that event is this Saturday. |
Coverage from the Meadowlands by Amelia Baldree:
Photos From the Hambletonian, 8/7
Windsong's Legacy Wins the Hambletonian
by Emily Hufford
Windsong's Legacy held off the second choice Cantab Hall, last year's Trotter of the Year, to win the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands today. Cash Hall was third. He was driven by Trond Smedshammer.
While Turf Angels.com reporter Amelia Baldree is on assignment at the Meadowlands, resident harness racing reporter Amanda Saunders has written up a preview of the Hambletonian.
Hambletonian Preview
by Amanda Saunders
The legendary Hambletonian, Standardbred racing's Kentucky Derby, is upon us. It will be run on August 7th at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, and it has been held annually for 79 years since 1926. The Hambletonian is the first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown, a championship only six three-year-olds have won in the past. Followed by the Kentucky Futurity and the Yonkers Trot, the first winner of the Crown was Scott Frost in 1955, the first year the Yonkers Trot was run. Eight years later, Speedy Scot (of no immediate relation to the first winner) took the series and Ayres followed the year after.
Four years after their domination, two sons of Star's Pride took harness racing by storm; Nevele Pride and Lindy's Pride back-to-back Triple Crown victories in the late sixties. Just three years later, harness racing would see the last and the greatest one of all. Super Bowl, driven and trained by the legendary Stanley Dancer who won the series with Nevele Pride as well, trotted his way to a Three-Year-Old and Trotter Of The Year Championship, losing to pacing champion and all-time great Albatross for the Horse Of The Year title. It's been thirty-two years since harness racing has seen a Triple Crown champion, nine horses have won two of the three jewels in that time, only to lose the coveted crown, but every year fans hope and dream, will this be the year? Here is the field for Saturday's Hambletonian by post position followed by handicapping tips by your's truly.
1.Cantab Hall: 7-2 ~ driver Michel Lachance - 2003 Trotter Of The Year
at the age of two, undefeated in twelve starts until losing his last two
from an imbalance in his electrolytes. The talented colt was closing fast
in the second Hambletonian elimination in which he was narrowly defeated
by Eilean Donan. Look for him to be among the top three.
2. Castle of Fortune: 40-1 ~ driver TBA - Finished fifth in the second
elimination, far behind the front four. Previously driven by Jim Morrill,
Jr. but Morrill has chosen to drive Justice Hall in the final. This colt
shouldn't be a factor.
3. Eilean Donan: 9-2 ~ driver David Miller -Winner of the second elimination
in the time of 1:54.2 by a neck over Lantern's Law with Cantab Hall three-quarters
a length back in third. A highly-talented colt who is just now coming
into the lime light. Always maturing, always improving, if this colt keeps
moving forward, he could be a real threat.
4. Justice Hall: 15-1 ~ driver Jim Morrill, Jr. - Fourth
in the first elimination far behind Tom Ridge. This colt shouldn't be
a factor.
5. Cash Hall: 4-1 ~ driver John Campbell - This guy's a real blue-collar
runner, always gets the job done to the best of his ability but has been
over shadowed by the two champions Cantab Hall and Tom Ridge. Don't let
this colt fool you though, he could very well pull the upset as the legendary
John Campbell has more experience then any of the other drivers in the
race.
6. Tom Ridge: 5-2 ~ driver Ron Pierce - Winner of the first elimination
by a length and a quarter over Cash Hall in a fast time of 1:52.3. This
is the colt to beat. Insanely fast, loads of tallent with an expert driver
behind him. Like Eilean Donan, he's always maturing, which is scary. If
this colt matures any more he could very well be unbeatable.
7. Windsong's Legacy: 5-1 ~ driver Trond Smedshammer -Third about three
lengths behind Tom Ridge. A talented colt who hides in the shadows of
far better colts. Don't be fooled by this one though, if given the chance
and the timing is right, he could pull off the upset.
8. American Mike: 40-1 ~ driver TBA - Fifth in the first elimination behind
Tom Ridge. This colt shouldn't be a factor.
9. Lantern's Law: 12-1 ~ driver Trevor Ritchie - A huge surprise in the
second elimination. Bolted out of the three hole, pressed the leaders,
took the lead and tried very gamely to hold off Eilean Donan only to lose
it by a head. If he repeats that performance in the final, he could finish
well.
10. Coventry: 15-1 ~ driver D.R. Ackerman - A close fourth in the second
elimination about a length and a half behind Eilean Donan after weaving
through traffic and coming up short. If given a better trip, he could
place in the top three.
