Race Preview: The Meadows - PA Sire Stakes 2nd of 4 Div - $235,000 - 2YO C&G Trot - Friday July 12th
There's some real talent in the 4 divisions of the colts and gelding trots for 2 year olds on this card. Broadway Hall, Cantab Hall, Donato Hanover, Andover Hall and Tom Ridge are some of the prominent sires in the young trotters' pedigrees. While on the damsire side, Muscles Yankee, SJ's Caviar, Pine Chip, Malabar Man, Tagliabue and American Winner show up more than once. New sire, Explosive Matter will have a chance to show what his trotting progeny can do in the first, second and fourth divisions.
Race 2 Preview - 2nd of 4 Divisions
The morning line favorite, Amped Up Hanover, is out of Explosive Matter and Armbro Amadeus, a mare out of Malabar Man. He has impressive times and a win in the PASS at Pocono on July 3rd and a place at Pocono in a non winners of 2 for 2 year olds in the race before that at the same track. Marcus Miller will continue to drive him for John Butenschoen, who has a very good record for wins with 2 year olds. Whether he will take to the change in track is an unknown factor, but he has the speed and breaking ability to get to the front in this race if he wants to.
The second favorite in the morning line is Journey, driven by Brett Miller, a very competent trot driver, and trained by Kathleen Lamontagne. Out of Donato Hanover with a dam out of Muscles Yankee - a potent trot pairing - this colt posted decent although not impressive times at Harrah's and Pocono, but was disqualified from 1st to 4th in his last race. He's on his fourth driver change and might need more time to mature, judging by his record. He does stay flat though and that's definitely a plus for 2 year old trotters. He was the favorite in his last race.
Faust, third favorite in the morning line, was very impressive in his debut in a Baby race for 2 year olds at Pocono with a 9 and three-quarter length win from the 8 post in 202 and 1. With Glidemaster for a sire and Credit Winner for his damsire, improving times and Jim Raymer as driver/trainer, I expect this gelding to best his last time and be a presence in this race.
Another entrant that is improving is Whitey Lauxmont with David Brickell driving and training. He could be a force to be reckoned with if the track comes up wet, because his sire, Oh So White, loves an off track. Given Brickell's 25% for trainer wins with horses moving up in class and his 60% win percentage with 2 year olds, I'd say that this gelding could be a sleeper in this race.
Another possible sleeper is Explosive De Vie, driven and trained by Jim Oscarsson. An Explosive Matter-Pine Chip gelding that might need more seasoning, this guy will probably get out early and could hold the lead better than he did last time out.
Dunks Brother has the unfortunate 1 post - at least for trots. On the plus side though, he has Aaron Merriman, a very good trot driver and Tye Loy for a trainer with 40% for wins with first timers and 17% for 2 year olds. He won going away last time out, but that was back in June on a track rated "good" in a 2 year old qualifier. His time did improve in that race from his first qualifier at Northfield back in the middle of June, when he was driven by his trainer. If Merriman can get him off to a good start and keep him flat through the first quarter, he may have a chance to show that he's better than his odds would imply.
Song In My Heart broke in his last race, but that could be because he was three wide and it was his first real race - and there was a track change. Before that, he had respectable times and placed and showed in 2 year old races. Linda Toscano is one of the best 2 year old conditioners in the business with 23% for wins with them. She's at 25% for wins for trots. David Miller has the reins.
Monte Cristo Spur, out of Cantab Hall and a Malabar Man mare, will be hoppled for the first time and it looks like that might be a good idea, if he can adjust to them. His breaks have been costly and he certainly looks like a youngster who is taking his time learning how to stay on stride.
Safe journeys and good racing luck to all the drivers and horses in tonight's races. Watch and wager on them on Bet America.
Race 2 Preview - 2nd of 4 Divisions
The morning line favorite, Amped Up Hanover, is out of Explosive Matter and Armbro Amadeus, a mare out of Malabar Man. He has impressive times and a win in the PASS at Pocono on July 3rd and a place at Pocono in a non winners of 2 for 2 year olds in the race before that at the same track. Marcus Miller will continue to drive him for John Butenschoen, who has a very good record for wins with 2 year olds. Whether he will take to the change in track is an unknown factor, but he has the speed and breaking ability to get to the front in this race if he wants to.
The second favorite in the morning line is Journey, driven by Brett Miller, a very competent trot driver, and trained by Kathleen Lamontagne. Out of Donato Hanover with a dam out of Muscles Yankee - a potent trot pairing - this colt posted decent although not impressive times at Harrah's and Pocono, but was disqualified from 1st to 4th in his last race. He's on his fourth driver change and might need more time to mature, judging by his record. He does stay flat though and that's definitely a plus for 2 year old trotters. He was the favorite in his last race.
Faust, third favorite in the morning line, was very impressive in his debut in a Baby race for 2 year olds at Pocono with a 9 and three-quarter length win from the 8 post in 202 and 1. With Glidemaster for a sire and Credit Winner for his damsire, improving times and Jim Raymer as driver/trainer, I expect this gelding to best his last time and be a presence in this race.
Another entrant that is improving is Whitey Lauxmont with David Brickell driving and training. He could be a force to be reckoned with if the track comes up wet, because his sire, Oh So White, loves an off track. Given Brickell's 25% for trainer wins with horses moving up in class and his 60% win percentage with 2 year olds, I'd say that this gelding could be a sleeper in this race.
Another possible sleeper is Explosive De Vie, driven and trained by Jim Oscarsson. An Explosive Matter-Pine Chip gelding that might need more seasoning, this guy will probably get out early and could hold the lead better than he did last time out.
Dunks Brother has the unfortunate 1 post - at least for trots. On the plus side though, he has Aaron Merriman, a very good trot driver and Tye Loy for a trainer with 40% for wins with first timers and 17% for 2 year olds. He won going away last time out, but that was back in June on a track rated "good" in a 2 year old qualifier. His time did improve in that race from his first qualifier at Northfield back in the middle of June, when he was driven by his trainer. If Merriman can get him off to a good start and keep him flat through the first quarter, he may have a chance to show that he's better than his odds would imply.
Song In My Heart broke in his last race, but that could be because he was three wide and it was his first real race - and there was a track change. Before that, he had respectable times and placed and showed in 2 year old races. Linda Toscano is one of the best 2 year old conditioners in the business with 23% for wins with them. She's at 25% for wins for trots. David Miller has the reins.
Monte Cristo Spur, out of Cantab Hall and a Malabar Man mare, will be hoppled for the first time and it looks like that might be a good idea, if he can adjust to them. His breaks have been costly and he certainly looks like a youngster who is taking his time learning how to stay on stride.
Safe journeys and good racing luck to all the drivers and horses in tonight's races. Watch and wager on them on Bet America.