The loss of the
Colonial, Battle Of Brandywine and Valley Forge not only leaves a gaping hole in
the August stakes schedule, it also denies those colts that failed to win the
Hambletonion and Meadowlands Pace an opportunity to redeem themselves. Super
Sunday was positioned perfectly for a challenger to emerge in the classes
represented.
The Colonial and
Hambletonion were won by the same trotters in five of the first six years they
paralleled each other, however since Flirth did the double in 1973 that has only
happened three times. And in the 26 years since Mack Lobell won both in 1987,
Windsongs Legacy is the only totter to double. Last year Spider Blue Chip won
his Hambo elimination only to falter in the final. However, he then won a leg of
the PASS, the Colonial, the PASS Championship, Bluegrass and BC. When he won the
Colonial it was on—RFL had a genuine challenger. The previous year Goo was a
convincing winner over Hambletonion champ Market Share in the Colonial but his
health gave way before he could capitalize on it. Still, success in the Colonial
created that opportunity.
The Battle has
been won by the same colt as the Adios once since the former reappeared in 2007,
while three Pace winners have doubled in the race. It played a crucial role in
2013 as Captaintreacherous, with his narrow loss to Sunshine Beach, suddenly became
vulnerable.
There is no open
for sophomore pacing fillies on Hambletonion Day. There will probably be a gap
between the Adioo Volo, a week before that, and the Shady Daisy in early
September. Yeah, there will be sire stakes action for all three classes, but the
open races will fade from consciousness and many will lose
interest.
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