November 2007

posted 11:20AM Friday 11/30

I got my Dan Patch ballot in the mail today and I have tentatively filled it out. I usually fill it out hwen I get and then wait a week and look at it again before mailing. Definite divisional votes to Deweycheatumnhowe, Snow White, Donato Hanover. Tentative calls on the trotting side to Pampered Princess (very good all year, even though she got beat in the BC), Vivid Photo (call me sentimental- I like roger Hammer) and Buck I St Pat (weak division so let's play homer). On the pacing side, none of my picks are finalized. Somebeachsomewhere (didn;t race much), Stylish Artist (BC win was enough), Tell All (fastest and richest), Southwind Temp (okay, this one is all but for sure), Maltese Artist (homer call, perhaps, but his numbers stand up to the other FFA pacers), Moving Picutres. I male D. Hanover Trotter of the Year (alhtough I am tempted to vote Deweycheatumnhowe) and Southwind Tempo Pacer of the Year, with Donato getting my overall HOTY vote -- for now.

posted 1:45PM Thursday 11/29; edited 11:20AM Friday 11/30

Just got the proof of Monday's program and guess what. No Athlete In Action in the November to Remember Final. It seems he tried a $10K late-closer at The Meadows on 11/20 and made a break at the start with Dave Palone in the bike. Have to assume he got himself hurt in that one to not go after $8,400 two weeks later. Even though Bizzness Trip and Image Master have won two in a row, why do I feel they are vulnerable in the final. And how 'bout Dean Beachy shelling out over $10K for Jailhouse Justice and leaving him with trainer Robert Coblentz. Wonder if this was a pinhook, or if he has him sold after the series ends. Talk about invetsment property. If you haven't, check out the video profile of 19-year-old driver Matt Kakaley posted athttp://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/11908286.html . Matt was very cooperative when they filmed him, but the videographer was filming from the paddock at the time Matt won with Royal Tattler at 34-1, so there is no film of him winning that race. I think Matt is a driver to watch and if he keeps his head on straight he could eventually be one of the best.How many of you are big enough fans that you would want something harness racing related as a Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza/Fetsivus gift? What would you want? Apparel? books? A Fun Pack? I am just curious.I don't care for it when we have a race with no show wagering, but at least we never bar horses from wagering. When there is a horse with no show wagering, you can adjust your plays (after all trifectas are still available, as is win/place). But when a horse is barred, you have no idea how he/she will affect the other horses. Those good horses are racing to win the purse money, but a weaker horse may just try to save ground and ride the pylons to finish second. I still remember Busy Life getting beat as a barred horse at Delaware several years back and I don;t think the Brown Jug folks have barred a horse since.

Comments: (Fri AM 11/30) From Dustin M: I would indeed like to receive harness racing related gifts. Harness racing art is nice, maybe a nice painting or a large framed photo. For me, the ultimate harness racing gift would be a travel package to each leg of the Triple Crown for 3YO trotters including airfare, accommodations and maybe even some betting vouchers. Another great gift for me is always Little Brown Jug day tickets. Add hospitality pavilion passes and make the day unforgettable! A subscription to Hoof Beats magazine would also be a gift I would enjoy. In closing, in case I make your gift list, any of the above would be a welcome addition under my tree.

Posted 2:40 PM Wednesday 11/28
It was pretty cold and bitter trackside last night and a few of the regulars asked why I have decided to continue to do my picks outside, instead of moving to the palatial Dave Bianconi Rooftop Studio. Most of you figure it's just so I can enjoy my Flor De Jalapa Presidentes (cigars) and indeed, that is a selfish part of it. But there is a legit business reason as well. We (members of track management) do not do as good a job as we can at meeting and talking to our patrons. Being outside means I am accessible to all of you. There is nothing I like more than to BS about harness racing, sharing 'capping tips with our patrons and taking grief from them when the 1-2 I pick gets beat. I think it is an important part of "customer relations," and a lot of tracks (Northfield included) don't always do a good job of it. We are constantly talking about a horse's trip in the previous race or whether a driver made a poor decision. Look, I'm a grandstand kind of guy...I'd rather be on the apron of the track than just about anywhere. I see more of the races, too, which helps my handicapping. Being downstairs also lets me catch up on computer or office work and it means I can update the Track News section of our website and get articles out to the media quicker. By the way, our results are updated from the press box by our clerk of course. It's one of the few things I don't do with the website.

