Tioga Downs puts up the big bucks as they attracted the top
free for all mare and horse pacers in their featured races this afternoon. On
the card filled with Sires’ Stakes competition are the $158,000 Artiscape Mares
Pace and the $184,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace.
First up of the two is the Artiscape. Ron Burke has four of
his top mares entered in the contest, while Chris Oakes’s star mare Economy
Terror is a part of the five-horse entry of Bettor B Lucky, Ginger And Fred,
Rocklamation and Camille. This appears to be a good race to go bargain hunting,
with the five-horse entry having a tremendous resume to attract the attention
of bettors. Two horses raise questions in this dectet, Drop The Ball and Royal
Cee Cee N, coincidently the two morning line long shots.
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| Drop The Ball winning the 2012 Allerage Pace (Red Mile Photo) |
Drop The Ball was caught in a bad shuffle in the Golden
Girls last week and was able to shake loose and get third. That was her first
start on lasix and she showed improvement off of the speed she showed in the
Betsy Ross, where she eventually quit. She has the post to get away in a
stalking position, which has always been her forte, but Callahan has to be
aggressive with her and not wait for the stretch. If she can get a second over
trip, perfect, third over, questionable. She just cannot be on the lead or
first over, it will be practically forfeiting her chances.
Royal Cee Cee N catches my eye as she drew post 8, a post
that requires (usually) a horse to race from off the pace. Her last start can
be put into the garbage, as Royal Cee Cee N is not the kind of horse that can
race on the lead, especially against some of these horses like Anndrovette, who
likes to be on top. She showed a good closing effort the last time she was on a
three turn oval at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the Betsy Ross, where she was
shuffled and did not have room until late to finish third. Pierce will have to
be aggressive with his mare, too and give her a good trip and opportunity to
show what she’s got.
Overall, this race does have a speed factor similar to what
occurred in the Betsy Ross. Feeling You drew the rail and it is very likely
that she will leave to get a pocket trip, which brings Camille into the race
from the second tier; Tetrick will likely challenge for the lead aboard
Anndrovette, while Big Mcdeal raises questions. She [Big Mcdeal] showed that
she can race well on the lead throughout her sophomore campaign, but has
appeared to been experimenting with racing styles in her last few starts. She
is a possibility to throw off the pace scenario. Theoretically, we will see a
quarter around :26 and change and a half in :54-:53, as the leader will attempt
to rate. The tempo will quicken and most horses on the lead may be finished.
The five-horse entry has two horses that raise question
marks, Economy Terror and Rocklamation. Rocklamation has the racing tendency
that of the horses we like in this event, while Economy Terror is questionable
on how she will race from the far outside. Of our two contenders, Drop The Ball
has the best shot, but I’d still advise to put Royal Cee Cee N in any exotics
as she could be a spoiler.
It’s hard to tell how the betting will be distributed in the
Roll With Joe. Betterthancheddar looks to be the value of the race at his 5-1
morning line, but all the buzz around him could make him the post time
favorite. Pet Rock gets the second tier and will likely take money after that
phenomenal trip he went in the Open last week.
Considering Betterthancheddar will perhaps be the favorite,
he is the horse to beat. He was shuffling in the stretch to try and find a seam
in the Molson and did not get one until late. Brennan will likely give him the
perfect trip or attempt to get the lead, a near impossible task based on the
paper.
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| A Rocknroll Dance winning the 2012 Battle of Brandywine (USTA Photo) |
A Rocknroll Dance also has a shot. This horse has been
cursed with several bad draws this year and should be aggressive since he has a
few starts in his belt. He won the Meadowlands Pace on the rail and he drew the
rail again. Though that has no significance, rather the way he races on the
rail. Exempt his first start of the year when he started from post 1, since he
was coming off a layoff. He will leave and try to get a pocket trip, which
would be perfect with the open stretch at Tioga. He has been improving with
every start and could be sharp at the right time.
A fast pace looks to be the expected scenario in this race.
Golden Receiver will go for the top and with A Rocknroll Dance trying to leave,
Pet Rock will get a pocket and likely try to sit third. Betterthancheddar will
eventually challenge or await cover to ride. Speed is also likely from Aracache
Hanover, Sapphire City, Warrawee Needy and perhaps Rockincam. With the
likelihood that Brennan could get parked with Betterthancheddar, he may not be
the value we may think he is today. Of course, there is a huge possibility that
Sweet Lou sits off the pace and gets a perfect trip to win this race. But what
appears likely is that Betterthancheddar and A Rocknroll Dance will finish in
the top four, so they are ones to consider in exotics and perhaps in the win
column. It will be your call.
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