Femmes fight at Yonkers

H = Hambletonian eligible.  

Three-year-old filly trotters get to joust in the limelight in the $343,268 New York Sires Stakes at Yonkers Raceway on Monday, July 2. In the four divisions, 11 fillies will be prepping for the big tango in August.  

Zanna Royal (H-RC Royalty) is the only eligible in the first division, worth $86,567. She will have to deal with Vixy, who could provide a mild upset against probable favorite Borrow And Spend, even though that one will start from post 8. 

The second division, also worth $86,567, presents two hopefuls, Anandamide (H-Credit Winner) and Lima Playmate (H-Credit Winner). Anandamide has been tough and in this group looks as good as ever. But with Lima Playmate in post 8 you could be able to pull out a decent exacta price with outsider Feegee. 

In the third division, wirth $85,067, five eligibles will contest the purse. They are For A Dancer (H-Conway Hall), Latte Hall (H-Conway Hall), Fancy (H-Conway Hall), American Lassie (H-American Mike) and The Heart Lives On (H-RC Royalty).  

For A Dancer is perfect in four starts this year and will go off the big public choice. You could take a shot at Fancy getting a ground-saving trip if positioned well early and nipping the choice at the wire. 

The final division, worth $85,067, draws three eligibles: Adriana Hanover (H-Credit Winner), Cowgirl Hall (H-Cash Hall) and Bridge The Way (H-Conway Hall).  

We have been on the side of Cowgirl Hall for a few starts but she will be a huge favorite here, making us lean to the outider Adriana Hanover. This one has had a few tough trips and may be able to put something together in this round.

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.

Currier & Ives’ fillies at the Meadows

H = Hambletonian eligible

A trio of Currier & Ives splits for soph-filly trotters is spread out on the Monday, June 25 program at the Meadows. Each split is worth $40,000 and hosts five femmes with August on the minds of their connections.

The third split presents the bulk of them, with By A Nose Hanover (H-Cantab Hall), Powell Blue Chip (H-Andover Hall) and Uncommon Night (H-Donato Hanover) the stars in the eight-filly field.

However, Cocktail Attire is here and appears to lay over this field. By A Nose Hanover and Uncommon Night are still trying to win a race this season, while Powell Blue Chip has a single win in four starts to Cocktail Attire’s six wins in nine starts.

In the first split, Win Missy B (H-Conway Hall) has the best chance yet to win this season in three gallant starts. She is the class of this field regardless of her three misses.

In the second split finds Keystone Tempo (H-Cantab Hall) looking for her first soph win, though she is up against some stiff competition. Taylor Jean will be a top choice but we like Gaynor Blue Chip to upset.

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.

Colts resume rivalry at Pocono

H = Hambletonian eligible

The Earl Beal Memorial at Pocono on Saturday, June 23 is a major stakes, worth $530,000, attracting some of the top glamour-boy trotters on the Hambletonian Trail and one that challenges the division as an ineligible to the August classic. 

Googoo Gaagaa, the only non-eligible in the field is the one to beat and the crowd should anoint him with favorite status. Last week in the elimination for this event he became the fastest soph-colt trotter on a five-eighths mile, winning in a startling 1:51.3. This complemented his frosh mark, the record for a freshman colt trotter on a half-mile, which he accomplished at Ocean Downs winning in 1:56. 

Googoo Gaagaa came to the elimination with nine wins in 10 starts. We tagged him in the Simpson on May 11 when he turned out to be well backed at 1-2 and won (we gave out the $11.40 exacta [with Royal Shyster (H-RC Royalty) and $22.60 triple [with Gym Tan Laundry (H-Yankee Glide)] ) in that race at the Meadowlands.  

His elim record blew away the field by 7 lengths, going panels of :27, :56 and 1:23.3. He broke the record of Break The Bank K, who on the 2010 “Trail” set the mark at 1:52.2 at Pocono in the Breeders Crown Final. Oddly enough, Dejarmbro, another non-eligible that challenged the herd headed for August, matched that in the 2011 Earl Beal, Jr. Final. 

We gave you the second elim winner last week with Stormand Normand (H-Broadway Hall) at the fantastic win price of $16.40. He defeated Breeders Crown-winner Uncle Peter (H-Cantab Hall) in that mile after losing to him at the Meadows. 

In the final, Uncle Peter and Stormin Normand could be greatly ignored in the wake of Googoo Gaagaa’s presence. Stormin Normand will likely get a pocket trip and come late.

Uncle Peter had a rough trip when Stormin Normand beat him. Uncle Peter had gone very wide and was closing late but came up short. If he’s closer to the front throughout, he should close well. Since he is one of the top two early Hambletonian choices, earning that by beating Possess The Will (H-Donato Hanover) in the 2011 Breeders Crown (Possess The Will is yet to appear this season), the Jimmy Takter trainee is a great contender for the August classic and has raced well so far this year. This could be the best time to get him at a price.

