MEADOWS

Analysis for The Meadows
April 12, 2001

	Race #1
# 2 VEGAS EXCALIBUR	Was my top pick last out when he broke twice thus eliminating all chances of a win. He is a very fast one that needs to be on the front end. His inside post and third start lasix might do the trick.
# 7 SEBASTIAN SPUR	Put in one game effort last week against present company. His closing style will be dependent on the front end collapsing.
# 5 BOBBY JOHN	Has been as consistent a race horse as one would ever want. He is very close if not at the limit in pari-mutuel wins of 7 in this class. Looks to be the public’s stick at odds near even money.

	Race #2
# 1 K W’S LASERMACHINE	Raced well in his first start of the year just missing by a half length. Looks to go forward from that effort, even with Jeff Kirkbride in the bike. Please note that the horse that beat this one, Dr Nick Loustion, won on Tuesday night while up in class.
# 5 SHOWDOWNATHIGHNOON	Was entered in that race with the Dr on 4-3-01. This one just missed getting by at the wire. Looks to closing very effectively in this field.
# 4 DEVO HANOVER	Has early trot for position and seems to hold position well. He lost to Twisty’s Page who also won on Tuesday night at a class higher than this. All top three selections should be considered to be armed and dangerous at this level.

	Race #3
# 5 MATTS AFIRE	Qualified nicely against Black Cam N on the 3rd of the month. He raced in the pocket and seemed to be well rated at the end of the mile. Looks to only improve having that work out.
# 2 MAGIC SHUTTLE	Gained a spot up close last out and seemed to have some pace against one who backed off the half. Looks to gain a forward racing position and try again in the lane.
# 3 MIGHTY ABILITY	Left from outside post and hung early. He was then pulled off and found a spot in mid pack where he raced even the last half. He should improve as that was his first start of the year. These are the same connections that developed Noble Ability as a youngster.
# 8 BERTYS BABY	Drops down a few notches in class but has not shown much since arriving at the Little M. Connections always seem to have one live in the superfecta races. His morning line odds of 5/2 may be on the low side at post time.

	Race #4
# 7 JOEY I	Never did get to the front last week but did put in a credible effort. He may be showing some wear from competition against the top trotters on the grounds. He should be brave enough to handle these in this his second start at the classification.
# 4 DU VALLON CAR	Is one versatile trotter and if not with the costly break last out, would of been very live at the win. He was out of sight for a while but did manage to catch up with this group and finished 8th being only 3 lengths behind the winner at the wire. He is the main rival to the top pick.
# 1 FLAWLESSLY	Has been quiet of late though seems to do his best when drawing inside. He has early speed for position and will be in the mix through out the race.

	Race #5
# 3 LOCK AND KEY	Seems to burn my money and mind each week. This one can really fly home but driver/trainer Steve Schoeffel seems to place this one too far back off the pace and decides to move after the race has gotten away from him. None in here can match his closing speed. Let us hope Steve wants to win this one and not settle for getting a minor check.
# 1 FINE VINE	Drops slightly in class to a maiden with a tag. He seems to have enough speed and can leave for position. Don Rothfuss is capable at driving but seems to be too passive at times with these younger types.
# 7 MR KEM	Has been on the improvement trail of late and did manage to hit the ticket his last two races. He will be coming from the back and hopefully with the top pick showing the way.

	Race #6
# 1 SLING BLADE	Came home flying last out against Dr Nick Loustion, who won Tuesday in a higher class. This one should be no worse than third at the quarter pole and have a ton in the tank by the stretch.
# 6 WHAT’S YOUR DREAM	Has Dave Palone and exits last race trying to keep up with the Dr L. only to tire from his efforts. He may be better suited as a closer though it appears connections will try to wire these.
# 7 IDONTDANCE	Is partially owned by a friend of mine and is making the first start of the his three year old year and first with new connections. He might be a fast one but looking at the past performance lines is prone to making more than his share of breaks. Roger has installed him as the morning line favorite which may be encouraging to the new owners but what does Roger know that everyone else does not? Hopefully I am wrong and Roger is correct.

	Race #7
# 5 BETTY’S SAHBRA	Has Sears in the bike as trainer Jeff Kirkbride decides to sit this one out. He did just miss by a neck last out and the driver switch might do the trick. It will come down to Palone and Sears battling it out at the wire.
# 4 MICHALA K	Gets a driver switch from Wilder to Palone. This one came his last half around 59 last week and can only improve from that effort. He was raced lightly as a two year old on the PA fair circuit and failed to finish first or second. He is not meeting much in this field and should be very live for the top spot.
# 1 TRUE TREASURE	Gains the rail in making his first start of her three year old campaign. She is Ohio bred and may be here just to hone her skills before Scioto opens on May 5th. She exits qualifier at Pine (a one mile track) with a 2:00:2 effort with the last half of 58:3. She may find this surface a bit more challenging. Please note that this one won in a coin toss with Bobby John’s full sister Bonnie Buns.

