For photos from the Meadowlands contact Lisaphoto@playmeadowlands.com

Monday, August 22, 2011

Reading into Things too Much

So some of you may be wondering how I could have picked against See You At Peelers.  Last week as you recall, See You At Peelers, was scratched out of the New York State Fair race she was scheduled to race in after going too warm up miles.  The track was sloppy and it was said she didn't like the surface.

Well, this week shows you two things.  One, is I would make a lousy meteorologist.  The second thing is I read too much into last weeks event.    Based on the forecasts, I figured the Chester track would be as sloppy as Tioga (if the race was held by me, the track would have been washed out).  Instead the real deluge didn't show up in time down near Philadelphia and the track was rated good.

As for the reading too much into things, I was correct in assuming it was one thing to scratch out of  $22,000 race; but another thing to scratch out of a $350,000 race so I was sure she would race yesterday.  I got that right.  But I figured with a sloppy track and a very good field she was facing, the track may have beaten her yesterday based on her scratch last week.

Oh, how wrong I was.  The track was off a little and it even had a challenge by Idyllic in the second quarter.  However, as soon as Idyllic got within a half length or so, the race was over as See You At Peelers rebuffed the challenge and then went on to win effortlessly. 



I had no doubt See You At Peelers was the best horse in the race, but clearly I over thought last weeks' scratch at Tioga Downs; reading too much into it.  I obviously was not the only one to over think it either as SYAP paid a generous $3.60 for her victory. 

With harness racing talking about keeping their stars racing, it was nice to read this weekend , that we may have SYAP  racing for another two years if all goes well.

As for the MAV TV broadcast of a special edition of PA Harnessweek, I thought it was an excellent show for a cable broadcast.  Steve Ross, and special guest co-host Lou Tilly did a great job as did Heather Moffett, Sharla McBride and Susan Ehlers.  My only complaint was they really didn't go into any detal that Susan Ehlers was the handicapper.  Nothing against Lou Tilly and I realize there is a budget to putting on the show, but for an event like this, having Gary Siebel as a co-host for the broadcast would have added a lot to the show.  We get few times on television these days, so it would have been nice to present the best broadcast team possible.  While, likely a restriction of the budget, it would have been nicer if the graphics when showing the horses had some color instead of the black and white used.


Zweig Memorial Sunday at Tioga


The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial stakes for 3YO colt & filly trotters will be raced on Sunday, August 28 at Tioga Downs as part of the 5th annual Drivers' Championship card.

Among the eligibles are Hambletonian winner Broad Bahn, Colonial winner Manofmanymissions and Colonial Consolation I winner Charlie De Vie. The estimated purse is $235,000 for the Open division. Hambo Oaks winner Bold And Fresh is reported to be headed for the $120,000e filly division.

Supplemental entries are accepted for both Zweig events. Race conditions are available here.

Entries will be taken by the Tioga racing office until the box closes on Thursday, August 25 at 9AM.(Tioga Downs)



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