Race #1 |
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| #9 SHINING DORSEY | Needed his last start and that was against straight non-winners of 1. Tonight he moves in and drops to claimers. He is a well bred colt and Case is back in the bike and with good position and a little luck he can beat this weak field. |
| #3 GOULD MAGIC | Made a break behind the gate last week and was forced to use most of his speed to brush the lead by the 1/2. Before that he put in a game front end effort that saw him almost win. Pantaleano is back up tonight and he handles this one best. Chance in the opener. |
| #2 INALEAGUE OFHEROWN |
Is a consistent sort that has 3 straight 3rd place finishes. She has decent gate speed and should be able to grab an early seat in good shape. She seems to lack the punch to win, but tries a new driver tonight and that often changes how a horse responds. A gimmick must either way. |
Race #2 |
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| #3 JUST A CHIP | Is one of the older ones in here at age 5. He has only 4 career starts and that signals he has a lot of problems. However, he is well-bred and did just win a qualifier on the front end in a very quick time for this level. He does tend to break when leaving and that is a BIG concern. If he does mind his manners behind the gate and around the first turn he should win for fun in here. |
| #4 LASER TAZZ | Makes his first lifetime start after winning a qualifier. He comes from a pretty good trot barn and is bred to be a decent trotter. There are quite a few unknowns in here and it is pretty much a guess as to which one has what ability. This one looks to have a slight edge over others. |
| #9 LO AND BEHOLD | Is making his sophomore debut after a decent freshman campaign at the fairs that saw him hit the board in 6 of 10. That experience will come in very handy in here. He was a distant 2nd to the top pick in the qualifier and starts behind a horse with suspect speed. But, if the top pick jumps it off this one could move through and start the year off with a win. |
Race #3 |
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| #4 ADABOYSHARPIE | Once again, the change away from Hawk on a Bob Belcher trainer resulted in a lifetime best and and easy win. Last week he circled the field with ease and drew clear for a STRONG win. Case is back up and he should be able to work out a very similar trip in leg 2 of this series. 2 in a row is in the cards. |
| #2 SQUARE IT | Is another Belcher trainee that draws the rail and should be on the lead. Last week he went a slow middle half and still could not hold of the top pick. He still looks to be 2nd best and may finish out the exacta once again. |
| #1 & 1A DIRECTLY WEST & VINCENT N BEN | Is an entry from the powerful J. Lee stable. The former was just claimed by Lee and has a lot of early speed. He tends to not relax in a hole and is thus not the best follower. Lee could help this one and he may be ready for a big improvement. The latter is the class of the race but is obviously not in form. He needed his last start after a month off and could be better. Chance to share. |
Race #4 |
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| #7 FEAR THIS | Did not leave last time out and was forced to come first over. He had missed several weeks before that start and he may be a bit tighter and thus be driven a bit more aggressively. This field is very soft and this 2nd time Belcher trainee has an edge in here. |
| #9 RITZY ALLIE | Gets a MAJOR driver change tonight and drops to face non-winners. He is only 1 of 2 horses in here that has won this year and from the 2nd tier he should be able to work out a decent trip and has a good shot to hit the board. |
| #4 UNDER COMBAT | Went his best mile in quite some time last week. That was only his 5th start for Millette that is really hot right now. Add to that Case and this one looks to be dangerous. |
| #3 FUR FUN | Returns to Northfield where he has had a lot of success. He is loaded with speed and if he is feeling right he can last a long time. Superfecta consideration. |
Race #5 |
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| #3 FRISKY LOBELL | Was taken back by his previous owner last time out. He had been racing very well for this trainer and should be up for a big effort tonight. He can race up front or from off pace, either way he should be worth the risk tonight. |
| #4 SCOOTIN PHOTON | Tosses in a good effort every now and then. He has a strong burst of speed and if he can save it for the end he can be dangerous. 2 weeks ago he used it to brush the lead by 3/4's and was way in front only to fold. Last week Case waited and came flying home with a lot of pace in the deep stretch. Chance to share. |
| #6 ALEXANDER F | Chased a fast winner last time out and was doing it first over. That trip hurt him. Before that was a big winner against cheaper. I'm guessing Belcher's horses are good tonight (it seems like he has VERY good nights with all horses ready) and this one has a solid shot with some racing luck. |
Race #6 |
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| #8 MINER'S SON | Left a bit last time out and was without room until 3/4's when he swung out and finished with only minimal trot. This is a super soft field and he may use that good gate speed to try to wire this field. He is a big horse that has a bit of trouble with the turns, but if he can get the lead or an early seat he may be tough. |
| #1 KATIE IN ACTION | Draws the rail after a distant 3rd last week. She gets major post relief tonight and can share with a trip in here. The driver has a low average and rarely hits the board and that is a concern. Though against these he fits well. |
| #9 N V SPEEDER | Went to the top last week and almost lasted and was actually coming back on a horse that passed him near the wire. He has 2 3rds in a row and add to that the 2nd tier and this one looks to be the best of the rest. |
Race #7 |
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| #6 ASCOT HANOVER | Was first time claimer last week and flew home to just miss. He has a strong late kick and his breeding indicates he has some ability. There is not a lot of speed in here so I'm not sure if the pace will be quick enough, but if they don't go to slow up front he can pass them all at a price. |
