Somehow, it’s already that time of year again, in the wake
of August’s arrival comes the biggest weekend on the harness racing calendar,
featured by the $1.2-million Hambletonian, which reverts to it’s former format
of heat racing in the 88th edition. To add on to the excitement
following Saturday’s events, the undercard of the Hambletonian looks to be
among the greatest betting cards that the Meadowlands has presented on the day
of it’s most prestigious event. Without further ado, let’s kick off
Hambletonian 2013 with the card analysis!
Race 1
$125,000 Miss New Jersey 3yofp Final
Picks: 7-2-3
(7) Jerseylicious – Monstrous in the prep for the Miss New
Jersey, coming from last to get nosed by I Luv The Nitelife in the final
strides. In what was one of the best stretch battles by this division this
season, she looks to have recovered to whatever was amiss in the Mistletoe
Shalee final and can certainly get the job done with the right trip.
(2) I Luv The Nitelife – The obvious pick in this race. She
will get crushed in the betting, to the extent where the second choice will be
ten or so to one. She is deserving of the favorite title, losing only one out
of eight starts this year. She is a caution sign on the highway to victory for
the other six fillies, but just won’t be an acceptable price come post time.
(3) Ms Caila J Fra – Made her first start off of a month
layoff in the prep last week, sitting a perfect trip and appearing to be flat
into the stretch. She can certainly return to her old form in her second start
but against this field, it will be one of her biggest challenges yet.
Race 2
$321,700 Merrie Annabelle 2yoft Final
Picks: 2-3-4
(2) Heaven’s Door – She was very intriguing making her first
start, improving in two qualifiers and showed true heart. She came into the
Merrie Annabelle elimination from post 10, launching off of the gate, but was
used too hard to the quarter and broke. Remarkably, she recovered and rode
cover to finish third to Lifetime Pursuit in 1:55.2. With a much better post
and a mile on the Meadowlands surface now behind her, it will look to be bombs
away in the Merrie Annabelle.
(3) Lifetime Pursuit – Will be the overwhelming chalk once
behind the gate. She has shown talent in her only three starts, winning all
three in an improving fashion. Taking her at what she will likely be at 1-9
will be preposterous, seeing as to her left flank is a horse with tremendous
potential.
(4) Cee Bee Yes – Has two victories at the Meadowlands, with
the most impressive coming in the New Jersey Sires Stakes final. She sat a
perfect trip and won in 1:56.3. A lot will have to go her way for her to make
it to the winners’ circle, but she is a serious, yet chalky, contender in the
exotics.
Race 3
$55,000 Ima Lula 4yomt Final
Picks: 5-7-9
(5) D’orsay – Constantly gets beaten up in miles; her last
one being a parked first over mile, yet she was very game in the stretch drive,
not caving in to minor honors easily. There is no denying that this mare is
improving and will need to get the right trip, which is very possible, to score
against her fellow mares.
(7) Personal Style – Seems to be peaking for this event. Her
problem seems to be that she gets off the gate too far from the leader. Has
gotten a handle on that issue and has an incredible late kick, which should be
beneficial turning for home.
(9) Maven – The original division leader at the beginning of
the year showed vulnerability in the first leg of this series, going to defeat
by Real Babe in 1:53.2. No doubt you can’t throw her out, she needed a week off
and returns on Hambletonian day fresh as clean laundry.
Race 4
$217,100 Lady Liberty FFA Mare Pace Final
Picks: 5-2-6
(5) Rocklamation – Has begun to peak off of two starts in
the Roses Are Red stakes. In her first start off a layoff, she blasted home to
finish second by half a length to Anndrovette in the elimination of the Roses
Are Red. In the final, she was used hard to the three-quarter pole, leaving her
with nothing turning for home. The pace should be hot here, allowing her to fly
by rivals.
(2) Krispy Apple – Always picks up the pieces in the final
strides. She proved that in the Roses Are Red, sneaking up the cones to finish
fourth at the line. She should get a better spot from the inside and a perfect
trip to get into the exotics.
(6) Anndrovette – She’s an incredible speedster, though let
Drop The Ball set the fractions in the Roses Are Red final. She’ll be fairly
aggressive here and with plenty of speed in this field, she might end up third
best.
Race 5
$280,500 Peter Haughton 2yoct Final
Picks: 1-3-4
(1) Nuncio – The major consensus in the challenge to beat
Father Patrick. He set the fractions in his elimination and dug in gamely to
lose by a head to Father Patrick at the wire. He makes his third lifetime start
in the Peter Haughton final and will be dangerous from the rail.
(3) Father Patrick – He is the one to defeat in this final.
He appears to be a standout among the other nine freshmen entered here, but his
odds come race time will not be good enough for us.
(4) Southwind Spirit – He won the other elimination of the
Peter Haughton in 1:57.3 in a first over fashion. He has shown power in his
career so far and will likely complete this trifecta.
Race 6
$75,000 Vincennes Trot Invitational
Picks: 2-5-9
(2) Take My Picture – Shown improvement in his first two
starts after his Elitlopp venture. Shipping south of the border today, he
should be returning to his old champion form that earned him a ticket to the
elite trotting race.
(5) Cedar Dove – This is a tough mare that is capable of
putting up a good mile against the boys. She trotted a tough first over mile
against talented top condition trotters in a Winners-Of event at Harrah’s
Philadelphia. She should be peaking today and sharp as ever.
(9) Coco Lindy – The favorite in this bunch. Has been
dominating the Preferred bunch up at Mohawk in recent starts, with his last
triumph being in a gate-to-wire 1:52.2. On the lead or off the pace, he’ll be a
threat in the stretch.
