Monday Harness Preview for 4/7/2014
by Ted Black
Although rain is being forecast for much of the Mid-Atlantic region on Monday, the racing action at Dover Downs and Pompano Park, this evening should help make racegoers feel like spring is close at hand as those ovals gear their programs toward pacing fillies and mares.
Monday's feature at Dover is the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final for three-year-old filly pacers, slated as the eighth race on the card. Among the eight finalists is only one sophomore filly that won both of her elimination rounds, but there are several others in the group that merit upset possibilities.
Seboomook Fool Yah (Allan Davis) won both of her DSBF prelims for trainer Wayne Givens and owner-breeder Garnet O'Marrow and then drew post two for the final and was installed as the lukewarm 5-2 choice although she is likely to be much closer than even-money at post time. Last week she displayed plenty of early speed to overcome post six to gain command, then fended off one backside challenge and held safe the pocket horse to score in 1:54.4.
But two of her primary rivals also exit that same elim. Fashion Guru (Tim Tetrick) gets the services of one of the sport's leading drivers and she has plenty of gate speed and tons of conditioning, having posted a 3-4-0 slate from eight starts this season. She will leave to secure good early position and will either be on the lead or in the pocket behind Seboomook Fool Yah leaving the far turn and the driver switch to Tetrick could be enough to overcome the distance in the lane.
Also looking to post the mild upset in here is Megginspin (Ron Pierce) who attempted to brush past Seboomook Fool Yah down the backside in their elim last week and then gave way late and settled for third. But that effort was much better than it looked on paper and petite Delaware trainer-breeder-blacksmith Leigh Louthan should have this daughter of No Spin Zone primed for a big effort on Monday.
One race later in the ninth, a non-winners of five races or $25,001 lifetime class for pacing fillies and mares, look for Trans Am Blue Chip (Pierce) to repeat. Last week in this condition the four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere gained command early, yielded to favored Smokin American before the half and sat a loose pocket throughout and then overhauled the favorite late to score in 1:55.1. But look for Trans Am Blue Chip to control the tempo from the outset this evening.
One race later in the 10th, the Open Handicap for fillies and mares, give Alexachase a genuine chance at the upset. In a race where Spend It All and Jeremes Sweetheart where deservedly attract most of the attention since they both have ample gate speed and have been the one-two finishers in the two most recent editions of this event, look for Alexachase to be somewhat tighter after a gritty, first over bid against the top pair last week. A more honest tempo would certainly help her chances.
One race later in the 11th, a non-winners of $12,000 last six class for pacing fillies and mares, look for Lady's Delight to post the upset. Last week in this group she delivered a very gritty, first over effort at 30-1 to finish second behind Alice's Restaurant who steps up into the Open this evening. Granted, horses that finish second at 30-1 are often overbet in their next outing, but Lady's Delight was very game last week and is worth the play at 10-1 in this same class.
Then in the finale on the 15-race card, give Ghost Like a chance to repeat although stepping up into the non-winners of three races lifetime class for the first time. Last week the three-year-old Bettor's Delight filly rallied second over to score as the 1-2 choice in the non-winners of two event in 1:55.4. Rusty's Winning, the beaten favorite in this group last week and the likely post-time choice again, had the misfortune of drawing post eight for the finale and will have her work cut out for her but should complete the exacta.
Pompano Park will offer three good Open events for filly-mare pacers on the Monday card as well and all three are playable.
In the opener, the $7000 F-M Open, look for Say Uh-huh to post the mild upset. Last week in this class she raced second over and finished second as 3-10 choice Bombilla Hanover led throughout en route to a four-length score in 1:53.1. Say Uh-huh has already won twice in 12 starts this year and sports a seasonal mark of 1:53.1, which is good enough to capture this event.
Two races later in the featured, $10,000 F-M Open, look for Arodasi to post the mild upset despite missing last week. In most cases, horses that miss a week are typically worth playing against, but Arodasi has always done her best racing off a two-week rest and she has a strong stretch kick when called upon. Godiva Seelster won this event last week in wire-to-wire fashion, but she will likely face plenty of early pressure this evening and that should set things up nicely for Arodasi.
Several races later in the seventh, the $8500 F-M Open, take a shot at Head First. Last week she set wicked early fractions and then was nailed late in a three-way thriller in 1:52.2. Black Diamond Girl benefited from a second over trip and then jumps back into the top Open this evening, but Market Dynamics was a game first over last week and also merits respect here. But if Head First can dictate the tempo and reach the half in 56 an change, she will have plenty left in reserve.
