East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbooks) - Harness racing's marquee event, the $1.5 million Hambletonian, has attracted 22 three-year-old trotters. There will be three elimination heats on Saturday at The Meadowlands in order to determine the 10 trotters for next week's final.
The expected favorite is Muscle Hill who is undefeated in three starts this year. Owned by Jerry Silva and others, Muscle Hill is trained by Greg Peck and will be driven by Brian Sears in the third elimination race from post two,
The colt has earned $220,075 in 2009 and is third in this week's Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll with 244 points and one first-place vote.
Here are the fields for Saturday's three Hambletonian elimination heats in post position order: Symphonic Hanover, David Miller; Judge Joe, D. R. Ackerman; Mr Cantab, Andy Miller; My Back Pages, George Brennan; Calchips Brute, David Miller; Cesar A Blue Chip, Tim Tetrick and Federal Flex, Jody Jamieson.
Explosive Matter, Ron Pierce; Citation Lindy, Ray Schnittker; Select Yankee, Brett Miller; Reinsman Hanover, Tim Tetrick; NF Quotable, David Miller; Truth In Action, Tim Tetrick and Hot Shot Blue Chip, Michel Lachance.
Triumphant Caviar, Luc Ouellette; Muscle Hill, Brian Sears; The Chancellor, Andy Miller; Tom Cango, John Campbell; Braggart, Tim Tetrick; Big Bikkies, Andrew McCarthy; Airzoom Lindy, Tim Tetrick and Wuthering Hanover, Dave Palone.
The Hambletonian final will be Saturday, August 8 with a scheduled post-time of 4:15 p.m. (et). The race will be televised on NBC.
