Ariana G Leads Hambletonian Oaks Entrants

July 25, 2017 ustrotting Off Road to the Breeders Crown, Share, Share,

Eighteen 3-year-olds entered today for the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, the filly division of the Hambletonian.

Hambletonian Festival week kicks off on July 29 with two $40,438 eliminations to narrow the field to 10 for the $500,000 Oaks final on Hambletonian Day (Aug. 5), at The Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.

Favorite in the field will be Dan Patch divisional champion Ariana G. The talented homebred daughter of 2009 Hambletonian winner Muscle Hill sports a record of three wins in four tries this year, with lifetime earnings just under $1 million, at $937,839. Ariana G comes from the royal broodmare band of Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, and her full sister, All The Time, won the 2016 Hambletonian Oaks for the same team of owner/breeders Katz-Libfeld and trainer Jimmy Takter.

Here are the post positions for two eliminations for the Hambletonian Oaks. Race placement still to come for Saturday (July 29).

$40,438 Oaks Elim. (race placement to be determined)
Post Position-Horse-Trainer-Named Driver
1. Hillarmbro-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer
2. Magic Presto-Richard Norman-Brian Sears
3. That’s All Moni-Jimmy Takter-Tim Tetrick
4. Southwind Avanti-Anette Lorentzon-Tim Tetrick
5. Overdraft Volo-Julie Miller-Andy Miller
6. Caviart Wonder-Noel Daley-Andrew McCarthy
7. Feed Your Head-Jimmy Takter-Yannick Gingras
8. Broadway Idole-Jim Campbell-Scott Zeron
9. Evelyn-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt

$40,438 Oaks Elim. (race placement to be determined)
Post Position-Horse-Trainer-Named Driver
1. Glitzey Gal-Richard Norman-David Miller
2. Ice Attraction-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt
3. Dream Together-Luc Blais-Dan Dube
4. Ariana G-Jimmy Takter-Yannick Gingras
5. Fine Tuned Lady-John Butenschoen-Corey Callahan
6. Dream Baby Dream-Rod Allen-Rod Allen
7. Treviso-Charlie Norris-Charlie Norris
8. Cool Cates-Noel Daley-Andrew McCarthy
9. Sunshine Delight-Staffan Lind-Brett Miller

The top five finishers in each elim will advance to the final on Aug. 5. There is no Lasix or any race day medication permitted in the Hambletonian Oaks or Open. Elimination winners draw for inside posts 1-5 and all other finalists will then be placed in an open draw. The winner of the final on Aug. 5 is the Oaks winner, regardless of elimination finish on July 29.

Post positions for the $500,000 final will be drawn and morning lines assigned on Tuesday (Aug. 1), on a Facebook live post position draw at 2 p.m. on the Meadowlands Facebook page. The draw will be streamed live on the Meadowlands website.