MEADOWS

Analysis for The Meadows
April 17, 2001

	Race #1
#2 ORACLE	Qualified well three back, was driven conservatively in her first start. Last week saw this one try a second over move and run into the helmet of the 1st over horse thus making a break. He had a ton of trot and should of moved three wide. Tyler Stillings has the best entered and should be driven as such.
# 1 LADY TRAVELER	Raced well from inside post last out in a race where her early speed held up. She did close slightly in the lane though was not as close to winning as line indicates.
# 4 OXFORD HANOVER	Is a young but fast enough trotter. She added lasix two races back and was caught in a crowd on the inside where she wanted to move but lacked the room to do so. She made a break due to the above and should show more speed if given clearance.
# 7 SLEEK SAHBRA	Makes second lifetime start after wintering at Pinehurst in North Carolina. Others that took that route to this track raced well in their first starts over this oval last week. I look for a strong late effort in this one and expect for her go forward in next week’s contest.

	Race #2
# 7 BORN GOOD FRIDAY	Is just another one to play in the line of first start of the claim in the Mowood barn. Connections when having Dave Palone in the bike tend to win easy more times than not. This fact is well known around this track and expect the 12/1 morning line to be nothing but a pipe dream. Odds of near 3/1 are the best I can guess.
# 2 MATT ON THE ROCKS	Makes first start off the claim for the Charles Williams stable. He used to be one of the better drivers in this colony back in the early 70’s when he drove for the Goldberg stable. This one might be a little short but Matt has always been one with a ton of heart. Inside post and early speed should permit this one to have a better than average chance at hitting the board.
# 4 MC CLELLAN	Seems to be live no matter the odds or post. He has good acceleration at the gate and can close from well out of it at other times. He might of seen his better days but looks as good as most of these tonight.
# 3 SOLDIER HANOVER	Drops slightly in class and draws inside. He has done very little so far this year and may need the class relief to get his courage back.

	Race #3
# 6 ORBIT	Raced well in his first start last week and seemed to have the leader within his sights. He bared to the inside of that one in late stretch. Looks able to leave to the early lead and never look back.
# 8 TWISTY’S PAGE	Was that horse that just held on to the win against the top pick. I look for her to be a little off due to the bounce effect. She has put in two superior efforts to date and may show a little wear in the lane.
# 2 L B CROWN	Is one nice closing trotter that gains inside post. He did close strong against Dr. Nick Loustion in his race last week. He may of tired slightly in that trip and should be a little stronger tonight.
# 1 A L CZARINA	Gains the rail as this one is a pure speed type of trotter. The closer to the front she starts, the better she finishes. Looks to add some value to the exotics.

	Race #4
# 3 SENOR JAMIE	Was claimed two back and simply showed early speed from outside post and won under little urging in a race slightly higher in class than the race she was claimed. Mowood and Palone are hot at the present and must be considered armed and dangerous.
# 9 AMAZING HENRY	Is the front end speed in this race and should last a long way into the lane. He set the fractions for the top pick last out and I foresee nothing different tonight.
# 4 BAKER BURNER	Raced even against the top two picks last out and seems destined to hit the board if driven the same. He was one that could take air in the over land route and may pose a threat to the top picks if given his head.
# 2 NIGHTS JET	Was claimed last out and remains in class. Marcus Marashian is a capable trainer and may have had this one before.

	Race #5
# 1 STELLA S	Pius Soehnlen sends out his monster fair trotter from last year in Ohio. This one has won 6 times in 13 starts as a two year old. Her qualifier at Northfield displays her ability to get away from the gate while starting at the rail She looms large over these entrants. I would make this one about 4/5 at post time so forget any idea of her being near that 9/2 morning line. Value may lie in the pick three wagering which starts in the 4th race.
# 4 STRIKING SID	Makes first lifetime start after a decent qualifier at Pinehurst. Dunlap’s horses have been sharp when racing in their first start over this oval though none were driven aggressively.
# 2 CHERISHED IMAGE	Is a front running sort that is meeting a few in here that have more talent and speed. Only factor in this one’s favor is that he is making his 5th start of the year and had time to acclimate to weather and track surface.
# 5 MATTHEW	Ships in from the Mac Alley barn. Mac had a few in Pinehurst where he wintered. Notice that he did not qualify there but rather back here. I really do not know if this one went down with the two year olds. He seems to be bred well and may offer some value in the exotics.

