Older Horses Ready for ‘Crown’

Saturday, October 22 features the best sophomore and elder horses in the Breeders Crown eliminations. Listed below are my picks for tonight’s card.

Race 1 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Filly Trot Elimination

Notes- (2) Don’t Think Twice made a huge jump in class at Lexington and did very well. She is an improving horse and will be under the radar in here. (8) Jezzy took a while to become the winning machine she was earlier this year. She is in a weak field and looks sharp coming into the elimination.

Race 2 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Colt Trot Elimination

Notes- (3) Chapter Seven did really well in the Bluegrass at Lexington. Although he has not done well in Canada, he is doing great coming into here. (5) For You Almostfree has finished fourth or third in most of his starts. He is the big bomber in here and Jamieson may give him a perfect drive, sitting mid-pack.

Race 3 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Colt Trot Elimination

Notes- (4) Can Anyone Explain may be the most reliable horse in the field. You never know what Broad Bahn, Manofmanymissions or Luckycharm Hanover are going to do. “Explain” is so consistent, if he wins, we will be able to buy a six month supply of maple syrup. (8) Big Rigs did well in the Bluegrass at Lexington. If he doesn’t break, he will be in the exacta.

Race 4 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Filly Trot Eliminations

Notes- (5) Magic Wheel has done very well on the WEG cicuit. She knows the track well and should be in the top three. (9) Miss Sue V did well against the top fillies. She may be the big bomb in here.

Race 5 $50,000

Open Pace (Breeders Crown Prep)

Notes- (5) Mach Dreamer is always close to the pace. He can close and knows this track really well. He is sharp coming into this race. (8) St Elmo Hero has been magnificent up in Canada. He’s as sharp as a sword coming into the open.

Race 6 $40,000

Mare Pace Elimination

Notes- (3) On The Glass is no longer in the Ron Burke stable, she is part of team Tony O’Sullivan. She beat all these horses in the Allerage at 29-1. She may bomb again from post three. (9) Rock N Soul drew a good post, under her standards. She does real well when she races from the outside. She redeemed herself at Pocono Downs and raced fantastic in the Spring Of Hope at Mohawk. She fancies this racetrack.

Race 7 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Filly Pace Elimination

Notes- (6) Monkey On My Wheel is a horse to go “bananas” for. She is a local favorite and has dominated the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit. She may get a spot mid-pack and come flying at the wire. (7) Swinging Beauty  has always been in contention. She did well at Lexington and should do well tonight.

Race 8 $30,000

Preferred 2

Notes- (1) Peenie has drawn bad posts in several starts, but is aggressive. He should get an advantage with the rail. (4) Red Bugler also is aggressive. He is close to the winner in most of his tries and may redeem himself tonight.

Race 9 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Filly Pace Elimination

Notes- (4) Pretty Katherine beat Krispy Apple in the New Jersey Sires Stakes at the Meadowlands earlier this year. Although she did bad in the Jugette, she is improving and getting more into contention. (5) Rocklamation has been under the radar most of the year. She lost by a neck to Idyllic in the Jugette and is very sharp right now.

Race 10 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Colt Pace Elimination

Notes- (2) Custard The Dragon is questionable at this point. Team Teague has been doing well right now, but have not had any luck in Canada. “Custard” is looking a bit fresh and may bomb. (4) Mystician is the hometown favorite. He has not left Canada in his lifetime. This may be a good thing as he has gone over the Woodbine oval several times, doing very well.

Race 11 $25,000

Three-Year-Old Colt Pace Elimination

Notes- (1) Prodigal Seelster has been heavily bet in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Finals. He has finished on the board in all but one start this year. With all the speed in this race, he may close hard. (6) Fashion Delight came back recently after suffering an injury before the Empire Breeders Classic. He did very well in the Bluegrass at Lexington and the Fashion Farms are hot right now.

Race 12 $20,000

NW $14,000 last 5

Notes- (1) Cole Diddy is making a huge step down back to the company where he was very successful. He also drew the rail, which may help. (6) Pontiac Luck did well in this company from post six at Mohawk in September. She may be strong again from post six.

Race 13 $17,000

NW $9,000 last 5

Notes- (4) Classic Rock Nroll is coming off a bad effort against free for all pacers in the Winbak Pace. Before that, he was victorious in this class at The Meadows. He may be victorious again. (6) Top Gear is making a slight step down from a great effort, not quitting. He may improve tonight.  

