Last night in the Maple Leaf Trot, Lucky Jim's fifteen race win streak came to an end with the upset victory by San Pail. Lucky Jim finished third after having horrible racing luck (click here for a good narrative of the race). Lucky Jim was not disgraced and we will be hearing more from him as the year goes on.
Before you watch the race below, look at the picture. The horse that was way back at the start was Misterizi. If you bet him, your money was refunded thanks to the fair start rule in Canada. If this race was held at track in the United States, you could have ripped up your tickets at this point. The lack of a fair start rule in the states in inexcusable. The racing commissions did not protect the interest of the wagering public when the recall rule was modified. However, you can help get this corrected.
If you live in the United States and you feel you should be treated with respect as Canadian gamblers, the battle for the fair start rule begins in New Jersey as a proposal for a fair start rule is on the agenda of the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) public meeting being held at Monmouth Park on August 19th. If you can attend, show your support for a fair start rule (it is not known if you will get a chance to speak at the meeting). When the proposal is published for public comment, make your thoughts known. Here is a link showing the genesis of the proposal before the NJRC.
Showing posts with label Lucky Jim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lucky Jim. Show all posts
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
"Well Done Well Said", The Lucky Jim Parade Rolls On
What is there to say about last night's Meadowlands Pace? This was perhaps the most dominating effort ever seen in the Meadowlands Pace. For Well Said, it was more like a time trial; the others were racing for second. After floating on the outside to let the field settle down, Well said easily got to the lead. Once he reached the lead, it was a race against the clock.
The fractions for the race were amazing: 26.1 53.4 1:20.2 1:47.3. Other than one crack of the whip against the wheel disc in the stretch (Well Said has a habit of slowing down to wait for the other horses) Well Said did this all on his own without urging. If this race was held on Hambo Day, Well Said would probably be waking up as the fastest pacer of all time.
Some people are claiming Well Said is better than Somebeachsomewhere based on his Meadowlands Pace victory (something SBSW did not do). While Well Said appears to be at a peak right now, there is no comparison; Somebeachsomewhere and Niatross are in a league of their own. Each of them were undefeated as 2 year olds and Niatross lost two races as a three year old (once he fell over the rail) with Somebeachsomewhere losing only one race. Well Said won four starts of twelve starts as a two year old. In addition, Niatross and SBSW dominated on all size tracks; Well Said has not raced on the half mile track. Let's just enjoy this super horse for what he is.
Last night was the first time there was not a Meadowlands Pace consolation race as not enough elimination entrants entered. Instead, a $50,000 three year old open was carded. No, the lack of a consolation race is not a sign of the ongoing problems with getting horses to race at the Meadowlands, it is due to the Adios eliminations being raced this week. The Adios which traditionally been raced the second week of August has been moved up due to the Hambletonian final being moved.
Lost in the Meadowlands Pace frenzy is the amazing fifteen race win streak by Lucky Jim. Lucky Jim won an elimination of the Maple Leaf Trot last night at Mohawk Raceway in 1:51.4. This was the fastest of the three eliminations raced. It will be interesting to see how Lucky Jim does next week in the final as he will be racing against Copenhagen Cup victor Triton Sund who finished second in his elimination. Being this was Triton Sund's first start after being in quarantine I expect him to be a threat next week. This promises to be an exciting race. Make sure to catch the final next week.
Here is Triton Sund's effort in the Copenhagen Cup:
The fractions for the race were amazing: 26.1 53.4 1:20.2 1:47.3. Other than one crack of the whip against the wheel disc in the stretch (Well Said has a habit of slowing down to wait for the other horses) Well Said did this all on his own without urging. If this race was held on Hambo Day, Well Said would probably be waking up as the fastest pacer of all time.
Some people are claiming Well Said is better than Somebeachsomewhere based on his Meadowlands Pace victory (something SBSW did not do). While Well Said appears to be at a peak right now, there is no comparison; Somebeachsomewhere and Niatross are in a league of their own. Each of them were undefeated as 2 year olds and Niatross lost two races as a three year old (once he fell over the rail) with Somebeachsomewhere losing only one race. Well Said won four starts of twelve starts as a two year old. In addition, Niatross and SBSW dominated on all size tracks; Well Said has not raced on the half mile track. Let's just enjoy this super horse for what he is.
Last night was the first time there was not a Meadowlands Pace consolation race as not enough elimination entrants entered. Instead, a $50,000 three year old open was carded. No, the lack of a consolation race is not a sign of the ongoing problems with getting horses to race at the Meadowlands, it is due to the Adios eliminations being raced this week. The Adios which traditionally been raced the second week of August has been moved up due to the Hambletonian final being moved.
Lost in the Meadowlands Pace frenzy is the amazing fifteen race win streak by Lucky Jim. Lucky Jim won an elimination of the Maple Leaf Trot last night at Mohawk Raceway in 1:51.4. This was the fastest of the three eliminations raced. It will be interesting to see how Lucky Jim does next week in the final as he will be racing against Copenhagen Cup victor Triton Sund who finished second in his elimination. Being this was Triton Sund's first start after being in quarantine I expect him to be a threat next week. This promises to be an exciting race. Make sure to catch the final next week.
Here is Triton Sund's effort in the Copenhagen Cup:
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Lucky Jim Tops the Poll... Again, When is Enough Enough?
The new Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Poll was released today and to no one's surprise, Lucky Jim is ranked number one. Muscle Hill falls from number three to number four. Mister Big, Buck I St Pat still rank ahead of undefeated Not Enough who is number nine. Like last year's refusal to put Somebeachsomewhere ahead of Donato Hanover until they were forced to at the end of the season, the fact that Muscle Hill, Mister Big and Buck I St Pat all are listed above seven for seven Not Enough show this poll is a popularity contest plain and simple.
