This weekend we turn our attention to stakes action at Balmoral Park and Yonkers Raceway. Yonkers hosts the Yonkers Trot and the companion filly stakes in the Hudson Filly Trot and Balmoral hosts the American National colt and filly stakes for 3yo trotters. There is other action of note Saturday as well. Freehold Raceway has a single elimination for the Cane Pace. While Well Said is skipping the Cane Pace, this elimination has a field of talented 3yos looking to qualify for next week's final.
Before we get to the racing action, here is a story about racing officials in Ontario reaffirming a 10 year suspension to a driver/trainer for administring DPO to a horse. If this offense occured in the United States, how long do you think the trainer would have been suspended for?
One thought came to mind while I was handicapping the feature races at both tracks. In order to make my selections I need to purchase programs for both Balmoral and Yonkers. While I think it is a mistake for each track not to offer free programs, if we are going to have to pay for programs wouldn't it be a good idea for Trackmaster to offer a Saturday Night Feature Race Program which would contain the program pages for any stakes races and FFA and Invitational Races being raced? This way for those that use ADWs or otherwise wager via simulcasting sites, there would be one program containing all the feature races fans would likely be interested in.
Anyway, here are my selections for the the major races at Balmoral and Yonkers:
Balmoral 4th - American National - 3yo trotting colts and geldings
5 - Muscle Hill (6-5)
4 - Dr McDreamy (10-1)
1 - Southern Rocketop (6-1)
7 - Winning Mister (12-1)
Muscle Hill had a sharp qualifier at Lexington. While the 1:56.2 mile does not appear to be spectacular, trainer Greg Peck indicated he thought the track was about three seconds slow. Dr McDreamy has been racing well at Balmoral. Lost to Southern Rocketop last start out but I expect him to improve. Southern Rocketop is the local horse everyone is talking about. Beat Mr. McDreamy in Springfield in last but horse likes to race from the front. Don't expect he will be able to race on front end unchallenged this time, hence the lower selection. Winning Mister easily won at Indiana Downs; completes superfecta.
Balmoral 5th - FFA Handicap Pace
7 - Palone Ranger (3-1)
3 - Special Joe (4-1)
6 - Manhardt (9-5)
4 - Distinct Color (6-1)
Palone Ranger is the class of the race. Qualifier at Lexington in 1:51.4 with :25,4 last quarter indicates he is ready to win. Special Joe is a hard hitting gelding who is best of the local talent. Manhardt won last week in 1:50.4 for seasonal debut in this class last week. May land second but don't see possibility to take top spot. Distinct Color completes the superfecta with better post this week.
Balmoral 6th - American National - 3yo trotting fillies
6- Southwind Wasabi (9-2)
4 - Pleasing Lady (6-1)
9 - Celebrity Juliet (7-2)
8 - Caviar Forthe Lady (6-1)
Southwind Wasabi won at Indianapolis in the Horsemen in 1:56. Sylvester trainee is albeit a tepid favorite here. Pass if odds are short. Pleasing Lady won Review Stakes at Springfield ; has been racing well in PASS. Celebrity Juliet has been competitive before last race at Yonkers where she jumped; toss as she returns to the bigger oval. Caviar Forthe Lady has been picking up pieces on the East coast; was freshened so she may pick up a minor share.
Yonkers 7th - Hudson Filly Trot - 3yo trotting fillies
7 - Windsong Soprano (6-1)
8 - Seaside (4-1)
4 - Yursa Hanover (9-5)
1 - Hall of Wishes (5-1)
Windsong Soprano was an early season favorite. Highest money earner of field this year has been somewhat disappointing. Post hurts but has been racing better than her lines show. Begins redemption here. Seaside is another horse that the post gods have not been kind to. Elimination winner draws outside; may land significant share. Yursa Hanover is the horse to beat but offers little value; taking a chance on an upset here. Hall of Wishes makes second start since return; rounds out superfecta tickets.
Yonkers 9th - Open Handicap Pace
7 - Dave Aint Here (15-1)
6 - Psilvueheartbreaker (10-1)
4 - Meant to be Me (8-1)
1 - Real Nice (9-5)
Dave Aint Here had no chance in last start at Meadowlands. Won last race in this class (though from rail); looking for a major upset. Psilvueheartbreaker seems to be improving again. Winner of only one race has $229,000 on his card this year from racing at Yonkers. May land second. Mean to be Me just missed in lower company last time, may pick up a share. Real Nice finally draws inside; has been showing much better efforts when racing from the inside but may be tailing off; can't be played at 9-5.
Yonkers 10th - Yonkers Trot - 3yo open trot
6 - Calchips Brute (4-1)
8 - Broadway Bistro (8-1)
7 - Celebrity Athena (8-1)
1 - Judge Joe (7-5)
Calchips Brute finished 2nd last time racing parked out from seven hole. Finished third in Hambo and no Muscle Hill or Explosive Matter here. Scores minor upset. Broadway Bistro is another elimination winner drawing the worst post; lands second with a trip. Celbrity Athena has been racing very well in filly stakes. Post is what keeps me from picking her to win; can do better. Judge Joe was sold to new owners after elimination last week; elimination winner gets new driver. Just can't get past fact most wins have been in NYSS; at 7-5 let him beat me.
In other news, it looks like Illinois residents will get an opportunity to open ADW accounts shortly as a result of Governor Quinn's signing of a new law authorizing the ADWs to operate in Illinois. It will be interesting to see how much this may hurt the tracks with regards to on track handle. This is just another reason why racing needs to reinvent itself to deal with the new reality.
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