Broad Bahn Looks for Historic Double

Out of the 35 years of the Canadian Trotting Classic, only seven horses have been able to win the Hambletonian and Canadian Trotting Classic in the same year. They are Armbro Goal (1988), Giant Victory (1991), Yankee Paco (2000), Windsong’s Legacy (2004), Donato Hanover (2007), Deweycheetumnhowe (2008) and Muscle Hill (2009). Broad Bahn (Broadway Hall) will be looking to become the eighth horse to pull off this historic double.

10 horses are in pursuit of the $1-million Canadian Trotting Classic. Listed below is the field.

PP-Horse Name-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line

1   Whiskey Tax-Mario Baillargeon-Thomas Durand-30-1

2   Daylon Magician-Jack Moiseyev-David Lemon-3-1

3   Manofmanymissions-David Miller-Ervin Miller-5-2

4   Broad Bahn-George Brennan-Noel Daley-4-1

5   Dejarmbro-Brain Sears-Trond Smedshammer-9-2

6   Sim Brown-Randall Waples-Jeffery Gillis-8-1

7   Whatever It Takes-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-20-1

8   Blue Porsche-Jody Jamieson-Blair Burgess-8-1

9   Chapter Seven-Mike Lachance-Linda Toscano-20-1

10 Imperial Count-Scott Zeron-Richard “Nifty” Norman-40-1

In the Canadian Trotting Classic, Manofmanymissions (Yankee Glide) and Daylon Magician are listed as the favorites in here. Broad Bahn will also be a heavy betting interest. Dejarmbro and Whatever It Takes (Credit Winner) may bring some high odds with that trio entered. “Takes” gained a lot of ground but had no room and was fourth by ¾ lengths in his elimination.

Dejarmbro is also a good betting interest in here. Although he has been second to this group several times, he is still the best. He was not eligible for the Hambletonian, nor is he for the Breeders Crown. But Dejarmbro is a strong horse and Brian Sears may put him in mid-pack and he may take advantage of Broad Bahn’s speed.    

‘Crown’ Contenders Conflict in Canada

Saturday night, Sept. 10, featured Grand Circuit action at Mohawk Racetrack, attracting a few Breeders Crown contenders. The Cane Pace was the sport’s co-feature on the night at Pocono Downs.

Canada featured the $80,000 Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations, $233,287 Simcoe three-year-old pace, $239,801 Champlain two-year-old filly pace and the $299,012 Champlain two-year-old pace.

In the first “Classic” elim, Daylon Magician, owned and trained by Dave Lemon, defeated Hambletonian-winner Broad Bahn (Broadway Hall) in a 1:53.3 performance. Broad Bahn finished a tight second and Sim Brown pulled a big shocker finishing third at 70-1 for Randall Waples. Whatever It Takes (Credit Winner) got late racing room and finished fourth, beating Blue Porsche (Glidemaster) by ¼ length. VC Chocoholic (Chocolatier) left the gate fast for Brian Sears and controlled the pace, until he was caught at the eighth pole. He ended up sixth at 45-1. Luckycharm Hanover (Andover Hall) watched the fireworks and did nothing; he ended up seventh.

                           Daylon Magician winning the first elim

In the second Classic elim, Manofmanymissions (Yankee Glide) with David Miller up, dominated the field. He made a backstretch brush to the lead from sixth. He controlled the race from there on and defeated Dejarmbro. Whiskey Tax (Revenue S) was third and Imperial Count was fourth. Zweig-winner Charlie De Vie (Yankee Glide) broke at the three-eighths pole, along with Pastor Stephen (Cantab Hall). Chapter Seven (Windsong’s Legacy) did not trot much of a race but managed to qualify for the final as he finished fifth. Highland Thunder (Conway Hall) was in the same situation as Luckycharm Hanover.

                         Manofmanymissions winning the second elimination

Here is the field for next week’s final

PP-Horse’s Name

1    Whiskey Tax

2    Daylon Magician

3    Manofmanymissions

4    Broad Bahn

5    Dejarmbro

6    Sim Brown

7    Whatever It Takes

8    Blue Porsche

9    Chapter Seven

10  Imperial Count

AE VC Chocoholic

In the first Simcoe, Mario Baillargeon steered Richard Berthiaume’s  Odysseus Blue Chip (Cam’s Card Shark) to a neck win, beating American Arena (American Ideal), who went off at 23-1 for Ron Pierce. Westwardho Hanover (Dragon Again) pulled back to last as the gate opened and came back strong in the stretch to finish third. Line Officer (Rocknroll Hanover) delivered a poor race. Weigh The Odds (Bettor’s Delight) was the early favorite and ended up getting cover and faltering to finish sixth.

