STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

WARRAWEE MICHELLE REBOUNDS FOR HAMBLETONIAN OAKS WIN

Ray Cotolo, Meadowlands Media Relations • August 4, 2024

Last season’s Breeders Crown divisional champion Warrawee Michelle made swift amends from a tepid beginning to her sophomore season to, in her fourth start of the year, bag gold in the $525,000 Hambletonian Oaks final on Saturday (Aug. 3) at the Meadowlands ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- August 3, 2024 -- Last season’s Breeders Crown divisional champion Warrawee Michelle made swift amends from a tepid beginning to her sophomore season to, in her fourth start of the year, bag gold in the $525,000 Hambletonian Oaks final on Saturday (Aug. 3) at the Meadowlands.


Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt pushed off the wings with Warrawee Michelle out of post two to secure a seat in fourth as her stablemate French Champagne motored forward with Miss I La to take the lead after a :26.2 first quarter. R Melina followed French Champagne’s brush to the backside and soon planted herself onto the lead all while Svanstedt sat cozy in fourth, but with even-money favorite Elista Hanover on his back.


R Melina strode by the half in :54.3 as Elista Hanover tried to get started on the outside, forcing Svanstedt’s hand to lift Warrawee Michelle into action. Warrawee Michelle advanced from the flush through the final turn and loomed nearer to R Melina coming to three-quarters in 1:23.3. Rounding the bottom corner, Warrawee Michelle spurted forward to a lead that quickly widened as R Melina got hooked with the fast-closing Date Night Hanover to her inside and French Champagne to her outside. The added cushion proved enough for Warrawee Michelle, as she then evaded a late push from last year’s Dan Patch divisional champ Buy A Round down the center of the track to win in 1:51.3 by a half length. Allegiant rallied from third-over for third and Miss I La emerged around the stretch traffic for fourth.


The Oaks win for Warrawee Michelle, her first victory of the year, was just her second start following a minor throat operation.


“She had some problems and we did the throat surgery,” Svanstedt said after the race. “After that, she was normal again. She raced good last time and today she was super. We were out early and horses were coming from behind, but I gave her full speed as we came through the stretch.”


Warrawee Michelle, who wrapped her freshman season with a win in the $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, became just the 11th filly in harness racing history to achieve the double, which was last accomplished by 2018 Oaks winner Manchego. Trainer-driver Svanstedt scored his first victory in the Hambletonian Oaks.


A daughter of Walner out of the Yankee Glide mare Sound Check, Warrawee Michelle races for owners Åke Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc. and Young Guns. She won her fifth race from 13 starts and has now earned $747,875. Off the sixth choice in the betting, she paid $29.20 to win.

By Courtney Stafford July 2, 2025
Harness Racing Community Celebrates Major Legislative Win as State Renews Full Commitment to Industry Support…
By cstafford June 30, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it has granted certiorari in the challenge brought by the United States Trotting Association (USTA), the States of Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Louisiana, and a group of racetracks, racing associations, and breeders against the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), and has vacated the decision and remanded the case for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to reconsider its decision upholding HISA ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
The doll of her class as a 2- and 3-year-old, Sylvia Hanover endured many defeats as Twin B Joe Fresh claimed the crown in the 4-year-old campaign in progress to a Horse of the Year title ...
By Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
Periculum, with Scott Zeron at the reins, fired midstretch from off the pace to carve a 1:50 score in the $164,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot on Saturday (June 28) at The Meadowlands ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
Saturday (June 28) saw speedy returning victories by Ken Hanover, a winner once last year from 12 starts in a lifetime-best mile over this track, and 2024 Breeders Crown Open Pace champion Coach Stefanos in their respective $86,500 divisions of the Dave Brower Memorial at The Meadowlands ...
By Frank Cotolo, for Meadowlands Media Relations June 29, 2025
Call Me Goo fought confidently when making two moves in her 1:51.2 winning effort in the $114,500 Six Pack Mare Trot on Saturday (June 28) at The Meadowlands and thrusted herself over the seven-figure earnings plateau in the process ...
More Posts