Pocono presents filly stakes

Wednesday, June 18 “Oaks” eligibles battle in two Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) at Pocono Downs.

Nine gals take to the gate for the first division, worth $98,100. Only three in the field are not aimed for August.

Donatella Hanover is a Jimmy Takter student that has taken a back seat to the herd of successful hopefuls coming from his barn. She has been a fan choice and failed three times this season and won only once. Still, she cannot be dismissed here. As well as coming to Pocono for the first time this season, she is well placed here and may revert to showing early foot against this bunch, as she has been out-paced at the Meadowlands, Meadows and Philadelphia recently. As well, even with the Takter brand, she will offer a good price.

Another $98,100 is on the line in the second PASS for femmes. The only way to describe this mile is to compare five eligibles and two non-eligibles to one filly. That reads: a field of eight verses Shake It Cerry.

One of the reasons Donatella Hanover is not a talked-about Takter homey is Shake It Cerry. She is three for three so far and on a path to make Bee A Magician’s champion 2013 season look less than spectacular. “Shake” is seamless in her gait and when she at last lets out the speed, she will prove to be faster than “Bee.”

So, what does this field have to offer her in the way of competition? If you find out, email us at TwinSpires and we will take your opinion into consideration. In the meantime, Team Takter’s accountant should take out his black-ink pen for another positive entry because this purse money is a wad he or she can take to the back, literally.

Don’t be surprised, by the way, if Lifetime Dream wakes up enough to make this a Takter exacta.

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.

Twenty-three colts in the thunderous trotting heats for the 2013 Hambletonian championship

The true strength and stamina of the standardbred is on trial at the Meadowlands for the first time in years as the Hambletonian returns to its original format—elimination heats and a final on the same race program.

Enough horses (23) have dropped into the box to support a trio of elim heats, with the first three finishers in each returning for the final. This is not odd for harness racing; it is an intrinsic and unique aspect of the sport. For bettors, it means three great opportunities to play and win in the Hambo events before the triptych of trotters from each heat returns for a fourth wagering field.

As well, the entire racing program features an exclusive Players’ Pool at TwinSpires, so you can buy into wagering throughout the day of high stakes trotting and pacing action. Click here for information on how to get into the action now.

The fillies Hambletonian Oaks has only a final on Aug. 3, which we are covering below as well as the elim heats. All other races for Aug. 2 and Aug. 3 are covered in the TwinSpires harness blog.

Make note that the opinions of obvious contenders and outsiders in these heats make no reference to the Hambletonian Final winner. An elim heat can provide a huge upset while the eventual Hambo champ makes the final being second or third and the longshot finishes up the track. Again, this is the beauty of elim heats.

Hambletonian elim-heat one

The strange case of Smilin Eli, who changed barns after a drama to do with the state of his connections, took him off track when the judges scratched him from the Stanley Dancer. He was clearly at the top of his game, even though he had lost at Pocono the week before. Of course, that loss, too, is questionable, since he was best in the division up until then. His return last week found him parked in a race he should have dominated if he were in his former “skin.” He can make the final but other dynamics in this field may get in his way of winning.

Royalty For Life is the buzz horse and he will be all out from post 8, tackling the likes of High Bridge, who has turned out to be peaking just in time for Jimmy Takter and must be greatly respected. The speed brigade is joined by Dewycolorintheline, whose improvement relied on the faults of some others in the Yonkers Trot. E L Rocket also likes racing up front.

Aside from High Bridge being able to take advantage of dueling, we are left with two late-moving trotters that could benefit from burnout up front, though they are clearly outsiders guaranteeing only high prices should the speed scenario develop. They are Super Class and Dreams Of Thunder.

The former has not won at three yet and only once in 18 times but if he is handed the chance you can bet he will be the last trotter standing. Dreams Of Thunder may need less help from speed duels than from his own gait; he has broken twice at huge odds and will be dismissed by bettors. What happens if he is smooth in this race while the top dogs are set aflame? There will be bombs away on the toteboard.

Hambletonian elim-heat two

Over the past two months, Dontyouforgetit became a different colt than when he galloped into his sophomore season. Once he got to trottin’ he won as an outsider, paying well and continuing to race well. He lost the Yonkers Trot but raced the best of the entire field while breaking early, recovering, and then being knocked off stride again but by a foe, and still making up 19 lengths in the stretch. Doing all this on the four turns at Yonkers is much more impressive than the winner, Deweycolorintheline.

