The Racing Inquirer- Weekend Review 6-13-11

Racing Review

Eliminations for the Goodtimes Final next week at Mohawk included three races with a dozen Hambo-eligible colts spread through them.

High-profile eligible Blue Porsche (Glidemaster) was tons the best in the opener, while the other four hopefuls failed to menace. He paid $2.60.

Ice Machine (Muscles Yankee) was fourth, Attorney Hanover (Angus Hall) was fifth and Del Cielo (Broadway Hall) finished sixth.

The Chocolatier colt, VC Chocolate, came on late and held on to win the second elim, paying $4.20 as the choice.

Highland Thunder (Conway Hall) got third, with Whiskey Tax (Revenue S) just behind him and Just In (Andover Hall) following that one. Spectator K (Conway Hall) broke again and was eliminated. There was only one eligible in the last elim and he was nowhere near the longshot ineligible that won at 23-1. Pegasus Blue Chip (Glidemaster) jumped and was out of the race at three-quarters. Fort Valley As (Tom Ridge) scratched sick.

On Saturday, June 11, 23 sophomore pacers squared off in three eliminations for the 28^th Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack. Also featured were three eliminations for the Fan Hanover for three-year-old filly pacers at Mohawk.

In the North America Cup elims, I had two winners, one of whom was a short price. Powerful Mist overtook Big Jim to upset to win the first elim, Rockabille at 63-1 finished second and also just passed “Jim.” Jim had to settle for third. “Mist” paid $12.20 to win.

Up The Credit paid $3.40 to win in the second elim, Shadyshark Hanover was second and Eighteen was third. My other horse, Lookinforadventure, showed nothing in the elim. Going off at 57-1, the public seemed to know he did not want to race. They were right, he quit, even though he had a perfect trip. Up The Credit I was hoping to be 6-1 and up.

Big Bad John was the overwhelming odds-on favorite. He took the last elim with Roll With Joe finishing second. There was a dead-heat for third between Dutch Richman and Foreclosure N. Big Bad John paid $3.60 to win, I was hoping for 4-1 and up.

The Fan Hanover had three splits for the filly pacers. In the first elim, See You At Peelers made it a perfect 17 for 17. She paid $2.30 to win, with Idyllic second and Live Inspired third. Honky Tonk Woman surprisingly did nothing in here. She sat behind horses and faded. She could have not liked the surface. Still, it’s too early to tell.

In the second elim, Krispy Apple took it as the odds on favorite. Pretty Katherine was second and Monkey On My Wheel was third. Rocklamation made a break at the quarter and was pulled up at the half.

In the last elim, my horse What’s New Pussycat won it, paying $39.70. Athenas Legacy was second and the “horse to beat” Cammile was third at 12-1.

Down at Harrah’s Chester on Sunday was the $150,000 Maxie Lee Memorial final for free for all trotters. In that final, Anders Bluestone just held off Buck I St Pat to win it, with Coreleone Kosmos finishing third. Watch “Kosmos” in his next start. Kosmos was hung at the half. “Anders” paid $11.60 to win.

At Tioga Downs, the Artiscape for open mares and the Bettors Delight for open horses were the highlight of the card.

In the Artiscape, it was Anndrovette to win it, Ticket To Rock was second and Laughandbehappy was third. The defending champion Dreamfair Eternal finishrd fourth. Anndrovette paid $4 to win.

In the Bettor’s Delight, Bettor Sweet added another world record to his resume, going 1:48.1 on the five-eighths track. We Will See was second and Giddy Up Lucky was third. Bettor Sweet paid $10 to win.

Harness Racing News

We apologize for overlooking the news that John Campbell was injured in an accident on May 30 at Chester. John is recuperating but sources report his injuries are worse than earlier diagnosed.

 “I’ve got cracked ribs and a broken collarbone,” Campbell is quoted as saying, “but they are underneath the broken shoulder blade, so I can’t really differentiate between the different pains.

“I can move around a little better than I could the first few days, obviously but I have a broken bone in my knee that I’m not going to be allowed to put weight on for another eight weeks. I can’t use crutches; I basically can get from the bed to the wheelchair, to another chair and back to the bed . . .  I can’t even get one of those little scooters because of the position it would put my broken knee.”

These injuries put the champion driver on the sidelines as the stakes season gets rolling, leaving John out of the picture for most of the season’s highest profiled events. We all wish him a strong recovery, no matter the duration.

More reports on two-year-olds are coming in from baby races. Two colts by Horse of the Year Rocknroll Hanover (sire of last season’s Horse of the Year, Rock N Roll Heaven) were the fastest recorded last week.

Mybrothergeorge won in 1:56.3. This colt is owned by the “Heaven” connection Frank Bellino and trained by Bruce Saunders.  Time To Roll won in 1:56.3 for trainer Jimmy Takter.

In the trotting kindergarten, a daughter of Hambo-winner Donato Hanover, Real Babe, won in 2:00 for the second-straight time, putting almost 10 lengths between her and the next filly. Ray Schnittker trains and is a part owner.