August-aimed colts and fillies line up in state-bred battles

The miles extend this weekend for Hambo and “Oaks” hopefuls, as lucrative state-bred action continues in the East, with plenty of betting opportunities going along for the rides.

On Friday, May 30, Vernon Downs hosts elims for next week’s Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) events. The elims are only $12,500 each but the rewards for being in the finals’ fields offers far more. Here are comments, featuring our suggested contenders, for both sexes’ divisions.

EBC colts, div. 1
Three of the six in the field are hopefuls. Lukas Hall, from the rail, should be the favorite and the winner. Rockie De Vie debuts at three and may need this race, while the third hopeful, Karets, needs to show more to be competitive.

EBC colts, div. 2
Mister B’s Way and Expressive Action lead the hopeful parade of six but Wild And Crazy Guy may be as good as them right now, though he has not a prayer for the classic.

EBC fillies, div. 1
Slice Slice Baby is the only eligible and yet we support Annies List, who sits on a win.

EBC fillies, div. 2
Beauty Of Gray, an eligible, debuts but the other eligible, Glowngold, comes off a fine win and should kick another one into gear.

That Friday at the Meadows, Pennsylvania Sires Stakes splits offer their usual wad of dough ($70,000-plus per event) and the first appears to be another walk in the park—this time the park near Pittsburgh—for Father Patrick. It has already become impossible to bet against him. He is the perfect key for exotics if you can hitch him up with an inflated projection on the toteboard. Last season we were successful doing this with Nuncio, who is now Father Patrick’s roommate. With four other eligibles available for second, third and fourth place in the wagering, you may want to use Jett Star, who has nothing to gain but a great payday for being second and who has a ton of experience already in this theater.

Speaking of Nuncio, he is bound to be the favorite in the second round, as three other hopefuls go after him in a field of eight. One of our big winners from last week, Auspicious Hanover, will go after him and perhaps show the kind of challenge that proves Nuncio may be a second-tier competitor. Also dangerous at the probable price is Il Sogno Dream, who has won one of only two soph races and is dangerous even from the 8 hole.

The trio’s conclusion comes in a field of eight with a quintet of August wishers. The strangely named Datsyuk may be the choice here, though Sarcastic Man, a Dexter Cup elim winner, is the top earner (he has raced 15 times already). For a price, you may put stock in the rail horse, Uva Hanover, raring to debut off of a sharp qualifier that was near as fast as the marks of any in this field. Trainer Linda Toscano sends this boy out to win.

May 31 at the Meadowlands finds the colt and filly state-breds going for their throats in respective New Jersey Sires Stakes finals, worth $100,000 each.

The unmitigated force of the glamour-boy trotter battalion in the Jimmy Takter barn this season so far is frightening. In the colt final here we find Trixton, who has dominated the Jersey boys so easily he seems to whistle past their graveyard attempts. This is a powerful field and handicappers will still have a hard time finding reason for Trixton to fail, which only makes his strength appear greater. Team Takter may find its worse enemies this season come from the brotherhood of trotters aiming at August.

So, here is a field of 10 with many cases for defeating Trixton but all we can see is this guy soaring down the stretch ahead of nine other fine trotters. If that is the scenario, then he is a true key for exotics and not a win bet. Look for strong offerings in the win pool for exotic companions, like Lightning Force, from post 10 and Resolve.

Eight fillies line up for their final. We may hope that the crowd is impressed with My Inspiration and Cee Bee Yes, even though the latter leaves from post 10, but we like coming right back to Heaven’s Door. It will be the third time we support her and it could be the charm considering we were correct about her prowess last time, though she was disqualified after finishing second as the favorite. She should not hold the top spot with bettors in this field where Moonlight In Miami will also pick up some money to balance the others mentioned on the toteboard.

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.

Mohawk, Meadows present eligibles’ showcases

On June 7 and June 8, Mohawk presents soph trotting herds aiming for August. As well, on June 7 colts battle at the Meadows.

Friday, June 7 offers a trio of soph-colt stakes in the Currier & Ives (C&I) series. These are events each worth $44,000 plus.

The first C&I will find the public focusing on Bluto, one of only three eligibles in the field, especially since Dave Palone take the reins. However, we like the soph debut chances of Banco Solo, also an eligible. His qualifier at the Meadowlands was impressive and he has a ton of two-year-old class. Getting a price near his 8-1 morning line may turn out to be quite the bargain if he fires in his debut.

