Catching up after a few busy weeks

by Bob Heyden

After a Harrisburg sale for the ages and Final Four weekend which essentially marked the end of the stakes season, let’s look at where we are.

MORE MELANDER

For the second straight season it is 33-year-old Marcus Melander who has sent out the winningest $$ horse in all of North America. In 2024 it was Maryland ($1,227,695) and this year it’s Super Chapter ($1,236,099).

BARTLETT’S TWICE AS NICE

Jason Bartlett is going to lead North America in $$ and in UDRS. In 1966, Stanley Dancer was the last to do this. Bartlett started Nov. 14 427Gs to the good over Dexter Dunn. No. 9 all-time, it’s going to be Bartlett’s very first time at No. 1 with very likely a Dan Patch Driver of the Year honor right behind.

QUITE A PAIR

Has there ever been any other trainer who has seen their trainees-turned-stallions dominate at the sales like two Hall of Famers Linda Toscano and Stanley Dancer? Toscano with Walner from the first crop of her Chapter Seven and Dancer with the amazing trio of Most Happy Fella (1970 retiree) and stablemates Super Bowl and Albatross (both 1972 retirees).

DRIVE TO WIN

George Brennan has edged past Brian Sears at $214,181,061 into sixth place all-time with No. 5 Ron Pierce on the 2026 radar at $215.2 million. Is it too early for HOF chat on Scott Zeron? Well, he’s at $120 million with three Hambletonians. Campbell was inducted in 1990 at $98 million and three Hambletonians.

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD

Going into Final Four weekend David Miller was around $1 million shy of setting the new earnings record held by John Campbell since July 1986 which ended in June 2017 at $299.8 million. Miller’s last night in New Jersey was Fall Final Four Night as he heads home to Ohio.

AMERICA’S TROTTING CLASSIC?

Can we still call the Hambletonian that when an American-born driver has not won it since Brian Sears (Pinkman) in 2015 and six of the past seven conditioners were also not born here with Tony Alagna (Ramona Hill) being the last American made in 2020.

BEAU KNOWS WINNING

Beau Jangles makes a great HOY case for sure, with twice as many starts as his grandsire at 2. History looks kindly on unblemished freshman pacers going forward as Bret Hanover and Niatross both repeated as HOY at 3; Jate Lobell was the 3YOCP of 1987 after his fabulous season (HOY runner-up) in 1986. 2026 should see him leave Canada for the first time, and more importantly, bump into the best 2YO that hardly anyone has ever heard of, Odds On Mr Mamba (1:47.4).

GREATNESS GROWS IN GARDEN STATE

With David Miller leaving the Garden State after 26 years and possibly the Hambletonian doing the same next year after 46 New Jersey editions, let’s not forget that it was in New Jersey where:

• The first $1 million and $2 million races were held.

• Where John Campbell became nationally prominent.

• Where Bulldog set the all-age standard of 1:45.4.

• Where the six richest races ever contested were held, all Woodrow Wilsons in the 1980s.

• Where Garden State Park hosted history’s only race ever to twice debut at over $1 million but never again: Governor’s Cup 1985 and 1986.

CRUZE’N INTO RETIREMENT

JL Cruze calls it a career at 14 with over $2 million in earnings. A decade after becoming the first sub 1:50 winning trotter in Meadowlands’ history: 1:49.4 on July 11, 2015 for John Campbell and trainer Eric Ell. The son of Crazed—Topcat Hall was the 2008 Hambletonian runner-up. Thanks for everything!