Adios And Adioo Volo Pacers Prepare To Pounce; Champs May Emerge From Frosh-Colt-And-Filly Elims

July’s final weekend presents a slew of stakes before August delivers trotting and pacing classics stuffed into the first Saturday at the Meadowlands. Many of the elims for Hambletonian Day will take place this weekend, including the Hambletonian Oaks, which out Hambletonian Trail blog will cover. We will be there reporting the Hambletonian-progam stakes live exclusively for TwinSpires, in association with the Hambletonian Society and the Meadowlands Racetrack.

This Saturday at the Meadows is Adios Pace dat, with the final and the femme version Adioo Volo, along with Grand Circuit stakes. And, of course, TwinSpires’ exclusive, productive horses-to-watch list (H2W) continues to offer the best wagering opportunities available on any racing website. Always consider H2W horses when constructing your wagers.

GREEN TROTTER ELIMS

On Friday, July 29 at the Meadowlands, two-year-old colt and filly trotters battle in two trials for each division to earn their ways into the Peter Haughton Final (colts) and the Jim Doherty Memorial Final. Let’s look at all four $20,000 elims, starting with the colts.

In the first Peter Haughton you have to take the usual leap of faith for a price, counting on an improving colt over the obvious ones already showing some spunk. As well, good breeding will add to the mix. Last week in the Kindgergartens we backed He’s Gone, a Donato Hanover colt out of Poof She’s Gone. That settles the blueblood conditions (and the fact that he would be a second-timer on the H2W but instead appears in the feature). The Nifty Norman trotter has been out twice and lost twice but he broke two back at the Meadows after a huge brush and aggressive move on the outside in a sires stake. His Kindergarten mile was dull but we will allow that one and hope he will work hard to get into the final, hopefully with a pricey win.

The second Peter Haughton elim should sway the crowd to the Ron Burke duo, Southwind Cobra and What The Hill. The tough Ray Schnittker youngster Chromeo will get play and be whizzing from post 8 early. The pushing of the three mentioned could set up a great mile for Another Chapter, who ships in from some tough races on smaller tracks and has every right to greatly improve here and offer a good price.

The first of two Jim Doherty elims for the fillies presents Jimmy Takter’s two-for-two winner Ariana, who will attract lots of win-pool dollars. However, a filly she has beaten twice finds a good spot in post 7 to upset Ariana. Waffle Cone is Burke’s only filly here and she has every reason to be very competitive here, making the final, hopefully by winning it. This may be a rare chance at a Burke longshot, since win money will also be in support of Broadway Idole from the rail, Ake Svanstedt’s Evelyn (post 4) and Nancy Johansson’s Southwind Avanti. This elim is far more balanced than the odds will reflect.

The second Jim Doherty elim appears to be very competitive. Certainly scenarios for many of these gals winning would be strong. Of the few gals yet to accomplish wins, Jim Campbell’s Donato Fashion could present a strong winning mile from post 4, while paying well for the effort.

ADIOS AMIGOS

Nine glamour-boy pacers look to add a traditional win to their resumes by winning the historic $400,000 Adios Pace Final on July 30 at the Meadows. Some of the top colts are not here but there is enough talent to defy the top choice, Racing Hill and his five Burke stable mates. Racing Hill is the Tony Alagna dominator that decided to wake up and win as a public choice after he broke for us moments from a 37-1 win. No hard feelings but we have to remind him this is the Adios and the public has a habit of over-betting its top choices.

Who could be better today outside of Burke’s influence includes who we supported in an elim last week—Another Daily Copy. He was short last week while setting fractions at a level he couldn’t maintain. That speedy jaunt allowed Manhattan Beach to take advantage of his perfect trip to win and longshot Fernando Hanover (both Burke guys) to make up late ground. It was not the Racing Hill elim but being in the final with that one could put “Copy” in a position to save some speed while Racing Hill attempts to race for a record as well as a trophy. Copy should let Racing Hill go from his outside and sit comfortably, waiting for his own perfect trip while Racing Hill is challenged by Lyons Snyder and maybe Big Top Hanover in a strenuous duel.

GOODBYE GIRLS

The Adios’ sister event is the $110,950 Adioo Volo, where only seven pacing fillies look for minor fame. Jo Ann Looney-King’s Newborn Sassy is the big money-earner among a sextet of glamour-girl members with little glamour to their season. You may find considerable value if you make Heels On The Beach one of your top three contenders. She has been first or second in six of eight starts for Ray Remmen’s barn and doesn’t seem to have to work too hard against this group, which the betting crowd probably won’t wager upon evenly.

COLTS TO ‘ROCK’

At the Meadowlands on July 30, a field of only five line up for the $150,000 Anthony Abbatiello Classic (formerly the New Jersey Classic). Showing up to hoist his bankroll and make up for some recent disappointments is Boston Red Rocks. He came into his soph season with a championship frosh status but he has not raced to expectation in the big stakes, even though he was supported well in most and arguably an underlay in the Meadowlands Pace.

Trainer Steve Elliott puts the Rocknroll Hanover colt into a state-bred stakes that appears can only be won by one other from the quintet—Ideal Rocky. That one, though yet to win at three, has handled some top competition before his 111-1 status from post 10 in a Meadowlands Pace elim. You can judge the value between the two, though Ideal Rocky may become the bet if the crowd takes chances on Burke’s Dontcallmefrancis, the other back-class property. If we choose a scenario that eliminates “Rocks,” albeit far-fetched, Ideal Rocky to Dontcallmefrancis could surface as a surprise top two.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W LIST

Batavia
7/29/16, Canadian Overall R3; JATO R7

Century
7/30/16, +Keep On Burning R2; +Clintons Memory R5

Harrington
7/28/16, +Delle Donne R1

Hawthorne
7/28/16, Stirling Emissary R2; Mr Strata R6

Hoosier
7/28/16, +Boys Round Here R9; +Megatron R10
7/30/16,

Meadowlands
7/29/16, Margarita M R12

Mohawk
7/29/16, Stonebridge Quest R10
7/30/16, Moonbeam Hall R1; Muscles Bound R3; Thorn In Your Side R6; American Rock R10; Sabine Pass R11

Monticello
7/28/16, +Tree Wood R8; +Tricks Of Terror R12

Northville
7/30/16, +Allamerican Laser R1

Philadelphia
7/28/16, +Arctic Clipper R7; +Kitti Place ae R9
7/29/16, +TSM Titusf R1

Plainridge
7/28/16, +A List R5; +KO Justice R9

Pocono
7/30/16, Lonewolf Currier R4; Bettor Believe It R6; McCedes R8
7/31/16, +Independent One R2
8/1/16, +Anna D R10

Red Mile
7/28/16, Powered By Scoot R3; Bogey Buds R6; Beachy Dreamer R8; Hopenpromises R10

Running Aces
7/30/16, +Flashy Lady R6; +Linkjack Hanover R8

Saratoga
7/29/16, Jonigold R3; Caseofthesillies R6; Camdee R12

Scarborough
7/29/16, Explosiveafternoon R2

Scioto
7/28/16, +Vegas Art R1; +Drawing Dragons R1; +Magic Vacation R3; +Stormy Kromer R3; +Amazing Chip R5; +Barley Up R7
 
Tioga
7/29/16, Heather R5
7/30/16, Blueridge Empire R5; Hold On Tightly R8

Vernon
7/30/16, Psyched R3; JDs Brent N Sheree R9

Yonkers
7/29/16, +Southwind Ricardo R5; +Scootin For Joy R7
7/30/16, +PH Supercam R11

 
Ray Cotolo contributes to this blog