The Haughton Memorial lived up to its advance billing last night with the exciting victory of Shark Gesture in 1:48.2. After being parked third to the quarter, Shark Gesture took control of the race and was strong to the wire repelling the stretch drives of Bettor Sweet and Mister Big.
As for the first elimination of the Meadowlands Pace, I would love to take credit for my handicapping prowess in that I had the trifecta picked. However, it took a disqualification of Drop Red for violation of the breaking rule to make that trifecta. Even then, with the exacta paying $5.80 and the triple paying $21.00, it would have been a bigger accomplishment not to hit the triple. Well Said showed why he will be the favorite next week winning in hand in 1:49.2. Art Colony, with his strong brush to get second at the half wisely decided not to engage Well Said in a suicide duel once he realized Well Said was not going to let him go, hopefully has something left in the tank for next week. As I expected, Vintage Master was better than you would think off of his win in a nw2cd race; his recovery in his elimination of the NA Cup showed he has the ability. At a long price next week he may be worth a long shot wager. School Kids and Pair a Dice pick up the last two slots for next week's final. Barber Pole was scratched sick.
In the second elimination of the Meadowlands Pace, Hypnotic Blue Chip seems to be back on track with a patient first over trip. I was very impressed with Chasin Racin who came back to finish a strong second (though at one point it appeared one wheel of his sulky may have gone inside the pylons; the judges found no reason for disqualification). Ideal Danny picked up the pieces for third. If I Can Dream and Arctic Warrior who were used aggressively stuck around to pick up qualifying slots for next week's final.
On Thursday, I listed the ten horses that would have raced in the Meadowlands Pace final if the field was determined under the rules used by races like the Battle of Brandywine; the top ten money earners. Of those ten horses, only Passmaster Hanover (#5) and Straight Shooting (#7) did not qualify for the final; instead Ideal Danny and Pair of Dice make it in. While two horses made it in that would not have qualified under earnings, I still think the single dash for the cash is the way to go. The races would have been even more competitive if there were no eliminations. Would Art Colony have continued to challenge Well Said if there was no next week? The final would also be a better betting proposition.
Another advantage to the money earnings determining the fields for our stake races is that many of our marquee horses would be racing more often in betting races. Of the seventeen horses in the eliminations, only three horses had ten or more starts this year. If earnings were what determined who got in, many of these horses would have raced more often at different tracks attempting to get more money on their card. The fans would have benefited. Look what happened last year at the Adios. How many horses went in the Adios to make sure they qualified for the final or top consolation of the Battle of Brandywine? Lately, the top trotters make so few starts aiming for the Hambletonian that this year, you have Muscle Hill coming in to the Hambo with just three parimutuel starts. If trainers knew money earned mattered, maybe the trainers would actually be planning on racing their horses instead of racing in qualifiers.
Our star horses are around for a short period of time. Let's get them racing while they are here.
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