Who's who from 2011?

Last season’s top-earning two-year-old colts and geldings provide the early focus of contenders for the sport’s cherished Hambletonian crown, 2012. A few on the list of 2011’s biggest moneymakers, however, are not eligible to the August classic. 

Here is a list of the top 28 freshman colt trotters by earnings in 2011. If “NE” follows their name, they are non-eligibles. They may appear in stakes along the Hambletonian Trail but they won’t be in the coveted event.  The symbol "c" stands for colt and "g" stands for gelding. 

Horse (sire) starts-win-place-show $earnings

 Possess The Will (Donato Hanover) 12-7-2-1 $550,789

The Game Plan –g  NE

Uncle Peter (Cantab Hall) 6-4-1-0 $346,582

Prestidigitator (Kadabra) 11-4-2-1 $317,590

Weingartner (Donato Hanover) 9-3-2-1 $290,206

Stormin Normand (Broadway Hall) 7-6-1-0 $269,643

Money On My Mind (Cantab Hall) –g 9-3-4-1 $269,466

Royal Shyster (RC Royalty) 14-9-3-0 $259,540

Pekote Fashion (Broadway Hall) 10-6-0-2 $226,900

Trottin Tiger –g NE

Dontfusswithruss –g NE

Vic Smith (Yankee Glide) 11-6-2-1 $213,275

Big Chocolate (Chocolatier) 11-2-5-2 $201,560

Delano (Credit Winner) 15-6-1-3 $194,960

Heres The Magic NE

Good Sound Advice NE

Il Mago (Kadabra) 10-2-3-0 $171,480

Power Play (Donato Hanover) 9-0-3-3 $168,425

Southwind Austin (Conway Hall) 13-4-5-3 $166,708

Gym Tan Laundry (Yankee Glide) –g 9-4-3-1 $165,892

Windshield NE

Summit City Earl NE

Prayer Session NE

Highland Yankee (Muscles Yankee) 11-2-1-3 $136,977

Keystone Orion NE

Archangel (Credit Winner) 13-3-6-1 $135,193

Go Tapaigh (Andover Hall) –g 9-3-1-1- $130,371

Velten San Siro NE

Dexter Cup elim qualifies six for eight-horse final

Two colts, both Hambo-eligibles, received byes for the Dexter Cup Final on May 5, leaving a single elim, worth $46,100, that will dismiss two in a field of eight at Freehold Raceway on April 28.

Frost Bites K (Broadway Hall) and Southwind Austin (Conway Hall) will appear for the May 5 final, while three other eligibles will battle for berths in the final by finishing in the top six on April 28.

Not Afraid (SJ’s Caviar), Astarsborn Hanover (Donato Hanover) and Market Share (Revenue S) take on five non-eligibles also trying for a spot on May 5.

Rightfully so, the morning-line favorite is the undefeated Market Share, coming off of two qualifiers to begin his sophomore season and a campaign aimed at the big prize in August for trainer Linda Toscano.

This obvious choice helps our eyes stray to Jimmy Takter’s Not Afraid, a colt we already backed successfully in March’s “Singer Memorial.” Although he lost to On The Podium (a non-eligible coupled with Astarisborn Hanover) once, he beat him twice showing a sense of consistency important on the early trail. Plus, he should still be at fair odds considering the spotless record of Market Share.

From post 8, Broadway Zinger, a non-eligible, is still a danger, especially if there is any dueling up front. He should be aggressive, aiming at making the final and getting a better post.

Another non-eligible, Trouble, is the other good element for triple tickets, and if he can stay flat, the Not Afraid-key triple with the two non-eligibles, leaving the Astarisborn Hanover-entry out of it, could be a huge price.

Get to TwinSpires for wagering all of the great races leading to the Hambletonian and “Oaks” and read all the result stories at Hambletonian Society’s exclusive “trail” section.

The Dexter Cup Final on May 5 launches the Hambletonian Trail for 2012. Follow the news for betting and handicapping here (along with the weekly blogs at TwinSpires) and the results of races with Hambo and Hambo Oaks eligibles at the Hambletonian Society website, as covered by Frank Cotolo and Ray Cotolo.

Pictured is Uncle Peter, who won the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt Trot in 2011 and is one of the top figures in the early steps along the "Trail." ~New Image Media