In the second Simcoe, Up The Credit (Western Terror) rebounded after suffering four losses after his victory in the Meadowlands Pace consolation back in July for owners Carl Jamieson (who also trains), Thomas Kyron, Brian R Paquet and Joanne M Morrison. Bullet Speed came from Jupiter to finish second and homeboy Mystician (Camluck) finished third. Both Prana (Dragon Again) and Rockabille (Rocknroll Hanover) made breaks at the start and finished sixth and seventh, respectively. Sonic Dancer (Mach Three) sat in fourth and maintained his position till he crossed the red and white of the wire. Roll On (Rocknroll Hanover) went for the lead and faded badly to finish fifth by 11 lengths.

In the filly Champlain, Paul Macdonell dazed the public as he directed Big Mcdeal (Mcardle) to the winner’s circle as a 25-1 shot. Shelliscape, with Pirouette Hanover (Western Ideal) at her side, chased down “Mcdeal,” only to finish behind her. Shelliscape was second and “Pirouette” was ¼ length off of Shelliscape, finishing third. Yummy Sushi (Rocknroll Hanover) broke around the turn. Angel Scent (Western Ideal) went a first-over trip and faded to fourth. Jet Speed (Jereme’s Jet) sat last, got cover and gained plenty of ground to finish sixth. Rockaround Sue (Rocknroll Hanover) lagged around the Mohawk oval, finishing fifth. Jack Darling Stables owns “Big.”

In the first colt Champlain, the Metro Pace runner-up Machapelo (Mach Three), owned by Enviro Stables, was victorious at 5-2 for Jody Jamieson. In Commando was second and Rockin Finish (Rocknroll Hanover) a 74-1 third. Great Waters (The Panderosa) passed tiring rivals to finish fifth. Adkins Hanover (Western Ideal) sat mid pack was shuffled back in the field and came outside but ended up finishing eighth. State Treasurer (Real Desire) came first over at the half and gave way, finishing fourth as the 7-5 favorite. Rockndream (Rocknroll Hanover) took the lead, but got passed by rivals and made a very bad break in the stretch, finishing 10th. Allstar Legend (Four Starzzz Shark) went for the lead but could not hold on to it and finished sixth. Hope Blue Chip (Art Major) sat in last and got up for seventh in the back of the field.

In the second Champlain, Speed Again (Dragon Again) raised his win percentage to 63 percent for owners Jeffrey Gillis, Ken Henwood, Mac Nichol and Gerald Stay. I Found My Beach finished second and Gable Blue Chip (American Ideal) was third. Keith Oliver took Special Blend (The Panderosa) first over at the half and faded to fifth. Bettors Edge (Bettor’s Delight) sat in sixth and finished sixth. Sing For Me George (Bettor’s Delight) was shuffled to seventh at the eighth pole and managed to find his way through horses and finished fourth. Hurrikane Kingcole (Cam’s Card Shark) went for the lead but could not maintain it and finished 10th.

Stateside, at Pocono, in the $342,875 Cane Pace, Betterthancheddar (Bettor’s Delight) took advantage of the speed in the race and got up to win, with Townslight Hanover (Bettor’s Delight) finishing second and Powerful Mist (Powerful Toy) closed late to finish third. Shadyshark Hanover (Cam’s Card Shark) worked hard to get the lead and went monstrous fractions. He ended up finishing fourth for Jim Morril,l Jr. Rollwithitharry (Rocknroll Hanover) came from last and closed to finish fifth. Roll With Joe (Cam’s Card Shark) got a horrible trip, being three wide at the first turn and finished sixth for Tim Tetrick. High Noon (Western Ideal) was 2 lengths off the bunch at three-quarters, but faded badly to finish eighth. Eighteen (Cam’s Card Shark) went a parked mile and finished ninth.

Betterthancheddar is owned by Steve Calhoun and West Wins Stable. He is trained by Casie Coleman and Yannick Gingras drove him to a 1:49.2 stakes record.

TRI’s Picks August 12 Meadowlands

Meadowlands Racetrack Pick 4, Races 6-9, Friday, August 12, 2011

On Hambo Day, we had one winner and several seconds and thirds in our wagers. We had the Hambletonian winner, Broad Bahn, who returned $14.60 to win. Our profit dropped to -$111.20. I encourage you to play these horses to win. Good luck!

