Analysis for The Meadows
April 21, 2001


 

Race #1
# 6 BLUES AWAY This on has been my top pick in his last two starts. He narrowly missed two back and came back in last week’s race to perfectly timed move that propelled him from last to first at the wire. Looks to be in the shape of his life and should be very live on the off going.
# 7 FREEHOLD HANOVER Takes a major drop in class for this race as he has been racing strictly in the open divisions. Looks to be the public’s stick at odds near even money.
# 1 STRANGE ENCOUNTER Has been racing well in his most recent races and gains the inside post tonight. He just missed two back when starting from the rail. The raise in class should be offset by the gain in post advantage.


 

Race #2
# 5 SEA GULL HERSHEY Showed a new wrinkle in his arsenal as he left alertly and wire this field. He remains in class and should be odds on in a repeat win.
# 2 SPLIT IN TWO Tried to out gun the top pick last week when he broke the left hobble. He was my top pick last week. Driver Dan Ross pulled this one out of the race and should be considered the main rival to Sea Gull Hershey.
# 3 BINGO BARON Exits two nice qualifier races and is classified in a class higher than he was entered when racing last year. Connections have this one ready and also take note that he is very effective in the off going.


 

Race #3
# 4 LOUIE LEEBROOK Scored for new connections in his second start off of the claim. He is showing new life in the Hercules barn and should be considered armed and dangerous.
# 3 PLAY IT AGAIN SJ Is the pure front end speed that seems to be holding up with the addition of lasix two races back. He may be in a duel with the top pick and may be best served with a pocket trip.
# 8 KEYSTONE QUAZAR Has been a shadow of his former self but can be effective in a closing manner in this classification. Hopefully Brian Zendt keeps this one closer to the action than in previous encounters.
# 2 TERMINATOR SPUR Makes second start following the layoff. He is fast enough with these and should add value to the exotic tickets.


 

Race #4
# 1 ALERT FALCON N Closed from the parking lot last time out and seems to best to take advantage of his luck at the draw for post position. He can be driven in a forward racing manner.
# 5 TOAST THE TABLE Is the pure closing speed in here that will be at the mercy of the early fractions. The faster they go, the more probability he gets up at the wire.
# 6 ART DOT COM He is a fast pacer that seems to be inconsistent in recent performance. He needs to driven alertly and try to control the fractions to be effective.


 

Race #5
# 2 LAKER MAGIC Makes first start since the claim and did take a month or so off in the mean time. He is racing at the level where he was taken and seems to have qualified well.
# 4 RAIN IN PARADISE Gets the services of Doug Snyder as Mario Labrasca sits this one out. Doug has a way with this horse so look for an improvement. He is best driven from the back where his closing speed might be effective.
# 3 TIP THE BOAT Is another which has closing speed and given his inside post, looks almost a lock to hit the board.


 

Race #6
# 3 STANDISH HANOVER Is one pure speed demon that has one start which resulted in a break. His qualifiers are great but do not expect this one to take a seat. He will be all or nothing as he cuts out this mile. Hopefully he makes it without any trouble with his gait.
# 1 WILLS POCKET Has been on my list the last few weeks due to his top conditioning. He seems to race well from off the pace but I would like to see this one in a pocket trip. That scenario just might put this one over the top.
# 8 MOVES Gets the services of Brain Sears as this one simply man handled Inmate last out. He is a fast one but Inmate came up short on Thursday night and this one may be subject to the same bounce effect.


 

Race #7
# 2 JUNKET Has been on a roll lately and I once said the top end of him would be the $12,500 claiming ranks. He has arrived in a shorter time than I could of thought. He is from a hot barn in Goldberg and seems ready to show his best.
# 1 C-G MAYNARD Has rail for the second straight week but gets Greg Wright Jr. in the bike. I feel Greg is less than honest with his steers as he seems to watch the tote board too often during the scoring process. I have to take issue with Thursday’s race when he failed to move Old Number Seven making him finish last while under a death hold. This horse has the ability to fire in this class but it is up to the driver to permit him to do same.
# 4 FRANKIE NINE TOES Seems to be in good form and won last out for the Burke stable. He is best when racing with cover and can accelerate with pace in the lane. Any thought of trying to wire should be avoided.


