World Driver's Championship

The World Driver's Championship begins today at Chester Downs.  This event is held every two years and this year is America's turn to host the event in conjuction with the International Trotting Conference (more about the conference tomorrow).

The schedule for the International Driving Championship (ITC) is as follows:

7/31 - Harrah's Chester Downs
8/1 - Tioga Downs (special Monday card beginning at 6pm)
8/3 - Monticello Raceway
8/4 - The Meadowlands
8/5 - Yonkers Raceway

Corey Callahan represents the United States, replacing Jason Bartlett who got hurt in an automobile accident earlier this month.  Jody Jaimeson represents Canada.  For a profile of  the rest of the drivers involved in the ITC, you may click on this link,

Here are my handicapping selections for the Chester and Tioga Downs legs of the World Trotting Championship.  It should be noted to accomodate all the drivers in this contest there will be ten horses in each race meaning at Chester, there will be two trailers in each race while at Tioga, there will be one trailer in each race.

Sunday - Chester Downs
2nd Pace - $12,000; NW $6,500 Last 5 Starts
5 - Next Flight (Enrico Bellei, 10-1)
4 - Mjbudah Baby (Dexter Dunn, 5-2)
1 - Tampa Bay Escape (Franck Nivard, 12-1)

3rd Trot - $15,000; 4YO and Under - NW3PM or $25,000LT
1 - Unabating (Enrico Bellei, 5-2)
5 - Tempest De Vie (Corey, Callahan, 10-1)
9 - Trading Places (Chris Lewis, 8-1)
2 - Rt's Payday (Bjorn Goop, 7-2)

5th Pace - $16,000; Claiming $20,000
4 - Wildridge Sam (Juan Riera-Rossello, 7-2)
5 - Cyclone Cully N (Jody Jamieson, 9-2)
2 - Lightning Moon (Franck Nivard, 5-2)

6th Trot (1 1/4 miles) - $12,000; NW $6,500 Last 5 Starts
3 - Yanks (Chris Lewis, 7-2)
4 - Ladainian (Franck Nivard, 5-2)
8 - Yesternite (Bjorn Goop, 8-1)
2 - Blazin Delores (Dexter Dunn, 5-1)

Monday- Tioga Downs
2nd Trot (1 1/4 miles) - $7,000; NW $2,700 (F&M $3,301) Last 5 Starts
  8 - Hit Me Baby (Juan Riera-Rossello, 12-1)
10 - Spin Spanky Spin (Franck Nivard, 6-1)
  5 - Forever Bachelor (Chris Lewis, 9-2)

3rd Pace - $7,000; NW $2,201 (F&M $3,201) Last 5 Starts
2 - Prince Polaris (Michael Nimczyk, 9-2)
9 - Shark Income (Enrico Bellei, 10-1)
3 - Fifth Street (Birger Jorgensen, 8-1)

4th Trot - $10,000; NW $4,501 (F&M $5,501) Last 5 Starts
6 - Double A Gloria (Birger Jorgensen, 7-2)
4 -Karpathos (Franck Nivard, 6-1)
1 - Dangerismybusiness (Enrico Bellei, 8-1)
3 - Smooth Power (Chris Lewis, 3-1)

5th Pace - $10,000; NW $4,501 (F&M $5,501) Last 5 Starts
10 - I;m In Luck (Enrico Bellei, 7-2) 
  2 - Upto (Michael Nimczyk, 15-1)
  7 - Overseer NZ (Jody Jamieson, 9-2)