MEADOWS

Analysis for The Meadows
April 5, 2001

	Race #1
# 6 VEGAS EXCALIBUR	Has won three straight and with the addition of lasix in most recent start has turn in a lifetime mark of 1:56:2. He should roll to the front and let his speed and stamina take control of this race. He is moving up a notch in class but meets a field where he more than fits in.
# 1 BOBBY JOHN	Just missed gaining his third straight for the Clapper barn. He did not look as powerful in this most recent effort and may be starting to tail off a little in conditioning. He is the pure closing speed in this race and given his rail post position, should be used as a key in the under part of the exotics. In the event of the top pick scratching out, this one can handle the balance of the field.
# 3 BELL MATTLANTIC	Came up a little empty in last week’s contest. He has been pretty active in the latter stages of his races and with cover from the second pick, may find his way on to the board.

	Race #2
# 1 SPEEDY LUC	Owner/driver Todd Rooney drops this one in class and gains an inside post. He is very adept at leaving position and can be rated in a hole. He looms as a stalker in a field that seems to be void of any controlling speed types. Look for odds around 3/1 at post time.
# 2 MISTER SUG	Gains major post relief as this one loves to be raced on or near the front end. Dave Palone elects to stay aboard this one giving him a excellent chance at the major prize.
# 5 STAN	Tried to close from the parking lot last out and still managed to hit the board. He can be very effective if moved a little earlier in the race. This contest should be hotly contested in the early stages giving the closing types a better shot at the leaders in the stretch.

	Race #3
# 2 MEDICINE MAN	Gains excellent post as he needs to be closer than he was in previous starts. He is an odd timer that still has heart and some of his former speed. He gains the long shot of the day call.
# 7 GAELIC WARRIOR	Is racing with a stale date as his last race was on 3/3. He qualified nicely against Rodeo Spur on the 27th. Looks to be making his charge late and at some decent odds.
# 1 MAGIC SHUTTLE	Gains the rail which he has not seen in quite some time. He has early speed and may be driven in a hole which may end up as a pocket trip. Driver Brian Zendt seems to do his best driving when he comes from off the pace.
# 5 FELIX REDMOND N	Added lasix and a driver switch last out which resulted in a tiring effort. He hails from the Corey Jr trained and Muscara owned connections. This may be the runt of the 30 head litter he purchased from the down under.

	Race #4
## 9 JOEY I	Drops back down to a level where his early speed has carried more times than not. He did fare well in the top classification and present competition seems to be way easier.
# 2 DU VALLON CAR	Is under rated by the track morning line maker who installed this one at 12/1. HE has early speed for position or can close from the parking lot to be effective against these. I have no problem using this one on top in case the top pick does not start.
# 1 BIG ZEKE	Put in one nice sustaining move last week and remains in class. His having the inside post increase his chances at the top award.

	Race #5
# 6 HE CAN SCOOT	Drops from the early closing series and does not meet the likes of Cameron Spur. He is facing other 4 and 5 year olds that he can match up with in speed and endurance. Looks to be at odds near 9/5 at post.
# 3 WHISKEY SOUR	Has above average gate speed and has proven himself capable when given a pocket trip. He seems to relax when the front end goes some wicked fractions which leaves this one with a clear shot at the win.
# 1 PRESIDENT RYAN	Gains the rail as this is another front end type that will be in the mix through out the race. He seemed to gain a little stamina in the last few weeks and may be ready for a nice effort.

	Race #6
# 6 FRISKY FELLA	Sugar Knoll Farms sends out one of my favorite trotters from last year’s 3 year old crop. He qualified here twice then went to the Big M where he won easy during opening week. He then started in a couple legs of a late closing series where he seemed to be hurting a bit. Connections sent this one home to Northfield where company he faced is not as easy as tonight’s field. He should roll to the front and get some of his confidence back. I would love to lock in those morning line odds of 5/1.
# 2 HADAGOAL	Was my top pick last out in which he wired the field with little trouble. He appears to be nor worse for wear and moves up slightly in class. He is the heir apparent to the top pick’s not firing.
# 4 DARK MAGIC	Makes his second start of the year for the Bill “Master” Zendt. This one put in a decent closing effort last week in his qualifier and seems ready to put forth his best effort to date.

	Race #7
# 2 MAC DE STROYER N	Another in a long line of “Down from Under” purchased horses gets to start a new career in the states. Muscara and Corey have been very successful in these. He qualified in a romp and still had a ton in the tank. Looks to run off and hide. Morning line odds are 6/1 which is not the true probability of this one. Maybe Roger Huston (writer of the morning line) should be forced to watch the qualifiers as he is responsible for giving the public an accurate account of each horse entered.
# 8 WILLS POCKET	Was late when finding room then accelerated to close nicely two back. Last week was driven earlier and found the front end with little trouble and won under wraps. Looks to be the one that posses the most trouble for the top pick. He must leave for position if driver Mike Wilder wants a shot at the win.
# 3 NASHVILLE ROAD	Ships in from Flamboro Downs in Canada and drops in class. He gains inside post and seems to be best of the rest.

