Apex converts in Hambletonian elims

August 1, 2026

East Rutherford, NJ — Hunterton's Apex, Marcus Melander’s millionaire trainee, stamped himself as a likely favorite for next week’s $1 million Grade 1 Hambletonian by way of a gutsy 1:50.4 win the first $100,175 elimination for the 101st edition of the classic for 3-year-old trotters on Saturday (Aug. 1) at the Meadowlands. Big Ranger delivered a statement win in the second elimination, leaving his nine foes well in his wake for a decisive 1:50 score.


After teaming Apex to wins in the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship and his division of the Grade 3 Stanley Dancer Memorial, Dexter Dunn floated the Walner-Mission Brief colt forward into midfield from post 7 as AI (driven by Yannick Gingras) split fellow leavers Captain Naughty (Jason Bartlett) and American Power (James MacDonald) to secure the lead through a :27.3 first quarter. Midway up the backstretch, Dunn angled Apex wide to flush Inexpressable (Scott Zeron) out from fourth, but Inexpressable charged ahead to clear the front at the :56.4 half-mile station, leaving Apex uncovered and 2 lengths off the lead with the toughest part of the race ahead of him.


“I knew it was going to be a tough mile no matter what we did with him,” said Dunn. “We got away in a pretty good position, but we were only in for a little bit and out the rest of the mile.”


Inexpressable threw down a :26.4 third quarter through the far turn, but Apex managed to gradually grind forward and sweep to the lead with 150 yards to go. Though Apex made easy work of Inexpressable, Endurance and Andy McCarthy posed a major threat down the grandstand side nearing the winning post after slipstreaming Apex’s cover on the far turn.


“I thought Andy was going to pass me late in the stretch (with Endurance), but [Apex] really dug deep and wanted to fight him off,” said Dunn.


Apex indeed proved up to the challenge, gamely parrying Endurance by a nose to record his ninth career win from 13 starts — and his third from just four tries this year — for the partnership of Jeffrey Snyder, SRF Stable and Steve Stewart.


American Power split foes to save third out of a failing pocket; Captain Naughty and AI rounded out the top five finishers.


“He’s got that winning attitude,” concluded Dunn. “I think he’ll probably be sharper next week, as well; he’d only had three starts this year, and this should tighten him up a bit.”

