Hambletonian Day at the Big M will include 9-Graded Stakes on the 16-race card. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track and they cover all of the Graded Stakes.
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Race 3-Cane Pace Purse $310,750 (12:50 PM EDT)
2-Brandon Blvd (6/5)-The morning line chalk will be a small price and the 2nd choice #3 Gentleman's Club and #5 Odds On Mr Mamba have a shot. But with a small field and Dexter Dunn at the controls, Brandon shouldn't have a compromised trip and is on top of its game. The Andrew Harris trainee is 3-3 at M1 and when this race ends its perfect record should still be intact.
2-3-5
Race 8-Cashman Memorial Purse $281,200 (3:04 PM EDT)
1-Super Chapter (7/2)-Lost to On To Norway two straight times by a neck in July and then tuned up at M1 in 151.4 on 8-1. Ran into a monster and today On To Norway is not a worry, and with a decent trip can take its 3rd picture in 5 races this year. Lexus Cody is no slouch but will lean toward Dunn with the Marcus Melander trainee being the best down the lane.
1-6-7
Race 9-Hambletonian Oaks Purse $500,000 (3:36 PM EDT)
1-Busy Miss Lissy S (4-1)-Going for an upset and it looks like the Ake Svanstedt entry is peaking at the right. If Svanstedt connects it will be his 2nd Hambo Oaks win. For some, the Elimination win could be dismissed as being trip aided. But this filly has won 5 of 7 at M1, and although getting a pocket ride, she was sharp and showed her versatility. Lissy should be racing on top or close to it once the wings fold. But she also has the grit to hold onto the lead or roll by others down the lane. Yannick Gingras will steer the 2nd chalk Nezuko Kamado S as Scott Zeron was hurt in an accident Thursday night at Yonkers. No doubt, Gingras is one of the best. But this will be a new set of hands at a less than opportune time, and it may not provide a winning difference.
1-2-4
Race 10-Steele Memorial Purse $183,650 (4:08 PM EDT)
5-Yo Tillie (3-1)-The Andrew Harris prize pupil makes her 2nd start on Lasix after winning on 8-1 in a gate to wire score. Comes back in sequence, last time was on the bench since 7-11. When this gal is right, and she looks that way now, it is hard to ignore her M1 record (9-7-0-0). Todd McCarthy should be no worse than in the pocket around the opening turn. This isn't a lay-up but with a smooth trip should have her way with this field.
5-4-2
Race 11-Hambletonian Final Purse $1,000,000 (4:51 PM EDT)
4-Big Ranger (2-1)-It's difficult for some with an East Coast bias to recognize the talent of some bred in Ohio, Indiana or Canada. But Ohio bred or not, my take is there is no way to discount Big Ranger outstanding effort in last week's Elimination. Is it possible that Apex or Endurance could win, or someone else off a great trip? Yes, but possible and likely are two different things. If the Anette Lorentzon entry comes with the same determination today as last week, driver Tim Tetrick will take his 2nd Hambo picture.
4-6-3
Race 12-McKee Memorial Purse $138,650 (5:34 PM EDT)
9-Lou Hill (7/2)-Lou has big gate speed and there isn't a lot of that in this field except for #4 Captain Optimistic. No doubt Yannick Gingras will be blasting off the gate. One way or the other he should be in control early in the mile. The Per Engblom trainee loves to win and has been doing a lot of it lately. In the last 10 races the 5-year-old has taken 7 pictures and is a prefect 2 for 2 at M1. Will look for another big try and the post draw helps the price.
9-3-4
Race 13-McKee Memorial Purse $139,900 (5:58 PM EDT)
3-Bythemissal (9/2)-This race is a taffy pull, so will look for a square price and the inside draw shouldn't hurt. Missal turned heads in its last start with a 53.2 back half and rolled by them all with a 25.4 last quarter. Consecutive wins don't happen as often these days for the Ron Burke veteran, but if it repeats its last performance, it could here. Has also won 5 of 12 at M1 and that's the best win percentage in the field.
3-1-7
Race 14-Lady Liberty Purse $156,500 (6:24 PM EDT)
2-Miki And Minnie (3-1)-Doesn't have big gate speed so that can make the job more difficult. Drawing inside could help James MacDonald stay in the hunt early on. With a decent trip the Chris Ryder entry could pull off a mild upset and beat its stablemate Twin B Joe Fresh who Dexter Dunn will be steering. Can offer some value and does very good work at M1 (9-7-0-2)
2-7-4
Race 15-Shady Daisy Purse $123,200 (6:48 PM EDT)
5-Be Perfect BG (9/5)-This is the best horse in the field, very consistent, and Dexter Dunn does the steering. The good points don't stop there. Comes off a win, has taken 6 pictures in 7 races at M1, and draws well. Will be a small price and it would be a surprise if the Tony Beaton 3-year-old weren't posing.
5-1-7
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