Meadowlands: Qualifying Insider and Horses to Watch 1/10/13

Derick Giwner

Meadowlands grandstand construction as of 1-10-13.

Nine qualifiers were contested at the Meadowlands on Thursday morning (Jan. 10). There was a healthy 15 to 20 mph tailwind which bothered the leaders on the backstretch and aided everyone through the stretch.

HAVA KADABRA waited patiently in the pocket before edging off the pylons in the stretch. He was confidently handled by driver Yannick Gingras and went by on his own.

AX MAN pulled past the half, quickly brushed to the lead and never looked back. This guy looks ready to win a C-2 trot.

MS CAILA J FRA took charge and got away with soft fractions. She faced an intense charge from Ideal Ginny in the lane and absolutely refused to lose in a very game effort.

WORLD CUP CULLEN came to the outer flow passing the half and wound up stuck behind a tired foe. Three-year-old swung wide at the third call and made up plenty of ground while finishing with good energy.

MAGIC STARLIGHT came out third but moved around a dull foe to get the pocket. Was kept patiently in that spot until about 50 feet from the wire and quickly surged to the win. If pulled sooner she would have won by more.

KINGS LEGEND posted the fastest fractions of the day (27 3/5, 56 4/5, 1:25 2/5) on the engine and kept widening his lead in a morning’s best 1:52 3/5.

TERROR HIGH was a bit hard to control around the first turn and couldn’t settle into a spot on the pylons until past the quarter. First-time qualifier then waited until the stretch and had a hint of pace against a runaway winner.

FLIPPER J was reserved near the back, angled in the stretch and had a bit more rally than it looks on paper.

Horses to Watch

Thursday, January 3

GET CHIPPED (C-1) – Mare was making her first start in three weeks and was stuck in post 10. She came fourth-over, waited until mid-stretch to angle and had some late energy. With a good post she’ll graduate up to the B-2 level.

Friday, January 4

FOUNTAINBLEAU VOLO (B-1) – This guy was under a hold for most of the stretch while in traffic. He finally found room late and was flying once he hit stride.

WESTERN TSUNAMI (20000CLM) – Faced early stretch traffic and finished up willingly in a better effort than it looks on paper.

Saturday, January 5

GOLDEN RECEIVER (FFA) – Was simply spectacular in victory. He’ll start in the Presidential series next.

DINNER GUEST (30-40000CLM) – Was locked in the pocket for too long and raced evenly when clear.