Fierce Battles To Continue With Pacing Series; Four-Year-Olds Meet In Finals

We’re still trying to settle into spring on the east coast but the condition is inevitable, as are some of the upsets available in the features this week. 

The George Morton Levy Memorial and Blue Chip Matchmaker, continue this Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at Yonkers. The Free For Allers battle in the second of five preliminary legs, with finals and consolations scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 25. There are only four Levy splits this week, while there is a pair of Matchmaker divisions.

At the Meadowlands there are two series’ finals on Saturday, as the four-year-olds wind up in the $59,800 Shiaway St Pat and the $59,000 Clyde Hirt.

Of course, there are more horses-to-watch (H2W), the TwinSpires exclusive feature for across-the-board/exotic contenders at North American tracks.

Matchmakers

In the first of the two Matchmaker divisions at Yonkers on Friday, March 27, we like the fresh appearance of ron Burke’s Sayitall BB—but not because he will be our bet. He is one of a few here that will get the top win-pool action, leaving last year’s defending champ, Somwherovrarainbow, dismissed. She scratched sick last week, when she would’ve been a probative favorite. Getting post 7 here, against “BB,” Carolsideal (a division winner last week) and Anndrovette, affords her a 7-1 morning line. This may be the last time in the series we can pick up value from Somwherovrarainbow, so there is no other choice if she offers herself as third or fourth choice.

The next Matchmaker could once again offer a strong upset with the same mare we went with in the first division, Coffee Addict. Sitting in post 2 with a guaranteed leaver from post 1 and a sure-fire aggressive move early from Krispy Apple in post 6, “Coffee” will find a perfect trip to her liking and be full of more pace late than the probable speedy pair mentioned.

Levy Deux

The Levy quartet of divisions begins with Race 7 on Yonkers’ March 28 program, with each division in successive order. Eight charge in division one, led by leg-one winner and defending-champ PH Supercam. He is looking for a sweep but will have to work hard for it and his hurdle this week is a bit tougher than leg one.

The Vallees’ Big N Bad has come into this series for real. His first attempt to make a mark was in the PH Supercam division of round one. Big N Bad made a big move that turned out bad, flying to three-quarters on the outside to be second and passed in the final quarter. It was only his third start of the season for Jennifer Sabot’s team and he could be a lot better in this week’s split and certainly offer more than 7-1.

The only double-digit winner in last week’s sextet of splits was Michaels Power, who was exceptionally strong on the front, leaving briskly and dueling to a point everyone thought he would falter. He cannot, however, be expected to race as well or be an outsider in the wagering here. Foiled Again was just warming up in his debut for the season last week. Machs Beach Boy was a beaten favorite, his form impressing enough bettors to warrant that status. Polak A won handily wire to wire from post 1, which he gets again in this episode. Warawee Needy returns from just the kind of win, on the engine, that could thwart Michaels Power and hurt his chance to visit the winners’ circle.

Machs Beach Boy won’t return as a favorite and nor may he return as one of the quick leavers. Placed strategically, this week “Boy” needs to attempt a come-from-behind, ground saving trip that doesn’t launch too late. That Yonkers stretch is murderous if you aren’t wailing on the final turn. He could have enough and do it at a price.

Dancin Yankee did not leave, as we predicted, and got third closing. There seems no reason why, from post 1 this week, the last Levy split of the program, he wouldn’t want to put in a wire-to-wire mile going as fast as he ever did when he flashed mighty mile times at Pocono.

Clyde Hirt Conclusion

This final at the Meadowlands on Saturday is so imbalanced that the bulk of everything wagered may come from huge bettors looking for good percentage returns on the place and show pools. As for the winner, Rockeyed Optimist has dominated the series and the best of his competitors, both in this small field, have not been able to catch him. We followed Caviart Luca, twice 8-1 against “Rockeyed” in this series, and both times he had a struggling outside trip that made him settle for second. Of course he can beat Rockeyed and another crack at that feat near 8-1 is worth the shot, especially if Rock Out makes another attempt to steal the mile. Any bargain exacta would require figuring Rockeyed to come up short, with “Luca” first and Rock Out second. It’s improbable but certainly possible with extreme urging at the right times in the mile.

Shiaway St. Pat Pronounces Champ

These trotters go to post with three in an entry, two in an entry, and three more betting interests, which doesn’t make for a compelling attack on the pools. However, the trio outside of the entries has some qualities that could provide a long price in a short field.

Sheer Flex has been flat and in pursuit in both legs of the series; Clementine Dream has won here already this meet (she won off of the H2W list); and Cash For Gold had two unsavory trips after coming to the series with promising credentials. Of the three, Sheer Flex may be in the best position to pull a surprise, though it will take an advantageous trip that saves ground and relies on some tough dueling between top-choices JR Cruze (second entry) and Opulent Yankee. For sure, “Flex” certainly would knock some lights off the toteboard.

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

Buffalo
3/27/15, One Chaser R1; The Mexican ae R4
3/28/15, +Freaky Flyer R8
 
Cal Expo
3/28/15, Orlandos Express R8; Rhis Acuz That’s Y R11
3/29/15, Barbosa R4; Diva Las Vegas R9; Lucky Land R11

Dover
3/26/15, +Good Luck R2; Jeremes General R5; +Heaven Is For Real R6; Action Brad R8; +Jebswesternshake R10

Flamboro
3/26/15, Alexis Hope R4;+Brandon Iron R8; Lady Hot Shot R9
3/29/15, +Black Diamond Star R3

Freehold
3/26/15, My Drag Queen R4
3/28/15, +Montana Pablo N R8

Meadowlands
3/27/15, +Annapolis R12

Meadows
3/30/15, ER Myron R6

Monticello
3/26/15, Sweet Sounds R3

Northfield
3/26/15, Fashion Fluzzy R6; Pantsuit Hilary R9; Miss Fineline R14

Northville
3/27/15, Onhishonor Hanover R4; +El Punch R11
3/28/15, Triad R1; Tamala R3; +Digam R4; +Dastardly Dick R11

Philadelphia
3/29/15, Sectionline Jeg R11

Pocono
3/28/15, +Vance Bayama R4; Ideal Matters R11; Starlite Kid R14

Rosecroft
3/28/15, Starlets Toy R11

Saratoga
3/26/15, Dws Austin R9
3/27/15, Hello Im Johnny R5; Notashadowofadoubt R12

Scarborough
3/28/15, Hall Of Muscles R3; Talk It Up R5; Royal Hawaii R6; +Top Shot R9; Woodmere Trakeater R10

Yonkers
3/26/15, +Babes I Scoot R2
3/27/15, Grandpa Don R3
3/28/15,One More Kid R8; Ala Notte Hanover R10; Mortal Zin R12

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.