Meadowlands: Ramona Hill, Ready For Moni strike in Hambletonian elims

For three-quarters of a mile it appeared as if the filly Ramona Hill, the favorite in the first of two $50,000 Hambletonian eliminations, was going to be lucky to make the final. Ramona Hill and driver Andrew McCarthy were not going to miss the big dance, though, and the two made a ferocious rally in the final eighth of a mile to score in a 1:51 2/5 clocking at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.

Despite having just eight starters, the race proved a difficult chess game for McCarthy to win as the other rivals appeared to form a blockade for the filly. Second choice Back Of The Neck made a regaining move after a first quarter of 27 seconds posted by Big Oil. Ake Svanstedt caused a problem on the first quarter when he edged Third Shift off the rail, forcing Hollywood Story and Ramona Hill to back off and look for a place along the pylons.

Beads remained parked in the early stages, but driver Scott Zeron had Back Of The Neck on the front-end and was able to back down the fractions with a half in 55 4/5 and an easy three-quarters as Third Shift was again in the road and applying little pressure. Amigo Volo was second-over, with Beads backing up third-over into Ramona Hill, who needed to come wide well before the three-quarters to clear.

Zeron and Back Of The Neck sprinted off after a 1:24 three-quarters and appeared on cruise control until suffering wind burn near the wire by the explosive Ramona Hill.

Ramona Hill returned $4.40 for the victory, with Back Of The Neck, Amigo Volo, Big Oil, and Hollywood Story following her into the Hambletonian final. Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert Leblanc, and In The Gym Partners own Ramona Hill, a daughter of Muscle Hill. Winning trainer Tony Alagna was relieved with the results after some edginess during the race.

"I was going to run onto the track at three-quarters," Alagna said, looking to clear the traffic Ramona Hill was in.

Ready For Moni and driver Yannick Gingras moved to the front at the half and never looked back on his way to a 1:51 3/5 score in the second $50,000 Hambletonian elimination.

Threefiftytwo and Zeron left alertly to get the top and post a 27 second first quarter before the filly Sister Sledge, with Brian Sears in the bike, brushed to the front. Gingras had taken an early spot with Ready For Moni but made a blistering move on the backstretch to gain control before the 55 2/5 opening half.

Only Rome Pays Off offered some pressure as Ready For Moni cut three-quarters in 1:23 4/5 and needed just mild urging to hold off a solid bid by Threefiftytwo in second. Capricornus came up the pylons for third, with Sister Sledge and Rome Pays Off earning the final berths.

Owned by J. Fielding, Lindy Farms Of Conn., H. Liverman, and B. Hatfield, Ready For Moni returned $4.40 as the public choice in winning for the second time in three sophomore starts for trainer Nancy Takter.

"Lindy Farms trained him all winter and did a great job," said Takter. "We've just done the fine-tuning."

Here is how the field will line up behind the gate in next Saturday's $1 million final:

1-Ready For Moni
2-Back Of The Neck
3-Hollywood Story
4-Big Oil
5-Ramona Hill
6-Threefiftytwo
7-Capricornus
8-Rome Pays Off
9-Sister Sledge
10-Amigo Volo

Hypnotic AM regained winning form heading into next Saturday’s $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks in a $15,000 Open for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Brian Sears guided the daughter of Chapter Seven to control following a 27 1/5 opening quarter, and the pair cruised to an easy 1:52 3/5 mile. May Baby was a willing first-over challenger that hardly put much pressure on the winner but held resolutely for the place spot. Solsbury Hill, the early leader, settled for third in the field.

Marcus Melander trains Hypnotic AM, a winner in 10 of 13 lifetime starts for Courant Inc.

Here's how the fillies will line up for next Saturday's Hambletonian Oaks final:

1-Crucial
2-Next Level Stuff
3-Reba Blue Chip
4-May Baby
5-Tricky Sister
6-Whose Blues
7-Sorella
8-Fortune Starlet
9-Solsbury Hill
10-Ab'sattitudeexpress
11-Panem
12-Hypnotic AM