Winter Stakes Waning On Dawn Of New Meadowlands

There was trouble in paradise when the grand opening of the new Meadowlands was threatened by a shortage of horses in the draw for the first program on Nov. 23. Access to the entry box was allowed an extra day and the picture reportedly looked “less grim” in an effort to line the program with 13 races.

Adding to the malaise was a lack of freshman pacers and trotters to support elims for the final four stakes of the season. So, the Governor’s Cup, the Three Diamonds, the Goldsmith Maid and the Valley Victory events will be presented on Nov. 30 sans eliminations.

With late support from horsemen, the shipping plans were set and the Meadowlands will open on Nov. 23 with a 13-race program. Featured on the car are $50,000 Free For Alls for three-year-old-and-up pacers and trotters prepping for next week’s huge six-digit events, historic in that they may have sophomores facing the best older horses.

Also prepping with a single elim are glamour-boy pacers at Dover Downs. And, the H2W (horses to watch) list pours out more contenders for your win, place, show and exotic pleasure.

Progress Pace Preps

There is a single Progress Pace elim, which is more like a prep as only one soph-colt pacer will not make it into the Dec. 1 final. This is Dover Downs’ premier event and the $35,000 prelude only drew nine. Some glamour-boy pacers not involved are done for the season and Captaintreacherous’s management is still pondering if the champ will race against older at the new Meadowlands.

Other recent headliners in the division are missing. Word Power, who won the Windy City Pace (we gave him to you) and the huge favorite he toppled, Lucan Hanover, are not here. Messenger-winner Ronny Bugatti, Matron-“Jug”-winner Vegas Vacation, Sunshine Beach and the still winless Wake Up Peter will do battle. A few newcomers to this level of the division are included in the nine.

The big two, of course, are Vegas Vacation and Sunshine Beach, but they will eat a lot of bets, leaving some room for possible upsets. Among those scenarios are Tony Alagna’s duo, Emeritus Maximus and Wake Up Peter. The problem with the latter is he refuses to wake up enough to win. Seventeen starts, most in the top tier of the division, and he cannot get into the winner’s circle.

Emeritus Maximus has five wins and is showing some late-season spunk, enough to win with the right trip or while taking advantage of the top two’s rigorous schedule through the Breeders Crown. He should be a strong third choice at the least. No doubt Alagna would love to see “Peter” win over either of the top two, considering the verbal beating his Captaintreacherous has taken even when defeating them.


Meadowlands Anew

The first program at the New Jersey plant that starts and ends where the backstretch used to be features two $50,000 Free For Alls.

There are six trotters in the first affair, all of them familiar names to this year’s campaign, led by top male Market Share. In the small field, the Linda Toscano-trained Market Share has gone on a winning streak after having some issues with the same bunch of horses mid-season. Don’t expect a price here but take a look at the prices for Uncle Peter, who could turn the tables.

The pacing FFA has eight elders, each with his own story of victory on the oval when it went the other way. The bulk of the win money will once again tip the scales for Foiled Again but all things being equal, this division has been tough on one another all year. Prices may be offered in fairness to Golden Receiver and Fred And Ginger, since the wagering could be too much in favor of Foiled Again.

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 but on the also-eligible list. 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

Batavia
11/22/13, Ramblin Rick R3

Cal Expo
11/22/13, +Bette Davis Eyes R1; Portfolio R7; Skyway King R9; Curvacious R14
 
Freehold
11/22/13, +Makemywishcometrue R10  
11/23/13, +Bettorific R7

Maywood
11/22/13, +Smoken Cambest R1; Cinnamon Spider R13 

Meadows
11/22/13, Jedi Hanover R3; Boy Stuff R3; Woodside Warrior R4; Florida Vortex R6; Fantasy’s Chipchip R7; Rio Sweet R10; +Do Me Honor R11; Shine N Shimmer R11; Sweetheart Dance R11; Miss Chip K R12; Dream Of Winning R13; Mynah Hanover R14; +Eradikate R15.

Northfield
11/22/13, Hot Mandy ae R1; Icanfeelyoubreath R2; Townline Kriss R2; Scratch R3; Carmelita’s Girl R6; Campside Angel ae R7; Power Everywhere R10; R E O Speeddragon R11; Truffle Shuffle R12; Vegas Strip Three R14; I Love My Yankee R14
11/23/13, Carolina Nan R1; Allamerican Dora R2; Lost Photo R3; Sunny New Day R8; Basilio Blue Chip R10; Point Standing R12; Sporty Callie R13; Gee Up R13

Pocono
11/22/13, +Jerjens Dragon R5; +Magnum Kosmos R6; Sea Cruise Hanover R14
11/23/13, Lauderdale R2; +Hold Your Hat R5

Pompano
11/23/13, Fine Fine Fine R10

Saratoga
11/22/13, Delightfuldanielle R1; +Petraeus R5; Mr Web Page R9
11/23/13, +B Blissful R1; +Upfront Ellijay Ed ae R3; King Cat Anvil N R3; +All Powerful R4; Matt’s Wolfey R5; +Irish Elitist R7; +Red Star Tomahawk R7; Subliminal Hanover R7; +Spencer B ae R13

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.