 

Race #8
# 7 SHARKY SPUR Learned my lesson last time he raced here. I once said that there were no horses on these grounds that can out gun this monster. He gets the call once more as I will never pick against him until he loses a race at The Meadows. Please note the name has change to “The Meadows” as Magna Entertainment Corporation has taken over ownership of the former Ladbroke operation.
# 6 CAM’S ROCKET Ships in from Northfield Park to try our best again. He came up a bit short losing only by a neck last time here. He should be right in the mix again.
# 5 SILVERLINED POCKET Hails from a good barn and has been racing with the top on these grounds. He is fast and is at his best when racing off the pace. Looks to pick up the under part of the exotic.


 

Race #9
# 2 AMAZING STEVEN Is very sharp at the present and has been given excellent post from which to start. The only problem I foresee is the willingness of driver Greg Wright Jr. to place this one on the lead. As in many races at “The Meadows”, our future lies in the hands of these drivers.
# 1 OVER TAXED Put in once nice power move last week but tired from his efforts. Look for a more conservative drive and a better timed move late in the stretch.
# 4 JD’S PLAYMATE Seems to be racing in a very consistent manner and seems to have enough pace to race with these. Having Dave Palone in the bike is a major plus.


 

Race #10
# 3 DU VALLON CAR Qualified under wraps as he was hung most of the mile, finally tucked in behind the winner C G Spirit, and finished under a tight hold. Never did this one show an indication of a break and seems connections have found out what has ailed him. Looks to be more of a favorite than not as he drops in class.
# 2 MILLER HIGH FLIGHT Simply is in the shape of his life and is the one you should hook on to if you do not think the top pick will remain on stride.
# 7 TROJAN SPARK Won in a hard fought battle last week and moves up. His gait is flawless but may be a little short on the speed side. I’ll take a consistent trotting gait over speed every time.


 

Race #11
# 2 BOCUSE FLASH Makes second start at this level but gets major post relief. She has enough closing speed to keep this field honest. Brain Sears has won with this one two races back though against lesser company.
# 5 DANIELLE LEE She is as consistent a mare as one could want. She is handy in that she can leave for position or close from well out of it. She has 1 win, 4 places, 1 show in 7 starts this season. A sure thing, if there ever was one, that this one will hit the board.
# 3 FOX VALLEY FOX Hails from a hot barn and gains inside post relief. Looks to be able to handle the raise in class.


 

Race #12
# 1 BOB KING COTTON Ships down the pike from Northfield and seems to have more than his share of speed. He meets a field where there are none that desire or have the ability to cut out the fractions. Looks to get an early lead, back the half and never look back. I would love to lock in those morning line odds of 9/2.
# 3 LIMESTONE Never wins as my top pick so in an effort to help this horse out, I am picking this one to finish second. He is in great conditioning and is at his best when closing from mid pack. I would love to Doug Snyder try to gain a two hole with him.
# 2 BEARCAT HANOVER Is one that likes to be placed near the lead so expect this one to work out a nice trip. He is as fast as most in here but may offer little in the way of odds as Dave Palone and this one are installed as the morning line favorite at 2/1.


 

Race #13
# 5 SATINSTANCE Dave Palone has a way when teaming up with Joe Mowood as this one has shown two superior efforts since the claim. He moves up doubling his claiming price to 10K. He has shown exceptional speed in those last two races and is not beyond the possibility of handling these.
# 1 ELDER Drops slightly in class and gains the rail. He is at his best when placed near the front end types. He can be rated in a hole very effectively and has enough acceleration when needed in the lane.
# 9 MAJESTIC SPUR Is very live in here but the nine hole scares me as he will be forced to make that first over move way to early and is dependent upon flushing out one or two for cover. He is not good enough to go first over from last and beat these.
# 6 RICHEY LETSGO Hs some early speed and might get a trip that lands him on the superfecta ticket. He will be double digit in odds at post time.