The next C&I features six eligibles in a field of eight. Major Athens deserves a close look in his third outing as a sophomore. The only thing that stopped him from a sires-stakes victory last week was a break. He shouldn’t be penalized for that race. Still, he will come back at odds much higher than his favorite status in that affair. With the probable choices of the public in the 7 and 8 holes, staying flat is all Major Athens has to do if he is feeling anything like he did two back.

A quartet of eligibles show up for the last C&I split. Again, the Palone-driven trotter should get the best of the win pool, leaving It’s Complicated to go off at odds far higher than his chances. He was third at 20-1 last time, in the race where Major Athens broke. This is his third shot as a soph and with a sharp steer he could get a good spot and take advantage of a possible shuffle-duel between Tigress’s Legacy and High Bridge.

Two elims for the Elegant Image event next week are worth $35,000 each at Mohawk on June 7. There is more competition in this for Bee A Magician than presented itself over the last few weeks in province-bred stakes. To Dream On tries again after a disappointing debut in New York. She should not be dismissed due to that misstep. Mistery Woman is also talented and should be in the mix. We think it is time to try to beat “Magician” by backing one of those two, based on the closing odds. Probably, Mistery Woman will wind up the overlay contender but watch for odds you would never have expected for To Dream On.

The second “Image” mile should continue the winning streak for Shared Past. She seems tons better than this field and has no trouble beating any in her division so far by leaving from outside posts.

This year’s Goodtimes elims at Mohawk are not laden with eligibles. There are only six colts in the two divisions that have eyes on August and that is uncommon over the past few years for this stake.

In split one we like Per Henriksen’s BWT Taj. Per trains one of his only shots at the Hambo this year and this field is a good place to start a successful road to the elims. Per is driving and that is a good sign because no one knows a Henriksen horse like Per. If he has his “s^^^ together,” as Per is apt to express it, this could be a good night for “Taj.”

In the second Goodtimes elim, another trained-and-driven eligible colt looks to improve on a two-year-old season. Ray Schnittker would hope that Caveat Emptor could be near as good as his Hambo winner and the sire of this colt, Deweycheatumnhowe. He had some jumping problems at two but “Emptor” still showed fight and the turnaround of a season may have given him what he needs to be a contender. We know the price will be right.

The Hambletonian Society has owned and serviced the Hambletonian since its inception in 1926 and presents the 88th edition at the Meadowlands, where it has been staged since 1981, There are no supplemental entries permitted in the Hambletonian and Oaks, nor are participants allowed to race on Lasix or Butazolidin. Along with the four juvenile Breeders Cup races for thoroughbreds, they are the only events in North American horse racing that prohibit the use of any race-day medication.

Keep watching this 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.

Currier & Ives hosts fillies in lucrative trio

On June 5, the Meadows presents soph-filly trotters going in three classic Currier & Ives splits worth $36,000 each.

In round one there is a quartet of eligibles among the eight going to post. Coffeecake Hanover has been an eligible we supported during his three soph efforts and each has had its excuse for not winning, with two of those miles taking second. But here, with Dave Palone getting the drive again at the Meadows, the colt will be barraged with bets. That being the case, we move to our second choice, another eligble, Feather Your Nest.

A price is almost guaranteed, even though local Richard Stillings gets the drive. The second public choice should be Cupcake, who we also supported before but who is having gait issues, none of which is helped by post 7 here.

Another four eligibles (fillies are eligible, remember, for both the Hambletonian and the “Oaks”) go in round two of the Currier & Ives and they appear the race’s biggest threats. Bargain-wise we could be getting some good odds on Classic Martine due to his leaving from post 8, especially since Royal Assets on the rail will be the public’s choice.

Along with that is a probable bargain from Ma Chere Hall, who debuts her soph season here after qualifiers at the Meadowlands that are both strong. This is a top-class, well-bred gal who may make a big noise in the division. As well, trainer Jonas Czernyson has been sending out fit and ready properties this season. At first crack, Ma Chere Hall could leave this field wondering in the stretch. The class may not be so obvious to the betting crowd, though hot driver Corey Callahan will attract some bets. The point is that if Ma Chere Hall is as good at three as expected, this may be the best price to get on her all season. Along with “Martine” you may have quite an exacta.

Finally, only one eligible shows up for the third event. Upfrontluckycarol may be in the best spot yet early this season to pick up some dough and she will probably not be the favorite. Though she was third in her recent race, it was a better mile than the one before, where she finished second, because she was chasing Fra Blucher, who has ravaged the early division stakes.

