Race #1 |
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| #1 BAY STREET GOLD | Was bet down to the favorite last Saturday night and failed first over. After that start he was privately purchased by Belcher and tonight gets Case. He came to Northfield and dropped into a tough series for nice claiming trotters, flashing good early speed but tiring late. He cut a 57 flat half mile at Rosecroft on the lead not too long ago and will most likely be on top for the 1st 3/4's tonight. Can he last? I'm guessing he will, but this is a tough race. |
| #4 ISN'T SHE PRECIOUS | Was also bet down to the favorite Monday night and sat inside the whole mile, never having any room to race. She appeared to have some trot left, but never had room to use it. She has enough early speed to get position and may seek the 2 hole in here. With 3 starts under her belt this year she should be set for a wake-up mile. |
| #7 MISS GIGI D | Added hobbles and has responded with 3 2nd place finishes in 4 races. She has a big late kick and if the speed fails in here she can sweep them all. |
Race #2 |
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| #2 STAGECRAFT HANOVER | Has raced inside the last two miles and has never had clearance to flash his best late step. He draws in tonight and gets Case in the bike and he surely will be given a shot tonight. This is a pretty tough field to read, and he gets the slightest of edge. |
| #3 READY TO BE RICH | Ships in from Dover and lands in the Schillaci stable. They have had great success with new trainees in recent months and this one looks well placed. He should relish the driver change and looks to be able to handle the 1/2 mile based on last year's Maywood mark. He could surprise if they've got him figured out already. |
| #9 JESSICA'S SCOOTER | Was beaten this past Wednesday on the front end by a decent horse. Last Saturday a brutal first quarter took it out of him. Tonight, from the second tier he looks to get a trip and try to finish late. That may work out well for this one who is in cheap but looking to find his best form. |
Race #3 |
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| #4 N THE OTHER | Added Lasix last time out and responded with his best effort in quite some time. He comes back to Northfield and should see a hot pace up front. B. Miller will get a lot more out of this one and he could sprint by them and win at a decent price. |
| #1 NEW BUCKS | Draws the rail tonight and will not be parked. He is a horse that is LOADED with speed, but also has lots of physical limitations. Last week he was brutally run at and didn't fold that badly. The week before he was able to make the lead comfortably and drew off for an easy victory. This field looks pretty soft and he should be able to last a long time. |
| #3 SABLE SCOOTER | Dropped to this level last Saturday night and answered with a late charge for a nice 3rd. From the inside expect an up-close trip and with clearance late he will be right there. |
Race #4 |
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| #9 UPHILL BATTLE | Drops into a pretty soft spot tonight. This one was facing the top horses on the grounds for the better part of last year and fared well to boot. Last week this trainer sent the better part of his stable to Indiana to get them a start there and tonight returns them to the Flying Turns. This one chased a tough winner at Hoosier last week and though he was under the whip most the mile he was well clear for 2nd. B. Miller is the best driver this one's seen in quite some time and from the 2nd tier should be in position to roll by them. |
| #5 BEST BUD | Is a very nice race horse that usually gives an honest effort. He was too far back last week, but scored a nice win the week before at this same level. From mid-pack he should be in good enough position to threaten late. |
| #1 BAHAMA BUNNY | Is a horse with lots of back class. He has 2 starts under him this year, after taking 5 months off. He hasn't been the same race horse he used to be (probably a sign of age), but from the rail he should be able to leave for position and as such should be given a look in superfecta wagering. |
| #8 WESTERN PURSUIT | Comes back to Ohio where he has had the most success this year. He has a lot of gate speed and can go a big mile when he makes the top. The question is, from the 8 hole can he get the lead in good shape? If so, he has a big shot, but he may have to be used too hard and may get tired late. |
Race #5 |
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| #2 EICARLS HOMETOWN | Steps up off a nice pocket win. Virgil knows how to classify them and wouldn't move this one up unless he deserved it. He could get the 2 hole trip again this week and if he does he will be flying in the lane and will be tough to beat. |
| #4 FOOLISH COURAGE | Went another big mile last week. He left for position and didn't get to sit in too long as he was forced 1st over to a tough leader. He battled outside of that one VERY gamely and held a brave second. He too steps up to face better and has to avoid a first trip. If he gets some racing luck he has a great shot in here. |
| #1 JAZZ STEP | Followed a live move 3 wide down the backside last week and was simply no match for that one. That was his first off the claim and he may be better this week. He does have good early speed from the rail and Pantaleano will likely have him up front tonight. A gimmick must. |
Race #6 |
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| #7 GUS ANGUS | Left and was caught behind a dead leader going to 3/4s and that killed his chances. The week before that he chased a very tough winner and was a good 2nd. He drops to face easier tonight and looks to be rounding into form for Schillaci. A slight edge in here. |
| #3 ROSCO P COALTRAIN | Was claimed out of his last by Virgil and that is usually a great thing. However, the horses that Virgil has taken from Schillaci have typically gone south. This one looks to be able to race either on the lead or just off the pace. Case should see this is a good race to sit just off the pace and use a late move. If he's ok in this stable he will be tough to beat. |
| #4 LANGOLIER | Has been saddled with outside posts in recent weeks. He draws in a bit and may be close enough turning for home to get minor spoils. |
Race #7 |
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| #5 FLUSTER | Powered by a tired leader last Saturday night and drew off for a VERY impressive victory. He looks like he is finding his best stride and this stable has been hot all year. He looks to have about the same trip as last week and rates as the one to beat in here. |
