As broad changes were proposed for the ancient Hambletonian trot and other competitions, Fair Winds Farm's Broad Bahn cast his spell on the crowd at the East Rutherford, New Jersey Meadowlands August 6, 2011 in wiring the 86th edition of the Hambletonian by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:53 after tallying a victory in the First Elim the last weekend in July.
Manofmanymissions, driven by Andy Miller, had won the Second Elim.
Since 1997, only champion trotters Deweycheatumnhowe and Muscle Hill had previously won the Hambletonian wire-to-wire.
Meadowlands track owner Jeff Gural announced his intentions to implement changes to harness racing at his tracks that will prohibit three-year-olds from being retired, and the Hambletonian Society plans to follow suit to keep four-year-olds racing. Both plans are in finalization stages.
Hambletonian Cards
Brennan joined Brian Sears as the only two drivers to sweep the Hambletonian and the Hambletonian Oaks on the same card. Sears accomplished the feat in 2009.
A tick behind her male counterpart, Bold And Fresh victored by a half length in the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks in 1:53.1 as she held off the late challenge from Lady Rainbow in the Final.
The finish was as follows:
- Bold And Fresh (Brennan)
- Lady Rainbow (Scott Zeron)
- Crys Dream (Luc Quellette)
- Jezzy (Tim Tetrick)
- Iron Lady (Mike Lachance)
- Hey Mister (Sears)
- Wincinnatti (Yannick Gingras)
- Seducedbychocolate (David Miller)
- Martiniontherocks (T. Ritchie)
- Sashay (Ron Pierce)
The elimination cards for the Hambletonian were as follows: First Elim...No.1 Broad Bahn; No.2 Chapter Seven; No.3 Fawkes; No.4 Whit; No.5 Luckycharm Hanover; No.6 Celebrity Bombay; No.7 Blue Porsche; No.8 Orlando; No.9 Big Sky Storm -- Second Elim...No.1 Manofmanymissions; No.2 Magnum Kosmos; No.3 Pastor Stephen; No.4 Opening Night; No.5 Whiskey Tax; No.6 Bambino Hall; No.7 Charlie DeVie; No. 8 Live Jazz; No.9 Big Rigs.
In the $1,500,000 Hambo Final, the following finish ensued:
- Broad Bahn (Brennan)
- Whiskey Tax (Randy Waples)
- Opening Night (John Campbell)
- Chapter Seven (Lachance)
- Pastor Stephen (Pierce)
- Luckycharm Hanover (D. Miller)
- Whit (Tetrick)
- Manofmanymissions (A. Miller)
- Magnum Kosmos (Sears)
- Fawkes (Gingras)
Broad Bahn Winning Connections
Broad Bahn entered the Hambo off a two-year-old campaign in which he won four races from nine starts, while finishing second twice and garnering one third place finish. Previous to the Hambo Elims he had a 6-2-1-1 record. He was second in the Stanley Dancer Memorial division (Meadowlands) and third in the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial (Pocono Downs at Mohegan Sun).
Sired by Broadway Hall, by Conway Hall, Broad Bahn's dam is Madonarail, by Donerail. He is owned by Fam Alber Horse Racing (Leif Alber) and trained by Noel Daley.
Broad Bahn's career bankroll scooted to $1,154,528.
Bold And Fresh Winning Connections
Bold And Fresh trotted the Hambletonian Oaks in her best career time for owner Donald Bartling of Timonium, Maryland.
Upping her career earnings to $513,129, Bold And Fresh has nine 2011 starts with five wins and two second place finishes. At age two, the SJ's Caviar--Odre Coucou, by Garland Lobell filly started six races, winning just once.
Her trainer is Doug Miller.
Foreign Caretakers of Hambo Winners
Risa Tanaka and Michael Holcman are the caretakers of Broad Bahn and Bold And Fresh. Tanaka is a Japanese native, but lived in New Zealand since the age of eight. In 2007, she became a North American.
Holcman was born in Czechoslovakia and moved to the United States in 1996.
BarbaraAnne Helberg - Barbara Anne Helberg, Supporter of Better Lives for Animals and Clean, Spirited, Competitive Sports
