Derick Giwner

Everyone has mixed feelings from time to time. Those are the emotions I’m feeling after hearing the news that the spectacular filly Check Me Out will skip the Hambletonian and a date with the boys to instead tackle her peers in the Hambo Oaks. At first I agreed with co-owner/trainer Ray Schnittker’s decision. Honestly, if I owned the filly and could be 3-5 to win half of $750,000 in the Oaks or 4-1 to vie for $1,500,000 in the Hambletonian, the decision would be quite easy. I’m certainly not in a position to give away money.

We all learned a lesson on Saturday after watching the Meadowlands Pace final. Too much time and thought can get you in trouble. How else do you explain Heston Blue Chip and Bolt The Duer not showing any signs of early speed? Each driver must make decisions before and during a race. That is what separates the good from the great drivers – making the right moves at the right times. Almost any regular driver can guide a 3-5 shot to victory in an overnight race. It is the driver that gets the job done when the spotlight is on them that deserves the most respect.

Playing with and examining numbers can often produce interesting results. Obviously you can manipulate figures to produce the desired effect and that is the main reason why I rarely point to statistics when dealing with handicapping.  I bring up numbers because this year’s $600,000 Meadowlands Pace final appears to fall into an interesting recent statistical trend.

Every week I endeavor to write about a single topic and it seems I rarely succeed. The topics for the week are a Yonkers Raceway disqualification, Lou Pena, guaranteed wagers, and the Meadowlands Pace.

There are a myriad of interesting topics to write about this week. Walter Case Jr. will likely find out his future driving fate when the Massachusetts Racing Commission renders their decision on his appeal, world record holder Googoo Gaagaa and his ineligibility for the Hambletonian, and the stellar crop of 3-year-olds this season head my top three.