Takter colts split divisions in Earl Beal, Jr. elims; more colts in New York

Among the eliminations in a stakes-filled program at Pocono on Saturday, June 21, two elims for the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial feature some of the top glamour-boy colt trotters thus far this season. Who’s missing? Arguably the best of them, Trixton, is resting after his big win last week at Mohawk. This means he will not be able to face Father Patrick, who is in division two and handles the first event of the season that goes beyond Pennsylvania-breds.

Nuncio is in division one, so he doesn’t have to face his stable mate (when Nuncio began to make noise at two he was not with the Jimmy Takter team, as he is this season). Nuncio and Father Patrick are the only Takter colts in these blends; the rest are those that want to be giant killers.

In round one, the first of the $25,000 elims, we could be motivated to try to beat Nuncio, if only because he will be bet so heavily that he could wind up an underlay. We have had a fancy for Don Dorado and though we like him to make the final, winning this elim may be too much from the outside considering what is going on in two of the posts inside of him.

In post 3 we find the ever-improving and poorly named (a personal opinion, of course) Datsyuk. The Charlie Norris trained and driven colt has a real shot at a trip to New Jersey in August if he keeps up the aggressive work (three for four wins, one place).

Chris Ryder’s Well Built may have gait issues but when he is smooth he rocks well and easily. Along with Datsyuk, these two could deliver Nuncio his first loss, though he is bound to make the final. Datsyuk would be our first choice, assuming he will offer a decent price. Well Built is the other to use in league with Nuncio in exotics.

In the second division we won’t give any of the six challengers of Father Patrick any shot to be second or worse because Father Patrick appears as seamless as he was at two and he has made more money than all of his foes in this elim division without breaking a sweat and he has zoomed on this oval in one of his three wins (from three starts) this season.

Harper Blue Chip is getting better and he was real strong against Trixton in Canada last week, so he could be best of the rest of the “also-trotted” group. Sumatra is also one that may be overlooked by bettors and who deserves attention. Tom Fanning’s colt may not have shown us all he has yet and along with the aforementioned he could participate in the exotics and most assuredly will make it to the final.

Saratoga Raceway will contest three divisions, two containing Hambo hopefuls, of the $177,300 New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) on Friday, June 20.

The initial division features two eligibles, Expressive Action and Flyhawk El Durado. While Expressive Action is the sharpest of the field of six, Gural Hanover has the speed to get involved in the mile. With this being his second start back, he seems like the logical choice on the value spectrum.

Since the second division lacks hopefuls, the spotlight shifts to the final division, where Lukas Hall is the lone hopeful racing against five other foes. He returns off of a layoff onset by his break in the Empire Breeders Classic elimination, as well as adds lasix. His inside draw also makes him the one to beat. 

Keep watching the Hambletonian Trail blog for updates and races involving eligibles through July and for live coverage from TwinSpires on Hambletonian day. Read race results at the special section archived at the Hambletonian Society web site.