Last time around for some eligibles

Three-year-old trotters, some making their final starts for the July 30 Hambletonian and “Oaks” eliminations battle in New Jersey Sires Stakes and a three-year-old open on July 22 at the Meadowlands.  

Orlando (Andover Hall), trained by Don Swick, is one of seven Hambo-eligible colts entered in a $25,000 Open. Swick feels it is a wide-open year, as many felt was 2010, and the Hambletonian is chock full of contenders.  

"I thought we had written off the Hambletonian for Orlando,” he told Amy Silver of the Meadowlands PR department, “but he shows that he's getting his legs back under him. If he can knock off a strong 1:53 mile on Friday night, whether he wins or not, then we'll go ahead and spend the money. If he's consistent and stays at it, it might be enough to get big money."  

Though still a maiden, Orlando was a colt we followed with loyalty through the season. He had narrow losses in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and in his only attempt at the Meadowlands this year, he broke stride while on the lead.  

Ice Machine (Muscles Yankee) returns in the colt NJSS division, facing Leader Of The Gang (Muscles Yankee), winner of the Yonkers Trot. Celebrity Bombay (Yankee Glide) and Whit (Classic Photo) complete the field’s eligibles.  

The other colt split offers eligibles Consus Blue Chip (Muscles Yankee), Whiskey Tax (Revenue S), VC Chocolate (Chocolatier), Winuendo (Windsong’s Legacy) and Big Sky Storm (Classic Photo). Though “Whiskey” will probably be the choice, “VC” can beat him when he doesn’t beat himself with a bad gait.  

Firstclassprincess (Classic Photo) gets the rail in the initial NJSS split for gals. She battles, in post position order, the following eligibles: Seducedbychocolate (Chocolatier), Crème De Cocoa (Chocolatier), Wincinnati (Windsong’s Legacy) and Caberet Princess (Yankee Glide).  

“Crème” was 99-1 finishing second to Hey Mister (Muscles Yankee) last week in a giant race from post 10. She looks best here as long as she stays as flat as she did in that big trip.  

The second femme mile presents Sheer Glide (Yankee Glide), Southwind Amega (Chocolatier), Thatsnotmyname (Windsong’s Legacy), Sashay (Yankee Glide), Tawesome More (Muscles Yankee), Angelette Hanover (Yankee Glide), Redwhitebluestone (Yankee Glide), Sizzling Volo (Yankee Glide) and Don’t Cry Lindy (Chocolatier).  

Sashay has gathered a trio of wins in only four starts and “Tawesome” and “Amega” are the only other two fillies with wins in this bunch this season. “Angelette” is the class of this bunch, having raced with the best fields, coming in second and third only one time each in five starts to bank over $63,000. She could be a big winner here.