Sad news comes from Scarborough Downs on the passing of Daylon Trooper who passed away at the age of eleven from a catastrophic stable accident injury the morning after his last victory. For those of you who may be unaware, this millionaire pacer used to race in the open classes in Yonkers and New Jersey in the earlier part of this decade. His last victory came at Scarborough Downs in a $3,000 race for nw1500l5 or $5,000 claimers. Daylon's ownership changed in April of this year. The question I ask is did not one of Dalyon's previous owners ever think that the eleven year old millionaire pacer was entitled to a well deserved retirement instead of being sold and continuing to race in cheap conditioned/claiming races? Make no mistake, the owners followed standard operating procedures; there is no merit system that says a horse is entitled to retire to a comfortable retirement at any time. While it is sad whenever a race horse dies as a result of illness or injury, it is a sad commentary on all of us that no one thought enough of this horse that they praise in death to have let him retire and enjoy the rest of his life.
And that is the biggest shame.
Sad news comes from Scarborough Downs on the passing of Daylon Trooper who passed away at the age of eleven from a catastrophic stable accident injury the morning after his last victory. For those of you who may be unaware, this millionaire pacer used to race in the open classes in Yonkers and New Jersey in the earlier part of this decade. His last victory came at Scarborough Downs in a $3,000 race for nw1500l5 or $5,000 claimers. Daylon's ownership changed in April of this year. The question I ask is did not one of Dalyon's previous owners ever think that the eleven year old millionaire pacer was entitled to a well deserved retirement instead of being sold and continuing to race in cheap conditioned/claiming races? Make no mistake, the owners followed standard operating procedures; there is no merit system that says a horse is entitled to retire to a comfortable retirement at any time. While it is sad whenever a race horse dies as a result of illness or injury, it is a sad commentary on all of us that no one thought enough of this horse that they praise in death to have let him retire and enjoy the rest of his life.
And that is the biggest shame.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Who Are the Poll Voters?
The Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Poll for this week has been released. No surprise that Lucky Jim continues to lead the standings as the number one harness horse in the country, followed by Southwind Tempo. Muscle Hill moves up to number three (was number four last week).
Yes, a horse that qualified last week moved up in the standings. On an "impressive" record of two for two for this year with earnings of over $127,000 this year, Muscle Hill comes in as number three while Not Enough who is seven for seven this year with earnings of over $552,000 debuts in the poll tied for ninth.
Am I the only one who sees the absurdity in this?
Who are the voters voting in this poll? Are these people who just read headlines or do they have a vested interest in a horse doing well in the poll? Is Not Enough being penalized because she can only have one foal a year where a horse like Muscle Hill can cover a book of 120? If this is a popularity poll, then let's call it the Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Popularity Poll and be done with it. The results of the poll should reflect what has transpired, not what may transpire.
If we wish to be treated as a major sport then we need to have transparency with the poll. I am not saying we need to know how each voter is voting but we have the right to know the qualifications of the voters.
The fans and those in the industry deserve this.
Yes, a horse that qualified last week moved up in the standings. On an "impressive" record of two for two for this year with earnings of over $127,000 this year, Muscle Hill comes in as number three while Not Enough who is seven for seven this year with earnings of over $552,000 debuts in the poll tied for ninth.
Am I the only one who sees the absurdity in this?
Who are the voters voting in this poll? Are these people who just read headlines or do they have a vested interest in a horse doing well in the poll? Is Not Enough being penalized because she can only have one foal a year where a horse like Muscle Hill can cover a book of 120? If this is a popularity poll, then let's call it the Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Popularity Poll and be done with it. The results of the poll should reflect what has transpired, not what may transpire.
If we wish to be treated as a major sport then we need to have transparency with the poll. I am not saying we need to know how each voter is voting but we have the right to know the qualifications of the voters.
The fans and those in the industry deserve this.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Lucky Jim
Well, in a year where no star horse has caught the public interest, could Lucky Jim be this year's feel good story in harness racing? Yes, I was one of the initial doubters of Lucky Jim, figuring once he started taking on the better aged trotters, reality would set in.
Welcome to the new reality. Lucky Jim is for real. For his work, Lucky Jim is the USTA's Horse of the Month for may. See this article from the USTA for additional details.
Lucky Jim was easy to dismiss. After all, as a 3 year old Lucky Jim was winless with total earnings of $47,600 for the season. This year as a 4 year old, Jim is 12 for 12 and has total earnings of over $394,000 for the year.
Is it the change of trainers to Julie Miller? Is it the fact that trotters are known to improve as they age? Probably a little bit of both. All I know is it will be interesting to see how Lucky Jim progresses as the meat of the racing season comes up.
What do you think? Is Lucky Jim the real deal? Let me know what you think.
Welcome to the new reality. Lucky Jim is for real. For his work, Lucky Jim is the USTA's Horse of the Month for may. See this article from the USTA for additional details.
Lucky Jim was easy to dismiss. After all, as a 3 year old Lucky Jim was winless with total earnings of $47,600 for the season. This year as a 4 year old, Jim is 12 for 12 and has total earnings of over $394,000 for the year.
Is it the change of trainers to Julie Miller? Is it the fact that trotters are known to improve as they age? Probably a little bit of both. All I know is it will be interesting to see how Lucky Jim progresses as the meat of the racing season comes up.
What do you think? Is Lucky Jim the real deal? Let me know what you think.
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