MEADOWS

Analysis for The Meadows
April 19, 2001

	Race #1
# 2 WESTERN DUEL	Simply was just too good for his qualifying field and won as he pleased. This three year old Western Hanover filly makes her first lifetime start as the morning line favorite. She will not disappoint.
# 3 TRUE TREASURE	Made her first start of the season last week and put in one nice effort. She came first over and forced the pace to 1:28:3 to the three quarters. She then tired late in the lane. She will improve with that start under her belt.
# 6 BETTY’S SAHBRA	Has been knocking at the door in the two races so far this year. She did add lasix this year which may be one of the main reasons for her improvement.

	Race #2
# 6 PANAPPLE	Qualified nicely in a race where her last quarter was the fastest in the race. She seemed to have more but connections wanted her to relax in the early part of the race. She did respond when asked for pace. Looks to be near 3/1 at post time.
# 8 PARADISE PHOTO	Ships up from the sunshine state in great conditioning. She closed from well out of it in her most recent start. She may need a few weeks to adjust to the cooler temperatures and the pains of shipping 1,200 miles.
# 3 POWER UP	Makes her fifth start of the year and gains post relief. She is not as fast as the top picks but with a clean trip can make the ticket at nice odds.

	Race #3
# 8 INMATE	Put in one great effort last week as my top pick. Bill Zendt left alertly then was placed in the two hole. Bill let this one gap the cover and then closed in the lane. He would of been closer if he had not gapped the cover. Still he showed his conditioning was in top form. This one is Adios Eligible. It would be nice to see the Meadows denote this with a little A by their name in order to promote the local entrants.
# 4 ARDEN’S TOCCOA	Was interfered last week but was placed in the overland route where this one seemed to tire badly in the lane. He is fast enough to gain a trip near the front end and save ground for the stretch run.
# 6 TWENTY SIX BLACK	Qualified against Western Duel and did seem to race even with that one. 26 Black seems to be in great shape and should be a threat in the late stages of the race.
# 3 BABY ICAN GO	Is another one that qualified with Western Duel. Like the third pick, she seems to have enough pace to race with these. She may need to leave early to be live to hit the board.

	Race #4
# 3 ROYAL IRISH DANCER	Is the sleeper of the night and gets my long shot of the day call. This three year old qualified nicely in a race where he went four wide in the final turn with much trot then coasted to the place finish. This one is very live and is to be considered armed and dangerous. Morning line odds of 10/1 seem to be quite generous.
# 1 BIG CHILL HANOVER	Met one tough trotter in the qualifier which came out and destroyed his field on Tuesday night. This one is very tight in conditioning at this stage of this year’s development. He needs to stay flat and leave for position.
# 4 CR DAWN PATROL	Seemed to have more in the tank than qualifying line indicates. He did race against a sharp one in Fantasy Hanover and probably just was driven easy in order to qualify. Looks to improve from that race.

	Race #5
# 1 OLD NUMBER SEVEN	Was live last week indicating that the swelling on the front left leg has gone down. He was scratched two back due to the injury. This one has a ton of early speed and can race in traffic near the front end types.
# 3 IRISH TOOTER	Has been very live in most of his starts this season and will take more than his share of the mutual pool. He missed last week due to being sick. He may show up a bit short because of missing that start.
# 2 PLUNDER HANOVER	Has been showing signs of life in recent starts and did hold on for the win last out. He moves up in class for tonight’s encounter.

	Race #6
# 8 TICKLE MY ELMO	Met a less than talented field than tonight’s competition in his qualifier last week. He did put in a superior effort as he made a power move past the half and kept on trotting. He won on an off track making his closing speed more impressive. Others races that morning were able to hold their speed on the front end so no closing bias existed on that off track.
# 2 K W’S LASERMACHINE	Received my top pick in the last two weeks. She raced good in her first start but broke when making a first over move last week. Looks to get a conservative trip in order to avoid having to qualify this filly again.
# 4 VIKING SPUR	Is a heavy staked trotter on the Pennsylvania circuit. He faced some nice ones last year and looks ready to start this season on the right foot. He exits qualifier in good enough shape to be considered against these. He prefers to race from mid pack and use his closing speed to challenge late. These Tagliabue offspring seem to do better in their sophomore years than the freshman season.

	Race #7
# 5 CAM’S LAUGHING BOY	Is the most consistent of this lot and just missed in a photo last week. This one has hit the board seven out of ten this season. He can race either on the lead or close from the back to be effective.
# 2 LIDO’S GOAL	Has been quiet of late but this one does pack a nice last half mile on occasion. Connections have been short with this one since his arrival in this class three races back. Look for form reversal soon on this one, if not tonight, next week.
# 1 EICARLS SIDEWINDER	Broke before the start last week then caught the field. He then went on a sustained first over move past the 3/8 mark. He did clear near the top of the stretch and drew off. He moves up in class and looks to be very live at hitting this board.

	Race #8
# 4 TRIPLE T SATURN	Has moved into a new stable via the claim in last week’s race. The Goldberg barn loves to race this one on the engine while the Charlie Norris barn used him as a closer. Tonight we have the Bob Inman trained and Dave Palone driven entrant who can race either way. TTS is as fast as any in here and should be the public’s stick at near even money. Palone and Inman have connected at a high percentage in the first race off the claim.
# 3 BLEST AND CROWNED	Came up a bit short in his first start of the year but the fact that connections sent this one first over is a good sign. Jim Smith now drives which can only help the odds. He is best used when given his head and placed near the early lead. Would not surprise me if this one opens up to a nice lead in the early stages of the race.
# 7 K W’S OVERCAST	Has tailed off in recent starts but gets some class relief as this one drops in class. Ben Bolon takes the reins for the second week. We had a saying in the old days that went like this: “When the odds get rolling, so does Benny Bolon”. He was one of the top drivers in the mid 70’s and is the husband of Darla, the horse whisperer who works the winner’s circle as a lead in care taker.

