Goodtimes, PA sires stakes test colts, Buffalo fillies come out

Among the $2.4-million in stakes action on Mohawk’s premier stakes night, June 14, the Goodtimes Final features a few prominent sophomores who are striding well into the first Saturday in August. Half of the 10 for the $272,100 mile are eligible for the classic, including Flyhawk El Durado, Trixton, Il Sogno Dream, Speak The Truth and Harper Blue Chip.

Trixton heads into the final with a four-win streak, with the combined margin of victories 26 ½ lengths. The dominant performer from the Jimmy Takter barn deserves to be an odds-on favorite but that doesn’t necessarily mean he cannot lose.

One of his few challengers is Harper Blue Chip, who was the runner-up to Trixton in the second elimination. Making his soph debut, he coasted around the oval, residing 4 lengths off of Trixton at the finish. Since he has a start under his belt, the Ontario Sires Stakes champion should give a better effort, especially since the big money is on the line.

Trixton’s other rival is Il Sogno Dream, who was the runner-up to Flyhawk El Durado, the winner of the first elimination. Adding hopples last start, he sat an easy trip and gave pursuit to Flyhawk El Durado once given room in the stretch, coming only ¾ lengths short of victory. While Trixton will be a tougher challenger, an easy trip and second start over the track should equal an improving horse. 

At Pocono the same night, more colts battle in three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, with purses of $73,000-plus each.

Three hopefuls go in round one, with our support for DD’s Hitman intact. He is ready to cash a win after two starts and one third and in a good spot from post 3 to beat the obvious choice, Amped Up Hanover. The other eligible is JJ Alex.

In the second of the trio, we will seek Nuncio’s defeat for the value probably offered Don Dorado. He is improving every race and seems ready to make it known he is around to stay on the journey to August.

There is nothing to say about division three but Father Patrick.

New York-bred gals are set to contest in the $118,200 New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) on Sunday, June 15 at Buffalo Raceway. Four "Oaks"-hopeful fillies will square off against eight others in two $59,100 divisions.

Division one features two eligibles, Glowngold and Beauty Of Gray. The latter of the two could be value in this field of six, having experience over a half-mile oval. She also raced well in the Empire Breeders Classic. Looking back to the end of her frosh campaign, she traveled first over against the best in the NYSS final, faltering slightly. She has two starts under her belt, which could be a sign that she’s ready to strike.

The other division consists of two hopefuls, Market Rally, who is the NYSS frosh champion, and Gammy’s Girl. While Market Rally is among the top contenders in this race, don’t overlook Keep The Cash. She heads into this race winning her last three races, one being at Western Fair (a 20-length recovery from a break). She is making her way up the class ladder and could be up to the challenge these gals will present. 

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.

Goodtimes will be had by colts

It’s time to head north, colts, because the Hambletonian Trail takes us to Mohawk for two weeks. First, the boys will battle in the Goodtimes elims on June 6. There are two divisions, each worth $30,000, and the best of these miles return next week for the final.

Four Hambletonian eligibles are included in the first field, with six just looking for some decent paydays. Certainly, Il Sogno Dream is yet to make the noise he is capable of making and there could be some problems getting loud enough to do so from post 9 but don’t count him out. His sires stakes effort two races back was an 8-hole journey at the Meadows and he was showing some muscle before breaking, which put him out of the contest. He qualified brilliantly afterwards. It’s always great to catch a winner before he or she reveals true talent to the majority of bettors. This could be one of them.

Of course Flyhawk El Dorado, who we liked from the start of the season, will have a lot to say about this affair, though his recent record will attract chalk players. The rest of the field looks like they will have to struggle, as Skates N Plates and Entranced, the other two hopefuls, look like they may get small shares on class alone.

In the second round for the Goodtimes boys, five eligible colts meet five others for berths in the final. And look who is here to guide them: Trixton. Jimmy Takter’s versatile son of Muscle Hill has been on fire, winning his recent three stakes with a total of 21-some-odd lengths. He has speed and he is not afraid to be a one-dimensional colt using it for all it is worth. If he were to be challenged here, two colts would take positions.

