Thundering Through Winter
The Meadowlands’ winter series continue this weekend with the older pacing males taking on the second legs of the Clyde Hirt on Friday, Jan. 21 and the Presidential and Complex on Saturday, Jan. 22.Where it’s even colder, at Woodbine on Saturday, the feature is the $100,000 Willowdale Final, an open for fresh elders, four-year-old pacers.
The weekly Cal Expo no-takeout late Pick 4 on Saturday has crowded fields, offering a challenge that could hand the entire pool to a sole ticket, a bold ticket. But the day before, the Peter Lobell Final ($7,025) gathers the legs’ best.
And on the bottom of the blog, as usual, there are some horses from our watch lists at various tracks that should be ready to roar.
Big M series
At the Meadowlands on Friday, there are two divisions in the second leg of the Clyde Hirt, with fields of 10 and 11, respectively. After a big win last week, Summer Camp looks to extend his win streak by going three for three. But the horse to watch in the first division is AB’s Attack. He was stuck on the outside for two calls and gave way, finishing sixth, in the previous leg.
In the second division, Royal Cam-hall made a big move last week, gaining a total of 10 lengths at 38-1. He is up against likely favorite Highland Rocks, who has finished on the board every start and coming off a win in the first leg.
Saturday’s Presidential leg shows 13 stalwart free-for-all horses in two divisions. The first division is to exhibit odds-on choice Bettor Sweet, longshot Schoolkids and River Shark. Schoolkids made a huge move behind cover last week and finished a good fifth, with River Shark holding him off for fourth.
The second division features the two first leg winners, Real Celebration and Western Shore, the latter who has gone two for two this year and won in 1:49 last week. Real Celebration went 1:49.2, where he just beat Bettor Sweet. The one to watch here, though, is Mr Saratoga. He comes in from Woodbine where he had to make up 6 lengths last week at the half racing on the outside and finished fifth. The 3 post should give some relief to have a better trip, certainly at juicy odds.
This week, The Complex’s second leg is one division with 12 horses, two of which are undefeated. One is St Elmo Hero and the other is McClelland, both undefeated this year, though “Elmo” has never lost, winning 21-straight efforts. The spoiler could be Windsong Gorgeous, who has been runner-up to Elmo all year. Another horse to watch is Ise The By Boy. He was hung last week and gave way.
Peter Lobell Final
The choices in the conclusion of the Peter Lobell series for older pacers at Cal Expo should be Fakeutu Bluegrass and Vic The Brick, in that order. These two were right on the finish line together in last week’s chapter but “Fakeutu,” trained and driven by Tim Maier, won that battle as she won the other legs.
“Vic” has been second to Fakeutu twice after winning three straight at the mile oval.
Art Of Arts challenged boldly in last week’s episode and gained enough ground late to have the lead for a bit, before the aforementioned two ate up the remaining mile’s territory. “Arts” got there with a tough first-over trip and could be the spoiler if the top two wrestle or shuffle the lead.
WD Cowboy Justice and C’mon Sweet Mariah complete the small field.
‘Willowbrook’ Donnybrook
Woodbine’s Willowbrook Final is a $100,000 open event, featuring the best of the series’ four-year-old pacers over the first few weeks of 2011. It is difficult to predict a strong favorite here; this is a tight, competitive field.
However, Art Professor, third in last week’s elim and a powerful winner at this track the week before, could be an overlay here from post 7.
The two elim winners, Good Bad Lucky and Sparky Mark, may not be as good as those wins, considering the aforementioned “Professor” and Twin B Warrior, getting a good post and a chance for a better trip than his last two.
Malicious has every right to improve at four and is as good as most of these. I must assume that Jackets Required will get decent support, as will the elim winners. The others are all right but would need some incidents to get them home on top of the rest.
Four Score
The no-takeout late Pick 4 at Cal Expo this Saturday looks very competitive. It is again time to take a courageous shot using some of the outsiders that may go off overlays.
In the first leg, Race 10, Bullet Tooth Tony is a beaten favorite to Anelectricmachine and should race better this week. Also, you may want to use My Real Love, who closed strongly from an 8-hole start last week at 26-1.
In the second leg, Freedomize may be a single, as he was last week when he was interfered with and could only muster finishing sixth.
In the third leg, Jet Tet Tet has a good excuse for bombing last week, being hung badly and well meant at 4-1. In a small ticket, you could single him also.
In the final leg, Music Of Lodi has a powerful closing punch, as witnessed in last week’s effort at 6-1. This could be the weakest field in the four, so you may want to add the beaten favorite Sandra Hotspur.
You could try to hit it with a small investment, using 2,4/2/3,7/3,4. That is a brave and strong $8 ticket.
Meadowlands Fri. 1/21 –
Race 8
1-Artimitateslife
1-Artimitateslife
Pompano Sat. 1/22 –
Race 2
4-Reve Pride
4-Reve Pride
Race 6
8-Dragon’s Blood
8-Dragon’s Blood
Race 7
6-Monet CC
6-Monet CC
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