November 1, 2026
Hunterton-bred, raised and sold Chamba reached a career milestone on October 31, winning the $13,500 Open Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs and lifting his lifetime earnings to $253,078. Driven by Joe Chindano Jr., Chamba took command from post four and held off Crazy Ritz by one length in 1:57.2. The victory was the 20th of his career. The son of Cantab Hall–Springaround is trained by Jerry Nugent for owner Rock 01 Stable.  Congratulations to Chamba and his connections on the victory and earnings milestone!
October 30, 2026
Hunterton Raised and Sold Dribbling Bi captured the $39,000 USD Open 1 Trot at Yonkers Raceway on October 29, winning at odds of 26–1. Colin Kelly drove the Ron Coyne Jr. trainee to a neck victory over Sir Pinocchio in 1:54.4, with Southwind Coors finishing third. The seven-year-old son of Cantab Hall–Dream Child was bred by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc., Pompano Beach, Florida , and is owned by Windermere Stable LLC, New York, New York . Foaled in Paris, Kentucky, he sold for $85,000 USD at the 2020 Harrisburg yearling sale. Congratulations to Dribbling Bi and his connections!
October 30, 2026
Hunterton-Sold Voguish captured the $43,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Trot at Yonkers Raceway on October 29, stopping the clock in 1:55.3. Brent Holland drove the Andrew Harris trainee to a half-length victory over Hot Flash Kimmy, with Always A Story finishing third. The four-year-old daughter of Gimpanzee–Jolene Jolene races for Punisher 11 Stable LLC. She was bred by Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm, Martin Schmucker and Steve Stewart, and sold through Hunterton for $535,000 as a yearling.  Congratulations to Voguish and her connections!
October 27, 2026
Hunterton-raised and sold Isabella Bi continued her successful sophomore campaign with an impressive victory in a division of the John Simpson Sr. Memorial Stakes at Pocono Downs on October 26. The three-year-old daughter of Tactical Landing–Call Me Bi IT dominated from start to finish, cruising to a 5¼-length victory in 1:53.1. With Åke Svanstedt handling both the driving and training duties, Isabella Bi maintained control throughout the mile, comfortably defeating Shemightbetheone and Be Mine Hanover. The victory follows her recent Bluegrass Stakes triumph at The Red Mile, adding another stakes success to her growing résumé. Raised at Hunterton Farm and sold through Hunterton Sales Agency for $240,000 at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Isabella Bi is owned by Åke Svanstedt LLC, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Little E LLC and Lars Olsson.  Congratulations to Isabella Bi and her connections on another outstanding performance!
October 25, 2026
Hunterton-born and raised Big Shoes delivered a winning stretch rally on October 25, taking a $50,000 USD Kentucky Sire Stakes division for four-year-old male trotters at Cumberland Run. Yannick Gingras guided the Ron Burke trainee from off the pace to a one-length victory in 1:54. The son of Greenshoe–Witty Girl was bred by Knox Services Inc. and competes for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Knox Services Inc. Big Shoes collected $25,000 USD for the victory, bringing his lifetime earnings to $477,172 USD. The win was the 15th of his career. Congratulations to everyone behind this Hunterton graduate!
October 25, 2026
Hunterton-sold Captain Arturovico returned to the winner’s circle on October 25, capturing a $50,000 USD Kentucky Sire Stakes division for four-year-old male pacers at Cumberland Run. With Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Ron Burke, Captain Arturovico took command before the half and held off Crack Shot by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.1. The son of Captaintreacherous–Tilikum was bred by Randy M Zane and races for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and Phil Collura. The victory was his ninth of the season and 21st lifetime, increasing his career earnings to $654,719 USD. Congratulations to his connections on another stakes success!
October 24, 2026
Columbus, OH — Hambletonian Oaks champion and Hunterton-born and raised Nezuko Kamado S became just the 12th filly in harness racing history to win the Breeders Crown in the same year as she lowered her own track record with a 1:51.1 effort to take the $664,500 Grade 1 final for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday night (Oct. 24) at Scioto Downs. Leaving from post 4, driver Scott Zeron eased Nezuko Kamado S into a seat fifth as last year’s Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot champ Storybook Love (driven by Todd Ratchford) thrusted toward the front from the pylon post. Elimination winner She’s Moni (Yannick Gingras) loomed forward rounding the first turn and pushed past Storybook Love after a :26.3 first quarter to take the lead before tapping the brakes slightly on the approach to a :54.4 half. Supplemental entrant Little Road (Brady Brown), who also won an elimination, angled off the pylons from fourth and progressed uncovered up the rim with Nezuko Kamado S in tow to the backstretch. Little Road stalled in her bid coming to three-quarters in 1:22.4, at which point Zeron nudged his charge three-wide and gathered speed rounding for home. Nezuko Kamado S kept grinding in the stretch and overhauled her peers reaching the final sixteenth to then pull away for a 1-1/2-length win. Busy Miss Lissy S (Åke Svanstedt) stormed widest of all from last for second with Victorianas Secret (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) chasing in the open