	Race #8
# 5 HALO IN ORBIT	Was my top pick last out when he was used hard going first over and seemed to make a speed break in the stretch. He drops in class and if uses that same move, should clear to the front with little problem. Connections might not be as aggressive so as to not have to qualify this one if he makes another break. His odds may not be as high as the 5/1 morning line indicates.
# 3 TRIPLE T SATURN	Scratched out last week due to sickness. He is having a banner year to date and if he is over what ailed him last week, will be the one to beat tonight. Charlie Norris prefers to race this one from the rear in a closing manner which should be a shot out in the lane with the top two picks. I will be boxing these two in the exacta and playing a small trifecta with 3-5 / 3-5 / all.
# 6 MR CHARLIE BROWN	Has some early speed and with a little racing luck can hit the board with some nice odds. Driver Bill Fahy has some of the best trotting hands at this driver colony.

	Race #9
# 1 IRISH ALI	Was driven in a very conservative manner in his first start of his career last week. He managed to finish a strong third while pacing the last quarter in 28:3. Looks like this one will develop into a nice race horse. He meets a field void of any controlling speed and given his inside post, looms large in the late stages of the race.
# 8 RUBIANO HANOVER	Is the lone early speed entered but he folded up like an accordion last week to finish second by a whisker to the top pick. His outside post may offer a little hurdle for this one to over come. He may be used too much when he gains the front leaving him without enough pace to fight off the top pick. He is still better than the balance of the field.
# 5 BUZZ HANOVER	Makes his first start of the year. He had some late speed in his 3 year old campaign though he did not manage a win. He seems to have a bit more definition to his body than I remember him. He might be a sleeper if that qualifier was not a true indication of his present ability.

	Race #10
# 4 GEORGIA BABE	Has enough gate speed for position and meets basically the same field as she met last week. I am not a fan of Mario Labrasca but he seems to have this one in great conditioning and should be seeing the winner’s circle soon.
# 5 JESSIES PLEASURE	Has shown some improvement in his two starts and exits last with a hard earned win over the home of the Flying Turns at Northfield. He meets a bit tougher but can show a good accounting of herself if given a ground saving trip.
# 1 OVER EDIT	Is a problem child of late as she is making breaks before the race begins. Once they figure out what is making her go off stride, you will see a different kind of trotter. This one is one with excellent closing speed that can be overpowering in the correct classification. Se has not shown that form since her 4 and 5 year old years. She exits last qualifier with a forwardly placed effort. It could be connections might give this one her head and try to leave with her so as not to fight behind the gate.

	Race #11
# 2 ARDEN’S TOCCOA	Has decreased his final quarter times from 31:2 down to 29 flat to 28 flat last week. This is some increase in speed and this one simply blew his competition away last week. He is now racing slightly up in class though the program list him as in same company. He is a terror at present and should gain respect from the public and others entered in the race.
# 6 MASTER OF ILLUSION	Seemed to have things his own way but faltered in the lane. The only difference was the style used and in his first start, he came first over and drew off in his first start. He might be one who will improve if connections recognize his tendencies.
# 7 MIGHTY ABILITY	Makes his first start of the year from the same connections that developed Noble Ability. This Western Hanover offspring seems to have all the tools but may need a week or two to get into racing shape. It should be noted that stake week for 3 year olds is the last week of April. These over night races may be just be used for conditioning for that week.

	Race #12
# 3 ONE SOLE SURVIVOR	Has been a disappointment for me as I feel this one has more talent than shown on the racetrack. He is a four year old Dancing Victory colt that has some nice speed last year and has not shown it to date. I would love for Tyler Stillings to go for the early lead and see if that wakes this one up. He did manage to close for third in his most recent effort giving me some hope.
# 2 MR COLE PRIDE	Finally gets a field where his inside post and his third time lasix to showcase his talents. He is very good on the lead. Last week driver Ed McNeight Jr. tried to leave with him, then had to pull back to 7th place. He had nothing left as the horse fought the driver in that move backwards. He should be very live tonight.
# 9 PLAY IT AGAIN SJ	Was a nice 3 year old on the Pennsylvania stake circuit for Maryland’s own, David Wade. He now is racing from the Greg Wright barn but ownership remains with Wade et al. He was very fast trotter when in shape and maybe this being his third start of the year should start to show some of that past form.

	Race #13
# 4 BLAZE N BULL	Drops to the bottom level. He needed to gain the lead last week and driver Gene Hurt knew that. He rolled to the front but never cleared. Tonight that same move propels this one across the line. Driver switch to Mike Wilder can only improve his chances.
# 2 TO THE HOOP	Has seen better days but given his inside post and drop in class, may help heal this one enough to use his closing speed to best advantage.
# 8 STORM FORCE	Was bet early last week in a race where he had the rail. His failing to fire was not driver Sean Girard’s doing as the horse just did not have the pace necessary to clear. He may provide little value as the public will abandon this one with his having an outside post.
# 5 TRUSLOW HANOVER	Has shown nothing in the qualifiers so far since shipping in from Buffalo Raceway. He hails form the Todd Cummings operation whom the Meadows faithful seem to over look. He has some back class and did win over this oval last year in 1:56:3.