This weekend sees sires stakes action breaking out all over with races at Harrah's Philadelphia, Hoosier Park, Meadowlands, Pocono Downs, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs. In addition to the sires stakes activity, the Meadowlands is carding their first $50,000 Invitational of the year, The Raceway at Western Fair District is having eliminations for the estimated $300,000 Molson Pace for North America's best FFAllers, and Georgian Downs has their eliminations for the $600,000 Upper Canada Cup which highlights the best Ontario has to offer.
Today we will take a look at the Molson eliminations tonight, Saturday's Invitational at the Meadowlands, and the Upper Canada Cup eliminations at Georgian Downs. For those who have TVG, tomorrow we will highlight the Night Owl Special, races twelve through fifteen at Cal Expo and their $20,000 Pick 4 guarantee with a 15% takeout.
Friday, May 18, 2012
4th Lon - Pace - $20,000; Molson Pace Elimination - 1st Division (Top four to advance to final)
1 - Up The Credit (Jameson, 3-1) - Making first start of year and tackling aged horses first time. Should advance.
2 - Clear Vision (Campbell, 2-1) - Five 3rd place finishes in a row. Should give a good show of self today.
3 - St Elmo Hero (Haughan, 5-1) - Yet to show the form of last year. Will be hard pressed to advance.
4 - Atochia (Gingras, 6-5) - Levy champion had tough trip last week at M1. Toss race. The one to beat.
5 - Stonebridge Tonic (McNair, 6-1) - Riding three week win streak moving up the classes. Longshot chance.
Selections: 4-5-2
9th Lon - Pace - $20,000; Molson Pace Elimination - 2nd Division (Top four to advance to final)
1 - Aracache Hanover (McNair, 5-2) - Has the rail against slightly easier; second best here.
2 - Valentino (Henry, 5-1) - Yet to show belongs with this class. May grab the show spot.
3 - Foiled Again (Gingras, 1-1) - Obviously the one to beat. However, next week is the big payday.
4 - Machal Jackson (Plante, 8-1) - The local entrant aims high. Will be fortunate to advance.
5 - Razzle Dazzle (Campbell, 9-5) - Has been competitive in Levy. Completes chalky trifecta?
6 - Secret Weapon (Young, 15-1) - Classy 10yo seems to be losing a step. Don't see.
Selections: 3-1-2
Saturday, May 19, 2012
6th Meadowlands - Pace - $50,000; Invitational
1 - Rockin The House (A Miller, 12-1) - Winner returns to Meadowlands; failed in Presidential series.
2 - River Shark (Sears, 8-1) - Seems to be a step below these. Not out of it.
3 - Sapphire City (Dube, 6-1) - Set a record at Tioga last week; tested for class here.
4 - We Will See (Pierce, 5-2) - Only true invitational horse makes first start of year. Wins at first try?
5 - Special T Rocks (Bier, 3-1) - Has been hot this year. May challenge here.
6 - Shoobee's Place (D Miller, 15-1) - Steps up off two race win streak. Worth a look at long odds for upset.
7 - Meirs Hanover (Gingras, 5-1) - Meets easier this week. Don't ignore.
8 - Dial Or Nodial (Lachance, 4-1) - Occasionally steps up. Has chance to win it all.
Uncoupled: #1 Rockin The House and #7 Meirs Hanover (Trainer: Ron Burke)
Selections: 8-7-4
2nd Georgian Downs - Pace - $25,000; Upper Canada Cup Elim - 3yo Ontario Sired
1 - Secretoftheknight (McNair, 9-5) - Has definitive class advantage. The one to beat.
2 - Rebel Jet (Macdonell, 4-1) - Missing against cheaper.
3 - Arthur (Ouellette, 6-1) - Scratched sick out of first start; never a good sign.
4 - Astor (Moiseyev, 5-2) - Will be knocking if better rated.
5 - Best Ears (Zeron, 3-1) - Lands share with a trip.
6 - Lyons Josephjnr (Jamieson, 7-2) - Don't see.
Selections: 1-4-5
4th Georgian Downs - Pace - $25,000; Upper Canada Cup Elim - 3yo Ontario Sired
1 - Fanelli Roal (Zeron, 4-1) - Eye opening qualifier. Ready to advance?
2 - Mel Mara (Ouellette, 8-5) - Second in open company stakes. Hard to go by.
3 - Huxley (Shepherd, 5-2) - Appears ready to break through. Will it be enough?
4 - Dontmachmeman (Mackenzie, 10-1) - Don't see. Toss.
5 - Giddy Up Blackfly (Macdonell, 7-2) - Winner against cheaper. Share at best.
6 - Aagn A Gesture (McNair, 6-1) - Won last. Looks like a decent spot. May spice up exotics.
7 - Machs Beach Boy (Jamieson, 8-1) - Not ready for prime time.
Selections: 2-6-1-3
6th Georgian Downs - Pace - $25,000; Upper Canada Cup Elim - 3yo Ontario Sired - No Show or Triactor wagering
1 - Michaels Power (Zeron, 4-1) - Horse undefeated on the 'B' tracks. Share with the rail.
2 - Hard to Mach (McNair, 7-2) - Seems primed to fire but runs up against a monster.
3 - Thunder Steeler (Ouellette, 8-1) - Maiden is overmatched here.
4 - Warrawee Needy (Jamieson, 3-5) - Clearly the best with little to beat. Still first start with $600K race next week.
5 - Machapelo (Moiseyev, 8-5) - Will take a chance on this one for the upset.
6 - R Gauwitz Hanvoer (Mcdonell, 9-2) - Yet to show 2yo form. Pass
Selections: 5-4-1
Racing columnist Andrew Cohen writes another excellent article which appears in The Atlantic, turns out the trainer of I'll Have Another One is playing run out the clock with a 180 day suspension from California for allegedly milkshaking a horse; a penalty issued back in 2010. O'Neil has a right to appeal penalties, but here we are two years latter and no decision has come down? Seems like another example of how harness racing and thoroughbred racing are more alike than different.
1 comment:
Anyone who comments about a horse with five consecutive third-place finishes: "should give a good SHOW of self today" is the winner of the pun-of-the-month award, whether intentional or not. Kudos.
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