	Race #6
# 1 HANDY DAN	Qualified well in a race where the track surface was off about 3 seconds. He closed under tight hold on the reins and never saw the whip. He makes second start since being claimed. He is entered at the level of the claim and given inside post and current condition, gets my long shot of the day call. I assume that the public will look elsewhere and may be surprised at the outcome.
# 5 SURF ST PARTNERS	Has shown some positive signs of life in his last two races. Looks to be the public stick at odds near 7/5. He loves to be first over and can take air in the overland route.
# 2 NEARLY CERTAIN	Is the front end threat to this race. He has been challenged in most recent starts though now he starts from the inside, others may second guess leaving the gate. For that fact alone, all the main contenders will be from the inside post positions.
# 4 TROPIC SUN	Qualified on an off track on the 10th in a race where he showed pace on the track though failed to try to use it in the race. He finished the race under firm hold and had more pace than the line indicates. I feel he may be the sleeper in this race if it develops for him.

	Race #7
# 4 FANTASY HANOVER	Was simply impressive in her first and second qualifiers. She is one speedy and handy filly that can be rated and will give you acceleration when asked for. She raced in PA sire stakes last year and may use this race as a tune up to next week’s start of the stake season.
# 3 RED OAKS SPECIAL	Simply over powered his foes on a off track. This three year old colt may have more speed than the filly though I think not. I usually go with the colt over the fillies as a rule though in this case, I feel the filly may be more talented.
# 1 KT JASMINE	Won her first start of the year over Dr Nick Loustion and has shown very little since. She has speed but is her own worse enemy with the breaking of stride. She can be a serious threat if she is at the top of her game.
# 7 CHILLY DUSK	Was my top pick last week that went off at 48/1. Driver Wilbur Yoder left alertly then grabbed on to take a pocket trip. His cover then backed up into him thus making Wilbur try to get out and use the passing lane. He did manage to win the photo for second. I think he would of won that race if he was first over past the half and did not have to fight through all the traffic. If a better driver was listed, his selection value would of been higher.

	Race #8
# 1 WESTERN COMET	Drops in class and reunites with the driver of his last win six races back. Dave Palone can get the most speed out of this one than any other driving at this colony. Trainer Jan Fread does not have his “go to” driver in Sears this race but Palone is not a bad selection.
# 2 CHARGING SAHBRA	Is trying to find the correct classification to race as this one drops in class. He has shown some speed since shipping down the pike from Northfield. He might be better if driven in an aggressive manner though Tyler rarely puts these kind on the engine. Look for another closing trip and his being short in the lane.
# 8 MAGIC SHUTTLE	Raced well in last week’s race but is racing back on 5 days which may leave him a bit short. He has early speed and looks to be very competitive in this class.
# 5 FELIX REDMOND N	I feel Brian chose this one as a courtesy to the powerful Corey barn. He drives many of the stable and this one is showing some improvement since the addition of lasix two races back.

	Race #9
# 4 AMERICAN WINTER	Brian Sears jumps aboard one that has seen only the trainer’s hands this year. This one did win 6 races in this class this year. He won his first three, then sat out a week, returned to finish second on his return then win three more times with a couple trips to Cleveland and Canada sandwiched in between. He looks to gain major support from the public and odds odd may be the price at post time.
# 3 TROJAN WAR	Put in one powerful first over move against Hopeful Fred last week with the latter shooting for third straight in class. He did head his rival but then made a speed break. He is sharp as a razor presently and will offer some value in exotics.
# 1 SIR DAFFY	Is as consistent a trotter than ever raced over this surface. He has early speed and can be rated well. Randy Bendis has paid many a bill and bank many a dollar having this one make the races week in and week out.
# 2 WISHUWELL	Has been sharp lately as he won while moving up the class ladder. I have deliberately laid off this one due to his history of breaks and inconsistent racing. He has never been racing this strong in his career and may be very live with a trip.

	Race #10
# 5 RICH TRAVELER	Makes second start over this surface since shipping in from the west coast. The track was sloppy when this one failed to fire. He drops in class and may show form closer to his west coast lines. He still may need another week or two to attain top conditioning.
# 4 CHIP N MINDALE	Was claimed two back by the Inman barn and was raced very aggressively from outside post in the first start for the new stable. Looks to be very live at the top spot tonight.
# 8 BACK IN TOWN	Caught with catch driver Mike Wilder last out which was the first time in this class. Trainer Dane Snyder sends out the hot hand as brother Doug sits this one out. This one has a ton of closing speed and should not go off at those 12/1 morning line odds. Realistically speaking, odds of near 4/1 might be the maximum.
# 2 C GORDON	Has early speed and inside post though he failed to fire in last week’s contest. He should revert to the front end style of racing and should find his way on the board. Again, 20/1 morning line odds are not a true indication of this one’s worth.

