1 -- Trot, purse $18,000 5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES
10 French Vodka
5 Go Blue
8 Landing On Time
1 Royal Life picked up decent slices in the local series but now faces open company, many who have done well in high end stakes. Yet another you are likely to see at Grand River when it opens, which is just a short distance from where the connections train and live. For now, he appears to be a bit player at best.
2 Ten broke his maiden in late winter at 1-5 by pulling pocket early and trotting to an easy win. His last two at Flm have not gone well and he returns here, but now the fields are deeper, faster and tougher. He will have to show a lot more.
3 Irish Dreamer an aged horse, seems like he can follow around in 56 but not threaten those that can do more. He is another that would be better off at Grand River when it opens.
4 That Dude seems like a nice enough horse but maybe this time of year he would be better off at Georgian or Grand River. Many of these seem like they will trot right now in 54 or slightly slower. He seems stuck in the 58 range. That wont cut it with these.
5 Go Blue made the grassroots final last year and banked 37k. Since returning, with a new trainer, he has been 3rd under the line 3 times now, last time starting from post 8 and promoted to 2nd due to early interference. He has the overall speed to go with the better ones here. He has a shot if they blow up, don't show up, or don't put the effort out to win this time.
6 Sushi Bar broke his maiden here by stealing a very soft half. That makes him now 1 for 22 over the last two years, and he has shown to be no good at all against this class, even as it was easier when he first tried it. He looks hopelessly overmatched against these and likely heads to KD as soon as they open. He would be much more dangerous there.
7 Extended Session a 220k yearling with a lot of ability and just as many breaking issues. He is very chancy coming off a break in his last qualifier and being distanced. As such, he puts the trotting hopples on for this. He will have to be seen. He was good here last year when he was good.
8 Landing On Time tried some very tough company at 2, banking 96k and holding is own. After a mistake with J Mac in the first qualifier, Zeron handled him himself and he jogged in 56.His 53.4 mile last year pops off the page against this bunch, and if he can keep trotting, even from the 8 hole, he has a big shot. Zeron now trains him up North as Linda Toscano did in Kentucky
9 Tencaratgold showed okay ability and speed at 2, winning once before being shut down after consecutive breaks in his last two races. While never close in either his qualifier or first start back, he did take his overall time down. Not enough to beat some of these, but its progress. From post 9 I see little chance for him tonight, but he has potential going forward.
10 French Vodka was fairly consistent last year with a 1st and 2nd in the maiden class and then closing out the season with a second in this nw2 class. In that one he finished in a very good 55.2 and now returns off 2 qualifiers where he has gradually lowered his times to think he trots in 55 range, exactly where he left off. Since he drew the 10 hole I don't see them blasting off with him so I will wait and watch to see how and if he has matured. He can certainly hit the ticket though.
Recap.
3 -- Trot, purse $25,000 SBOA ELIM: ONTARIO SIRED 3 YEAR OLD FILLY TROT.
5 Lil Sweet
6 Shampoo Girl
7 Green Glider
1 Exquisite Taste
Very contentious race where I could make a legitimate case for all seven of them. Have to see them but there are a lot of moving parts here.
1 Exquisite Taste was solid last year and made 82k picking up big slices but never won. She rectified that this year and now is 3 for 3 on the season, last time in 55 flat in nw2. These are obviously tougher but she looks like one going forward as she ages. If so, she can take this bunch down.
2 Incantation was a solid Grassroots player last year but drew the 10 hole in the final and had little chance in that race, although she managed to pass a few to get 5th money. She has been okay so far this year in 4 starts, so she has a fitness edge on many of these, but last time at Flm in nw3 she drew the 8 hole and was parked the mile. She looks 2nd tier with many of these so I will pass and watch her. I would suspect she shows up in the Grassroots again this year and will be bet heavily in those.
3 Stormont Beautiful came on late in the season last year and has been rock solid, first or 2nd in all her starts, including in the return race in nw2. She is a decent leaver and a fast finisher. She has a shot here if the two or three logical ones dont perform, and even if they do, she is in the mix to make the ticket.
