KEN WARKENTIN'S ROAD TO THE WINNING KEY FARM HAMBLETONIAN (G1): WEEK 1
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- May 6, 2026 -- Dan Patch award winner, Apex, sits on top of Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian (G1).
The 2026 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian (G1) will take place Saturday, August 8
2026 Top Ten – Week 1 – May 6
Rank
Horse
Driver, Trainer, Owner
Ken Warkentin’s Comments
1
Apex
(Walner)
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander. Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable, Steve Stewart
Dan Patch Award winner, money leader ($871,798), won NJSS & NJ Classic Finals, Peter Haughton Memorial & Mohawk Million in 1:51.4, Melander finished second four times, Dexter Dunn third in 2025 with Winterbook favorite & Melander trainee Maryland, scheduled to train @ Big M on May 8 & qualify May 23
2
Endurance
(Captain Corey)
Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Beaver, Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, Mark Moger
First crop of 2021 Hambo winner Captain Corey, won six of eight starts, including two KYSS Finals, second in Mohawk Million, mark of 1:52.3, earned $557,450, won 1:53.4 qualifier on April 16 @ Spring Garden Ranch, track record 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim
3
Spencer Hanover
(Chapter Seven)
Jason Bartlett, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Synder, Arthur Pronti
Won Big Apple Trot Final in 1:52.3, also Breeders Crown elimination & final, second by a head in Valley Victory, earned $649,889, Melander sent out four in last year’s Hambo (second & third), dominated Oak Grove Derby elim in 1:53.4
4
Diabolic Hill
(Muscle Hill)
Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mazza Racing Stables,
Won Breeders Crown elimination in 1:53.1, close second in final, turned the tables on Spencer Hanover in the Valley Victory in 1:53.3, banked $506,636, Todd McCarthy scored the biggest upset (52-1) in Hambo history in 2022 with Cool Papa Bell, entered to qualify @ Big M on May 8
5
AI
(Chapter Seven)
Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc, Weaver Bruscemi LLC
14 – 5-1-4 record, won NYSS Final, second in Kindergarten Final, banked $395,073, Yannick Gingras won his first Hambo in 2024 with Karl & second for the fourth time last year with Super Chapter, second (1:51.4) in Oak Grove Derby elim
6
Nix Nacken
(Muscle Hill)
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc.
Won NJ Classic Conso (1:55) & INSS division (1:52.2), second by a nose to Mr Big Spender in Bluegrass, third in Valley Victory, earned $187,186, 2009 winner Muscle Hill looks for fourth siring credit, third (1:52) in Oak Grove Derby elim
7
Big Ranger
(In Range)
Ronnie Gillespie, Madison Global
2025 Ohio Horse of the Year went seven-for-seven, track records @ Scioto Downs & Dayton, broke in 3YO debut April 23, rebounded with 1:53 qualifier … “He’s a horse that has it all, he’s just a natural,” said trainer Gillespie, faded to fourth in Oak Grove Derby elim
8
Magic Punk
(Wishing Stone)
Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc.
Runner up in the Wellwood & Peter Haughton, third in Kindergarten Final, banked $220,878, Svanstedt won his third Hambo in 2025 with Nordic Catcher S in stakes record 1:50, rallied to 1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup in 3YO debut
9
Mr Big Spender
(Captain Corey)
Mike Wilder, Norm Parker, Bart Brice, Todd Brice
Bluegrass winner in 1:51.2, third in the Peter Haughton Memorial & Breeders Crown Final, earned $273,180, two qualifiers @ The Meadows, 1:57.2 win April 21, then broke on lead April 28, post six in PASS division May 8
10
Ardonne
(Tactical Landing)
Scott Zeron, Megan Scran, Philip Steinberg
Won elimination in 1:54.4 & final William Wellwood Memorial in 1:52.4, second by a head to Apex in NJSS Final, banked $289,150, Scott Zeron seeks his fourth Hambo
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
Date
Stakes
Site
Winner
Driver
Trainer
2nd Horse
3rd Horse
Time
May 2
Dexter Cup
M
MAGIC PUNK
Ake Svanstedt
Ake Svanstedt
Southwind Alamo
WHO’S EYES BLUES
1:53.1
May 4
Oak Grove Elim
OG
SPENCER HANOVER
Jason Bartlett
Marcus Melander
Geologic
IMPOSSIBLE BI
1:53.4
May 4
Oak Grove Elim
OG
Silverstein
Dave Miller
Matthew Burkholder
REQIUEM
KINGMEN
1:52.3
May 4
Oak Grove Elim
OG
ENDURANCE
Andrew McCarthy
Christopher Beaver
AI
NIX NAKEN
1:51.3
May 8
PASS 1st Leg
Mea
May 8
PASS 1st Leg
Mea
May 16
Battle of Bunker Hill
PR
May 16
Oak Grove Derby
OG
May 18
PA Allstars
Poc
May 23
NJSS 1st Leg
M
May 25
NYSS 1st Leg
Ver
June 5
NYSS 2nd Leg
TD
June 5
NJSS 2nd Leg
M
June 5
Goodtimes Elim
MO
June 5
Goodtimes Elim
MO
June 6
PASS 2nd Leg
Poc
June 12
NJSS Final
M
June 12
EBC Division
Ver
June 12
EBC Division
Ver
June 13
Goodtimes Final
MO
June 19
Yonkers Trot Elim
Y
June 24
NYSS 3rd leg
Buf
June 26
Yonkers Trot Final
Y
June 26
Currier & Ives
Mea
July 4
Reynolds
M
July 4
Reynolds
M
July 11
Stanley Dancer
M
July 11
Stanley Dancer
M
July 19
Zweig Memorial
V
July 23
NYSS 4th Leg
Y
July 25
Tompkins-Geers
M
July 25
Tompkins-Geers
M
Aug. 1
Hambo Elim
M
Aug. 1
Hambo Elim - M
