Heading into the eliminations for the Hambletonian, Trot Insider has spoken with trainer Jim Campbell about his Tom Ridge colt Tom Cango, which will be facing off against Muscle Hill. Campbell also gave an update on top glamour boy Dial Or Nodial, which has been on
the shelf since the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup.
Tom Cango has drawn Post 4 in the third of the Hambo elims, carded as Race 9. Muscle Hill has drawn Post 2.
"He's (Tom Cango) has had a good week," Campbell told Trot Insider. "He trained well on Wednesday and he has a good post for the elim. If he's on his game and can work out a decent trip I'm hoping he'll make the final."
The three-year-old trotting colt division looks to be very deep this season, with many charges ready to flash some big miles.
"I think the division is deep this year and I think that there are a handful of colts which can go out and put in a big mile off a proper trip," Campbell said. "Anywhere you look in this division there are a lot of them going faster."
While Campbell is on the cusp of witnessing 'Cango's next tilt, he told Trot Insider that it is currently a wait-and-see type of situation with top three-year-old pacing gelding Dial Or Nodial, which hasn't raced since sustaining an injury in the NA Cup.
"The good news is that there wasn't anything broken," said Campbell, who said that the gelding is suffering from a blood bruise under a bone in its foot. "The horse is making improvements, but there is no timetable for a return as of yet."
To see the fields for the Hambletonian eliminations, and to read quotes from Muscle Hill's Trainer Greg Peck, click here.