Race #1 |
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| #3 SAND BUNNY | Is a well bred colt making his sophomore debut. He flashed some decent speed last summer at Scioto and the qualifier was against a rugged Open foe. He may need the start, but based on the weakness of this field he gets the nod in a very bad opener. |
| #5 HASEK HYLIGHT | Has only 5 lifetime starts and hasn't hit the board yet. However, last week in the last 16th of a mile he was let go and closed with some decent pace. Then tonight we get a big driver change. Is he getting closer? I'm hoping so and giving him the nod for 2nd. |
| #7 AUSTIN J | Gets the best of the rest honors based on the driver change. He ships in from Michigan where he was getting closer in recent efforts for a driver that drives less than 40 pari-mutual starts a year. He's had a long time to shake the maiden role and has failed in several states, but tonight he gets Sir Walter and that may get him close enough in here. |
Race #2 |
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| #4 COSMIC REVOLUTION | Comes back to Ohio after trying Hoosier Park. He has been facing better than these for a long time and should relish the class relief. B. Miller gets the call and should use this one's good gate speed to leave and seek the lead or two-hole. The value should be decent and this one gets the edge in another tough race. |
| #6 WYE OAK | Was seeking the lead last week and had no luck. He left under a hard pull and was crammed into a hole only to get "anxious" making Pantaleano steer him back out. He went a rugged mile and eventually found the rail around the final turn and held game for a nice 3rd. If he can find the wood sooner he has a big shot to share. |
| #7 HOW PROUD | Drops to a level well below that which he was claimed and may be good enough to share. He has good early speed and Tharps knows how to handle trotters. Slight edge over others for best of the rest honors. |
Race #3 |
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| #3 TIMEFORME TOFLY |
Steps up in class tonight but that won't make any difference. Last week he came up with a HUGE 3rd quarter 3 wide move from basically dead last and rolled home for a VERY easy win. He is in super shape right now and can either leave or race from out of it. Either way he is the one to beat and should be good value once again. |
| #2 KENTUCKY BOURBON | Gets class relief after a string of excusable races. Last week he was parked to brutal fractions and had no chance. He should be able to get a good inside trip from the 2 hole and stay close to the pace. He can finish in a hurry and is a gimmick must. |
| #4 DUMPY BEACH | Is a horse with a lot of ability when he minds his manners. He is best when racing from behind and he figures to be able to catch some live cover in here. If he keeps to task he could make the finish interesting. |
Race #4 |
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| #3 C-G MAYNARD | Has a string of races where he has been unable to stay on stride. His qualifier was very good over the slow going. The big key is he gets B. Miller and over the past few weeks when this trainer has gone away from D. Hawk to Mr. Miller he has found the winner's circle with alarming frequency. Could be set for a big mile. |
| #1 JESSICA'S SCOOTER | Was used very hard this past Saturday to make the lead and foled turning for home. I'm not sure why R. Tharps is not driving this one tonight, and that does bother me. However, from the rail he will use his good early speed and should be able to control things at a bit slower rate. Should be used in the gimmicks. |
| #7 ABERDANCE | Tried the front end last week and was hounded throughout only to give it up in the deep stretch. Case seems to be figuring this one out and he also looks to be coming into form. He has a lot of back class and if he can get early position in good shape he will be right there. |
| #9 ROCK MAPLE | Chased fast early fractions last week and that took some steam out of this one. He didn't have much response in the lane, but if he can save some energy for later in the mile he is a good superfecta consideration. |
Race #5 |
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| #1 J C COCHRAN | Has looked very good in both local starts. Last week he was used a couple of times going to the half and still went on for an easy win. From the rail he should be able to make an easy lead and figures to beat these easily. No price, but hard to bet against him. |
| #7 MAJESTIC ARROW | Was able to drop in an easy 2 hole last week when the rail horse failed to make the gate. He got the perfect trip from there but could not challenge the winner. He was pacing very well in the lane and going away from the others and that makes him second best in here. |
| #3 ALBERT'S ANGEL | Saved a lot of ground last week and closed evenly for a nice 4th. This field is VERY soft after the top pick and he may be in the right place at the right time for 3rd. |
Race #6 |
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| #9 C N JORDACHE | Drops to face the easiest trotters on the grounds. Wyers gets along very well with Millette's trotters and from the 2nd tier should be in the hunt. He qualified very well over a very slow track and if he can repeat that effort he wins for fun. |
| #2 ACHILLES' WRATH | Went to the front last week and almost lasted against similar. He should be able to make the lead again tonight and off last week's effort he may be a bit tighter and able to last longer. |
| #4 QUEEN'S TURN | Comes from a very good trotting stable. McKirgan has stolen many races like this in the past with an aggressive gate move. She does have trouble staying on stride, but if this one minds its manners she could surprise a few in here. |
Race #7 |
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| #1 D MILAN FLASH | Was my top pick last week and had to go 3 wide around dead cover going to 3/4s. He made a nice move and looked like he could win, but then in the mid-stretch he hung badly under urging. I'm not sure why he didn't go on, but I'm hoping they figured out how to give this one a bit more stamina. Case took this one over a few others in here and from the rail he deserves one more shot. |
| #8 VARSITY TYPE | Case opts off this one for the top pick, but B. Miller is no stranger to getting this one to the winner's circle. He loves to win races when he is going good, and it looks like this one is in fine form. The task will be difficult from out here, but he still merits serious consideration. |
| #6 SUPER MERCADO | Comes to Ohio in the J. Pantaleano stable and that is a plus. He was bet down to 3-2 last week at The Meadows and just missed by a little more than a length. He had a very good 2000 campaign and may be ready to get back in that form. |
