‘Simpsons’ host hopefuls

(H= Hambletonian eligible)  

At the Meadowlands this Friday, May 11, soph-colt and soph-filly trotters race in a pair of John Simpson stakes.  

Get to TwinSpires for wagering all of the great races leading to the Hambletonian and “Oaks” and read all the result stories at Hambletonian Society’s exclusive “trail” section.  

In the colts’ $54,866 test, trainer Noel Daley presents a trio of prospects, two coupled. Gym Tan Laundry (H-Yankee Glide) and Magic Tonight (H-Andover Hall) race as one entity, while Royal Shyster (H-RC Royalty), goes on his own.  

All three of Noel’s students make their sophomore debuts in this event and all three were top money winners at two.  

Royal Shyster, who raced for Dan Daley last season (his new owners paid $450,000 as an investment in his sophomore prowess), is no stranger to TwinSpires harness readers. The colt was mentioned here early in his career and we supported him a number of times as he trotted his way to becoming a New York Sires Stakes champion. He had some gait problems but may have solved them through maturity and the tactics of last year’s Hambo-winning trainer. (Noel trained Broad Bahn, our big Hambo score of 2011.)  

Gym Tan Laundry also got mentioned a few weeks and came through for us on his way to winning $165,892 as a frosh. Magic Tonight made some noise at two, winning classy divisions of Grand Circuit races to earn $100,050.  

We expect Royal Shyster to be the coolest of the trio, having every right to have matured and be ready out of the gate at first shot. He is, however, the morning-line choice and may be bet heavily in his debut for Noel and two strong qualifiers. 

Pay attention to Googoo Gaagaa, a colt with no Hambo target. He has won seven of eight for trainer Richard Hans and was a Maryland Sires Stakes champion in a race he won by 41 lengths (that number is correct). He ships in from Philadelphia where is won a conditioned race in 1:53.3. He could be a good price and may be better than anyone thought he could be at three. 

The fillies have 11 in their “Simpson” field, with four Hambletonian Oaks hopefuls. This purse is $51,375.  

We like one of the outsiders, Feegee, forgiving her for a bad race on April 13. She should be overlooked by the public, giving us an edge supporting her. She is a maiden, true, but her races at the Meadowlands are strong enough to put her into contention among this group.

Noel Daley’s She Wears It Well (H-Andover Hall) will get action but has not been sharp opening her soph season. Loose Deuce should be the favorite after a decent second in last week’s Dexter Cup but no betting value will surface. The only other outsider to look for improvement is Willing Wind.

Get to TwinSpires for wagering all of the great races leading to the Hambletonian and “Oaks” and read all the result stories at Hambletonian Society’s exclusive “trail” section.