Race #1 |
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| #7 BLUE ROCK KEENA | Was leaving hard last week only to be 3 wide the first turn and then taken up for a seat, not to find one. Parked the rest of the mile and 3 wide down the backside around dead cover, this one battled gamely to the wire, never quitting and actually out pacing them all in the lane. He just needs a little better trip to find the winner's circle tonight. Big shot to start the night off. |
| #1 INALEAGUEOF HEROWN |
Has a couple of starts under her belt this year and should be tighter tonight. Also draws the rail, has speed and B. Miller, all of which give her a chance to share. |
| #2 CG BARBIE | Needed her last start and will likely be a bit better tonight. She drops to face Maiden/Claimers and gets Case in the bike, all of which make her competitive in here, especially from the inside. |
Race #2 |
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| #3 ANASTASIA ZEDY | Makes his sophomore debut after a freshman campaign of learning. He qualified strongly over an off oval and appears ready to start the year off on a positive note. This barn has had its share of success with trotters and this one could be another in a long line. |
| #5 REPEAT | Is another making her sophomore debut. She too comes from a very good trotting barn and her qualifier wsa actually faster than the above's on the same day. Is she is ready she will make the finish interesting. |
| #6 HERE SHE COMES | Just can't seem to make it to the winner's circle. She loves to get checks but does not like the limelight. With Case still getting the duty she should be best of the rest again. |
Race #3 |
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| #2 DOC MISTAKE | Took last week off, but prior to that had 3 excellent efforts at this top level for Hawk. He is back aboard and should have this one leaving from the word "go". The small field and lack of depth only help his chances of going wire-to-wire. |
| #3 LOOKIN FOR SPEED | Has been having to come first over the past few weeks and that trip has made this one a tired horse in the last 1/4 mile. He may try to leave with the top pick and seek a two hole trip. If he gets such a trip he may complete a chalky exacta. |
| #4 TRENTWOOD | Is a model of consistency, always getting a check at this level. Last week he was in last most of the mile and closed very well in the lane to get 3rd. He does not like to win races, but looks to be the best of the rest in here. |
Race #4 |
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| #7 FIVE POCKET | Drops to face the bottom claimers at Northfield tonight and should find these much easier. Last week he was sitting in the pocket and was pushed back on the last turn when the leader gave it up. He did have some decent pace in the passing lane. There is a void of early foot in here and this one may leave and hope for the best. With good early position this one has a big shot in here. |
| #3 HUSTLIN KASH | Went a MUCH improved mile last week. He came out with cover by the half and was impeeded and almost knocked out by a breaker. After going 4 wide to clear on the 3rd turn he settled down and caught the leaders. He was second over on the turn and tipped out 3 wide in the lane, finishing full of pace. This one has ability and has been sleeping for a while, and that last effort may indicate the hibernation is over. |
| #8 DOOZER | Cut fast early fractions last time out and gave it up nearing 3/4's. He drops to face a weak bunch and should be tighter with that last speed effort under his belt. This barn has their share of success and is usually pretty good value. Tab the early tote. |
| #9 BIG JEFF | He too was behind the trouble on the 3rd turn last week and had to be taken up to a near complete stop to avoid an accident. After that he closed up the ground to the leaders and was even in the passing lane. That was a much better effort than it looks like on paper and he could be a good superfecta throw-in. |
Race #5 |
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| #3 HEY JACK | Went right to the front last week and cut very honest fractions and went on to a pretty easy win. He didn't take much urging and held a nice horse at bay. He's looked very good in both starts for his new and better connections and should make it 2 in a row tonight. |
| #1 BIG CASH OSBORNE | Chased the top pick last week and was no match. From the rail he should be able to work out a 2 hole trip and looks better than most of the rest in here. Big shot to complete the exacta. |
| #4 JC COCHRAN | Has gotten better with each start over the oval since coming from Dover. He steps up to face a better group tonight but based on his form he is the best of the rest. |
Race #6 |
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| #9 SUBDUE | Was able to stay on stride in a race with lots of breakers and closed up VERY well in the passing lane with lots of trot for the trainer. Hawk is up tonight and actually took this one over the #6. From the 2nd tier he just needs to relax and get away evenly and then look to get into a flow around the 1/2. Edge in a tough race. |
| #2 PRINCE VALIANT | Has 3 straight 2nd place finishes. Last week he stormed first over and was just beaten by the horse that followed his move. Case sticks with him and from the 2-hole is a gimmick must. |
| #7 SPURT OF SPEED | Went to the lead and then let a horse go. That horse stopped going to 3/4's and pushed this one back. He was able to slide out after several horses passed and he did finish evenly. He needs a bit better racing luck from out here, but he always minds his manners and that could be the edge he needs to share. |
Race #7 |
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| #6 MATTROPOLIS | Needed his last start after a year off. He only had 8 starts in 2000 and that indicates this one has physical problems. Last week he just sat in the back, but late in the lane Case gave this one his head and he finished full of pace. This is a very soft field and if this one is even close to ready he'll win easily. |
| #5 CAGEY JAKE | Was in a new barn last week and responded with his BEST effort in a long time. This one has been very heartless in the lane and always seemed to give up. Last week he left and took a lot of pressure, and though he was driven out, he held a very nice 2nd in a fast mile. I expect even more tonight since this trainer has had more time to work with him, and if the above falters this one will pick up the pieces. |
| #1 THE RED LION | Stayed inside and tipped out 3 wide on the final turn in an even effort. That was his best race in a long time and if the form shift continues he should be able to share off the rail tonight. |
Race #8 |