	Race #11
# 2 HADAGOAL	Moves up in class following two front end wins. He is sharp at the present and looks to be on the engine one more time. Inside post should compensate for the rise in class.
# 4 TROJAN SPARK	Raced well one his initial try over this surface. He caught a wet track and did manage a second place finish. He should show a bit more as he drops in class.
# 5 GOTCHA	Moves up the class ladder slightly but is closing better than he races on the engine. He will be coming from mid pack with a little more trot than shown in most recent races.
# 7 KT JIGGER	Made a bad break last week and lost all interest. Races before last were very competitive even to the point of Roger installing this one as the favorite in last week’s contest. He can get a piece of this if he minds his manners. Wet or dry track is ok with this one.

	Race #12
# 5 SKIPPING DOWNANDOUT	Has had 6 different drivers in as many week’s as Dave Palone gets a shot. If Dave can not improve this one, it is beyond hope that anyone else can. He does have enough speed to compete in this field. Question is his stamina. Trainer Dave Zito has tried everything but racing this one on the engine. Look for the red Black Jack of Palone’s to set this one loose on the lead.
# 1 TSM INSPIRIT	Gains the rail and meets a field not as fast as normal. He has some gate speed which should place her in striking range through out the contest.
# 8 HICKORY MUMZIE	Was used hard early in last week’s race and looks to have gained some endurance in the process. Leo Harvey has a small stable but his stock is above average. He might try to find a spot right off the front end and save his best kick for the late charge.
# 2 FOO TOO	Is all front end speed in each of his contests. He tires each week from his efforts. He just may open up enough of a lead to back into the 4th place on this superfecta ticket.

	Race #13
# 1 DEFIANT MISFIT	Was my top pick last out where I thought his closing speed would of circled the field. I feel the same this week and hope for an earlier mover as this one got into gear a little to late to realize the top spot in last week’s contest.
# 4 HI NOONER	Went off as the public’s choice in last week’s contest. He forced the issue to the front in a very contested fraction. He did win the lead though lost the race through his tiring on a closing biased track. Looks only to go forward with a conservative drive.
# 5 CALL THE LADY	Seems to be improving nicely in recent weeks. She moves up in class slightly and meets others in here that may be suspect as they have missed a few starts.
# 3 TRAUMA TROSS	Was over looked by yours truly in last week’s race and have heard it from my family and friends. I was high on this one when he dropped from preferred. He simply responded to Doug Snyder last week and though was a winner by only a nose, he did bottom out most of the field in opening the lead to 10 lengths by the beginning of the lane. Looks to be driven cautiously as Mike Wilder jumps aboard tonight.

	Race #14
# 1 I’LL DO	Warmed up like a machine last week before last week’s contest. Leo Harvey did not start this one up until it was too late. He did manage to close enough in the lane to be considered live in this week’s contest. I would not be surprised if Leo put this one on the engine as she appears to have the stamina needed to succeed.
# 7 SIMPLY VELCRO	Made a first over power move in the qualifier and tucked in the two hole to the winner last week. She raced very well in the lane and was under no urging in the process. The horse she lost too was Strawberry Rain who is a half sister to Call For Rain. Looks to improve with that race as she has not raced that fast on her program lines.
# 2 RAISON HALE	Is a front running sort that has been hampered with outside posts more times than not. He enters this fray with best post position to date. Look for connections to capitalize on their luck at the draw.
# 6 BROADWAY AL	Seems to be a dark horse of the balance of the field. He can race with most of these but needs to be given a ground saving trip. He was parked the entire journey last week and driver Ray M Romanetti may be gun shy this go round.

	Race #15
# 6 LAINES REPLICA	Has been very quiet of late and drops in class to a level where he last tasted victory. He matches up well with this field as his speed has produced two wins this year to the total wins of one (1) for the balance of the field. His morning line odds of 12/1 might be a bit on the high side and if Roger wants to back his line, I am willing to send a few bucks his way on this one.
# 3 ONE SOLE SURVIVOR	Has been a disappointment for me this season. He has speed and can get around this oval but he seems to lag a bit. If they ever figure out this one’s head, he will be quite an over night trotter. His dropping in class helps but not enough for me to make him the top pick.
# 2 COULTER	Is the underachiever of the trotters on these grounds. He does possess excellent speed and races with a near perfect gait. He will make up ground in the turns but something happens to this one’s head when he comes close to the line. He rarely passes up anything that is within 20 yards from the wire.
# 1 K W’S CHAMPION	Gains rail with having Brian Zendt back in the bike. Last two races saw this one wake up with a forward racing style. Looks to be on the engine a bit and gain a forward racing spot. Remember that one week from today, the Meadows will have their Driver’s Championship with the 8 of the top 10 drivers in wins in the sport. Walter Case Jr., Stephane Bouchard, Dave Miller, Andy Miller, Chris Christoforou, Brett Miller, Dave Palone and Brian Sears.