Race #8 |
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| #1 STAR PROSPECT | Went a HUGE mile last week at 10-1 as my top pick. He was in the back nearing the half when he tipped out 3 wide and circled horses like they were standing still. This one is a handful, but Morgan seems to be schooling him well. The price won't be much from the rail, but he looks to have a big shot at getting his first picture of the year. |
| #3 RICH MAN POOR MAN | Was completely locked in last week when the #6 threw in the towel. He was pushed back to near last at 3/4's and finally found room at the top of the lane. He finished full of pace for a very nice 3rd and figures to be very tough in here. |
| #2 HANDSOME HUDSON | Has gotten much better in his last 3 and from the inside figures to use his good early speed. Not a big shot to win the race, but good value for the gimmick. |
Race #9 |
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| #4 SAND HIDDEN LAIR | Was first over last week, his first start for Belcher and his first race over the Flying Turns. There is a lot of early speed inside of him and that may force this one to come first over, but B. Miller is back in the bike and that makes him dangerous. |
| #1 SMOOTH SCOOTER | Left for position and was able to advance on the last turn when others opted to pull. He was driven all out up the passing lane for a narrow victory. He loves the front end and should be able to make it from the rail. He rarely misses the board and is a gimmick must. |
| #2 WESTERN LOVER | Has been very good at his level since being claimed. Last week he tried the front end and took pressure from the 1/2 on. He turned them all back until the final jump when he was nipped. Figures to get a good trip and may complete the trifecta. |
Race #10 |
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| #1 & 1A MATT DILLON and NOBLE STRIKE | Is a very formidable entry that will have no price but looks tough to beat despite drawing 2 of the outside 3 posts. The former was privately purchased before last weeks race and resonded with a very easy win. At 3/4s he was so full of pace he was running them over. The latter has been winning in very fast times with B. Miller and in easy fashion. There are 10 horses in here and traffic may be the problem, but with clear sailing these 2 can run 1-2. |
| #8 SUN GLARE | Has 4 wins and 2 seconds in his last 6 starts. Last week he chased a fast and easy winner and was a well clear easy 2nd with limited urging. Case seems to be able to get the best out of this one and he should be able to stay close from the 2nd tier. If he can get out just after the 1/4 he figures to complete the exacta. |
| #6 MARSHRON TABLE | Is another that is going well right now. He was locked in until just after 3/4's last week when he got clearance and was driven for a nice 2nd with good closing pace. He is no match for the entry, but could complete a chalky trifecta. |
Race #11 |
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| #1 LUKE CLARK COLBY | Was claimed by Mr. Oliverio early this year and is now showing the potential he promised. Last week he went a simply HUGE mile battling outside the mile and drawing clear for a very easy, not urged victory. There is some speed in here and Case should look to relax early and brush by the 1/4. This barn is hot and he rates as the best in here. |
| #9 HIDDEN MEMORY | Has 2 straight 3 wide efforts and both were very game 2nds. From the 2nd tier he should be able to stay close and if B. Miller uses that nice move at the right time he will be right there. |
| #3 KUSO | Was locked in with a lot of trot last week and could have gotten an easy 2nd with room. He tends to save ground and hope for the best turning for home. With some room and racing luck he will be flying home. |
Race #12 |
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| #5 BLINDSIGHT | Went right to the front last week and never looked back, scoring a very easy open lengths victory. There is other speed inside this one, but it appears to be suspect speed. 2 weeks ago he went a big first over mile proving his versitility. Either up close or from out of it, his form makes him the one to beat. |
| #7 DECEIVER HALL | Was looking very good until the final turn when he tried to sneak inside of the #3 and was cut off. He hit that horse's wheel and went off stride. Prior to that he was very sharp against a standout winner in a fast mile. I see a lot of dead speed in here and this one will be coming late. Chance to make amends. |
| #6 CARIBU | I'm going to stick with this one on the ticket. I picked him last week at 38-1 and to be honest he had the most pace of anyone at the wire. He has looked good in both local starts and will by flying home. If he can get position behind the likely favorite that may be enough to carry this one home at a big price. |
Race #13 |
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| #3 HONCO VIA | Looks to be the best of a weak lot. Last week he made a nice 3 wide move just after 3/4's only to hang badly from there. He was a VERY tired horse at the wire and didn't have anything left. Normally I wouldn't consider a horse off that mile, but if you look at this field you will quickly see that even such a mile as his last is good enough. |
| #2 HOGUE'S HAPPY BUCK | Faces a much easier bunch tonight, and was actually a close up 3rd last time at this level. From the inside post he figures to stay close and off his current lines looks to be very good value tonight. |
| #7 POWER STROKE N | Has good early speed, B. Miller in the bike, and drops in class. All of these factors make this one the best of the rest in here. |
Race #14 |
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| #9 NONNEL | Shows very little in recent efforts, but those have been against better and with the trainer up. Tonight Case is slated to drive and he has had GREAT success with this trainer's horses over the past few years. This field is suspect and from the 2nd tier he should stay close. Virgil had this horse before the claim, so Case knows the buttons to push and should get this one home on top. |
| #3 T W HEIDER | Had some big miles on the Michigan circuit last year and was just purchased by John Lee. His recent New Jersey miles have been so-so, but against much better company. He looks to be 2nd best in here. |
| #2 B G SCOOTER | Made a big 3 wide move last week but was no match for the fast winner. He seems to be getting better in recent weeks and that upswing may see this one show much more. A gimmick must in here. |
| #1 REVENGE TIME | Has speed and the rail and that may be enough to make this one a superfecta throw-in. |