Nordic Catcher S stormed into historical past on the one hundredth Hambletonian Stakes, delivering a stakes-record 1:50 mile at The Meadowlands final weekend. Dr. Gregory Beroza, aka HorseDoc ‘Speaking Horses,’ caught all of it.
Picture by GBeroza.
The 2025 $1 Million Greenback Hambletonian Stakes marked the one hundredth anniversary celebration of America’s best harness racing occasion of the 12 months. The day included the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for fillies and in addition to many different distinguished stakes races.
Particular consideration was paid within the Hambletonian to 2 favored opponents, each educated by Marcus Melander who had 4 of the ten entries. Tremendous Chapter, the 5:2 favourite, was pushed by final 12 months’s Hambo winner Yannick Gingras. Maryland, the second favourite at 3:1 odds, was pushed by Dexter Dunn. Dunn quailed each horses into the finals and unexpectedly selected to drive Maryland over Tremendous Chapter within the Stakes Last.
Nordic Catcher S. Picture by LisaPhoto.
Nordic Catcher S was the fourth betting favourite at 9:2 odds. He’s owned by New Meadowlands Racing Chairman and CEO Jeff Gural, a Harness Horse Corridor of Fame Member. This was Gural’s first Hambletonian Stakes win for his Little E, LLC possession. Final 12 months was Gural’s first Hambletonian Oaks win, the filly companion race to the Hambletonian, with Svanstedt — educated and pushed Warrawee Michelle.
This 12 months, Nordic Catcher S stole the highlight to win the Hambo and set a brand new monitor report of 1:50, which hadn’t been damaged since Muscle Hill received in 2009 and equalled by his fill daughter Ramona Hill in 2020. Nordic Catcher S has received 5 of 10 races. He now has lifetime earnings of $1,124,113.
Muscle Hill. Picture by GBeroza.
Within the Winner’s Circle, Gural laughed and said, “In truth, I’ve been ready to present this trophy to myself.” “I give Ake and (his spouse) Sarah all of the credit score.” Svanstedt mentioned, “This was one of many best moments in my life.”
Ake Svanstedt is coach and driver of the 2025 Hambletonian Winner Nordic Catcher S. The win was the third in 5 begins this season for Nordic Catcher S, who received his Hambletonian elimination final week in 1:50.3. Svanstedt beforehand received the Hambletoian with Excellent Spirit in 2017 and Captain Corey in 2021. He educated and drove each these horses as effectively. He’s the sixth coach to have pushed three winners of the Hambletonian.
Coach Ake Svanstedt with Nordic Catcher S. Picture by GBeroza.
Tremendous Chapter trailed Nordic Catcher S by 1-1/4 lengths. Maryland took an in depth third, adopted by ground-saving Hole Kronos S pushed by Corridor of Famer Tim Tetrick.
THE HAMBLETONIAN OAKS ($500,000 for Fillies):
The $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for fillies preceded the Hambletonian Stakes and noticed its personal upset. Conversano completed the Oaks in first place with a time of 1:51/2. Juan Cano educated the preliminary third favourite, who went in with 9:2 odds. The Muscle Hill daughter was pushed by James MacDonald. The Oaks wasn’t on MacDonald’s radar till per week in the past. Juan Cano wanted a driver for Conversano when driver Andy McCarthy opted to stay with Hambletonian Oaks elimination winner and 5:2 odds favourite, Miss Belmar for the ultimate. Walspea was second, Delaney Hanover third, and Deja Blu fourth.
Coach Juan Cano with Conversano and John Campbell. Picture by GBeroza.
MacDonald said, “It’s only a case of proper place, proper time.” The Ontario-based MacDonald mentioned he was shocked. “Any time you possibly can decide up a winner, it’s unbelievable.” Conversano is now a nine-time winner, with $513,636 in earnings from 17 begins.
Atone for full protection from WuzUpDoc’s ‘Speaking Horses’:
Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a working towards veterinarian and marketing consultant for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Speaking Horses’® media host, writer, and marketing consultant since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, together with a brand new Podcast, by way of his WuzUpDoc Media web site: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He might be discovered on Twitter, Fb, Youtube and different social media sources.
Because of ‘HorseDoc’ Sponsors: Alex Nichols Company; BMB IT Options, Chestnut Vale Feed, Cosequin Joint Well being Complement, Douglas Elliman Actual Property, Nice American Insurance coverage-Equine Division; Hopscotch Air Taxi; Jaguar; JSR Farriers-Equine Transport; Land Rover; Nutrena; Oheka Citadel Resort & Property; Ramard Nutraceuticals; Vary Rover; Supporting Methods; Ultravet Medical Gadgets