Also in the field are Magic Tonight (H-Andover Hall), Nothing But Class (H-Andover Hall), Frost Bites K (H-Broadway Hall), Lightning Storm (H-Donato Hanover), Little Brown Fox (H-Muscles Yankee) and My Mvp (H-Cantab Hall).

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.

Buffalo fillies trot for cash

H = Hambletonian eligible.

New York Sires Stakes at Buffalo Raceway feature a few lucrative divisions for three-year-old filly trotters on June 20.

The first division involving fillies aiming at August is worth $49,004. Three hopefuls are engaging in the dash for the cash.

Our choice is one of them, American Lassie (H-American Mike). Having won only a single race this season from four, the Charlie Norris trainee faces a field with little going for it in the division.

Also in the mile are Zanna Royal (H-RC Royalty) and Bridge The Way (H-Conway Hall) along with morning-line favorite Miss Connor and four others.

Another split with eligibles is worth $48,104 and the duo with the class are topped by Anandamide (H-Credit Winner). Having two wins in three starts against much better gives her the edge.

Lima Playmate (H-Credit Winner) is still a maiden but has been racing with better than the other five in this field that are non-eligibles.

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.

Trotters coincide on North America Cup card at Mohawk and elims at Pocono

H = Hambletonian eligible  

On the weekend of North America’s richest race for pacers, the trotters are prepping in the Earl Beal Memorial eliminations at Pocono and the finals of the Elegant Image and Goodtimes at Mohawk.  

The $530,000 Elegant Image draws an all-star group of sophomore gals on Saturday, June 16. 

Check Me Out (H-Donato Hanover) is absolutely the best horse in this field. Unless luck does not ride with her she will romp yet again and prove she can take the boys in the $1.5-million Hambletonian. Also eligible in the final are On The Bright Side (H-Cantab Hall), Win Missy B (H-Conway Hall), Maven (H-Glidemaster), Sand Violent Blue (H-Tom Ridge), Superstar Hanover (H-Cantab Hall), Valdonna (H-Andover Hall), Miss Paris (H-Kadabra) and Personal Style (H-Yankee Glide).

Anybody can tell you that Check Me Out is a great key, so here are some ideas for exotic wagers. With their outside posts, Miss Paris and Personal Style are the two best bets to complete the triactor (crisscross them in second and third positions).

Miss Paris was closing late in her elimination to pass Win Missy B and finish second to Maven. She should be able to close once again from post 9 and pump up the triactor price.

Personal Style loves to close. Its how she won the New Jersey Sires Stakes and how she was runner-up to Check Me Out. If the pace is fast or slow, I guarantee she’ll be in the top three.

The Goodtimes has a final on Saturday and a consolation on Friday, June 15.

The eligibles in the $50,000 consolation are Littlejack Hanover (H-Donato Hanover), Midfield Magic (H-Kadabra) and Southwind Warsaw (H-Chocolatier).

The consolation seems to be the race where non-eligibles have the best shot. Reckon Im Ready trotted a game mile in his elimination but came up short after the closers got to him. He took the lead and held it till the half, where he dueled with Beer Summit (H-Cantab Hall). He faded and finished seventh by 8 lengths. As long as he gets a better trip, he’ll be fine.

The $351,000 Goodtimes final looks to be the most competitive in the last couple of years. Eligible in this race are Lindys Jersey Boy (H-Cantab Hall), Il Mago (H-Kadabra), Knows Nothing (H-Kadabra), Market Share (H-Revenue S), Scary Good (H-Cantab Hall), Beer Summit, Guccio (H-Yankee Glide) and Gym Tan Laundry (H-Yankee Glide).

The two elimination winners, Market Share and Knows Nothing, are the likely two to receive favoritism. Guccio and Beer Summit will look for redemption after finishing second in their eliminations.

Guccio trotted a game first over mile to come up short in the stretch and Knows Nothing took that elimination. If Guccio can get cover or a pocket trip, he’s an easy winner.

Beer Summit went first over and brushed to take the lead. He lost it in the stretch to Market Share and settled for second. He also needs a better trip to triumph in the Canadian final.

Also for glamour-boy trotting colts this weekend is the $50,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial eliminations at Pocono Downs. This also attracted some familiar faces.

In the first elim, Modern Family (H-Cantab Hall), Solvato (H-Donato Hanover), Magic Tonight (H-Andover Hall), Frost Bites K (H-Broadway Hall), Highland Yankee (H-Muscles Yankee) and Little Brown Fox (H-Muscles Yankee) are eligible for the August classic.

Frost Bites K will likely be ignored in this elimination. He romped in the Currier & Ives at the Meadows in his last start. Although it was a field of nobodies, he still showed much talent in that mile. He has not been getting the respect he deserves lately, so he should be equally as good this week and an overlay to boot.

