East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbooks) - Tom Ridge and Eilean Donon, the winners of last week's elimination races, head a field of ten for this Saturday's $1 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands.
The Hambletonian. harness racing's premiere event, is a one-mile trot for three-year-olds. It has been conducted at the Meadowlands since 1981 and the race will be the eighth race on Saturday with a post-time of 2:42 p.m. (et).
The morning-line favorite for the event is Tom Ridge at 5-2. Tom Ridge will be driven by Ron Pierce and start from post six. This year the colt has won two of four starts with two second place finishes and has earned $176,171. Pierce will be going after his second Hambletonian win as he also captured this race in 1993 with American Winner.
Cantab Hall is the second choice at 7-2 with driver Mike Lachance. Lachance won last year's Hambletonian with Amigo Hall and the native of Canada has won a total of four Hambletonians. The three-year-old will start from the inside post. He finished third in his elimination race last week and has earned $74,943 this year.
The third choice in the program at 4-1 is Cash Hall. Cash Hall will start from post five with John Campbell driving. Campbell will be going for win number six in the Hambletonian. However, he has not won this race since 1998 with Muscles Yankee. Cash Hall has won four of nine starts this year for $144,416.
The other elimination race winner, Eilean Donon, is 9-2 in the morning line. Eilean Donon will start from post three with David Miller driving. The three-year-old trotter has won three of four starts this year for $101,719.
Coming in at 5-1 in the morning line is Windsong's Legacy. The trotter will be driven by his trainer Trond Smedshammer and leave from post seven. Windsong's Legacy was considered by many the favorite before last weeks elimination races. He has won four of six races this year for $345,486, the top figure among the starters.
Competing the field for the Hambletonian are Castle of Fortune, Justice Hall, American Mike, Lantern's law and Coventry.
