by Bob Heyden

For the first time in 43 editions of the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands the winner of the Oaks and the Hambletonian both were third in their elimination.

Other famous third-place elimination horses who went on to win the big one:

Cool Papa Bell — 2022 Hambletonian

Forbidden Trade — 2019 Hambletonian

Personal Style — 2012 Hambletonian Oaks

Windsong’s Legacy — 2004 Hambletonian

Amigo Hall — 2003 Hambletonian

UNPRECEDENTED THREE-PEAT FOR STEVE STEWART

Wow, he did it again! Ten editions — the last 10 — he’s bred the winner three times, and add in Mission Brief, the 2015 fave and runner-up, for good measure.

2014 — Trixton

2019 — Forbidden Trade

2023 — Tactical Approach

The next closest to this is Brittany Farms who bred three of the last 28 winners: Continentalvictory (1996), Self Possessed (1999) and Glidemaster (2006)

HELLO GOOD OL’ BOYS CLUB, YOU’VE GOT A PAIR OF ADDITIONS

And they are not boys.

Linda Toscano and now Nancy Takter put their names on a very exclusive list in 2023.

There are now five that have won the Hambletonian, Meadowlands Pace and the North America Cup.

Steve Elliott, Blair Burgess and Tony Alagna, you now have company.

BIDING YOUR TIME

Allywag Hanover entered Hambletonian Day an uncharacteristic 5 0-0-0 in 2023, but won his division of the McKee Memorial. In 2017, Pure Country won her first race of the year in the Lady Liberty also on Hambletonian Day. She parlayed that into a division title and was the first female pacer to do so at 2, 3, and 4.

FAVORITE ONE

For the 12th time in 43 New Jersey Hambletonians, post position #1 was the betting favorite. Celebrity Bambino finished fourth this year. The complete slate looks like 12 7-2-0.

The oddity is that of the three times the favorite from post #1 has been off the board, it’s happened the last two years. Rebuff was odds on from the pole a year back.

Overall, just two of the last 10 favorites have won the Hambletonian and they were the two right before Rebuff: Captain Corey and Ramona Hill. The first 30 held in NJ were more formful as 15 of 30 chalks rolled in.

IMPORT-ANT HAMBLETONIAN RESULT

For the first time in 12 years, the top three trainers in the Hambletonian were all born in a foreign country. 

1 — Nancy Takter — Sweden

2 — Marcus Melander — Sweden

3 — Ake Svanstedt — Sweden

In 2011 it was:

1 — Noel Daley — Australia — Broad Bahn

2 — Thomas Durand — Canada — Whiskey Tax

3 — Jim Campbell — Canada — Opening Night

DYNAMIC YOUTH

Scott Zeron just won his third Hambletonian at age 34. He’s the 11th driver to win it three times but a year younger than anyone else.

John Campbell — 35 in 1990 with Harmonious. 

Henry Thomas — 47

Brian Sears — 47

Del Cameron — 47

Mike Lachance — 48

Stanley Dander — 48

Billy Haughton — 53

Ron Pierce — 54

Howard Beissinger — 55

Ben White — 69

POST 10 DOUBLES UP

For the first time, post 10 captured the Hambletonian and the Oaks the same year. 

It was the second straight year for the Oaks winner, both times Tim Tetrick. It was the only two times post 10 has taken the Oaks in its history.

It was the first time ever for any NJ Hambletonian winner.

FOUR

Tetrick has now won the Hambletonian Oaks four times, and never been favored.

He paid $59.40 this year with Heaven Hanover.

He had Danae ($24.40) in 2007, Bar Slide ($8.40) in 2010 and Fashion Schooner (first from post 10 as the third choice) last year.

Tetrick also won his fourth Cane Pace, each of which also won the Meadowlands Pace.

One More Laugh — 2010

Captaintreacherous — 2013

Huntsville — 2017

Confederate — 2023

FAVORITE LADIES OF THE HAMBLETONIAN, EXCEPT ON THE TOTE BOARD

Three ladies have now been victorious in the Hambletonian, but none were the betting choice.

Linda Toscano 2012 Market Share $10.80 third choice.

Paula Wellwood 2016 Marion Marauder $7.00 third choice.

Nancy Takter 2023 Tactical Approach $26.80 sixth choice.

NOTE: The only female trainer ever favored in the Hambletonian? Julie Miller at 2-1 was second in 2017 with Devious Man.

YES SIRE

A first crop stallion took the Hambletonian for just the third time this century:

Tactical Landing (2023) with Tactical Approach.

Muscle Hill (2014) with Trixton.

Andover Hall (2007) with Donato Hanover.

This year also marked the first son of Muscle Hill to sire a Hambletonian winner.

ADAM WOW-DEN

Wow! Adam Bowden’s Diamond Creek Farm is tearing it up in 2023 and Hambletonian Day was a continuation of this. Confederate dominated the Meadowlands Pace and now the Cane. Sweet Lou’s It’s My Show and Confederate on the wire together, 1-2, in the NA Cup, then, Father Patrick redeems himself (somewhat) with his daughter winning the Hambletonian Oaks from the very same post he had in the 2014 Hambletonian, post 10.

MONEY MEN

Zeron is pretty much widely known as the “Money Man” with a knack for stepping up in the big races. Tetrick is on course to smash the long-existing all-time money record. Together, they have been 1-2 in both million dollar races for 2023: It’s My Show (Zeron) and Confederate (Tetrick) in the NA Cup and now 1-2 in the Hambletonian with Tactical Landing (Zeron) and Oh Well (Tetrick).

(NON) TRIPS TO WIN:

Races 10, 11 and 12 on Hambletonian Day 2023 saw something never seen on any New Jersey Hambletonian Day. The Oaks, Cashman and Hambletonian saw their winners come from last to first. How rare is it in the Oaks for the horse last at the quarter to win? It’s unprecedented. The only filly who hit the board after being last at the first quarter in the Oaks was Celebrity Sweedie in 2006 who finished third. How about the Hambletonian? Only Soul Strong in 2019 got as close as fourth after trailing at the first fraction. Two checks in 40 Hambletonian finals (no race offs). On the filly side, eight of 35 finalists (no race offs) got money heading into 2023.