KEN WARKENTIN'S ROAD TO THE WINNING KEY FARM HAMBLETONIAN WEEK 5

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- June 3, 2026 -- No changes to Ken Warkentin’s Week 5 Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian but there is plenty of racing action this weekend. No. 1 Apex & No. 4 Diabolic Hill make 3YO debuts in the NJSS, No. 3 Endurance heads to Pocono and No. 5 Big Ranger moves to a new barn.

ROAD TO THE WINNING KEY FARM HAMBLETONIAN (G1)

2026 Top Ten – Week 5 – June 3

The 2026 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian (G1) will take place Saturday, August 8

 

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, rallied to win Big M qualifier in 1:53.3 (:26.1) May 22, post 11 second tier draw for 3YO debut in NJSS June 5

2

Spencer Hanover

(Chapter Seven)

Jason Bartlett, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Synder, Arthur Pronti

Breeders Crown champion dominated Oak Grove Derby elim in 1:53.4 in 3YO debut, equaled 1:51.3 track record in final, easily made it three-for-three this season with a 1:53.3 romp (track good) in NYSS @ Vernon Downs May 25, aiming for the EBC June 12

3

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, track record equaling 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim in 3YO debut, then a gallant second in final, drew the rail in PASS division June 6

4

Diabolic Hill

(Muscle Hill)

Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mario Mazza, AC Crawford Racing Stable

Breeders Crown elimination winner, close second in final, beat Spencer Hanover in Valley Victory in 1:53.3, banked $506,636, won Big M qualifier in 1:53.3 on May 8, wire-to-wire in 1:53.2 Big M qualifier May 29, McCarthy: “He felt super and is nice and tight for next week.” Makes 3YO debut from rail in NJSS June 5

5

Big Ranger

(In Range)

Anette Lorentzon, Madison Global

2025 Ohio Horse of the Year went seven-for-seven, track records @ Scioto Downs & Dayton, broke in 3YO debut April 23, fourth in Oak Grove Derby elim, wire-to-wire in Silver consolation in 1:52.3, set Scioto Downs track record 1:51.2 in OHSS May 25, then underwent a barn change, not in to go

6

American Power

(Walner)

Mattias Melander, Marcus Melander, M Biasuzzi Stable Inc

Beat Spencer Hanover in 1:55.3 qualifier May 16, rallied in :26.3 again to win Garden State division May 16, then won NJSS Platinum Division in 1:54.3 over sloppy track May 23, post three in NJSS June 5

7

AI

(Chapter Seven)

Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc, Weaver Bruscemi LLC

Won NYSS Final, second in Kindergarten Final, banked $395,073, in 3YO debut second (1:51.4) in Oak Grove Derby elim, fourth (1:52.1) from post three in Final, did not race last two weeks, post two in NYSS @ Tioga Downs June 5 (Race 6)

8

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, won his first Big M qualifier in 1:55.1 May 15, rallied for third behind American Power in 3YO debut May 23, post nine in NJSS June 5

9

Magic Punk

(Wishing Stone)

Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc.

Second in Wellwood &Peter Haughton, third in Kindergarten Final, banked $220,878, 1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup in 3YO debut, fourth (1:54.1) in Big M qualifier May 29, post seven in first Goodtimes elim June 5 as 9-5 ML favorite with Yannick Gingras

10

Nebbiolo

(Captain Corey)

Sarah Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc.

Rare Pinto from first crop of Captain Corey rattled off four in a row last Fall, dead heat fourth in Valley Victory, dominated 3YO debut in Bunker Hill Trot @ Plainridge in 1:54.2, fifth win in nine career starts, did not race last week, not in to go