4 Tellers Choice was the Grassroots champion last year then took her shot in the Gold superfinal and nabbed 4th money. She was qualified 3 times and seems to be going forward, but whether she can trot in 54 is up in the air. She might be one of those who is right on the fence of Grassroots and Gold type.
5 Lil Sweet banked 249k last year, winning the gold Superfinal in 53.4 which would certainly handle this kind. She is now in the barn of Susie Kerwood. She is another that will have to be seen parading. She looks very good on paper, but sometimes this type doesn't translate from 2 to 3. McNair sticks here, qualified her last time and drove her many times last year, including in the Superfinal.
6 Shampoo Girl made one start in late fall at 2, and basically wired from the 10 hole, then was shut down. She had breaking issues last year and that seems to be the case again as she jumped it off in her 1st qualifier. She came right back and wired in 56.3, so which version we see is anyone's guess. I would think her good version is as good as any of these. Her breeding suggests high speed and possible soundness issues. She will have to be seen parading.
7 Green Glider raced last year with the trotting hopples and banked 40k being a solid Grassroots horse and and on the fringes Gold filly. She returned this year without the hopples with a poor post but closed well for 3rd. She draws slightly better here and she has a shot if she steps up a bit and others possibly regress. She looks to have value.
6 Shampoo Girl
7 Green Glider
1 Exquisite Taste
Very contentious race where I could make a legitimate case for all seven of them. Have to see them but there are a lot of moving parts here.
1 Exquisite Taste was solid last year and made 82k picking up big slices but never won. She rectified that this year and now is 3 for 3 on the season, last time in 55 flat in nw2. These are obviously tougher but she looks like one going forward as she ages. If so, she can take this bunch down.
2 Incantation was a solid Grassroots player last year but drew the 10 hole in the final and had little chance in that race, although she managed to pass a few to get 5th money. She has been okay so far this year in 4 starts, so she has a fitness edge on many of these, but last time at Flm in nw3 she drew the 8 hole and was parked the mile. She looks 2nd tier with many of these so I will pass and watch her. I would suspect she shows up in the Grassroots again this year and will be bet heavily in those.
3 Stormont Beautiful came on late in the season last year and has been rock solid, first or 2nd in all her starts, including in the return race in nw2. She is a decent leaver and a fast finisher. She has a shot here if the two or three logical ones dont perform, and even if they do, she is in the mix to make the ticket.
4 Tellers Choice was the Grassroots champion last year then took her shot in the Gold superfinal and nabbed 4th money. She was qualified 3 times and seems to be going forward, but whether she can trot in 54 is up in the air. She might be one of those who is right on the fence of Grassroots and Gold type.
5 Lil Sweet banked 249k last year, winning the gold Superfinal in 53.4 which would certainly handle this kind. She is now in the barn of Susie Kerwood. She is another that will have to be seen parading. She looks very good on paper, but sometimes this type doesn't translate from 2 to 3. McNair sticks here, qualified her last time and drove her many times last year, including in the Superfinal.
6 Shampoo Girl made one start in late fall at 2, and basically wired from the 10 hole, then was shut down. She had breaking issues last year and that seems to be the case again as she jumped it off in her 1st qualifier. She came right back and wired in 56.3, so which version we see is anyone's guess. I would think her good version is as good as any of these. Her breeding suggests high speed and possible soundness issues. She will have to be seen parading.
7 Green Glider raced last year with the trotting hopples and banked 40k being a solid Grassroots horse and and on the fringes Gold filly. She returned this year without the hopples with a poor post but closed well for 3rd. She draws slightly better here and she has a shot if she steps up a bit and others possibly regress. She looks to have value.
6 -- Trot, purse $25,000
SBOA ELIMINATION: ONTARIO SIRED 3 YEAR OLD FILLY TROT.
SBOA ELIMINATION: ONTARIO SIRED 3 YEAR OLD FILLY TROT.
5 Monalishi
6 Bright Green
2 Sprite Seelster
1 Roxie Hart
1 Roxie Hart is 4 for 8 lifetime and seems to be improving as she ages, which was the case with her mother and her half brother Dealin With Dewey. Other than the big favorite she looks as good as any of these.
