MEADOWS

Analysis for The Meadows
April 29, 2001

	Race #1
# 1 HIGHLY PROPER	Please note that in the Meadows program they list the Superfecta wager being offered in all races which has to be a flaw in their computer program. This is the first Sunday live racing is offered this season and the puter may think its Tuesday, the regular day for Superfecta wagering in all races. It is for that reason I will offer superfecta selections only for the 3rd and 14th races. Back to the task at hand, Highly Promoted gains post relief and did come home in 59 flat which is fastest in this race. She has come the last quarter in under 30 seconds the last two races. She should be leaving a little bit more and will be in contact with this field.
# 5 DUKE MILLBANK	Came home in around 59:4 last week and seems to be the best of the rest. He is making only his 6th lifetime start and only his 3rd start of the year. He has every reason to go forward and looking at this field, there are not many contenders.
# 3 HUNT THE STONE	Is another one with little experience but has shown some last speed with last quarter in qualifier of 29:4 and in his initial start coming late in 29:2. This one is to be considered the sleeper in here and I may key this one in trifecta tickets in the place and show position.

	Race #2
# 6 TWISTY’S PAGE	Towers over these and has enough early speed to wire or if driver Dave Palone decides, circle the field. Drawback is that she will be odds on in price. I would recommend this one as key in the pick three wagering.
# 1 POWER UP	Was my third pick last out but surprised me when she was put on the engine and lasted in an easy way. As the owner (Sam Raneri) headed to the winner circle he mentioned he did not wager a penny on him. I asked him why and he stated that this one had an operation for a broken bone and the vet stated that she would never race again yet alone win a race. I am happy to see that the doctor is not always correct. Science has advanced to great levels but even now there is room for hope in with bad prognosis.
# 3 CHILLY DUSK	Was my long shot of the day three races back and looks to find a nice post to use her gate speed. This one is better than she appears on paper and is to be considered a sleeper at this oval when Wilbur Yoder is in the bike.

	Race #3
# 6 OLD NUMBER SEVEN	Could not have been driven in a worse manner than last contest raced. Driver Greg Wright Jr. was paying to much attention to the infield tote board before, during and after the race. He was never used and never came off the pylons till he was shuffled back to last and was behind a wall of horses. He had a death grip on him due to lack of places to go. He did have a leg problem earlier in the year and was scratched sick. He returned to the races and put in one fine effort two races back to gain the place position. I release this one as the Long Shot of the Day. He is to be considered to be armed, dangerous and will be at a nice price.
# 8 VEGAS EXCALIBUR	Is one with a great gate presence and has his best efforts when used on the front end or racing in the pocket. He must be near the near the top level of wins to leave this classification but with 5 wins showing this year, may have one left to use before leaving this class.
# 2 IRISH TOOTER	Loves to play the stalker’s role as he has good gate speed and can race in a hole well. He has responded with acceleration in the stretch with regularity.
# 4 PLUNDER HANOVER	Seems to be best of the rest though may take more than his share of the wagering due to “the Palone factor” which is the public bets on the top diver regardless of reason or forethought. Might be a easy way to handicap a race but will leave you broke in short time. Nothing in this life comes easy.

	Race #4
# 2 MOVES	Has shown great form since starting his three year old campaign and meets a field where he appears to be head and shoulders over the rest. He has speed enough to wire these and can hold off any attempt by anyone who dares to go first over.
# 1 STANDISH HANOVER	Appears to be the fastest of the rest and with his ability to race in a hole and his post, should be a lock to race in the pocket to the top pick. Those two should draw off from the field.
# 4 WILLS POCKET	I have been high on this one for over a month. He meets faster than himself and his style as a closer will be going against the grain. All I can hope for his leaving to be in mid pack position and have some clearance in the lane to gain the last spot on the trifecta ticket.