Although rain is being forecast for much of the Mid-Atlantic region on Monday, the racing action at Dover Downs and Pompano Park, this evening should help make racegoers feel like spring is close at hand as those ovals gear their programs toward pacing fillies and mares.
Monday's feature at Dover is the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final for three-year-old filly pacers, slated as the eighth race on the card. Among the eight finalists is only one sophomore filly that won both of her elimination rounds, but there are several others in the group that merit upset possibilities.
Seboomook Fool Yah (Allan Davis) won both of her DSBF prelims for trainer Wayne Givens and owner-breeder Garnet O'Marrow and then drew post two for the final and was installed as the lukewarm 5-2 choice although she is likely to be much closer than even-money at post time. Last week she displayed plenty of early speed to overcome post six to gain command, then fended off one backside challenge and held safe the pocket horse to score in 1:54.4.
But two of her primary rivals also exit that same elim. Fashion Guru (Tim Tetrick) gets the services of one of the sport's leading drivers and she has plenty of gate speed and tons of conditioning, having posted a 3-4-0 slate from eight starts this season. She will leave to secure good early position and will either be on the lead or in the pocket behind Seboomook Fool Yah leaving the far turn and the driver switch to Tetrick could be enough to overcome the distance in the lane.
Also looking to post the mild upset in here is Megginspin (Ron Pierce) who attempted to brush past Seboomook Fool Yah down the backside in their elim last week and then gave way late and settled for third. But that effort was much better than it looked on paper and petite Delaware trainer-breeder-blacksmith Leigh Louthan should have this daughter of No Spin Zone primed for a big effort on Monday.
One race later in the ninth, a non-winners of five races or $25,001 lifetime class for pacing fillies and mares, look for Trans Am Blue Chip (Pierce) to repeat. Last week in this condition the four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere gained command early, yielded to favored Smokin American before the half and sat a loose pocket throughout and then overhauled the favorite late to score in 1:55.1. But look for Trans Am Blue Chip to control the tempo from the outset this evening.
One race later in the 10th, the Open Handicap for fillies and mares, give Alexachase a genuine chance at the upset. In a race where Spend It All and Jeremes Sweetheart where deservedly attract most of the attention since they both have ample gate speed and have been the one-two finishers in the two most recent editions of this event, look for Alexachase to be somewhat tighter after a gritty, first over bid against the top pair last week. A more honest tempo would certainly help her chances.
One race later in the 11th, a non-winners of $12,000 last six class for pacing fillies and mares, look for Lady's Delight to post the upset. Last week in this group she delivered a very gritty, first over effort at 30-1 to finish second behind Alice's Restaurant who steps up into the Open this evening. Granted, horses that finish second at 30-1 are often overbet in their next outing, but Lady's Delight was very game last week and is worth the play at 10-1 in this same class.
Then in the finale on the 15-race card, give Ghost Like a chance to repeat although stepping up into the non-winners of three races lifetime class for the first time. Last week the three-year-old Bettor's Delight filly rallied second over to score as the 1-2 choice in the non-winners of two event in 1:55.4. Rusty's Winning, the beaten favorite in this group last week and the likely post-time choice again, had the misfortune of drawing post eight for the finale and will have her work cut out for her but should complete the exacta.
Pompano Park will offer three good Open events for filly-mare pacers on the Monday card as well and all three are playable.
In the opener, the $7000 F-M Open, look for Say Uh-huh to post the mild upset. Last week in this class she raced second over and finished second as 3-10 choice Bombilla Hanover led throughout en route to a four-length score in 1:53.1. Say Uh-huh has already won twice in 12 starts this year and sports a seasonal mark of 1:53.1, which is good enough to capture this event.
Two races later in the featured, $10,000 F-M Open, look for Arodasi to post the mild upset despite missing last week. In most cases, horses that miss a week are typically worth playing against, but Arodasi has always done her best racing off a two-week rest and she has a strong stretch kick when called upon. Godiva Seelster won this event last week in wire-to-wire fashion, but she will likely face plenty of early pressure this evening and that should set things up nicely for Arodasi.
Several races later in the seventh, the $8500 F-M Open, take a shot at Head First. Last week she set wicked early fractions and then was nailed late in a three-way thriller in 1:52.2. Black Diamond Girl benefited from a second over trip and then jumps back into the top Open this evening, but Market Dynamics was a game first over last week and also merits respect here. But if Head First can dictate the tempo and reach the half in 56 an change, she will have plenty left in reserve.
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