Harper Blue Chip has qualified twice and debuts his soph campaign from post 9 in this field. He should be a contender but we don’t know if he can open his soph season beating Trixton. On the other hand, Mister Bs Way may have what it takes to meet the first tier of talent en route to August. He is here and not at Vernon for the “Empire” finals because he broke in that elim and finished fourth as the even-money choice against tough stuff . He should wind up the best wager if you go against Trixton.

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.

Soph-trot contests ensue

The Hambletonian Trail continues at the end of May and June jousts await in month two of the journey to August.

On Friday, May 31, two $75,000 Casual Breeze affairs present only four eligibles. One of them continues to be the focus of the sport—Bee A Magician. Winner of her first two this season, the Kadabra girl is looking to so dominate her division that perhaps she will take on the boys if all goes well up until August. She gets post 8 in this field but we see no reason for her to lose, as well as we expect the other eligible, Drink The Wine, to be involved.

In the second Casual Breeze split, Quiet Snow and Samartina are the only eligibles in the seven-filly mile. Quiet Snow doesn’t have to deal with Bee A Magician this time around so she could very well take center stage. She was 34-1 last time and trotted a game outside trip only to quit from the stress. Her misfortune gave Charmed Life, tonight in the 6 hole, an easy path to be second. The tide could turn at a good price here.

In New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) finals action at the Meadowlands on June 1, the seven colts entered are by no means unable to take control over the hot Smilin Eli. The six sons of Muscles Yankee are eligible and the seventh, King Muscles, is not.

Corky will again try not to burn money as he will get much support along with Smilin Eli, who has won both the NJSS division’s legs. If Corky is overlooked, this may be the time to back him. Barring any miscues, Smilin Eli is still not overmatched here. We have supported Amalfi Coast twice and that one has not had a chance to stay flat enough to prove he belongs with this bunch. So Corky could offer a good price and Amalfi Coast will offer one and if flat may surprise everyone.

The NJSS fillies have only one of nine ineligible, with two daughters of Chocolatier and the rest by Muscles Yankee. The outside Chocolatier gal, Shared Past, won for us on May 17, when she was a favorite. She won’t be one here and will offer a decent price, especially from post 9.

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.

 

Decisive battles for both sexes north and south

H = Hambletonian eligible.  

With the elims for the Hambo and Hambo Oaks nearing, some hopefuls are all out for big checks from Canada and U.S. action on July 21. 

The Canadian Breeders Championships (CBC) offer two divisions, one for each sex, with the fields best still looking to get in the classic action at the Meadowlands. 

Leading the colt mile, worth $159,058, is Prestidigitator (H-Kadabra), the star of the three hopeful sons by Kadabra in this field. Aiming directly at the Hambo elims, this colt has been primed to cash as many bucks as possible before going to New Jersey. There might not be much of a price but he may dominate this group with ease before departing the Great White North. 

The other two are Il Mago (H-Kadabra) and Knows Nothing (H-Kadabra).  

Three filly hopefuls go in the $1,66,373 CBC final, with our choice, Miss Paris (H-Kadabra) on her mission to get back to the Meadowlands. She will have to deal with Frisky Strike (H-Striking Sahbra) and I’m On Cloud Nine (H-Angus Hall) but that may not be enough to stop her.  

Two divisions for colts and two for fillies make up the Tompkins-Geers stakes that same day in New York as Tioga Downs hosts the soph events.  

The top colt in the first $33,497 mile is the only hopeful and the best in the field, Coraggioso (H-Conway Hall). He should be out for a jog.  

In split two, worth the same amount, four of six eligibles appear for battle. We like Duluth (H-Chocolatier) of the quartet. From the inside he appears to be in a spot that can overtake the big choice, Archangel (H-Credit Winner) at a price.  

Astarisborn Hanover (H-Donato Hanover) and No Frosting (H-Credit Winner) will also ride along.  

Both filly splits are worth $33,747. The first invites Cowgirl Hall (H-Cash Hall) to win another with an easy inside trip. The other two eligibles are not of her ilk: American Lassie (H-American Mike) and Latte Hall (Conway Hall) are probably not going to show up for the big dance, in our opinion.  

Split two for the femmes has a pair of eligibles. We once again support Fancy (H-Conway Hall), although she draws outside of Lady Andi (H-Andover 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.