posted 10:10 PM Tuesday 11/27
Random ramblings. Bizzness Trip and Image Master made it two in a row each in November to Remember action Monday. Athlete In Action was a no show again. Do you play him in the final after missing two weeks, or do you look at one of the upstarts?How good is Gelika Ann right now. Four in a row in the series. She wins on the fronm, behind, from inside, from outside, and yet she doesn't get crushed in the betting. She will next week.The holidays are coming up. Last year my son made a CD mix of eight different versions of the Kinks classic Father Christmas, with liner notes and all. It was a pretty cool little gift (I always loved this song). But I have a recurring nightmare that someone is going to present me with a similar CD of Wham's Last Christmas. Aaarggghhhh.Why would anyone NOT join our Players Club? Today, we process over $80,000 in reward vouchers and we will be sending out another $100K in coupons over the next day or two. What's the down side?

posted 6:45 PM Saturday, 11/24
We are racing live tonight, but most eyes will be turned to "The Swamp," as the Meadowlands hosts the Breeders Crown races. Not playing much-- a few doubles to Snow White in the freshman filly trot (and a close watch on the show pools for bridge jumpers-- two times worse than 2nd, both after breaks in her brilliant career. Gonna try a longshot in the three-year-old filly trot--arguably the most balanced group-- and Apecs catches my eye. She needs to trot the mile, but that was an eye-opening final panel in her elim and Pampered Princess may be overbet. And $20 to win on Won The West in the three-year-old colt pace. This horse reminds me a lot of BJ Scoot in '88-- winning some minor stakes, but not able to get at the absolute best (for BJ, it was Runnmyeade Lobell {or Runnynose Lobell as we called him due to his frequent sick scratches whenever the competition looked tough} and Matts Scooter). Won The West hasn't beat Tell All or Always A Virgin, but tonight might be the night.

posted 11:00AM Wednesday 11/21
The best angle at Northfield right now may be the " cheap horse- change of scenery," angle. So many horses get stuck in nw200ps for so long, that I think trainers just kind of give up and hope to pick up a check now and then. But when a horse gets a trainer change or an owner change, the new connections go back to trying different "stuff," training methods, equipment, drivers or even meds and supplements. Since so many of these horses are so used to losing that when there is something different they pick up.

Last night we saw Chocolate Fudge score in the 2nd race at $10.20 in her second start for new connections after a couple weeks off and a driver change. We saw Armbro Wonder race much better in the 4th off a barn change and Pennywise finish third in that race with a new trainer. By the way, PENNYWISE GOES ON THE BET-BACK LIST. She followed very sharp cover but couldn't stay with the eventual winner. And Big Bob's Big Dog scored in a cheap conditioned claimer off a $4100 Delaware Sale purchase.

Tonight, let's keep an eye on 15-1 ML horse O FOR IT, who moves from Maletz to Ebelender and gets Shetler. He is in tough, but should be usable underneath in your exactas and tris. And, while I don't think this angle is as viable on better horses, in the 11th GREEN ACRE PILL moves into the Kevin Ehrhardt barn after one start with Tracy Root listed as trainer at the Meadows. First time Ehrhardt is a pretty good angle anytime and this horse has show ability in the past. I doubt he will beat STAND N SHOUT,, but 8-1 ML in a short field from an outside post means we may still get a decent number on an excata or tri.

posted 3:00 Tuesday 11/20
I was shocked to see last night's first pick three pay $600+. A 3-1 and two 7-2 ML horses. Wow. And how about Behr Seelsteer paying $14.80 from the rail off that 3-1 ML. The horse did good work against veteran pacers the week before and even though Josh Kash's numbers are low here (UDR of .158), he is the leading driver in Western New York right now. And while betting Clair Umholtz is always a question mark, Photo Enlargement has been a different horse since getting Lasix two back-- two big efforts from the 2nd tier told us he could be solid.

Posted 9:45 AM Tuesday 11/20
Gonna get an early start, even though we don't officially go live until next week.With ATHLETE IN ACTION taking Monday off in the November to Remember, some lesser lights took center stage. While the Wes Hershberger-trainee has already clinched a spot in the final, you have to wonder about the timing of the week off. This horse, a four-year-old with only 12 lifetime starts, is super sharp and can't really need the rest, can he? Of course, Wes has done this with the horse before, giving him a week off after his 1:58.2 win in October, so maybe it's much ado about nothing. We will see.

The Breeders Crown from M1 is Saturday and for some reason, I keep coming back to WON THE WEST in the three-year-old colt pace. This horse has had bad post draw luck in several top stakes and has still raced well. Is he sitting on a big effort or is he just a step slower than Always A Virgin and Tell All? And how 'bout WATTA HOTSHOT making the final with 0 seasonal wins! He broke his maiden last year in a $900 race at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia.


COMMENTS:
Received from ItsMillerTime173 on 11/20: I think the blog is a great idea