Express Ride a Hambletonian Favorite

Express Ride, who won the Beacon Course Trot at the Meadowlands on July 25, is one of the favorites heading into today’s $1.17-million Hambletonian, the second race of trotting’s Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds.

Express Ride, winner of 9 of 14 starts in 1985 with three seconds and two thirds, faces a challenge from the 25-horse field, which has been split into two divisions for the first heat. Express Ride is part of a four-horse entry that is listed as the 4-5 favorite for the 13-horse second division. The rest of the betting entry is Everglade Hanover, Barbeque and Shannon Bright.

The top five horses in each division of the first heat advance. If one of the first-division winners takes the second heat, it wins the Hambletonian. If a third winner emerges in the second heat, a third heat will be held among the three winners, with the Hambletonian crown going to the winner of the third heat.