| #4 ALBERTO FINO | Has won 2 in a row in this series, one on the front and the other in the 2 hole. He has good early speed and can also come from out of it. That versatility makes him tough in here. |
| #2 STEEL BOOTS | Finished well last week, despite missing a week due to sickness. His previous race saw him close from dead last for a nice 2nd. From the inside he will be close enough to use that late kick to pass a few. |
Race #8 |
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| #4 AMERICAN SCOOTER | Was 2nd over last week and lost ground on the final turn as the inside 2 got away. He closed very well in the center of the track to just miss. The week before he chased a good leader and was most likely a bit short. He should be getting better with each start and looks to have an edge in this open race. |
| #2 MITEY SAM | Finally draws inside! He should relish the post shift and Hawk will certainly go with him tonight. He has simply not tried in recent weeks and with some racing luck he merits consideration. |
| #6 LETSGO FASTER | Is loaded with early speed and Case should leave in here. There isn't a lot of early speed and the small field helps. With good early position he will be right there. |
Race #9 |
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| #2 READY RAIDER | Beat a softer group last week at Hoosier and returns to Ohio to face a good group. He does get B. Miller in the bike and that will improve him a bunch. He is a top level horse and with that start under his belt looks tough to head in here. |
| #3 DIRECT BILL | Was chasing the best on the grounds and not missing that much, when he shipped to the Big M last week. He gave a good showing of himself and returns to Ohio to face much softer. He will likely leave with the top pick and if the top one falters in the lane this one will be right there to pick up the pieces. |
| #4 PARK LANE CAM | Went to the lead last week and was a nice winner. The week before he tried it off pace and did not have any kick at all. With the rise in class and the other early speed in here this one looks to share at best. |
Race #10 |
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| #2 SCRIPT OHIO | Went a brutal trip last week and still ended up a great 2nd. He left under a strong pull and was parked the entire first quarter hanging a horse 3 wide so he could get the 2 hole. He got that 2 hole, but the leader backed up at 3/4's pushing this one out of it. He was able to slide out and go 3 wide the entire last turn and did close with some pace (despite the early abuse) for a good 2nd. Any sort of trip sees him win in here. |
| #1 KEHMU BELIEVEHIM |
Was the horse parked 3 wide outside the above last week and got hung the mile after that. I'm hoping Greg doesn't try to "pay" Case back for last week. If he's smart he'll let the 2 go and take the easy 2 hole and complete the exacta. |
| #5 TRACK BLASTER | Took advantage of that hot pace last week and pounced on tired horses going to 3/4's. The move was so strong he merits consideration tonight. |
Race #11 |
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| #1 GOLD BANDIT | Draws the rail and will be able to use that famous speed of his. Last week he was hopelessly locked in and did have some response in the lane, which is evidence he is still in that top form. All he needs is the front without relentless pressure and he will beat these on heart alone. |
| #9 CAM'S BLACK MAGIC | Was totally locked in last week with no room and what appeared to be LOTS of pace. He has done reasonably well at this level and may be peaking. From the 2nd tier he may get lucky and have the 2 hole behind the top pick. With a little luck he could make the gimmick pay. |
| #4 CUTTING IN | Was one of my top picks last week and all he had to do is race the way he had been and he would have be 1st or 2nd. But Mr. Ward had other thoughts and left. Needless to say, he was parked the mile. He never quit and was actually in contention near the wire. He is in great shape and is another that just needs some racing luck to be right there. |
Race #12 |
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| #6 MARLOW HANOVER | Sprinted to the front last week and went a VERY fast mile on a pretty slow oval. He was never headed and didn't break a sweat. This field is a bit tougher, but if he isn't abused making the front he won't be headed. |
| #1 SANTA ANNA SAM | Draws the rail this week and that may be enough to keep this one close. Sam should leave all he can and seek the 2 hole behind the top pick. With such a trip he may complete a chalky exacta. |
| #7 SKYWAY FALCON | Returns to Northfield but draws the extreme outside. He doesn't exactly love the 4 turns and has to avoid being too far back. If he is close at 3/4's and doesn't get into himself he will be flying late and is dangerous. |
Race #13 |
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| #3 BUNKER | Was privately purchased out of that last race and will enjoy the new stable. This horse fits Schillaci's stable and driving style to a "T". He is loaded with early speed and has actually been improving in recent weeks. He will be rolling hard early and may just go down the road tonight. |
| #1 BINGO GRAM | Drops to the level where he last won and draws the rail. He has enough gate speed to get early position and may seek a 2 hole behind the top pick. With that trip he will make the finish interesting. |
| #5 SCRAPPY EDDIE | Moves in a bit and is in enough form to share against these. |
Race #14 |
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| #6 BROOKSIDE JOKER | Was claimed for the 3rd straight week last time out and will go a big mile. The first time he was taken by Belcher and responded with an unbelievable 1.54.4 mile. Last week Loy had him back and he could barely keep him straight. Tonight we get Case and Virgil. Speed is his game and he just has to avoid being taken out early (the other driver's tend to Case hunt). With the lead in half-way decent shape they won't catch him. |
| #3 SO DYNAMIC | Is the class of the race. Last year he only raced 14 times but was able to bank over $30,000. Since coming back to the races this year he has looked a bit sour, but last time out he came from well off the pace to gain a nice win. If he improves off that effort he figures to be tough in here. |
| #9 MAJOR MISSILE | Went another big mile last time out. He starts from the 2nd tier and should be able to stay close enough to get a piece of this one. |
| #2 SCOTT'S TROUBLE | Went a big first over mile and held a game 3rd. From here he won't be too far back and is a superfecta consideration. |