	Race #9
# 2 LIFE GUARANTEE	Qualified under wraps in a race where he closed his last half mile in about 57:2. None entered here can match those numbers. This one had only one qualifier last year and never made a start. I wonder what went wrong last year with him. He looks to be in great physical shape and has great conformation. If I were to offer a best bet, this one would be it. His odds will be near 4/5 if we are lucky.
# 4 HIDDEN DANGER	Has early speed and a great ability to hold position once it is achieved. Looks to be on the early lead and then the pocket to the top pick. He should complete a very modest exacta in the $7.00 range.
# 7 WISE PROFET	In an attempt to add some value to the trifecta, I looked to the outside post. This one seemed to race even to Western Duel though was out of contact with same in that qualifier. He did manage to close up for 4th with a last quarter of 28:3. He is very live and may not get the support he deserves at the windows.

	Race #10
# 3 TIFF TUFF TAG	Caught me by surprise last week in a race where he came from off the pace and trotted home in a romp with a last half of 59 flat. He looks to be the real deal as that was his first start of three year old campaign. I am starting to have more respect for these 3 year old Tagliabue offspring.
# 2 DR NICK LOUTSION	Has won last two and seems to be finding something left in his tank at the end of his miles. He might not be as fast as some in here but you can not discount his present form.
# 5 MAN WITH CLASS	Qualified nicely while being driven in a conservative manner. This one hails from the Bob Inman operation and gets his go to driver in Dave Palone. This looks to be one trotter that the barn can improve greatly.

	Race #11
# 1 WINCHESTER T	Was the talk of my e-groups last week as I and many in there loved this one’s chances. He is dropping in class and hopefully will show that speed he has without making a break. If not correct, at least I am consistent.
# 5 NUCLEAR CHANCE	Seems to be the best closing speed when entered at this level though he comes up on the short end of the stick week in and week out. Looks to be the public’s second choice.
# 4 BRYAN LANE	Should be very live at this level. Earlier in the year when this one needed a wake up call, he dropped him to this level where he gained a second and third losing by less than a length in both races. He is to be considered a sleeper against these and should be at odds near 10/1.

	Race #12
# 1 MR COAL PRIDE	Gained my top selection again as he is a different animal with the addition of lasix. He was shuffled out of it to be last at the three quarters where he tipped and came with one strong power move four wide in the final turn. He did flatten out a bit but did finish 4th being less than two back. With a little racing luck, this one can light up the tote board.
# 6 GEORGE L B	Came from the clouds last week in his win. He moves up in class and meets a field slightly faster than his last race. He is a steady trotter that could be used as a key to the under part of the exotic wagers.
# 8 MEADOWBRANCH NILES	Had trot last week when he made that break. He is in fine form and the post will not hurt him as much as people may think. He offers an excellent wagering opportunity as I will use all three in the third part of my pick three wagers.

	Race #13
# 7 KINGSTAR A	Is from a powerful barn of the down under horses which have been very strong this season. He looks to have more in his tank than the indicator is showing. He did have a strong hold on his reins in the qualifier three back and has faced much tougher than tonight’s competition. Looks to be jog winner at odds on.
# 2 CAM’S BLACK MAGIC	Ships in from Ohio where he seemed to be a little short. He exits last race with a break though he recovered to go first over and did not tire until the stretch. He looks to be at 10/1 at post time.
# 5 ARTOFTHE MILLENIUM	Ships back to the Meadows after competing at the Big M. He was a fast one last year and seems to be hurting a bit. He still is a threat whenever entered at this track. Trainer Mike Palone retains brother David to drive is considered to be a major plus.

	Race #14
# 3 AMERICAN DYNAMO	Was claimed last out by the Inman barn and makes first start with Palone aboard. Connections have hooked up to win by open lengths on others that have taken this path. In addition, this one is down in class and races without a tag.
# 1 GOGOSAFLYIN	Has rail and early speed which should set up nicely for this one. He has won twice this season and may offer some odds at the window.
# 5 SCORE AT WILL	Is a seasoned veteran at this oval. He tried to wire last week only to make a speed break. He is very adept at racing in a hole and should be considered live in the exotics.

	Race #15
# 1 F J’S JACKIE	Just missed last out and now gains the favor of Dave Palone in the bike. The Mowood operation has seen its best week to date. This one is has hit the board in 7 of the 10 starts this year and with the third start on vitamin (L), lasix, should be very live at the top spot.
# 5 CAMTASTIC DARTS	Has shown life in his last two starts and might be coming around to the public’s earlier expectations. He is fast enough given present competition and should be used on all exotic tickets.
# 8 DUKE MILLBANK	Made his first start of the year last out which was on a sloppy track. He closed from well out of it and did manage a very respectable third place finish losing by only 1 1/2 lengths to a odds on favorite. He appears to be very live and do not expect to see those 33/1 odds for quite some time.
# 3 BIG Z LUGGER	Has been my top pick and failed to fire in recent weeks. He is one that has above average gate speed and is at his best when raced on the engine. Connections have used him as a closer in last week’s race to my disappointment. He did close well in going first over but failed to hold up which indicates lack of stamina. He is fast enough to catch a piece of this but connections style of racing leaves me with questions I can not answer.