The process of elimination in harness racing has been a matter of controversy for as long as I can remember. What’s interesting to the bettor is often of little interest to those nominating and staking horses. The process of seeding races has its own biases based on the premise that some horses that may in fact be more talented, could be disadvantaged for lack of racing.
Then there are races to remove one or two horses from a group where trainers and drivers have routinely taken the easy road and left the public wondering exactly why there was wagering permitted at all.
This Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, the luck of the draw managed to create two spectacular races that will probably be more competitive and more interesting than the finals a week later. Without question these draws will infuriate some participants, who arguably have the fourth or fifth best horses on paper of all the entries but are likely to be competing in consolation events that will do little to console their connections.
As we’ve all come to realize not everything is fair for all parties but for those who appreciate the sport and its connections, nothing could be better than to have the best horses racing one another with everything on the line. Such is the case in the last of three Earl Beal Jr. Memorial elimination races this Saturday. The highlight of course is the undefeated Manchego putting her record on the line and facing all boys for the very first time. “This is definitely the best field she’s ever faced, “said Jimmy Takter, her trainer. “You have a Breeders Crown winner (Fiftydallarbill), a Horse of the Year (Fourth Dimension) and Canada’s Horse of the Year (Alarm Detector) in the field.”
For Takter, who tried this approach last year with the sparkling filly Ariana G and wound up third in the final after drawing post eight despite winning her elimination heat as a 1-20 favorite, it’s a challenge that may not have been. “I decided that I didn’t want to race her over the surface at Harrah’s Philadelphia before the Hambletonian,” said Takter. “So we’re out of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes with her.”
That news was probably welcome to her rivals in Pennsylvania but at the same time likely unwelcome to her rivals on Saturday night. The Muscle Hill-sired filly has cruised over this Pocono five-eighths oval in both of her 2018 victories and received the benefit of a mid-field draw (post 5). “When it comes to draws I average between 7.5 and 8,” said Takter, obviously happy with this assignment.
There will be eight in the field and though Alarm Detector drew the inside post, he had a hard time staying with Wolfgang, the Goodtimes winner, last Saturday night. Takter elected to keep Wolfgang out of this event and instead point him towards the Stanley Dancer at The Meadowlands.
Fiftydallarbill seemed to be too far back to threaten in the Goodtimes and eventually broke stride. Whether the Indiana-sired Breeders Crown champion can overcome the outside draw in his first five-eighths mile track start is a major question mark.
Trainer Marcus Melander has sent out some very sharp 2 and 3-year-olds this season and last year’s champion Fourth Dimension will need to be at his best just to make the $500,000 final on June 30. The son of Chapter Seven put in a huge mile in his debut at Tioga Downs last Friday, but his 1:52 4/5 mile was nearly two lengths behind new track record holder Helpisontheway. Perhaps more important than a victory was the 27-second opening quarter trotted by Fourth Dimension over the five-eighths Tioga Downs strip. He’s likely going to need much of that early speed to have a chance to reach the final.
Trainer Jim Campbell was unlucky to get two of his sophomores into this field but at the same time Crystal Fashion, likely his best currently, drew post three off a solid prep race last Sunday in the Pennsylvania All Stars. An altered son of Cantab Hall, Crystal Fashion’s post on Saturday is his best starting spot of 2018.
Takter’s post luck improved for Nutcracker Sweet, a recent sixth-place finisher in the North America Cup after a brutal journey. “David (Miller) had to go wide with him and then send him up to challenge. I’m very proud of the way he finished the race and he came out in good shape,” said Takter. “I’m not so sure the race-winner (Lather Up) could have gone that trip and done much better.”
Takter and many other racing fans will find out just how good Nutcracker Sweet or perhaps how dominant Lather Up will continue to be in this incredibly stacked third and final Max Hempt Memorial elimination race. Directly outside of Nutcracker Sweet will be Wes Delight, Done Well, Lather Up and Courtly Choice. Wes Delight has won five of his seven races this year for trainer Mark Harder and has shown blistering early speed in every one of them. Done Well finished with two solid second-place finishes in the North America Cup elimination and final, his only defeats during his brief career.
Lather Up needs no introductions and is currently unbeaten this year in six starts. While his speed has not been questioned to date, finding a workable trip on Saturday is going to be a challenge. Lather Up races for the fifth consecutive week, something none in the field have done.
To say Courtly Choice is a nice horse would be an understatement. The North America Cup consolation winner showed his versatility sprinting off cover with a 26-second final quarter en route to a 1:49 2/5 mile. While he has the speed to leave, the likelihood this week is that he’ll look for some cover.
While we’ve come to celebrate the finals in our sport from a pure spectator standpoint, these two races for just $25,000 apiece could be the best races of the year. They may also eliminate horses with the talent to race for and win $500,000 races.