Race #1 |
|
| #1 SAND CRUSIN JACK | Was knocked getting ready to move going toward 3/4's last week when Loy pulled him out a little to tight and ran up on #4's wheel. He looked to have a lot of pace before he made that interference break. He has been hinting for a long time with 5 of 9 in the money this year. Tonight he draws the rail and gets Mr. Case. That will make all the difference in the world. I expect to see a much faster animal tonight and this one should finally graduate. |
| #2 INSPIRATION | Is a royally bred Cambest filly that makes her sophomore debut after flashing some signs of life as a 2-year old. She qualified well over an off oval, pacing her final 1/2 in 59 flat. She draws in and if she doesn't need the start she can be very competitive in here. |
| #5 BARE POCKETS | Is another making their sophomore debut. This one hails from a very good stable that has been having a lot of success as of late. His qualifier was also over that off oval and his final 1/2 was in 1 minute flat. He adds B. Miller and should show more. His best can share. Tab the tote. |
Race #2 |
|
| #1 IT AIN'T OVER JOE | Will he break? That is a guess. But if he doesn't he has the ability to beat these by 20. That qualifier was over an off oval rated -1, making his performance sub-2.00. He beat several very nice trotters and faces some of the worst tonight. Jim Smith is very good with trotters so he will be doing his best. Solid with a flat mile. |
| #6 DACION | Was the best of the rest last week in a very fast mile. He was trotting very well in the final 1/2 making up a ton of ground to clear gaps. He was coming to the leader in deep stretch and would have caught him with a bit more ground. The driver is a bit suspect, but that will only enhance the price. |
| #9 TRU BAR'S MESSAGE | Was used twice last week and still drew clear to beat a similar field. If the #1 stays flat and leaves like I know he can this one should follow and get a good trip. A gimmick must. |
Race #3 |
|
| #4 RACKEM'S ROAD | Returns to the races after the winter months off. This one had a HUGE late move last year and he flashed that same late speed in his qualifier when he came his final 1/2 in 58.2 over an off oval. Shillaci sends them out ready some of the time, and others need to race into form. His barn tends to play a little bit so just tab the tote to know. |
| #7 BLAME IT ON ME | Has been leaving and taking trips behind some fast leaders in recent efforts. Tonight he gets Case and a driver change away from Hawk normally means big things on Belcher horses. There isn't much speed in here and Case should be able to get this one a 2-hole easily. From there he will be dangerous. |
| #1 HANDSOME HUDSON | Is a speed ball that drops in class tonight and draws the rail. He can cut some very fast fractions but tends to tire in the late going. If the class drop is enough he will last longer than normal. |
Race #4 |
|
| #4 BELLE'S DANA | Is a very talented trotter that has a lot of speed but tends to make breaks. He takes a healthy class drop and if he makes the front end few will be able to challenge him. He normally tells you if he's going to break at the top of the stretch, so if you watch the gate and wait til the last minute to bet he can be a decent play. |
| #5 TGTIF | Has been racing very consistently as of late and is 10 of 13 in the money this year. Last week he was the best of the rest in one of hte fastest trot miles at Northfield this year. He doesn't make many mistakes and is a must in any gimmick at this level. |
| #2 STRIKER ACTION | Followed the winner last week when he made his move going to 3/4's and was an even 2nd. He gets Case tonight and from the inside should have the position to challenge for minor spoils. |
| #9 SPEEDY DANCER | Left last week and was taking the trip until 3/4's when he was briefly pushed back. That was just enough to throw him off balance and he made a break. His prior efforts were decent and if he can get a better trip, from the 2nd tier he is dangerous. Good superfecta consideration. |
Race #5 |
|
| #2 SAND HIDDEN LAIR | Was simply too far back last week to challenge. In that mile he was 3 wide at the 1/2 and made a big move to 3/4's only to hang on the final tier as the inside flow advanced underneath him. Before that he won two in a row with great form. The 2 hole will allow this one to stay close and perhaps race on the front end. Big shot to rebound. |
| #1 SMOKING REBEL | Was able to save ground and close up for a best of the rest honors last time out. He draws the rail tonight and has enough speed to work out the trip that he wants. Good gimmick consideration. |
| #3 GOOOOOOOAL | Is rounding back into form since re-joining the Schillaci stable. He is a speedster that can also race out of a hole. From the 3-hole he should be in position to challenge. |
Race #6 |
|
| #4 FOX VALLEY CHIAWAY | Was forced 1st over last week and was ultra game to the wire where he made a break. He has some speed and may seek the top tonight. This is an awful field of horses and anything can happen. I'm just hoping he gets to the front and he may be able to last. |
| #5 JERRY DIRECT | Is another that has some speed. The price will be very good on this one, but he has been known to wire many a field here at Northfield. I actually think a dart and a blindfold would be just as good in this race, but he may be good value. |
| #2 BEST BOY HANOVER | Is winless in 2 years but draws in and has Case. Is that enough? |
Race #7 |
|
| #5 CAM VOLO | Was to far back last time out to challenge. Before that he paced a huge mile parked every step against better. Tonight Tharps gets the call and he has done very well on horses for the firs time. Slight edge in here. |
| #2 FAME'S JIM BOB | Keeps sliding down the class ladder and seems to be getting closer. Last time out he left and chased a very classy leader and was only beaten 1 length in a very fast mile. He should be able to get the trip he wants in here and is a gimmick must. |