Race 7
$70,000 Hambletonian Elimination 3yot 1st of 3
Picks: 2-7-4
(2) Smilin Eli – Got a good start off a layoff last week,
parking the second half of the mile and finishing third to High Bridge in
1:54.3. He makes his second start since June today and should take a liking to
the afternoon format.
(7) E L Rocket – Stamped himself as a major contender in the
prep last week, battling hard with Corky to be headed at the wire in 1:54.3.
Has been gradually getting better with every mile and could be value heading
into the eliminations.
(4) High Bridge – Defeated major contenders in the prep last
weekend, winning in 1:54.3 after brushing to the lead from the half. With the
right trip, he’ll be on the board within the final strides.
Race 8
$70,000 Hambletonian Elimination 3yot 2nd of 3
Picks: 8-2-7
(8) Creatine – Has been improving this year. He has the
ability to get near the pace and is a major menace once the stretch comes
around. He should be the value in this division.
(2) Aperfectyankee – The Peter Haughton champion has been
lightly used this year. His only starts came in restricted stakes this year,
but he has been successful in those attempts. Should be very sharp today.
(7) Dontyouforgetit – Coming off a giant recovery-effort in
the Yonkers Trot, gaining 19 lengths after being interfered to finish fourth.
He will be over bet in this field, but is not one to throw out.
Race 9
$70,000 Hambletonian Elimination 3yot 3rd of 3
Picks: 1-6-5
(1) Possessed Fashion – Has been showing guts and talent in
his last three miles, always finding a way to get into the mix late in the
mile. From the rail, he should instantly go for a stalking spot in the pocket
and burst with speed in the stretch.
(6) Spider Blue Chip – He has been very sharp as of late. He
likes to be near the pace, which should not be a problem in a 7-horse field.
Coming to the wire, he always seems to want to get there first. Price-wise,
he’ll be better than Corky.
(5) Corky – Has shaped up from the usual runner-up in major
events, claiming victory in the Earl Beal Memorial and Dickerson Cup to name a
few. He is coming into the Hambletonian today off of an easy mile last week,
which should prove beneficial for him.
Race 10
$318,350 John Cashman Jr. Memorial FFA Trot Final
Picks: 7-9-10
(7) Sevruga – Has a shot to defeat Market Share today. Loves
to race on the lead and this field does not have the early speed that Sevruga
contains. Perhaps he works out easy fractions on the lead and saves himself for
the final quarter. Keep in mind that he was only three-quarters of a length off
of Market Share in a Free For All event on June 21.
(9) Market Share – Not a clear cut favorite, but is
definitely talented. The fact that he will be hammered at the windows
discourages any value from him. He remains a foe today and one to beat as well.
(10) Wishing Stone – Has the ability to pick up the pieces.
He can leave well from post 10 to get into position early on and strike in the
latter stages of the mile. He’ll provide some value underneath, but will be
around the third or fourth choice come post time.
Race 11
$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks 3yoft Final
Picks: 3-2-4
(3) Classic Martine – Worth a shot to go against Bee A
Magician. She has been coming around in form recently, finishing second in her
Oaks elimination to Mistery Woman. She loves to race on the front and can get a
trip and the job done, too.
(2) Bee A Magiciain – The major consensus on those who just
want to have “winners.” No doubt that she is on a whole other level than these
other fillies, but taking her at 1-9 is asinine.
(4) Mistery Woman – Can sit a perfect trip and fly from
there. The problem is that she seems to only be able to win from there. It is
likely she will get a good trip, but might only pick up the pieces for the trifecta.
Race 12
$1,000,000 Hambletonian 3yot Final
Picks:
Not Available
Race 13
$250,000 New Jersey Classic 3yop Final
Picks: 3-6-9
(3) Real Rocker – He was supposed to show improvement last
week, but made an odd break and was eliminated from the race. Before that, he
was gradually showing improvement. He draws well today to sit a good trip and
be monstrous turning for home.
(6) Word Power – No doubt he gets into the top three. He sat
a good trip and flew late to finish third in the Adios final. He won’t be a
good price, but he is a major contender across the board solely because he
outclasses this group.
(9) Lucan Hanover – Ships to the Meadowlands off of a sweep
in the Summertime Pacing Series. He has been very sharp the last few weeks, but
stepping up to the stakes caliber horses will be one of his biggest challenges
of his lifetime.
Race 14
$213,650 U.S. Pacing Championship FFA Pace Final
Picks: 1-8-7
(1) A Rocknroll Dance – Arguably the best horse in this
race. He has been rounding into form the last couple of weeks, coming off a
parked mile and finished third. He gets a great amount of post relief for the
final, drawing a spot that will suit his stalking racing style.
(8) Hurrikane Kingcole – Remains a horse to be wary of
heading into the final. He is a very sporadic horse and very few have picked up
on it. They think that he can’t go up against the Free For All stakes horses,
when he can. He needs the right day and the right conditions to show us the
true Kingcole.
(7) Pet Rock – Has been racing his best miles in the last
few months. He has shown he can race from on or off the pace, but he’ll need to
be near the front as there is not a good chance of a tremendous amount of speed
allowing for closers. Regardless, he is talented and value as well.
Race 15
$40,000 FFA Pace
Picks: 3-5-10
(3) Malak Uswaad N – He has been incredibly sharp on a
half-mile track, taking to the four turns with ease. He’ll probably be sharper
moving to the mile track, showing more speed than usual. Good to use anywhere
across the board.
(5) Bettor’s Edge – He has shown to be peaking in his last
two starts, claiming victory as he heightened in class. He goes up against a
weaker field today and will be one to beat and a price.
(10) Hugadragon – Formerly was a menace in this class.
Since he can leave the gate, he’ll have no problem leaving from post 10. He
needs to ration his speed and strength to emerge victorious here.