Along with Aperfectyankee, who we endorsed before he won last year’s “Haughton” and has been a profit-maker for us recently, Dontyouforgetit should prove again that he can put in a giant mile (without breaking) and if he wins, do so at a decent price. Wheeling N Dealin should get a lot of support, leaving the aforementioned duo with good win mutuel offerings. Wheeling N Dealin, in our judgment, still has much to prove as a sophomore and it would not be a total surprise to us if he didn’t even make the final.

Hambletonian elim-heat three

Only seven colts adorn the ultimate elim heat, with veteran Hambo-winning trainer Chuck Sylvester’s Spider Blue Chip taking the buzz-horse badge. This colt really likes the Meadowlands and has commanded some miles here recently. However, Corky is in a prime spot to make another Jimmy Takter colt get to the final with a win check.

The possible upsets are so obvious they seem moot and it is a hazardous guess to predict which other two may make the grade after Corky because cases for all of them would be valid.

The Hambletonian Oaks will have to be somehow disturbed by breakers or an alien landing at the half to picture a loss for Bee A Magician. Has the brilliant Kadabra filly come all this way to lose the spotlight and a place in history? The answer is no, historically and realistically. Make no mistake about the fact that there are some very talented trotting gals in this field but they are just more testimony to how great Bee A Magician races, since she has dominated this division with firm steps and mighty speed and most of all, with ease.

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 during live coverage from TwinSpires on Hambletonian day. Read race results at the special section archived at the Hambletonian Society web site.

 

Fillies firing at Yonkers

A septet of “Oaks” eligibles are set to go to gate Monday night, July 8, at Yonkers Raceway, where three divisions of the $358,857 New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) headlining the 13-race card. 

 

Lady Riviera is the lone Oaks-hopeful in the first division. With the morning-line favorite drawing the outside in this division, it opens the race up for value. From the rail comes Canadian invader Alphadoodle from the Rick Zeron barn. She made two starts against this group in previous NYSS events, one being an impressive closing effort on “sloppy” going at Buffalo and the other a disappointing sixth at Tioga. She trotted a little too fast in her last start and from what her lines show, should handle the half-mile well. The draw was friendly to her as well, giving her a better shot to get the trip she needs. 

 

Empire Breeders’ Classic champion Lola De Vie headlines the second division and will start from the pylons. With her come eligibles Hall La La, Bouncing Bax, Palm Beach Chic and four others. One of the other four is a major contender in the value market and, as a matter of fact, will start from post 4. 

 

Isabella Gal seems to be rounding into form as shown in her previous starts. Off of an eighth-place effort in the Empire Breeders’ Classic, she took about three weeks off and went to Tioga to race in the NYSS. From post 7 she took the front and set moderate fractions on the lead, only to come up short into the stretch. She will likely get away in a pocket spot and stalk Lola De Vie on the lead. With a pocket ride, she will have plenty left into the stretch. 

 

The final division features eligible Proclaiming April, listed as the morning line favorite. Two eligibles, Crazy Grigio and Demented are also entered. Although they have high sights for the first weekend in August, their chances in this event are “iffy.” On the other hand, Long Island Tea has been showing nothing but talent recently. 

 

She broke in the slop at Buffalo in a NYSS event as a favorite off a pocket ride but it evidently proved to be a problem, as she galloped again from post 9 when she competed in NYSS at Tioga. The early miscue didn’t stop her, she regained 10 lengths passing three-quarters when she came to the outside and was interfered. She came into the stretch blasting after the leader, to come a 1 ½ lengths from the victory getting fourth. Due to two breaks, she had to qualify. Trainer Paul Kelley added trotting hopples and qualified her at Plainridge, where she trotted the course with ease in 1:57.3. She is sharp and peeking so we are going to catch her while she’s hot. 

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 contenders abound

The Hudson Filly Trot, Grand Circuit Reynolds stakes and a slew of Pennsylvania All Stars (PAAS) events adorn the first weekend in July at three tracks with different sizes hosting hopefuls for August classics.

Yonkers hosts the $155,624 Hudson Filly Trot for the soph gals on July 6, with eight behind the gate, half of them eligibles.

Lady Broadway has been going great guns but is ineligible to the big dance and will have do deal with the freshness of one eligible as her main threat. The Kadabra soph, Cha Cha Magic, makes only her fourth start and has one second and a sharp aim at August. Trainer Staffan Lind’s ticket to the “Oaks” gets the best post and should offer a big price. She is one of the progeny of Kadabra, who has sent out female champs like this year’s Bee A Magician.

PAAS colt trotters start off another big Saturday program at Pocono Downs, July 6. The purses for these events are $30,000 each. Race one looks like a battle between Brew Master and Maxamillus, with only the former an eligible. Brew Master is in top form now and is at the level of this group, though his recent win was among cheaper types.