1 Roxie Hart is 4 for 8 lifetime and seems to be improving as she ages, which was the case with her mother and her half brother Dealin With Dewey. Other than the big favorite she looks as good as any of these.
2 Sprite Seelster can be very erratic at times, but she did make the Superfinal last year, didn't get any money but didn't embarrass herself either. She has changed hands this year, and in her first start she moved down some pretty good ones in 27 flat to get the win. She has a shot with these if the 5 doesnt perform.
3 Ivy Lynn started out like a bearcat last year then regressed badly and since returning this year has gotten even worse. I can't see her with this bunch.
4 Nightingale is a maiden facing legit Superfinal performers. On the trainer change she has come back to the races more vibrant, faster and not making consistent breaks. She still faces winners, but she is on the upswing for sure. Roxie Hart beat her twice when they faced each other, but that was then.
5 Monalishi qualified in 54.4 where she smoked them by 18 lengths, and trotted in 52.2 last year, competing against the best out there and holding her own and winning the Peaceful Way. She is strictly the one to beat if she makes no mistakes.
6 Bright Green won the Harvest final in 55.4 in the fall and took down nw2 in 55.1 two weeks ago as she has raced herself into top shape to face this bunch. Now she will get the acid test of Monalishi and frankly she only needs to make the final, so how hard she is pushed here is debatable.
7 Not Passable makes a very ambitious leap from nw1, her first start and win just a week ago, into the very deep end of the pool, where even some who have won nw2 are in tough with the better ones here. She will also have to vastly improve her time. I like others.
8 -- Trot, purse $18,000
5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES OR $20,000
5 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 (FM 3) RACES OR $20,000
9 Ungawa
6 Cover Band
7 Right Here Hanover
1 Hp Lucas
Hard to love anything too much here. Favorites both look like they can go either way, and the next in line have potential but aren't consistent.
1 Hp Lucas gunned out for the lead from the 9 hole long time and took them a long way. If he could do the same here but accept a following trip he has a shot here. These aren't the toughest foes he might find at this level.
1 Hp Lucas gunned out for the lead from the 9 hole long time and took them a long way. If he could do the same here but accept a following trip he has a shot here. These aren't the toughest foes he might find at this level.
2 Life As It Comes doesnt look as good as many of these and probably is more of a B track horse at this stage. Off 2 qualifiers for his return, he will have to be seen and is more likely to hunt an inside trip for a small slice.
3 Stonebridge Glee drew the 10 hole last time and just went around. That was his 2nd start on lasix and he was better the time before, although he did lower his overall time last time. In a race like this he has longshot upside.
4 Nickel And Dime currently doesnt look viable and has the trainer driving here hoping to keep him going forward, which he has not done for a while.
5 Stormont Cheerio seems currently to be a second slower than the better ones here and generally needs to do more to get a win at this level. At least he draws better here. He has some hope going forward if he can do better this time with a better start.
6 Cover Band raced well on his return and comes right back here as the logical favorite. One of many though as nobody jumps off the page.
7 Right Here Hanover made a nice return to the races finishing in decent time. He has been prone to being inconsistent so there is that. He is a contender on paper. He has to be seen.
8 Stmikes Kerryblues was reasonably good at 2, but mostly a fringe player in the stakes. He has returned this year with lasix but has only been a bit player. I think he will find a spot, but he hasn't gone forward yet. His type eventually finds a way to get it back. That time will come. Just dont think that night is tonight. Post 8 also makes that tough.
9 Ungawa broke his maiden in his lifetime debut then took his time down sharply in start 2, racing from way back, then made a break last time taking him out of it. He has upset potential coming right back although the 9 hole makes that much tougher.
10 Wondrous Blue Chip won in 55.2 last year then tried tough stakes horses, making a break in the first one then clearly miles over his head in the Mohawk Million, then shut down. He has not impressed in two qualifiers upon return and draws the 10 hole here. Cant see him tonight but one to watch going forward.
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