	Race #5
# 7 WESTERN DUEL	Qualified under wraps and raced huge in her first lifetime start. She will go a better mile with her having that start under her belt. Her future looks quite bright to this author.
# 2 WIGGLE YOUR CLASS	Put in some nice qualifiers at the Big M but will have to negotiate the tight turns on the Little m oval. I feel her odds will be prohibitive and will try to get her beat.
# 9 WITCHIN FLIGHT	Put in a decent effort at Freehold winning in what appears to be an easy way on 4-19. She went that mile in 1:57:3. Driver Bill Fahy still has some of that former spark during stake week and has won more than his share with the trotters on Thursday and Friday.

	Race #6
# 1 AMERICAN HI NOON	Is no stranger to this track and has raced well but at times unruly. He exits last with a wire to wire win at Freehold in 1:59:2. He looks to be deadly if he remains on stride.
# 4 PRIX D’NORMANDY	Moves up in class but has been racing in great form. His closing speed can be dangerous if the front end gets contested. No one on the Meadows Broadcast remembers this one leaving as they stated “this horse never left in his life” on last week’s show. I had to laugh because trainer Jeff Carson brought this one off a qualifier a few years back and went wire to wire from the 7 hole in his first start back. This one is handy though rarely uses his gate speed.
# 6 GOTCHA	Put in one nice effort last week against a strong Miller High Flight. He did benefit with a perfect trip but did have the necessary speed to be the only one to run that one down in the lane. MHF again tired in the stretch the other night indicating it might of been a little less impressive victory.

	Race #7
# 5 CARRIN’ FIRE	Ships in from Pocono and meets the weakest division in my opinion. She looks like one that might of benefited greatly from the time off and might be nice filly in stake action. Last out saw this one close nicely against non winners of two lifetime at the Pocono Pike. Anything that closes on that speed favoring track will perform better on this surface.
# 8 FREE AT LAST K	Ships from the Big M for owner Robert Key. His stable’s history has been very strong on the trotting side but this pacer looks to add some credibility to the pacing side. She did handle the turns at Yonkers back in February. She should be used in an aggressive manner and might make the front end early.
# 6 THEATRICAL HANOVER	Makes second start of the year but I love her breeding as this Big Towner filly out of Albatross mare was bred to shine on the track in Pennsylvania. I remember my favorite Big Towner filly in her first start. Her name was Marfa Newton who finished second to Uncut Jade (colt). Big Towner offspring usually are larger than the average and seem to have early speed. Only drawback with Marfa Newton was that her offspring tended to have some leg problems when raced each week.

	Race #8
# 7 SPRINGCHIP	Put in a nice qualifier on 4-20 which this one faced SJ’S CAVIAR who took the limelight from Yankee Douglas on Friday night when the former set a stake record. This one matches up nicely with the competition and might have enough to wire them if driver Doug Snyder wants to leave to the front.
# 1 UNDER BUDGET	Has burned my money more times than not but does have excellent closing speed when he minds his manners. It is out of respect for that speed that I include him this high in the selection process.
# 3 GOMONT	In an effort to look for value in the trifecta I went to this one as he appears to hold position well when drawing an inside post. He might surprise a few with those morning line odds of 15/1.

	Race #9
# 3 VERSIMLITUDE	Ships in from the Big M with some fast lines on her card. She looks to be the fastest and has raced 7 starts as a three year old. Notice that she did not race at two and her record at three is 7-3-2-2. She has made the ticket in every start. She will be a very prohibitive favorite.
# 2 AMBER FIELDS	Won under warps in her qualifier on 4-20. If not for the fact that Mike Palone had his brother choose another to drive in this race, I might of took a chance at getting the top one beat. Here the driver makes the gambling call. Dave Palone is correct many more times than not in his driving assignment decisions in stake action.
# 9 AINT’TFOOLINAROUND	Is bred nicely and exits two credible races at the Big M which shows some closing ability. I love the fact that Bill Fahy gets the call on two number nine horses which may bring some value to the trifecta tickets.