stretch for third and She’s Moni left in fourth. “I wanted to give her the best opportunity to show if she could or couldn’t (win),” said Zeron, who scored his first Grade 1 win with Nezuko Kamado S since an injury sidelined him from competing in the Hambletonian Oaks on Aug. 8. “I believed she could — obviously first-up in the finals is different than the elims, and obviously coming first-up on She’s Moni is a tougher task. Second-over was really good. Having to go three-wide on the last turn, I had my reservations about that. I was more concerned about my patience because I know she’s talented enough and she has enough of lungs to really carry her speed, but at the same time I don’t want to tip her over in the last turn trying to get overanxious and make up the ground I’m losing.” Nezuko Kamado S, entering the Breeders Crown from a break in stride when racing off the speed in the Kentucky Filly Futurity in early October, rebounded last week in the eliminations when she lowered the track record for 3-year-old trotting fillies with a 1:51.2 mile, which she bested with her win in the final. “I guess we could say there’s a few blunders along the way just recently, but she came into form obviously again in the eliminations and she delivered like the champion she is,” Zeron also said. “She’s a Hambletonian Oaks champion so she’s deserving of (today’s win) and I’m honestly just happy I had the opportunity to do it. At the same time, she trotted so good in that last turn for me, and I was praying she would (win) and she did, and obviously we straightened down the lane and she’s a champion.” Zeron, teaming with trainer Marcus Melander on Friday for another Breeders Crown win with Birr Castle in the 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, won for the first time in the 3-Year-Old Filly Trot. Melander also won for the first time in the event to give himself three trophies to this point. “But Super Chapter lost at 3-5 (in the Open Trot) so that’s what’s going to bother me tomorrow,” Melander said, “but of course I’m very happy. This is our third final (this year). She’s been great all year. She had a little bumps in Kentucky — she got too far off, and it’s hard at The Red Mile because all of them go so fast; if you are a little too far back it’s hard to catch them. Obviously she was great in the elimination last week, got a great trip today. Fantastic filly.” A homebred for Anders Strom’s Courant Inc., Nezuko Kamado S won her eighth race from 12 starts this season and her 14th race from 23 starts in her career, amassing $1.47 million in earnings. The filly by Chapter Seven -Zefira Kronos IT became the first filly to double in the Hambletonian Oaks and Breeders Crown since Bella Bellini in 2021. Sent the 7-5 favorite, she paid $4.80 to win.
October 23, 2026
Hunterton-raised and sold Inverness Ave added another stakes victory to his resume on October 23, winning a $50,000 USD Circle City division for three-year-old male trotters at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Kevin Lambright drove the son of Helpisontheway–Arvika to victory in 1:52.3 for trainer Ernie Gaskin. Bred by The Bay’s Stable LLC, Polger Holdings LLC and Little E LLC, Inverness Ave increased his lifetime earnings to $291,585 USD. Congratulations to his connections on another successful night at Hoosier Park!
October 20, 2026
Hunterton-born and raised Deuce Pop and Hunterton-raised and sold Isotta Bi each earned a Kentucky Sire Stakes victory at Cumberland Run on October 20, winning their respective $40,000 USD preliminary divisions for three-year-old trotters. Deuce Pop stopped the clock in 1:52.2 with Todd McCarthy driving for trainer Ron Burke. The son of Tactical Landing–Atlantic Crest was bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and races for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc. and Phil Collura. Isotta Bi captured her division in 1:55.2 with Andy Miller aboard for owner and trainer Peter Alagna. The daughter of Gimpanzee–Devine Equine was bred by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc. Congratulations to the breeders, owners, trainers, drivers and caretakers behind both stakes winners!
October 18, 2026
Columbus, OH – Hunterton born Hope Hill jogged to victory in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. The daughter of Papi Rob Hanover was guided by Dexter Dunn for trainer Petter Engblom to her eighth triumph of the season and her third straight victory, stopping the timer in 1:50 as the 1-2 choice. Whoomp, who endured a first-up journey, held on to be a game second for John DeLong at 9-2, with 12-1 Darlin’s Angel (Lauren Tritton) garnering third place honors, with 14-1 A Clean Deal (Doug McNair) grabbing fourth. Darlin’s Angel grabbed the lead as the wings of the gate folded, but Dunn hustled Hope Hill quickly out of the pocket to take command going to the :26.4 opening panel. Whoomp then came first up heading into the second turn with a :28.2 second panel that stopped the half mile timer in :55.1, while Darlin’s Angel continued to save ground on the rail in third. Around the final turn positions remained unchanged as the field passed the 1:23.1 three-quarters, with Hope Hill easily holding off her rivals by one length at the wire. Tom Hill of Cabus, Preston, UK owns the homebred bay filly who upped her career earnings to $517,932 and her seasonal earnings to $408,742. She came into this elimination fresh off victories in the $212,000 Garnsey Memorial and $76,000 Bluegrass at Lexington, and now has 11 victories in 23 career starts, with four seconds and five thirds.
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