	Race #8
# 5 CRYSTAL V W	I may be a sucker for picking this one but she impressed me in last week’s race. She left alertly, was placed in tight quarters and was able to relax enough to be able to be in position for the win. She had more trot than I expected her to have and maybe she is much better than anyone might know. I will follow this one very closely.
# 3 MOTTS	Always is a live threat at this level. Last time entered against these produced an easy win. This one is prone to throwing in a few steps here and there. Regular driver Doug Snyder has been nursing a bad back in recent days but drove in Tuesday’s qualifiers making me think he might be feeling a little better.
# 1 MARINE	Was last week’s top pick and seems to be in good form. He loves to come from the back and may need to receive a perfect trip to garner the win.

	Race #9
#1 SALTY SOCKS	Trainer Dave Rankin sends out a nice one in this three year old colt. He qualified in a three horse race but seemed to be rated the entire trip. He faced Inmate who won the qualifier. Inmate is a fast horse and is eligible to this year’s Adios. Please note that this one raced even with that one and is a bargain anywhere near the 8/1 morning line.
# 3 CONTANGO	Has shown very little in that he has started from the back the first two races and has raced even with the field losing one length in two races in his last half times. He might be stronger with his inside post and with an aggressive drive. He looms as the sleeper in this contest.
# 7 HIDDEN DANGER	Appears to be the speed of the race on paper but is handicapped with the outside post. He may need to use too much energy to gain a forward position and is not fast closing enough to come from far behind. He should be considered a suspect favorite.

	Race #10
# 1 MR COAL PRIDE	Has shown improvement on the last race which may of been related to the addition of lasix three races back. He moves up in class but gains inside post. I expect his odds to be near 5/1 at post time.
# 2 PARADISE SPOTLITE	Was able to race near the front end in the final of the late closer series and had enough trot to gain the place. She is coming into her own and should be considered the horse to beat in this race.
# 7 PLAY IT AGAIN SJ	Shown some of his front end speed last week in a race where he added lasix for the first time and if not for the ninth starting position, could of won. He meets a slightly stronger field as he moves up in class. Greg Wright Jr. though a talented reins man, seems to get lost in races where he is not the best. He should just turn this one loose as a goose if he plans to contend for top honors.

	Race #11
# 4 INMATE	Is a very fast three year old pacer and hails from the Zendt operation. The Master has a way with these young ones. He is eligible to the Adios and God Willing, will be one of the locals with a chance to claim the prize. He exits his qualifier in great shape. He was under restraint in that race and looks able to win on the front end against theses. Bill Zendt might use this as a training race for the stake races later this month.
# 3 MOVES	Makes first start of the year after qualifying twice for the Garry Martin stable. The trend on this stable is that their live ones tend to get two starts in the qualifying races before an actual race. He may be stronger than he appears on paper.
# 2 TSM THUNDER RIDGE	Exits a final of a late closing series where he showed little. He does have enough closing speed to be live for a spot on the board given the rest of the field.

	Race #12
# 5 RED OAKS DUSTIN	Races well in qualifiers but failed to remain on stride on his race on the 3rd of this month. He is better when given his head and put to the early lead. He can race in a hole but his temperament makes him throw his head and he tries to move against the driver’s wishes. These hot headed animals are best when driven the way they want to race. I hope Charlie sends this one down the pike and never looks back.
# 4 KENTUCKY BUCK	Drops slightly in class to a level where his closing speed should permit him a very good shot in the lane. He loves it dry and seems to lose speed on the wet going. Trainer Lou Goans has a very small stable but he is very good at keeping these one’s sound.
# 7 OAKLEA ELGIN	Moves up in class slightly following two good efforts in as many weeks. He likes to be forwardly placed and may gain the pocket if my top pick fires.

	Race #13
# 2 KAL’S SUPER BABE	Has inside post tonight and did show some late pace in a race where she had no chance at hitting the board. She looks to be driven more aggressively and may have the pocket trip tonight.
# 4 PLUNDER HANOVER	Drops in class for the Inman trained and Palone driven entrant. These two have hooked up to with successful wins in the past two weeks and is considered the one’s to beat in tonight’s contest.
# 3 HE CAN SCOOT	Was my top pick last out and raced below the standards I expected. He is listed at 2/1 morning line but will be driven like one at 10/1. Dan Charlino needs to be more aggressive with this one as he tends to sulk a bit in close company. If he finds daylight, Dan should show this one the whip to keep his mind to the task at hand.
# 5 CAM’S LAUGHING BOY	Is better than a fourth pick but is selected as same when a conservative driver Greg Wright Jr. is in the bike. It may be to keep getting checks in these conditional claiming classes or to get a weekly training bill by keeping him sound. He has the ability to win it all only if present connections want to win it.