Round two of five for the colts has seven eligibles in eight, with another shot for Aperfectyankee. Staying flat is all he needs, as he seems to tower over the others and with morning-line choice Tigress’s Legacy on the outside, Aperfectyankee could put in his best soph performance yet.

In the third PAAS split we have two possibilities, the obvious and the wild card. The former is Bluto, who has raced with better and should be a dead-on favorite. But the non-eligible Classicality could fool some folks, having won at a fair in slow time on a good track last out. We find it a positive that driver Dave Palone becomes the guide for Walter Dunn’s local trotter who Brian Zendt has been handling well among state-breds. If he upset this group it would be no surprise to us but may be a surprise to bettors.

The penultimate colt PAAS presents only one eligible, our choice, High Bridge. Coming from a second in the “Beal” he should be ready to take on this field, a group that has not seen the likes of the first tier in the division.

Finally, All Laid Out is here after winning the Beal consolation. With Palone up the odds will dip but we will go with Boffin, also an eligible, who will offer odds higher than his chances. He was third to All Laid Out last week and has put in some good races with excuses.

On July 5 the Grand Circuit’s W.R. Reynolds stakes for filly and colt trotters are part of the weekend Meadowlands stakes menu.

In the first filly contest, we like Ma Cherie Hall, who returned as a soph in top form. This classy lass may not be overlooked but she is too hot to dismiss. In round two for the gals, we like the outsider Raring To Go S, an eligible with two wins in three starts that can make trouble for the two big favorites, Mistery Woman and To Dream On.

More than $50,000 is on the line in the only Reynolds colt split, featuring five eligibles. We like Banco Solo again. His Pocono races were good with larger fields. This small and lightweight group may be easier to command, especially with two turns.

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.

Yonkers presents colts on the half

July opens with colt trotters The July 1 $356,456 New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) for soph colts and geldings offers a quartet of contests at the New York half-mile track. 

 

The opening ($89,914) division includes Tirade Hanover, a winner earlier this season in his Empire Breeders Classic elim at Vernon. He is one of six non-eligibles going for the big purse. The two in play for Hambo action are Order By Keeper and our choice, Pine Credit. 

 

The second ($88,314) NYSS field finds one eligible, our choice, Explosive Action, in the mix with top-rated West Side Story. That one comes from off a big win at Georgian Downs. 

 

Monday's third ($88,314) state-bred event is led by Modest Prince , the Linda Toscano-trained colt who has hit the board in four of his five soph starts, winning for the first time this season at 50-1 in a Simpson at the Meadowlands. Against the locals here, Modest Prince is a no-brainer choice.

 

The final ($89,914) NYSS mile July 1 features red-hot eligible Jurgen Hanover, who started the season with seven wins in a row before failing in his elim for the Earl J. Beal Memorial at Pocono. Three other eligibles take to the cause: Prove Up, Twisted Pretzel and Jacks To Open. We will stick with Jurgen Hanover (perhaps a small trifecta with the three eligibles behind him?).

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.

 

‘Beale’ elims are colt-trot trials

Pocono Downs hosts three elims for the Earl Beale, Jr. Memorial on June 22 and the soph-colt trotters are set to sail on the speedy five-eighths oval for $25,000 per split.

In the first round, only one non-eligible takes flight. Sharp off two wins, eligible Dontyouforgetit won’t be lighting up the tote board after a pair of double-digit wins. But the favor of Aperfectyankee seems to be fading and that is good for his odds as he goes from post 5 in this octet of all eligibles.

Public opinion will be strong for Dontyouforgetit and Celebrity Maserati, giving Aperfectyankee far less respect than we would care to acknowledge. So he will be our choice.

The second elim gives us a chance to once again support Banco Solo. Last out he was only 9-2 and made that first soph outing into a check-cashing mile, finishing third. George Brennan is in town for the ride and that is nothing but a plus, along with odds that will be generous.

Corky will get support again but he has only been able to win a Historic event and should burn some money again, along with Royalty For Life, who comes into his second soph affair after a bad break in his first and a decent qualifier. Still, the crowd may pour some bucks on his behalf.

The third split is a great betting race. Top-rated Smilin Eli gets post 8 and win-streaking Jurgen Hanover is in the 6 hole, while a few guys inside of them are getting better and should be some value.

My Man Can had a horrendous trip last out from post 8 and when you toss that one he should be worth less than his morning line, so we can hope for 6-1 or up. Also, High Bridge has a very good soph record right now and has won on this track before with trainer Jimmy Takter up. Yannick Gingras rides for Takter in this and there would be no reason to be surprised if he gets all the luck in the three turns and wins.

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.