Meadowlands Early Fri Action

Friday at the Meadowlands has several interesting races.  We have the eliminations for the Peter Haughton Memorial, the first leg of the Miss Versatility for Open Trotting Mares, eliminations for the Merrie Annabelle, and in the run up to the Nat Ray, an Invitational Trot.  All these races make up the first six races so you can also take a shot at the fifty-cent Pick 5.

Let's take a look at these races:

1st Trot - $20,000; Peter Haughton Memorial - 2yo colts and geldings (1st elimination)
   2 - Lightning Storm (Gingras, 5-1) - If he stays flat will be a threat.  IF is the question.
   1 - Weingartner (Takter, 2-1) - Reynolds winner shows breaks.  You decide if you feel lucky or not.
   3 - Duluth (Ackerman, 8-1) - Will need to step up to advance.
   4 - No Frosting (D Miller, 10-1) - Seems not ready for prime time.
   5 - Trojan Horse (Smedshammer, 8-1) - Another one seems out of it.
   6 - Possess The Will (Tetrick, 5-2) - The most consistent of the starters.  May be the one to beat.
   7 - Yankee Royalty (Sears, 9-2) - May have enough to get into exotics.
1A - Blomkvist (Pierce, 2-1) - The fastest in the field, IF he stays flat.
Selections: 6-1A-2

2nd Trot - $25,000; Miss Versatility - Open Mares (2nd Leg)
   2 - Miss Dangles (Tetrick, 5-2) - Won elim of Armbro Flight but empty in final.  Much better draw.  Threat.
   1 - Ginger Tree Wanda (Lachance, 4-1) - Stepping up off of win.  No factor in first leg.
   3 - Pembroke Heat Wave (Gingras, 3-1) - Would be happy to advance.
1A - Celebrity Feeling (A Miller, 4-1) - Stepping up off impressive effort.  Consider.
   4 - Action-Broadway (Sears, 9-5) - Armbro Flight winner is the one to beat.  Expect odds-on fave.
   5 - Sea Raven (Pierce, 6-1) - Raced well in first leg.  Consider in Trifecta.
No Show Wagering
Selections: 4-1A-5

3rd Trot - $20,000; Peter Haughton Memorial - 2yo colts and geldings (2nd elimination)
   1 - Quit Smoking Now (Sears, 6-5) - Undefeated colt steps up.
   3 - Astarsborn Hanover (Tetrick, 4-1) - Got done in by fast fractions last start,  Expect similar pace this week..
   2 - Nothing But Class (Takter, 3-1) - Jumped off in last.  Your guess what happens this week.
2A - Guccio (Pierce, 3-1) - Seems to have a problem with fast pace.
   4 - Big Chocolate (Hochstetler, 6-1) - Made two moves in lst start and showed mild gain.  My type of horse.
1A - Power Play (A Miller, 6-5) - 1st time starter shows plenty of speed.  Ready at first asking?
   5 - Map of Hawaii (D Miller, 8-1) - Doesn't seem to be up to this caliber.
   6 - Markz Moose (Hegdal, 10-1) - Reaching here.  Pass.
Selections: 4-1A-2

4th Trot - $20,000; Merrie Annabelle - 2yo fillies (1st elimination)
1 - Dream On Hanover (Sears, 7-2) - Two race win streak and moves to the rail.  Will be tough.
2 - Aunt Mel (A Miller, 8-1) - Picked up share in NJSS.  Likely the same here.
3 - Real Babe (Tetrick, 6-1) - Won off month layoff.  Should be better this week.
4 - Mis Paris (D Miller, 3-1) - Nice debut.  Would not shock.
5 - Upside Hanover (Pierce, 5-2) - Winner of NJSS championship.  Looks to repeat.
6 - Sterling Volo (Lachance, 10-1) - May need another star.
7 - D'orsay (Gingras, 5-1) - Seems to be up against it.
Selections:     3-4-1-5

5th Trot - $20,000; Merrie Annabelle - 2yo fillies (2nd elimination)
1 - Win Missy B (Norris, 3-1) -Looks to repeat this week.  Possible.
2 - Love Walked In (A Miller, 6-1) - Should improve with the inside post.
3 - Quarantine S (D Miller, 10-1) - Swedish bred makes parimutuel debut.
4 - Sculpted Vanity (Pierce, 8-1) - May be up against better.
5 - Bluff (Smedshammer, 5-1) - Would be surprised to see advancing.
6 -  Swinging Nadine (Gingras, 4-1) - Should advance to the final.
7 - Check Me Out (Tetrick, 5-2) - Seems hard to go past this one.  My pick. 
Selections: 7-1-2

6th Trot - $32,000; Invitational
1 - Il Villaggio (Tetrick, 9-2) - Will need a big effort this week to take down the purse.
2 - Don't Know Chip (Gingras, 5-1) - Draws inside for the first time since mid-June.  May win at a price.
3 - Lanson (Lachance, 8-1) - Makes second start of the year.  Tough spot.
4 - Anders Bluestone (Sears, 6-1) - Maxi Lee winner raced well of a scratch.  Main contender.
5 - Winning Mister (A Miller, 4-1) - Faded late off moderate fractions.  Needs fast clip.
6 - In Focus (Pierce, 7-2) - Came back off layoff well; not out of it.
7 - Corleone Kosmos (D Miller, 3-1) - Veteran won last week.  Moves out.  May be aiming for next week?
Selections: 4-6-1