The 100th Hambletonian Grade 1 field was determined on Saturday (July 26) at The Meadowlands by a trio of seven-sophomore trotting fields worth $83,550 each ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 26, 2025 -- The 100th Hambletonian Grade 1 field was determined on Saturday (July 26) at The Meadowlands by a trio of seven-sophomore trotting fields worth $83,550 each.
Favorite Emoticon Legacy held sway with Louis Roy in the bike again for trainer Luc Blais in the first elimination. The homebred son of Walner-Emoticon Hanover made a winning move brushing through the :55.1 half to take the lead to a speedy 1:24.1 three-quarters and, with a last quarter in :27.3, recorded a nose win in a 1:51.4.
Closing late to get second and make next week's final was longshot Greenma driven by trainer Trond Smedshammer. Finishing third to get a spot in the classic trot was Blank, the Marcus Melander-trained colt with Andy McCarthy at the reins. Meshuggah, driven by Scott Zeron, took fourth and qualified for the final by having the highest lifetime earnings of all the fourth-place finishers from the eliminations.
Driver Roy said he had "not much of a game plan" for a trip going into the elim. "Right now, he’s perfect to drive. Even in the post parade today he was a perfect horse. We always have the hopples at the same length [but] I got a new bike here – I don’t know if it’s the bike or the surface, [but] the hopples seem a little tight on him. I don’t know if we’re restraining him in his gait, but it might be another plus next week if he gets a little looser in there."
Emoticon Legacy looks to extend his four-race winning streak in the trotting classic. His wins up to the Hambletonian eliminations include the Zweig Memorial at Vernon and the Goodtimes at Mohawk, where he set a Canadian record and a lifetime best of 1:50.2.
Determination owns Emoticon Legacy, who raised his lifetime earnings to $459,371. He paid $4.20 to win.
The second Hambletonian elimination saw Super Chapter collect his fifth straight victory in a perfect sophomore season, winning in 1:51.1 in rein to Dexter Dunn. The dominating division son of Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit was never engaged once taking the lead after a :27 first quarter. An overwhelming favorite in all of his sophomore races including a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial and the Yonkers Trot (the first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown), Super Chapter coasted to the elimination victory with little to no urging from Dunn.
Maximus Mearas S swept up real estate in the late going to finish second, beaten 1-3/4 lengths. Gap Kronos S earned the last berth into the final with a third-place finish from a first-over push.
The elimination win balloons Super Chapter's lifetime bankroll to $844,765 for owners Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti and Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
"He was super last year," said Mattias Melander, of the Marcus Melander barn. "He’s impressed us enough this year that we can’t be more impressed." Mattias said he expects there won't be any equipment changes going into the million-dollar mile.
Super Chapter paid $2.10 to win.
Ake Svanstedt guided Nordic Catcher S, his longshot son of Six Pack-That Woman Hanover, to the top from post 1 and commanded his six foes through the two turns to win the last of the Hambletonian eliminations.
Driver-trainer Svanstedt not only went wire to wire to score the victory, his charge recorded a lifetime-best winning mile of 1:50.3.
His main challenger was last year's 2-year-old trotting champion Maryland. The Marcus Melander-trained Maryland left quickly and a bit wide from post 7, but settled into fourth as the field lined up around the backstretch. He left the row and attacked after the :55.3 half to almost nip Nordic Catcher S in a :26.2 sprint to the finish. Nordic Catcher S held onto the victory by a firm nose over Maryland, who is still looking for his first victory as a 3-year-old.
Also attaining a berth in next week's Hambletonian final was Go Dog Go, who went off the 4-5 favorite after his big win over Maryland in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division.
After the race Ake said the minor equipment change of bridle gave him further confidence in his steed. "He performs better and better and I was not afraid of showing high speed [on the lead]," he said. "Maybe pacer blood makes him a bit tougher."
Ake Svanstedt and Jeff Gural's Little E LLC own Nordic Catcher S, who has now earned $313,285 for his two racing seasons. He paid $23.80 to win.
