APEX LEADS HAMBLETONIAN HOPEFULS IN NJSS ACTION AT BIG M

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ -- June 5, 2026 -- Four of the top-eight horses in the Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian rankings, including No. 1 Apex in his seasonal debut, will meet in New Jersey Sire Stakes action Friday (June 5) at the Meadowlands.

Apex, the 2025 Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old male trotter, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in Friday’s second round of the NJSS Platinum series for sophomore colt and gelding trotters at The Big M. He will start from the second tier’s post 11 in a field of 11, with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Marcus Melander.

Last year, Apex won six of nine races, including two Grade 1 stakes – the Mohawk Million at Woodbine Mohawk Park and the Peter Haughton Memorial at Harrah’s Hoosier Park – as well as the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship and New Jersey Classic.

He heads to Friday’s start off a 1:53.3 qualifier win May 22 at the Meadowlands. The son of Walner-Mission Brief trotted his back half in :55, with the last quarter in :26.1.

“I was very happy with Apex’s qualifier,” said Melander, who trains the colt for Jeff Snyder, SRF Stable, and Steve Stewart. “We’re very excited to get started with him this year. This is what you work all winter for.”

Melander also will send out American Power, ranked No. 6 on the Road to the Hambletonian list prepared by Meadowlands announcer/analyst Ken Warkentin. American Power is 2-for-2 this year after winning three of 12 races last season. His triumphs in 2025 included a division of the International Stallion Stakes (G3) in 1:53.1 at Lexington’s Red Mile. This year, the son of Walner-Ariana G has a 1:52.3 victory in the Garden State Trot and 1:54.3 score over a sloppy track in a division of the NJSS Platinum on May 23.

American Power will leave from post 3 with Mattias Melander in the sulky and is 5-1 on the morning line. He is owned by M Biasuzzi Stable.

“He always had the speed, and I always liked the horse, but his biggest problem last year was that he got way too excited before races,” Melander said. “He just couldn’t finish strong because it took too much out of him. It’s been a huge difference this year. He matured a lot during the winter, and it’s shows. I’m very excited about him.”

The remaining two horses from the Road to the Hambletonian list competing in Friday’s NJSS Platinum event are No. 4 Diabolic Hill and No. 8 Ardonne.

Diabolic Hill, an Annie Stoebie-trained son of Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream, was last year’s Valley Victory (G1) winner and Breeders Crown runner-up. He will be making his 2026 debut after being scratched from his NJSS Platinum start on May 23 because of track conditions. He will leave from post 1 with Todd McCarthy in the sulky and is the 4-1 second choice on the morning line. The colt is owned by Mario Mazza, Stoebe, and AC Crawford Racing Stable.

Ardonne, last year’s William Wellwood Memorial (G1) champ and NJSS final runner-up, will be making his second start of this season after finishing third in a first-round division of the NJSS Platinum. Scott Zeron will drive the son of Tactical Landing-Burberry for trainer Megan Scran and owner Philip Steinberg. He will leave from post 9 and is 12-1 on the morning line.

Nine of the 11 horses in the NJSS Platinum are Hambletonian eligible, including first-round division winner Gabes Luck from the stable of trainer Nancy Takter. The son of Walner-Born Lindy will start from post 10 with Lauren Tritton in the sulky and is 10-1.

The $1 million Winning Key Farm Hambletonian (G1) is Aug. 8 at the Meadowlands. Eliminations, if necessary, for America’s Trotting Classic will be Aug. 1.

Friday’s card at the Meadowlands also includes two second-round divisions of the NJSS Platinum series for 3-year-old female trotters. Noel Daley-trained Naked And Famous is the morning-line favorite in the first division; Jason McGinnis-trained Jailbird Jog gets the 5-2 nod in the second.

Racing begins at 6:35 p.m. (EDT) at the Meadowlands. For free TrackMaster past performances, click here.