$2 Play: 46/5/6/2 = $4

Analysis:

Race 6- (4) Manningly was not good enough to compete against horses in the Vincennes. He has done well in this company and may show that again. (6) Lanson was used hard in the Vincennes and steps down. He may improve in here.

Race 7- (5) Harrah’s Best improves every start in this condition. He may finally get to the wire first.

Race 8- (6) Dragon Princess always tries to get in the mix. She may be peaking at the right time.

Race 9- (2) Go Nano Go paced a magnificent mile in his most recent showcasing. He may be the one to beat in here.

TRI’s Picks August 6 Meadowlands

Meadowlands Racetrack Pick 4, Races 6-9, Pick 5, Races 9-13, Pick 4, Races 12-15, Saturday, August 6, 2011

In our Pick 4, we had no winners. Our profit dropped to -$67.40. I encourage you to play these horses to win. I wish you good luck and have a great Hambletonian day!

Pick 4

$2 Play: 19/2/10/137 = $12

Analysis:

Race 6- (1) Delmarvalous raced well last week in an Open at the Meadows. The rail may help. (9) Aracache Hanover has done well against this company. He may pace his best race today.

Race 7- (2) Il Villaggio beat some of these horses in an Invitational last week. If he gets the trip, he may get home first.

Race 8- After making a huge close to qualify for the final, (10) Jezzy is the best in this division. If she gets the front, she may go wire to wire. If she doesn’t, she still could win.

Race 9- (1) Broad Bahn won his elimination from the 8 post. He has plenty of gate speed and the rail may let him go wire to wire. (3) Fawkes is peaking at the right time, according to trainer Jonas Czernyson. He was behind Broad Bahn and finished third at 70-1 in his elimination. (7) Opening Night was interfered in his elimination and passed breaking horses. If he gets the trip, he may be on the board.

Pick 5

$.50 Play: 137/15/5/1/9 = $3

Analysis:

Race 9- (1) Broad Bahn won his elimination from the 8 post. He has plenty of gate speed and the rail may let him go wire-to-wire. (3) Fawkes is peaking at the right time, according to trainer Jonas Czernyson. He was behind Broad Bahn and finished third at 70-1 in his elimination. (7) Opening Night was interfered in his elimination and passed breaking horses. If he gets the trip, he may be on the board.

Race 10- (1) Neighsay Hanover has raced against better in the A.J. Cutler Memorial, for one, where he finished third. If he gets the lead, he could go wire the field. (5) Waldorf Hall has the tendency to go first over and is still sometimes victorious. His post helps. 

Race 11- (5) Rocklamamtion was second best to Krispy Apple in the New Jersey Sires Stakes and draws inside of “Apple” this week. She may show she is capable of doing better today.

Race 12- (1) Hypnotic Blue Chip went the “race of his life last” year in the U.S. Pacing Championship (quoting a trackside blog prediction that day) at 11-1 in 1:47.2. In his last start, he almost beat Bettor Sweet from the 9 post and draws inside of him this week. If he gets the top, he may fire big again.

Race 13- (9) Rock N Soul gained 20 lengths in the Roses Are Red final at Mohawk but had no room late and finished fifth. If she gets a good trip, she may be best this field (we gave her out last year in the Mistletoe Shalee when she finished second at 80-1 to Dancinwiththestarz).

Pick 4

$2 Play: 1/9/2/1910 = $6

Race 12- (1) Hypnotic Blue Chip went the “race of his life last” year in the U.S. Pacing Championship (quoting a trackside blog prediction that day) at 11-1 in 1:47.2. In his last start, he almost beat Bettor Sweet from the 9 post and draws inside of him this week. If he gets the top, he may fire big again.

Race 13- (9) Rock N Soul gained 20 lengths in the Roses Are Red final at Mohawk but had no room late and finished fifth. If she gets a good trip, she may be best this field (we gave her out last year in the Mistletoe Shalee when she finished second at 80-1 to Dancinwiththestarz).

Race 14- (2) Lookinforadventure made two moves in the New Jersey Sires Stakes and finished third. Since most of the money appears will go to Big Bad John and Powerful Mist, Lookinforadventure may bring a price.

Race 15- (1) A J Corbelli was hung in this company and did not fade much. He gets the rail and is the one to beat. (9) Southern Sport won in this class in his last start. If he closes like he did then,  last start, he may get up at the last moment. (10) Mccedes was shuffled back in this company and closed late. If he can get cover two wide, he may get by them all.