	Race #10
# 3 TIMELY MATTER	Might be a morning line of 5/1 but looks to be the best in here. He has a great ability to leave the gate and rate the mile in a hole. He can race on the engine just as well. He gets a work out in last week’s drivers championship. He might be a little tighter than trainer Candy O’Brien realizes.
# 5 NATIVE ZONE	Went from goat to all most a hero in last week’s effort. He was distance and was timed in 2:04:4 two starts and raced in 1:59 being hung almost the last half. This horse is a case study in racing at the Meadows and why it is so hard to handicap. How in the world can flesh and blood be so consistent? IMHO the only thing “consistent” at the Meadows is the level of “inconsistency” of their racing product.
# 9 THE BIG DANCE	Makes a return to the races with about 3 months layoff. He was one with speed but always seem to tire. I remember wagering on this one at 24/1 and second start on lasix last year. Norm Parker drove that night and came flying from the back to gain the show position. This one might be a better closer than front end type. Having the outside post might force their hand to close with this one in his first start back. Stranger things have happened in racing.

	Race #11
# 3 RED MENACE	Will be hard driven tonight as the Rooney stable will take him back via the claim. Trainer Dan Smith does not have the key to this one. He has been claimed back every time Dan decides to lower his claiming price to the level taken. Dave Palone will try to wire the field and get what he can. Rooney welcomes one back into their fold and will loom large in his start next week.
# 2 ROCKY AMOIRE	Has more ability than shown in recent starts. He draws inside and it may be only a hunch but I believe he is ready for a superior effort. He races best with an open bridle so look on the post parade for any indication that might confirm my beliefs.
# 4 RPS	Has been strong at this level in the past but has been claimed out of the stable with the best success rate five races back. He might be good for a piece of this only if he remains on stride.

	Race #12
# 1 KID U NOT	Is one handy pacer that can come from behind or cut out his own mile. He raced well in last start where tired a little in the stretch but set some nice fractions on the lead. He gets the rail tonight making his trip much easier.
# 2 OG’S BULLE YANKEE	Won last start from a sustained first over move before the half mile pole. He is one that can take air but will be best served with a pocket trip to the top selection.
# 5 DAYLIGHT	Seems to have some early speed for position and may benefit greatly if he finds a seat. I use this one mainly on racing style but his dropping in class from the 5,000 claiming class to the 3,000 claiming enforces my belief that I chose correctly.

	Race #13
# 2 J H SUATERELLE	Broke in her first start over this surface after shipping in from the Big M. She went first over and was parked most of the trip. She did show excellent movement during her push to the front but tired from her trip. She looks to be primed and ready to pounce on these trotters.
# 4 DIAMOND IN MAY	Has only a third place finish in 12 starts this year. He was much better last year in hitting the board. He meets the lowest class I can recall and if this one does not wake up soon, will be in the cheap claiming ranks soon.
# 3 STONE HERSHEY	Is a speedy but unruly sort. I use her wishing the best case scenario will develop and I have been very wrong more times than right. This one drops in class but races with a stale race date.

	Race #14
# 3 IDEAL BRISK	Makes the drop in class for trainer Mike Palone. Brother Dave decides to drive which indicates a readiness of sorts. He looks on paper to be the fastest and his last half times match up with any entered.
# 1 HOTTESTICKETINTOWN	Was used twice in last his last start. He misses a start which lessens his selection. I consider this one to be the sleeper and if he raced back from that start would of been my top selection. I see all systems go for this entrant.
# 7 BACK IN TOWN	Has outside post but is the best when racing off the pace. He may be too far back to threaten for the top prize but seems a lock to hit the ticket.
# 2 BOMBS A FLYING	Is another horse I have been following but have been on the short end of the stick more times than not. He has superior gate speed and should try to wire. Recent races has this one not in the prime as he has backed up when placed on the lead. I feel the best style to would be to leave for position but keep this one covered up until late stretch. Once this one regains his former stamina, he will be a force at this level. Until then, he has to work out a trip.