| #7 SIGN OF THE OAK | Has missed a couple of weeks and that is a concern. He was chasing much better in a NW2/cl series and doing so with success. He may be the only true speed in here and if he is not short he can make the lead and last a long time. Is he ready? |
| #1 ROSITAS FILET | Draws the rail and has Case. She has some speed and should be able to stay close. She was without room at the top of the stretch last time and did have pace. Slight edge over others in here. |
Race #8 |
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| #1 CHRISTMAS GLORY | Looked good in his first local start and that came after a lame scratch down in Florida. Hawk does well from the rail with trotters and he may put this one on the front end. He looks to have an edge in this soft spot. |
| #3 POPADART | Takes a healthy class drop tonight but rarely wins races. He broke last time out and may need a flat mile tonight. If he minds his manners and catches a trip he can be dangerous at the end. |
| #8 TOOLTIME | Faces the bottom tonight but draws the 8-hole. The post will make the price and he may be good value in gimmicks. |
Race #9 |
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| #3 SAND ROUNDER | Beat a softer group last time out, but did so with a powerful move. Tonight he gets Case and that is like putting Michael Jordan on a high school team (Loy can train but isn't the best hand with the reins). He is well-bred and may destroy these. |
| #1 SCOOT LARK | Needed his last start after taking the winter months off. He has flashed a lot of early speed in the past and Wyers may elect to cut the mile tongiht. He was way wide the entire last 1/4 last week and still paced well. That effort was very good considering the layoff and if he makes the lead tonight and gets an easy 1/4 he may be tough to catch. |
| #9 DESERT FOX | Is a very lightly raced colt that has looked good in his past 2. From the 2nd tier he will stay close to the pace and is a good gimmick play underneath. |
Race #10 |
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| #5 SAND NILE | Won the first leg of this series and did so with a strong move in the 3rd 1/4. There are several in here with suspect speed and Case should reserve this on in the early going and look to pounce on them at 3/4's again. Edge once more. |
| #6 BOOKEM DEBO | Looked like a differnt horse once Hawk got off last week. She came on strongly against the top pick last week and was a good 2nd. She may track the above's every move and finish the exacta again. |
| #7 CHINNY CHIN CHIN | Has not looked very good in recent weeks when I thought he had a chance. I'm going to stick with him once more as I think the price will be very high and as such is a great gimmick value underneath. |
Race #11 |
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| #1 COLBYS FUTURE | Is another Belcher trainee that gets someone other than Hawk. Mr. Case in particular. he has been in great form and was used much too hard from the 8 hole last week. He should be able to make the lead or get an easy 2-hole trip tonight. I expect to see a faster animal tonight and Belcher can win another. |
| #2 HORNBY TOPGUN | Was a good 2nd last time out behind a buzzsaw winner. He is the class in here and is in great form. Ward is back up and he actually gets this one rolling very well in the final 1/4. With a little luck he can make amends for last week's broken promise. |
| #9 MATANZA | Left last week and was shuffled back when a horse he let brush quit going to 3/4's. He did have some pace up the inside once it was too late. With a better trip he can share tonight. |
Race #12 |
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| #6 TRENTWOOD | Debuted for Belcher last week and responded with a huge victory. Tonight he is assigned the outside post and the task will be harder, but I expect a lot of wins from this one and the post will only help the price. Belcher again. |
| #1 LOOKIN FOR SPEED | Tried to beat the top pick last time out and was spent battling him to 3/4's. Case will save a bit more for the lane this week and from the rail looks to be a gimmick must. |
| #4 BERLIN FLYER | Has 3 starts under his belt since returning and is improving each time out. He is one of Ohio's all-time best trotters and can close or leave. Big shot to share. |
Race #13 |
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| #1 HEY JACK | Was used much too hard 3-wide the entire first 1/4 to make the lead last time out. Before that he almost lasted against the same level and a tougher foe. Tonight he draws the rail and gets Mr. Case. Can you say Belcher again? |
| #2 BIG CASH OSBORNE | Was parked between horses last week during that first quarter battle. From there he was pushed back and finished with pace. He should be able to find the rail quicker tongiht and may even get that coveted 2-hole. A gimmick must. |
| #3 LASTING CAM | Finished 2nd against this group last week. Hawk has gotten along very well with this one and he may finish the 1-2-3 trifecta. |
Race #14 |
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| #3 DOODLEFINKEL | Looks like the best bet of the night. He was privately purchased since his last race by a much better trainer and gets a HUGE driver change tonight. He was facing MUCH better in 2 tough series and actually raced very well in several of those starts. He has a lot of gate speed and should be able to make the lead tonight. If he is 7-5 that is super value and will have my money. |
| #6 IN THE PURPLE N | Debuted for Belcher last week and responded with a fast finishing 3rd to just miss. He should be better 2nd time over the track and figures to be flying late. Big shot to share. |
| #2 LAND SAM | Has been facing much better this year and now draws inside. Tharps gets the call and he does well with this type of hosre. He could be the price of the gimmick tonight. |
| #1 GATOR MAN | Was parked the mile last time out and that cost him any chances. From the rail with speed he is a good superfecta consideration. |