Harness: Hambletonian future book

With the exception of some state-bred races this week and the Tompkins-Geers this Saturday at the Meadowlands where a few late-deciders will make their Hambletonian resolutions, the scene is basically set for the most important race on the Standardbred calendar.

While we won't officially know how many horses will enter the Hambletonian for a few more days, there are 90 colts and geldings eligible and another 101 fillies are also possible - although unlikely - players for the Grade 1 event scheduled for eliminations on August 1 and the $1,000,000 final on August 8 at the Meadowlands. Examining the list on the boys side, there are clearly seven to ten obvious contenders and another few just outside the top tier that are locks to enter. After that first dozen or so, there are an equal number of horses that haven't yet stepped up with the clarity of others in 2026 but could certainly roll the dice on the hefty entry fee.

My best guess at this point is we get between 18 and 24 horses for the 101st Hambletonian. I lean to the top-end only because there really is no standout leader to scare off the rest. There are certainly a few that have looked a bit better, but there hasn't been any clear separation.

With that, let's look at my unofficial future book odds for the top nine on my list, plus the field.

1-Apex (3-1)

After an inauspicious debut where he finished second, it has been all good for last year's Dan Patch winner in this division. Marcus Melander trainee made a middle-move to the front and got away with easy fractions last time out in the Stanley Dancer. Still, he faced a serious challenge from stablemate American Power and was edging clear from that foe late with a powerful 26-second final quarter. The royally-bred son of Walner and Mission Brief has been perfectly prepped to fire his best shot on Hambletonian Day, even if he hasn't necessarily separated himself from the pack in terms of raw speed.

2-Endurance (7-2)

While Apex has taken the typical "race only at The Meadowlands" road to the Hambletonian, Endurance has already been seen on four different tracks in three different states this year. Outside of the Oak Grove Trotting Derby when he finished second off a bad trip, every other result has been a win for the son of Captain Corey. His Dancer win last time looked eerily similar to Apex in terms of trip, with the one difference being that he seemed more all out late with a 26 3/5 final fraction.

3-Big Ranger (9-2)

Track-record holder at Scioto Downs (1:50 3/5) is now perfect in two starts for new trainer Anette Lorentzon and driver Tim Tetrick. There is no doubt he is fast, but how fast? He's never been on a mile track, and it remains to be seen if the In Range-sired colt drops time on the switch. Big Ranger also hasn't been even remotely tested since the trainer/driver changes while racing in the Ohio Sires Stakes. How will he stand up to a whole new level of competition? Basically you get an unlimited ceiling with a high floor.

4-American Power (6-1)

Here is another colt from impeccable bloodlines as a son of Walner and Ariana G. Since day one this year he's looked tremendous, and the results have shown with four wins in six starts, including a track-record Zweig Memorial win (1:50) at Vernon Downs last Sunday (July 19). The question remains whether he can beat the elite as he was second behind Apex in the Dancer and third in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final. The raw ability is there, but he may need the right trip to win.

5-Diabolic Hill (10-1)

This guy was closer to the top of the list at the start of the year but his stock dropped after three straight so-so efforts. The Muscle Hill-sired colt came up with his best mile of the year in the Zweig to be second behind American Power when that foe got the jump on him in a quick final quarter. It was an encouraging performance but only did more to show that this horse must get his trip to beat the best of this division.

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6-Nix Nacken (10-1)

There is a reason that Nix Nacken is listed on par with Diabolic Hill, and that is because they are both in the same boat in terms of the trip they need to win. Neither seems capable of doing the heavy lifting, but both own enough pure speed to rally off cover given the proper setup. One of the more heavily-raced horses in this group at eight starts this year, he only has one win, and even though it ties American Power as the quickest this year (1:50), it was on a night where the track was abnormally fast.

7-It Could Be Worse (12-1)

Despite finishing second behind Endurance in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final last year, few people were likely giving this horse serious Hambletonian consideration prior to a breakthrough 1:50 3/5 victory in the Reynolds at the Meadowlands on July 4. The Linda Toscano trainee followed that up with a second behind Endurance in the Stanley Dancer. He was locked in the pocket a long way but in fairness he didn't seem like he was going to roll by that winner.

8-Inexpressable (12-1)

Here is another horse that was way under the radar prior to powering past five foes to win the MGM Yonkers Trot on June 26. He worked out a nice cover trip after leaving the gate in the Dancer in his next start and came home faster (25 4/5) than the winner Apex. Just four starts into his season and with only nine career races, the Lucas Wallin-trained colt could just be scratching the surface of his ability.

9-Spencer Hanover (15-1)

Certainly a top three contender entering the year after his Breeders Crown victory in 2025, Spencer Hanover did little to change those thoughts after reeling off four straight wins to start 2026. That said, the fourth of those wins was less than spectacular in the Empire Breeders Classic and since he has made consecutive breaks in the MGM Yonkers Trot and Dancer. He did qualify back without incident in 1:53 with trainer Marcus Melander in the bike, but there are still many questions to answer. If you like him, buy low now.

10-Field (20-1)

Assuming there actually was a Hambletonian future book, some of the horses you'd get in my field are Magic Punk, Requiem and a bunch of other "maybes" for the race. Will Highland Destiny turn the corner in the Tompkins-Geers on Saturday and punch his ticket? Will Ardonne enter off consecutive breaks?

We will learn much more about the Hambletonian after the eliminations, but here's hoping that all of the top nine on my list make it into the final and we get a race for the ages that we'll be talking about for the rest of the year.