| #3 PENTIUM CHIP | Drops out of a tough series tonight after missing a week. He has a nice move when he's right and if that week off was just a freshening he merits a look. |
Race #8 |
|
| #3 DECIDING FACTOR | Changed tactics last week and went to the front. He cut fast fractions and was under a drive in the final 1/4 but was able to maintain a nice lead for a somewhat easy win. He faces a bit tougher field tonight, but his form is solid. He will likely try the same as last week and if he makes the front he has a big shot. |
| #1 COSMIC REVOLUTION | Debuted for his new connections last week with a win. He draws the rail tonight and with Case back in the bike he should be able to stay close to the lead and is a gimmick must. |
| #9 SELF IMPOSED | Has been very good since joining the J. Lee stable. He starts behind a live horse and should never be out of contention. All he needs is a little luck in here. |
Race #9 |
|
| #1 BLINDSIGHT | Was too far back last time to challenge but still closed well 3-wide with pace. He is ultra sharp right now and has enough speed to control his own destiny. B. Miller will have this one on the lead or in the 2-hole; either way he is the one to beat. |
| #3 DECEIVER HALL | Made a break last time out behind the gate, but now gets regular driver Case back. He has a lot of speed, but tends to make breaks. If he minds his manners he can be right there at the end. |
| #7 WILD AMERICA | Made a strong surge for the lead by the 1/2 only to be turned back. From there he was left first over the rest of the way an only got beaten 1/2 a length for 2nd. He has a ton of speed and just needs to use his move at the right time. With some racing luck he can make the gimmick pay. |
Race #10 |
|
| #6 MAJESTIC ARROW | Was first over from near the back to a tough leader the last 5/8's last week and was GAME to the wire. That was a monstrous effort. She faces a much softer group tonight and only needs a clear trip to find the winners circle. |
| #1 SBRIG'S SHIRLEN | Draws the rail tonight after closing very well last time out in this one's best effort in a long time. Wyatt is just learning the game but is making some progress. She will likely flash speed tonight and may be able to work out a good close trip. May complete a nice exacta. |
| #4 BLUE ROCK KEENA | Raced well in her first start at this level last week, leaving and then going even from there. She picks up a new driver tonight and I think that will help. Early position is the key and with any luck she is a gimmick must. |
Race #11 |
|
| #6 B G SCOOTER | Went a HUGE first over mile clearing a fast leader on the final turn and just getting nipped by the horse that sat on his back. Tonight this horse gets B. Miller and he has just done WONDERS with any Belcher horse that Hawk has been driving so I expect much more from this one tonight. Great value at 5-2 in here. |
| #4 J C COCHRAN | How good is he? He has been on a super roll since coming to Northfield. He steps up once more and normally I wouldn't consider this one at all, but he has won with authority. This isn't the best NW6/cl field and he may be up to the task. |
| #2 ROCKET ROCKET | Was in the live flow last time out and was caught between horses mid-stretch without much room. He had some pace and raced decently. He seems to be hinting and is a gimmick possibility from the inside. |
Race #12 |
|
| #3 ONE FINAL TIME | Was an easy winner in the first leg of this series last week, going first over under no urging and staying well clear for a much easier win than it looks on paper. He has a class edge over most of these and draws a good post tonight (2). He should be able to make the lead or 2-hole and is the one to beat. |
| #4 WILLMANIA |
Was scratched sick in the first leg last week and that is a concern. However, he was facing much tougher before that and actually raced well. He has a lot of gate speed and Tharps will likely have this one pointed for the front. If he isn't too short he is a gimmick must. |
| #1 & 1A SEA DARWIN & KUSO | Is a decent entry that had no luck with the draw (5 & 8). The former was parked the first 5/8's last time out but still managed to hold on for 4th in a nice effort. The latter closed from far back for best of the rest honors. They will need some luck with the posts, but 2 for 1 is hard to ignore for 3rd. |
Race #13 |
|
| #1 BRANDINO | This speedster draws the rail tonight and catches B. Miller. Last time out at this level he left and raced inside only to be without room and have pace. He closed up between horses for a decent 3rd. Miller will get a lot more than Hawk would out of this one and thus is the one to beat. |
| #2 SLAM THE DOOR | B. Miller is on the #1 so Tharps gets the call. This horse has done very well at this level all year despite his physical problems. He will be the post time favorite and if he is still sound he can beat these for fun. I'm guess Miller opted off for a reason. |
| #5 VARSITY TYPE | Missed last week (truck breakdown) after racing very poorly the week before. I hope he returns to the form he had 3 and 4 back. If he does he can finish the gimmick out with ease. |
Race #14 |
|
| #6 BRIGHT DREAM A | Was saddled with the 8-hole last time out and did not fire a lick. Before that he tired to wire a much better field. He gets a big driver change tonight and that will help. This field is looking for a winner and this may be the one that gets the job done. |
| #8 SCOTT'S TROUBLE | Takes a big class drop tonight and has actually been doing very well at higher levels all year long. The 8-hole and Wyers will make the price very good, but don't be fooled by this one's ability. All he needs is to be brought up and he will be flying at the end and is dangerous. |
| #3 MINION TROUBLES | Drops and moves in and retains Case...all of which make him dangerous. He hasn't done much on the local scene and this may be his spot to wake up. |
| #2 TRAVELIN BILL | Needed his last start and raced evenly. He may be tighter tonight and is a good superfecta throw-in. |