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| #4 TRIFLE | Needed her last start after taking the winter months off. She did not have the best driver last week and cut the mile under pressure. She didn't quit that badly and will certainly be tighter tonight AND has a much better driver. She may be able to make the lead and not look back. VERY good value in here. |
| #7 XCITING MISS | Broke leaving last week and lost all chances. She did make up a lot of ground on the backside and was 3 and 4 wide the last turn to finish evenly with trot. Speed is her game but Hawk has to go a bit easier tonight to avoid the qualifiers. With a flat mile she will be tough. |
| #8 ESTHER RUTH | Has a HUGE move when the surface is fast and she minds her manners. From the 8 hole she'll need that big move, but if the pace is honest or quick and the track is fast she'll be going best of all in the lane. |
Race #9 |
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| #6 THE SWAGGER KING | Is a royally bred 3 year old that "woke" up last week. It was a weak field of maidens, but he went in 1.58.4 with a final panel of 28.4. With the rise in class it won't be as easy tonight, but if this one can improve at all on last week's mile he should make it 2 in a row. |
| #3 JK ARTILLERY | Has been chasing some good ones in recent weeks and has given a good account of himself. There is speed inside of this one and as such he will have to avoid a first over journey. If he can get room at the right time he could upset the top pick. |
| #2 POWERFULLY OAK | Was too far back last week to a good pace and tough leaders. He tried it 3 wide down the backside and was simply out of position. Before that he was a very strong winner. From the inside he won't be as far back and is a gimmick must. |
Race #10 |
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| #4 WIREMONSTER | Got Case for the first time last week and responded with a lifetime best. He has speed and also showed he can close last week. He is facing a group that seems softer than the last one and with Case back aboard he figures to win again. |
| #5 HO-BEE | Was sitting last at the 1/2 last week and then came into the live cover flow. He tipped out 3 and then 4 wide on the last turn and finished full of trot in the lane. He may track the above's move and if he does get that sort of live trip he could enhance the gimmick. |
| #1 TOOLTIME | Raced conservatively last week over the off surface, following a mile with a break. Before that he was very competitive with a horse that is going very well. Tharps is up and that he does very well with trotters, so from the rail he is a gimmick must. |
Race #11 |
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| #9 QUIET LAUGHTER | Has had excuses in both his starts since the claim. Last week he was locked in and shuffled to dead last under a strong pull the whole way. Once he did get free he finished 3 wide with lots of pace left. The week before he got a similar shuffle trip and had tons left. This group looks very beatable and with any sort of luck from the 2nd tier this one gets up in time. |
| #8 PELLHAM SHOCKER | Drops to face a much easier group tonight. Last week he left and got a seat and raced evenly to some tough horses. He has good gate speed to over come the post and just needs to find a hole in good shape to be able to share. |
| #4 TRACTION CONTROL | Was claimed out of his last start and looks to be in a better barn. There is a lot of early speed in here and most of it is very suspect. Tharps gets the call tonight and may be able to work out a good cover trip. Upset possibilities. |
Race #12 |
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| #5 RING FOR SERVICE | Sprinted to the lead from the 8 hole last week and almost lasted in a very fast mile. That was the first time Case was up and he returns for tonight's final. There isn't a great deal of speed inside of him and Case should make the top in good shape. With any sort of breather this one will be tough to catch. |
| #1 ORZO | Was too far back last week and probably took it easy to save some for this week's final. The week before he won a leg of this series with a strong move in the lane. From the rail Grismore will be leaving all he can for the 2 hole behind the top pick. If he gets it he will make the finish interesting. A gimmick must. |
| #7 CLASSIC SAM | Went a HUGE mile last week and from the inside would have been my top pick. He followed dead cover as long as he could going to 3/4's and then tipped out 3 wide around it only to have to battle the top pick. He held even on the turn and then in the deep stretch B. Miller asked this one for his best and he exploded by with a huge move to win going away. If there is a battle up front this one will use his form and big late kick to sweep them all. |
Race #13 |
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| #5 ANASTASIA LAZER | Has looked like a different horse since adding Lasix 5 races back. He has a lot of gate speed and with B. Miller in the bike will be headed for the front. Last week he set the pace only to be passed by the horse in the 2-hole, despite a last half of 59.3. If he makes the front in good shape he will be difficult to catch. |
| #1 HINKLE | Has speed and the rail which is a dangerous combination. He may look for a 2-hole trip behind the top pick and based on his current good form he may complete the exacta. |
| #2 BOOKEM DEBO | He too has looked like a different race horse following his freshening during February. Last week he came first over to a decent leader and wore him down, drawing clear under a drive in the lane. He may be forced first over again, but still is a consideration in here. |
Race #14 |
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| #2 EXCEL | Right now is in TOP shape and from the 2 hole should make the lead in easy shape. Ward opted for this one over the #6 and that is a sign that he likes this one the best as well. If he is not pressured early he will last a long time. |
| #1 TRIUMPHANTLY | Is a game veteran that knows his way around the track. Though he doesn't show it he can leave like a train from the inside and Wyers will have him out and hustling for that valuable 2 hole. If he gets that trip he will make the gimmick pay. |
| #6 ALBA LOBELL N | Has been a victim of the trading claim game in recent weeks. The last time he raced for Mr. Ash he went a very nice mile. He has a big move at times and looks to race from mid-pack tonight. If he isn't too far back turning for home he may get up for a piece. |
| #9 KNOTEWORTHY WOLF | Was under the whip the last 3/4's of the mile last week but kept coming. He must be a tough horse to drive, but B. Miller is back up and I'm sure he knows what to do. From the 2nd tier he should stay close and rates as a superfecta consideration. |