Approaching the Trail’s End

With two weeks left until the Hambletonian eliminations (scheduled for July 30), the Hambletonian Trail is coming to an end. So, we have predicted 29 horses that may show up in the Hambletonian eliminations. Listed below are the top 10 trotters that made it onto that list.  

Blue Porsche (Glidemaster) made his three-year-old debut a winning one. He returned in the Goodtimes elimination, where he won. In the final, he went the entire mile on the outside and still drew away. Although he is undefeated this year, his talent is still in question since most of the other top colts were at Pocono for the Earl Beal eliminations.

Broad Bahn (Broadway Hall) came late on the scene. He scratched from the Breeders Crown at two, due to injury. He came back in a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes on May 30, finishing second. He won his next start, in non-winners of $12,000 last five starts. He then went to the “Beal” elims, finishing second and was third in the final. He beat the early Hambo favorite, Pastor Stephen, in a three-year-old Open in his next start. His most recent start was a second-place effort in the Stanley Dancer, losing to a 13-1 Manofmanymissions.

Charlie De Vie (Yankee Glide)  was purchased at two from Oyvind Hegdal. Now in Chris Ryder’s barn, “Charlie” will be Ryder’s ticket to the Hambletonian. Charlie started off his year well by winning his first four starts. He then disappointed in the Beal elimination, where he made a bad break in the stretch, finishing seventh. He came back in a three-year-old Open, where he won. His most recent start was the Stanley Dancer, where he broke in deep stretch and was placed sixth.

Pastor Stephen (Cantab Hall) was the early Hambletonian favorite. He won his first three starts of the year and then faced Dejarmbro (a non-eligible). He finished second to Dejarmbro in the Beal elimination and again in the final. They met again in the Dancer, where Dejarmbro was third and “Pastor” finished seventh.

Yonkers Trot-winner Leader Of The Gang (Muscles Yankee) looks to become the first horse to win the Yonkers Trot and the Hambletonian since Glidemaster.  He will return July 22 in a division of the $44,500 New Jersey Sires Stakes at the Meadowlands.

Breeders Crown champion Manofmanymissions (Yankee Glide) has been a wild card this year. No one knows what he will do, run or trot. He made a bad break in a three-year-old Open, finishing eighth. Then he returned and won by 6 lengths, paying $29.

Chapter Seven (Windsong’s Legacy) came very late to the scene, debuting with two weeks until the elims. He made his appearance in the Stanley Dancer worth it, where he was in a stretch duel with Big Rigs and got the best of that one to win. Chapter Seven is similar to soph-filly trotter Jezzy in their racing records. Both of them have only lost one race.

Opening Night (Broadway Hall) has not left the Pennsylvania circuit. He has been racing in the sires stakes against horses like Orlando and Swan In A Million.

Magnum Kosmos (SJ’s Caviar) is in the same situation as Opening Night; he has not left Pennsylvania. He has only raced in the sires stakes and the Reynolds at Pocono. In those races, he has dominated horses like Del Cielo and Buffalino Hanover.

Fawkes (SJ’s Caviar) has been the “under-the-radar” horse, he is always a longshot no matter how he raced previously. Jonas Czernyson trained another under-the-radar horse, last year’s Temple Of Doom (now in the hands of Larry and Ray Remmen).

Here is the list of the horses, in no particular order, we predict will appear in the 2011 Hambletonian eliminations.

Pastor Stephen (Cantab Hall)

Manofmanymissions (Yankee Glide)

Charlie De Vie (Yankee Glide)

Evil Urges (Cash Hall)

Leader Of The Gang (Muscles Yankee)

Winuendo (Windsong’s Legacy)

Whitewater Rapids (Credit Winner)

Fawkes (SJ’s Caviar)

Live Jazz (Andover Hall)

Orlando (Andover Hall)

Mr Web Page (Muscles Yankee)

Ice Machine (Muscles Yankee)

Whit (Classic Photo)

Celebrity Bombay (Yankee Glide)

Del Cielo (Broadway Hall)

Luckycharm Hanover (Andover Hall)

Chapter Seven (Windsong’s Legacy)

Blue Porsche (Glidemaster)

Big Rigs (Andover Hall)

Big Sky Storm (Classic Photo)

Broadway Legs (Broadway Hall)

Whiskey Tax (Revenue S)

Vc Chocoholic (Chocolatier)

Broad Bahn (Broadway Hall)

Magnum Kosmos (SJ’s Caviar)

Opening Night (Broadway Hall)

Buffalino Hanover (Cantab Hall)

Swan In A Million (Andover Hall)