The John Simpson Memorial Stakes, part of the Grand Circuit’s run of races, host soph-colt-and-filly trotters on Saturday, May 14, at Vernon Downs. Eleven colts seeking Hambo fame are spread over three splits; a dozen fillies with dreams of “Oaks” show up through three other splits.
Trainer Charlie Norris (teamed with breeder Robert Key) has a few colt eligibles this year that have already begun to show profit. In the first colt split he offers Spectator K, one win for one start this year. The colt is amid a good number of Conway Hall progeny on the eligibles lists.
Muscles Malone is a Julie Miller trainee. The Muscles Yankee colt has won one and been in the money three other times in eight starts.
These two deserve the attention of handicappers in the first $22,974 “Simpson” split.
In colt-division two, the first five posts belong to eligibles. The buzz horse is the four, Charlie De Vie, trainer Chris Ryder’s Yankee Glide product that won his sophomore-debut race.
Getting the most support at the windows, “Charlie” would be less than worth the pay off, considering Whit (Classic Photo), winner of his first two soph races, and New Zion (Conway Hall) deserve attention due to current form. This pair has the right to improve.
Also, Ray Schnittker’s Winuendo, who behaved badly due to broken equipment in the “Dexter,” is yet to prove he doesn’t have what it takes to move along on the “Trail.” Schnittker is driving this time and that could mean a plus for the odds.
Also in the field with credentials is Aequitos (post 2) by trotting-triple-crown-winner Glidemaster.
In colt-split three, the eligible quartet is (1) House On Fire (Conway Hall), (3) The Evictor (Valley Victor), (8) Ice Machine (Muscles Yankee) and (9) Man O’War (Chocolatier).
Ice Machine is the Dexter winner and owner of a trio of wins in as many starts at three for Norris. However, he will have to work from post 8, though his style could manage soft speedy types here.
Schnittker’s pair, “Man” and “Fire” are both in supreme spots to command the trot rate and muck it up for “Ice.” Man, with Frank Antonnaci, could be the most dangerous of Ray’s combine.
The filly divisions ($24,670) begin with eligible Pacific Splash (American Winner) poised to pay less than in her stunning Lady Suffolk split win. Eligible Sheer Glide (Yankee Glide) gets to begin at a better post than her last attempt and could turn the tables here.
Six of seven in split two are on the eligibles’ list. Linda Toscano’s Don’t Cry Lindy (Chocolatier) appears to tower over the rest. The Lady Suffolk favorite who had a bad enough trip to lose in a close finish may destroy the rest of the gals, including soph-debuting Massive Drama (Credit Winner), Some Girls (Conway Hall) and Brooklyn (Conway Hall), as well as Broadway’s Fortune (Broadway Hall) and Pretty As My Mom (Conway Hall).
The potency of the Conway Halls is yet to be established. We have touted the Chocolatier femmes successfully last year and look forward to more good ones. So this race is up for study as well as being easy to predict.
Finally, a quartet of eligibles go in a seven-horse field for the third filly Simpson split.
This seems the greener of the crop, with the morning-line choice going to Schnittker’s Jezzy (Credit Winner) from post 7. Also going for the first time at three will be Medusa Blue Chip (Credit Winner) and Firstclassprincess (Classic Photo).
The latter is a Trond Smedshammer product. His sophs usually hit the track prepared and Trond is scheduled in the bike for this one, so look for a top debut performance at decent odds.
Chris Ryder’s Naughty Me Hanover (Yankee Glide) is the other eligible.
For results analysis, check Hambletonian Society website after races.
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