Saturday night features a solid race card at Yonkers Raceway (The Hilltop Oval). Unlike the Meadowlands and Woodbine where their big nights typically feature an overwhelming majority of stake races, Yonker's card with the exception of the Lady Maud and the Messenger is a typical Saturday night card consisting of overnight races. That is the beauty of Yonkers Raceway; it is a blue collar track. Yes, Yonkers has stakes and late closing events for the top horses in the country, but the emphasis of their racing program is geared towards the horsemen who support their racing program year round.
As much as a lot of people are ready to write off the half mile ovals, one can't help but notice the quality of horses showing up for these stakes races is improving (as are the overnight races). Amazing how the objectiosn disappear when you have decent purses.
I have reviewed the entries for the Lady Maud and the Messenger Stakes as well as the Open Handicap for Saturday night. Here are my selections:
7th - Pace - $364,430 Lady Maud Final - 3 year old fillies
Yellow Diamond has been unbeatable of late; hard to go past her. Kiss Me Kate has been racing well and has more than held up against the best in her division. Making second start back off a brief layoff; best chance if you are looking for an upset of the top selection. Shanghai Lil finished second to top pick in last; completes a chalky trifecta. Up Front Kellie Jo seems to finally be hitting her stride; factor for exotics.
8th - Pace - $40,000 Open Handicap
Mccedes held his own in the Quillen Memorial at Harrington against some of the nation's best FFA'llers. Ships in with a victory in Chester Open; pick despite bad post with decent odds. Giddy Up Lucky has been racing well from inside posts; another opportunity to grab a good portion of the purse here. Runover Feeling gets needed post relief; must use in exotica. King Cat Anvial N won last start but has little success from the outside posts.
9th - Pace - $542,000 Messenger Stakes - 3 year old open
Breeders Crown Champion If I Can Dream is the best 3yo pacer in training at this time; should win the last jewel of the triple crown with little effort. Hypnotic Blue Chip finished third against older horses in last week's Open Handicap; should pick up runner up honors. Clear Vision, qualified nicely off of brief break; trifecta threat. Doubleshotascotch is brest of rest.
If you have the opportunity, try to catch the card. It should be a good night.
2 comments:
The pacing triple crown is messed up PG, why is the Messenger so late in the season? Well Said is already retired. It should be a walk for IICD.
Do you know why the Meadows lost the Messenger? It's being run three weeks later than when they had it.
The triple crown is certainly in need of revamping. Being harness racing is contested on several size tracks, the crown should include a race on a 1/2, 5/8 and mile oval. The Messenger has traditionally been the last jewel in the crown. I agree after the Crown is late (though SBSW managed to show up), but where would you fit it in the schedule and be able to get horses if it is the last jewel? You have the Jug, which is the second jewel, so it needs to race after then. How do you squeeze it in with Lexington and the Crown next in line? Remember, you need two weeks to race the Messenger, as you need to allow for the possibility of eliminations.
The Messenger was originally raced at Roosevelt Raceway. Once Roosevelt Raceway closed, it was treated as the proverbial orphan. It first came to Yonkers for one year and then when Yonkers had problems, they got rid of the Cane Pace (to Freehold) and the Messenger went to Freestate Raceway. When Freestate closed, it moved to Rosecroft for one year and then went to the Meadows. My guess is it was too expensive to host the race (remember, the added money comes from the purse account). The race was supposed to return to Yonkers but due to construction, the race went to Harrington Raceway for two years before returning to Yonkers.
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