Saturday Harness Preview for 1/11/2014
by Ted Black
While the weather conditions along the East Coast may not be ideal for horses, drivers and fans alike at the various harness tracks offering live racing this weekend, the cards at The Meadowlands, Pompano Park and Dover Downs could offer a ray of sunshine on otherwise cloudy, rainy days.
In the third race at The Meadowlands on Saturday night, give American Paparazzi a chance at redemption in this non-winners of three races lifetime conditioned event. Last week American Paparazzi got used hard to the half in 54 seconds flat after leaving from post nine and still battled valiantly through the lane to earn second, beaten only a head in 1:52. He should be able to make the lead with less difficulty this weekend and without having to get to the half as quickly.
Several races later in the weekly feature for older males, the A-1-FFA Handicap, look for Hypnotic Blue Chip (John Campbell) to atone for his third-place finish last week. Although he again will likely be forced to race from well off the pace, Hypnotic Blue Chip should be able to work out a better trip and not be forced to move very wide prematurely on the far turn as was the case last week when he settled for the show money as the 6-5 choice.
Three races later in the ninth, a B-2 class for older pacers, give May Day (Campbell) a chance at redemption. Away well to gain command in a brisk opener last week, May Day yielded before the half then came right back on the attack first over ans still finished second. Campbell will have several options with him leaving the gate on Saturday and if he can avoid making two moves before three-quarters, should be able to prevail in this class.
Then in the 10th, a non-winners of $75,000 lifetime class, expect Muscle Beachboy (David Miller) to garner his first tally of the New Year. Also used hard to gain command from post nine last week against similar company, Muscle Beachboy was eventually nailed at the wire in 1:49.4, a fast clocking for this condition. If he can get to the half in 55 seconds or less, he should have plenty in reserve to hold safe his pursuers and prevail in sub-1:50 fashion.
That same evening at Pompano Park in Florida where conditions will be warm but wet, one of the better plays on the card is in one of the lesser condition classes. No Monkeys Allowed was parked-the-mile and finished second as the 4-5 favorite in the finale last week against non-winners of $2001 last five company and should be able to work out a much better trip in the evening's fifth, a non-winners of $2151 last five group and score as the 3-1 second choice.
Then on Sunday evening at Dover, look for Cool to gain the upper hand in the eighth, a non-winners of $6001 last six class. Last week Cool finished a solid third in the same group on a day when a thick fog enveloped the oval through much of the card. Expect Cool to be driven more aggressivesly this week from post six and emerge in the class, perhaps as the 3-1 thir choice.
Then several races later in the 12th at Dover, a non-winners of three races lifetime class, look for Cowboy Coffee to make immediate amends for a third-place finish last week as the 6-5 favorite in the same group. Cowboy Coffee raced first over much of the back half last week and settled for third, but he should be able to work out a much better trip this Sunday and depart with his first victory of the campaign.
While the weather conditions along the East Coast may not be ideal for horses, drivers and fans alike at the various harness tracks offering live racing this weekend, the cards at The Meadowlands, Pompano Park and Dover Downs could offer a ray of sunshine on otherwise cloudy, rainy days.
In the third race at The Meadowlands on Saturday night, give American Paparazzi a chance at redemption in this non-winners of three races lifetime conditioned event. Last week American Paparazzi got used hard to the half in 54 seconds flat after leaving from post nine and still battled valiantly through the lane to earn second, beaten only a head in 1:52. He should be able to make the lead with less difficulty this weekend and without having to get to the half as quickly.
Several races later in the weekly feature for older males, the A-1-FFA Handicap, look for Hypnotic Blue Chip (John Campbell) to atone for his third-place finish last week. Although he again will likely be forced to race from well off the pace, Hypnotic Blue Chip should be able to work out a better trip and not be forced to move very wide prematurely on the far turn as was the case last week when he settled for the show money as the 6-5 choice.
Three races later in the ninth, a B-2 class for older pacers, give May Day (Campbell) a chance at redemption. Away well to gain command in a brisk opener last week, May Day yielded before the half then came right back on the attack first over ans still finished second. Campbell will have several options with him leaving the gate on Saturday and if he can avoid making two moves before three-quarters, should be able to prevail in this class.
Then in the 10th, a non-winners of $75,000 lifetime class, expect Muscle Beachboy (David Miller) to garner his first tally of the New Year. Also used hard to gain command from post nine last week against similar company, Muscle Beachboy was eventually nailed at the wire in 1:49.4, a fast clocking for this condition. If he can get to the half in 55 seconds or less, he should have plenty in reserve to hold safe his pursuers and prevail in sub-1:50 fashion.
That same evening at Pompano Park in Florida where conditions will be warm but wet, one of the better plays on the card is in one of the lesser condition classes. No Monkeys Allowed was parked-the-mile and finished second as the 4-5 favorite in the finale last week against non-winners of $2001 last five company and should be able to work out a much better trip in the evening's fifth, a non-winners of $2151 last five group and score as the 3-1 second choice.
Then on Sunday evening at Dover, look for Cool to gain the upper hand in the eighth, a non-winners of $6001 last six class. Last week Cool finished a solid third in the same group on a day when a thick fog enveloped the oval through much of the card. Expect Cool to be driven more aggressivesly this week from post six and emerge in the class, perhaps as the 3-1 thir choice.
Then several races later in the 12th at Dover, a non-winners of three races lifetime class, look for Cowboy Coffee to make immediate amends for a third-place finish last week as the 6-5 favorite in the same group. Cowboy Coffee raced first over much of the back half last week and settled for third, but he should be able to work out a much better trip this Sunday and depart with his first victory of the campaign.
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