10 trotting finalists are set for 100th running of Hambletonian

Emoticon Legacy, Super Chapter and Nordic Catcher S won the three elimination races Saturday night to lead qualifying for the 100th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Hambletonian next weekend at Meadowlands.

The 10 3-year-olds who made it to the Saturday running of America’s richest standardbred race came from three fields of seven. Each elimination was worth $83,550.

Emoticon Legacy wins by nose

Favorite Emoticon Legacy held sway with Louis Roy in the bike again for trainer Luc Blais in the first elimination. The homebred son of Walner-Emoticon Hanover made a winning move brushing through the 55.1-second half-mile to take the lead to a speedy 1:24.1 three-quarters and, with a last quarter in 27.3 seconds, recorded a nose win with a time of 1:51.4.

Long shot Greenma driven by trainer Trond Smedshammer closed late to get second and make next weekend’s final. Blank, a Marcus Melander-trained colt with Andy McCarthy at the reins, finished third to get a spot in the classic trot. Meshuggah, driven by Scott Zeron, took fourth and qualified for the final by having the highest lifetime earnings of all the fourth-place finishers from the eliminations.

Roy said he had “not much of a game plan” for a trip going into the elimination. “Right now he’s perfect to drive. Even in the post parade today he was a perfect horse. We always have the hopples at the same length, (but) I got a new bike here. I don’t know if it’s the bike or the surface, (but) the hopples seem a little tight on him. I don’t know if we’re restraining him in his gait, but it might be another plus next week if he gets a little looser in there.”

Emoticon Legacy looks to extend his four-race winning streak next weekend. His wins up to the Hambletonian eliminations include the Zweig Memorial at Vernon and the Goodtimes at Mohawk, where he set a Canada record and a lifetime best of 1:50.2.

Determination owns Emoticon Legacy, who raised his lifetime earnings to $459,371. He paid $4.20 to win.

Super Chapter stays perfect in ’25

Super Chapter collected his fifth straight victory in a perfect sophomore season, winning the second Hambletonian elimination at 1:51.1 in rein to Dexter Dunn. The dominating division son of Chapter Seven out of Lifetime Pursuit never was engaged once taking the lead after a 27.0-second first quarter-mile. Super Chapter was an overwhelming favorite in all of his sophomore races including a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial and the Yonkers Trot, the first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown. He coasted to the elimination victory with little to no urging from Dunn.

Maximus Mearas S swept up real estate in the late going to finish second, beaten by 1 3/4 lengths. Gap Kronos S earned the last berth into the final with a third-place finish from a first-over push.

The elimination win ballooned Super Chapter’s lifetime bankroll to $844,765 for owners Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti and Hanover Shoe Farms.

“He was super last year,” Mattias Melander of the Marcus Melander barn said. “He’s impressed us enough this year that we can’t be more impressed.”

Mattias said he expects there won't be any equipment changes going into the $1 million mile.

Super Chapter paid $2.10 to win.

Nordic Catcher S scores at 10-1

Ake Svanstedt guided Nordic Catcher S, his long-shot son of Six Pack out of That Woman Hanover, to the front from post 1 and commanded his six foes through the two turns to win the last of the Hambletonian eliminations.

Driver-trainer Svanstedt not only went wire to wire to score the victory, his charge recorded a lifetime-best winning mile of 1:50.3.

The 2024 2-year-old trotting champion Maryland was Nordic Catcher S’s main challenger. Trained by Marcus Melander, he left quickly and a bit wide from post 7 but settled into fourth as the field lined up around the backstretch. He left the row and attacked after the 55.3-second half-mile and nearly nipped Nordic Catcher S in a 26.2-second sprint to the finish.

Nordic Catcher S held onto the victory by a firm nose over Maryland, who still is looking for his first victory as a 3-year-old.

Go Dog Go, the 4-5 favorite after his big win over Maryland in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division, also attained a berth in the Hambletonian final.

After the race Svanstedt said the minor equipment change of bridle gave him further confidence in his steed.

“He performs better and better, and I was not afraid of showing high speed (on the lead)," he said. “Maybe pacer blood makes him a bit tougher.”

Ake Svanstedt and Jeff Gural's Little E own Nordic Catcher S, who has earned $313,285 for his two racing seasons. He paid $23.80 to win.

Post positions for the Hambletonian will be drawn Tuesday.