The second elimination features a lot of very classy glamour boys. Eligible in this elim are Stormin Normand (H-Broadway Hall), Lightning Storm (H-Donato Hanover), My Mvp (H-Cantab Hall), Uncle Peter (H-Cantab Hall), Money On My Mind (H-Cantab Hall), Dandover (H-Donato Hanover) and Nothing But Class (H-Andover Hall).

Uncle Peter is the likely favorite. Stormin Normand and My Mvp will give him a race for the money. Stormin Normand was second to Uncle Peter in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes a while back. If he gets the right trip, he’ll be able to pass Uncle Peter at the wire.

My Mvp won a Pennsylvania Sires Stake, beating Goodtimes hopeful Beer Summit. If he gets a perfect trip, there will be spoils for the choices in this elim.

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.

Eliminations, Canadian style; the ‘Empires’ strike back

H = Hambletonian eligible.

To coincide with the 29^th edition of the North America Cup and the Fan Hanover, Mohawk gives trotters a chance to prep for the Hambletonian and the “Oaks” in the Elegant Image and Goodtimes. There are two eliminations for the Elegant Image, going for $35,000 each. The Goodtimes also has two elims that go for $30,000 each.  

Friday, June 8 showcases two Elegant Image eliminations. The first features Casual Breeze winners All Ready Hanover (H-Chocolatier) and Smarty Pants. Also in are Idonette (H-Donato Hanover), Maven (H-Glidemaster), Valdonna (H-Andover Hall), Miss Paris (H-Kadabra), Win Missy B (H-Conway Hall) and Superstar Hanover (H-Cantab Hall).  

After going off stride last week, Idonette looks to return sharper than ever. Trainer Henrik Lundell said, “She was throwing her head and almost reared up, probably didnt like the tie down. No tie down [this] week.” She should be better gaited to provide a win.

The second attracted five eligibles; Check Me Out (H-Donato Hanover), Sand Violent Blue (H-Tom Ridge), Im On Cloud Nine (H-Angus Hall), Personal Style (H-Yankee Glide) and On The Bright Side (H-Cantab Hall).  

There is no doubt that Check Me Out is the one to beat. Im On Cloud Nine has a home-track advantage. The Kevin O’Reilly trainee has won the Ontario SBOA, Celias Counsel and Ontario Sires Stakes Prep in Canada. She can go a tough first over and may have to, as Check Me Out will definitely be on the lead.

Also with a shot is Personal Style. She closed well from post 10 to win the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) by 2 lengths. She gained a total of 13 lengths in that mile. If she sits close to the pace she may be able to challenge Check Me Out and also be a possibility of an upset.

Saturday night, June 9 features the two Goodtimes splits.

In the first elim, Beer Summit (H-Cantab Hall) is the likely favorite, perhaps causing the public to dismiss Market Share (H-Revenue S) leaving from an outside post. He came from the 8 hole in the NJSS and finished a valiant second to Big Chocolate in the first leg. He should be able to provide a similar effort against a weaker field.

Also eligible in this elim are Southwind Warsaw (H-Chocolatier), Lindys Jersey Boy (H-Cantab Hall) and Il Mago (H-Kadabra).

In the second elimination, Guccio (H-Yankee Glide) will take a lot of money. Also eligible are Scary Good (H-Cantab Hall), Gym Tan Laundry (H-Yankee Glide), Knows Anything (H-Kadabra) and Littlejack Hanover (H-Donato Hanover).

Mr Ridgetaker may be able to rebound after a break in the Currier & Ives. Before that start, he was a good third to Uncle Peter (H-Cantab Hall) in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. Here, he should be sharp and ready to tango with these trotters.

On Friday, June 8, colts and fillies line up at Vernon Downs for the lucrative finals of the Empire Breeders Championships (EBC). The elims were worth pittance compared to the final fields, with the colts battling for $233,250 and the filly episode worth $239,500.

Archangel (H-Credit Winner) has been charged lately and last week took a speed badge in one of the EBC’s cheap elims; that was his third-straight win among the classier of the New York breds in this division.

But right there with him was our choice, Coraggioso (H-Conway Hall) who suffered a tougher trip and still took second from the speedball. Coraggioso broke after chasing the leader first over and getting the lead for some steps before jumping again. That was his first loss this season.

We like Coraggioso even more this week because, for one, he comes from post 9, which will hoist his odds some and because last week’s missteps should not distract us from his prowess this season thus far.

Delano (H-Credit Winner) also had a bad time of it last week but he could be tangled in a speed storm with Archangel and Flyhawk Jester (H-RC Royalty), more support for our outsider.

The femmes have a three-pronged entry with Cowgirl Hall (H-Cash Hall), Lima Playmate (H-Credit Winner) and Borrow And Spend.

This is another dash-for-the-front scenario, probably led by Anandamine (H-Credit Winner). But, the only filly in the entry not trained by Ray Schnittker, that is, Gates Brunet’s Cowgirl Hall (who we liked last week but finished second to For A Dancer [H-Conway Hall]) is in a perfect striking position. We opt for the mild upset with Cowgirl Hall.

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.