Goodtimes Final: Examining the field

Below is my horse-by-horse lowdown for the C$351,000 Goodtimes Final on June 16 at Mohawk Racetrack along with my morning line. I’m not giving out my selections here (you’ll have to wait until Thursday for that), but maybe you can read between the lines.

Wednesday I'll cover the C$530,000 Elegantimage for trotting fillies.

(1) LINDYS JERSEY BOY (12-1) was on the rim well before the half and applied some light pressure to Beer Summit. He ducked in behind that foe in the stretch and kept up okay late. His effort was good considering it was only his second race of the year. This colt will need to find a lot more in the final.

(2) IL MAGO (5-1) started from the second tier and was buried on the cones until finding some daylight fourth over at the five-eighths. He angled wide in the lane and finished up with good trot but clearly wasn’t the best gaited horse in the world. That nice stretch rally is going to lure plenty of people to the windows. I fear he could be an underlay come post time.

(3) KNOWS NOTHING (3-1) was looped away from the gate but Jamieson drove on to the front just past the quarter. From there he got away with a reasonably soft middle half and never had an anxious moment while under some reminder taps of the stick. This undefeated colt will get tested more next week but could be up to the challenge.

(4) MARKET SHARE (5-2) left well but had to settle for a tuck in fifth just before the quarter. He was back on the move behind cover passing the three-eighths and swung wide into the stretch. Revenue S-sired colt got up under mild steady urging and looks like one of a few players with a legitimate chance in the final.

(5) SCARY GOOD (20-1) had cover but lacked any firepower. Perhaps the driver change for the final will perk this guy up.

(6) PRAYER SESSION (12-1) left nicely to the front but settled on a pocket trip behind Knows Nothing. He sat that spot the entire mile and held okay while out-kicked for second. He’ll need to improve one second to have a chance of competing.

(7) BEER SUMMIT (10-1) found a seat in third before moving uncovered by the three-eighths call and quickly rushed to the front. He was clear in the stretch but could not fend off Market Share. It was another solid effort for this colt, which needs to find a bit more to contend for the top spot in the final.

(8) GUCCIO (6-1) pulled uncovered around the half and floated up to the leader. Driver/trainer Jimmy Takter grinded up slowly in what was a conservative drive. I don’t believe we saw his best effort. The final might be a different story, though the post won’t help his chances.

(9) GYM TAN LAUNDRY (20-1) made the top fast enough but was soon sitting third. He tired in the lane and doesn’t look fast enough to compete for anything more than a minor award.

(10) MIKEY HANOVER (20-1) was stacked up last behind poor cover approaching the three-quarter call. Driver Paul MacDonell then sent him wide just before that marker and the gelding responded by trotting by far the fastest final quarter of any in the field. He probably won’t win on Saturday but could be an interesting price play on the bottom of your trifectas and superfectas.