Saturday, July 28, 2012
Race 1
7-Arduous – failed to respond to class relief at Yonkers & hindered by outside posts, drops even further & switches to Tetrick
1-Blue Claw – has had a long meet going just 2 for 25, but his last two at this level have hinted of an overdue win & this is a prime spot
9-High Noon – suddenly dictated a rated pace & faded late in :28.4 as the beaten favorite, may outclass this bunch, but post 9 & his lack of stamina is a concern
5-Evening Job – only 1 for 20 in 2012, but really woke up with a gutsy grind to just miss an upset, a similar effort does the job here
Race 2
7-Time To Roll – brother to Rockin Image was an impressive NA Cup runner-up, didn’t belong on the lead after missing three weeks two starts back, then had no shot in the Pace final
6-Rollnlikeabigshot – arrives off his first career loss after a fierce battle in :27.2, gelding with plenty of upside picks up Ron Pierce
1-Shakerattlenrock – third foal out of 2004 Sweetheart winner Fox Valley Shaker lands the pole off the mile of his life, a perfect prep for this
3-Verdad – decisive winner in the Reynolds, caught first over in a :27.3 third quarter as the beaten favorite, finds an ideal stalking spot
Race 3
3-Check Me Out – rated number one on the road to the Hambletonian until last week when she effortlessly reeled off a world record, becomes the richest trotting filly of all-time by winning this final
7-For A Dancer – Queen of NYSS & Empire Breeders Classic winner wisely freshened up with a perfect six-for-six this season
2-Holier Than Thou – draws inside off a shocking lifetime best in the PA All-Stars, retains Gingras, Jonas Czernyson pulled a huge Oaks upset in 2005 and was second at 82-1 with Resortful in 2007
4-Superstar Hanover – had a perfect trip in Check Me Out’s world record & faded to fifth, but bounced back with an easy win in PASS for Takter
Race 4
3-Maven – gave Check Me Out a big scare when she was nosed out in the Elegantimage Mohawk track record, aired it out in her last two
4-Win Missy B – runner-up in Check Me Out’s world record De Miller owns dangerous speed & faces a marquee match-up
1-Personal Style – NJJS champion from post 10 followed Win Missy B in the Del Miller, plays the opportunist role with her big kick
7-Real Babe – chased stablemate Check Me Out in the Hudson & emerged from a shuffle at Pocono, steady filly going in the right direction
Race 5
4-Uncle Peter – Jimmy Takter’s top gun has bounced back nicely from his Beal debacle with a lifetime best 1:52.3, then a well controlled Dancer division with a wrapped up :27.3, number one rated colt figures to get tested in this competitive elimination
1-Banker Volo – his first career loss was a noteworthy, locked-in second behind Uncle Peter & an ideal acclimating mile, previous win at Pocono was impressive, moves inside & switches to the Buckeye
5-Magic Tonight – shattered the track record at The Meadows with a 1:52.4 clocking on June 30, need his last start at Pocono after missing three weeks, possibly Noel Daley’s best shot at a Hambletonian repeat
2-Possess The Will – 2011 Dan Patch Award winner & leading money winner among freshmen colts, sickness delayed his comeback, two tighteners, an improved post & comes off Lasix
Race 6
4-Beer Summit – many will say he was lucky to trip out in the Goodtimes Final in 1:52.2 at Mohawk where there was lots of traffic, Noel Daley admitted he’s best from off the pace & needed his last start after missing a month due to sickness, Broad Bahn revisted?
7-Riccolo – Illinois sensation sold to Norwegian interests, switched to Trond Smedshammer & was allowed to steal an easy prep here to go 9-for-9 this season, let’s see him take control & get a stiffer test for class
2-Stormin Normand – 1:51.4 Beal elimination winner held off perfect trip sitter Lightning Storm in PASS, like stablemate Possess The Will comes off Lasix, draws well in tough elimination
3-Guccio – NJSS Final runner-up closed well to finish second to the same stablemate Little Brown Fox in fastest Dancer division, Jimmy Takter has had time to tinker with him further
Race 7
8-Rockaround Sue – did well in sires stakes, third from post 10 in the final, pumped up her confidence with back-to-back lifetime marks at Harrah’s Philadelphia
6-Blackjack Princess – chased the Mistletoe Shalee champ Major Look in a Geers stakes record 1:49.3 at Tioga Downs, big chance to shine with aggressive Dube handling
1-Sarandon Blue Chip – broke again after missing three weeks, romped in the sires stake final & owns a ton of upside with only six starts
4-Pirouette Hanover – qualified back with :26.4 vigor, looks to rebound off a rare break from an inside post
Race 8
9-Little Brown Fox – NJSS champ reeled off an eye-catching 1:51.2 Dancer division pretty much on his own, figures to get more severely tested in another strong elimination from post 9
7-Archangel – New York State star & Yonkers Trot winner arrives on a seven-race winning streak, with stakes & track records to his credit, looks to prove himself on the mile track
6-Market Share – beaten favorite in both finals of the NJSS & Goodtimes, closed well chasing a well-rated Riccolo, time to step up
5-Solvato – outsprinted Top Billing in a PASS division back on May 18, off another strong rally, a consistent stalker gives Trond Smedshammer another solid shot
Race 9
10-Alexie Mattosie – Presidential & Haughton winner last year freshened with a couple of months off, won the qualifier over Risk Management, returns at a reduced level
2-Oscar Oscar – was his usual aggressive self despite missing a couple of weeks & finished a strong second, draws well again after a long, productive 10 for 20 season
4-Big Bam Ray – twice beaten favorite squandered a perfect trip behind Oscar Oscar & company, can bounce back with Bionic Man
3-Melvyn – stone closer unleashed a :26.4 to end a long drought at Mohawk two starts back, seems well spotted back here & loves this track
Race 10
4-Hurrikane Kingcole – 1:48.4 world record setter in his Hempt elimination, 1:47.3 Pace consolation winner, back to familiar ground after opting out of the Adios for this easier assignment
1-Panther Hanover – interesting shipper from the Big Jim connections, a perfect four-for-four at Mohawk this season & steps into deeper waters
6-Simply Business – finished a close third to Sweet Lou in his Pace elimination first time Lasix, then had no chance in the final, might be at the mercy of the pace again
2-Brent Montana – finally started to flash his potential when Dave Palone sent him down the road on Pace night in 1:49.3, still has to prove himself at the stakes level
Race 11
5-Veal Marsala – thought he was a tad disappointing with a cover trip off a fast pace, grinded gamely to just miss before that & goes back to Pierce
3-Ideal Matters – was so much better than that bottom level field he swooped them despite an early break, builds on that in a stronger field
7-The Pokester – shows lively recent form in Pennsylvania, gets some class relief here for Ron Burke
10-Keep Going – was absolutely seared through a 1:21.3 three quarters last week, tries this lower level again & owns a big kick