The Hambletonian Society has owned and serviced the Hambletonian since its inception in 1926 and presents the 88th edition at the Meadowlands, where it has been staged since 1981, There are no supplemental entries permitted in the Hambletonian and Oaks, nor are participants allowed to race on Lasix or Butazolidin. Along with the four juvenile Breeders Cup races for thoroughbreds, they are the only events in North American horse racing that prohibit the use of any race-day medication.

Keep watching this 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.

 

Meadows features filly divisions

(H= Hambletonian eligible)

At the Meadows this Tuesday, May 15, soph- filly trotters take to the track in a quartet of Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) divisions and among them are 17 aiming at the Hambletonian Oaks.

One in particular, Check Me Out (H-Donato Hanover) may be heading for the main contest against the boys. Trainer Ray Schnittker has not ruled out the chance that this filly, a winner of almost a million at two and 14 of her 16 races, will take on colts in the Hambo.

This division will offer many wagering opportunities as the weeks go on, mostly due to the sires stakes schedules that allow them to compete for major money while trotting their way through the racing months prior to August. We will be covering the state-bred races that include Hambo eligibles in all of the state-and-province programs where they appear. 

The Meadows will host a slew of PASS events for both the divisions, including a six-digit final for each, as the season ensues. While fighting for berths in the two major events in August, all of the horses in these events make the races competitive and rife for wagering.

In the first division, Race 2 at the Meadows on May 15, we like By A Nose Hanover (H-Cantab Hall). Todd Schadel’s local filly is improving at the rate we like to see this time of year and being staked to the main state-bred contest means Schadel has great hope in her. She broke at Pocono last out as a dead-on choice but cannot be disqualified in this group for a miscue like that.  

Certainly, Jimmy Takter’s Superstar Hanover (H-Cantab Hall) will be the choice in this, the colt’s debut at three. This is when we like to beat the returning frosh champs, though, and go for the price.

Also in the race on the trail are Touch Of Class (H-Broadway Hall) and Temple Blue Chip (H-Cantab Hall).

In division 2, Race 4, Sand Violent Blu (H-Tom Ridge) returns to the track at three for trainer Tye Loy. Last year, the state-bred champ won seven of nine with a front-trotting style that was frosh-quick for sure. 

Our eyes are on the value expected from Idonette (H-Donato Hanover). Trainer Henrik Lundell keeps John Campbell aboard this lightly raced filly to face the best of the state and the team seems perfect. Campbell rates well and this gal has a huge brush that can turn into two moves to make her a major “Oaks” contender and threat to the richer among the group.  

Also in the race on the trail are Keystone Tempo (H-Cantab Hall), Read Babe (H-Donato Hanover), Bluff (H-Donato Hanover) and Valdonna (H-Andover Hall). 

In the third division, Race 3, the pools will be packed with the Takter-Dave Palone morning-line choice, On The Bright Side (H-Cantab Hall).  

However, Voluptuous Ronda (H-Broadway Hall) deserves attention, even after a break in her seasonal debut and one in her qualifier at Philadelphia. John Campbell will take the reins for the first time on the Nicholas Surick-trained gal and he has the experience to gather her gait and get out of her what was expected even this early in the season. 

This is a filly that at two won a Matron elim and almost took the final at 166-1. She was scratched sick for her debut at three and then the two breaks make her look like a toss out hereany sane handicapper in the world. Our “insane” notion of trying to pick up a great price based on a proven horse has brought us profit before and we will be glad to ride along with Mr. Campbell on this one as opposed to going with the obvious.

Also in the race on the trail is Blue Yonder (H-Tom Ridge). 

Finally the fourth division, Race 9, marks the return of Check Me Out. (She, by the way, is the filly that Voluptuous Ronda followed to be second in the Matron at 166-1.)  

Perhaps this is a better pass (no pun intended) than a play but the mere presence of Check Me Out raises the odds of the Lady Suffolk winner, Cocktail Attire. She has already won at the Meadows this year, has won four of five this year and has got the momentum that Check Me Out does not have opening her season.  

Also in the race on the trail are Summer Blush (H-Tom Ridge) and Playwear Hanover (H-Andover Hall). 

Two hopefuls take part in the Pennsylvania Stallion Stakes Series the day before the PASS at the Meadows. Sandra Volo (H-Cantab Hall) and Magical Affair (H-Glidemaster) participate in separate $20,000 divisions. 

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.