Sharp Horses and Track Trends: Feb. 13-19
BALMORAL
2/19: 0w, ++ closers, only one winning favorite on Sunday, strongly favored closers
2/18: 1w, ++ closers
2/15: 3w, + closers
SHARP@BALMORAL
BORN TO ROCKN ROLL*** – Power-brushed and paced a scorching :27.2 second quarter to take control then tacked on back to back :27.3's to draw clear impressively
WINDY CITY RON – Set a pressured pace against the bias and held well for the show
THISBIGDOGWILFIGHT – Quarter-moved to the lead and was the only speed horse to win all night
OLD MAN RIVER – Brushed to the top at the half with a :27.4 second quarter, came home in a respectable :28.2 but finished third against a strong bias
REHAB MOUNTAIN – Trotter power-brushed to the lead with a strong second quarter and bottomed out the field
DEVACHAN – Quarter-moved to the lead, set a pressured pace against a severe bias and held okay
MAYWOOD
2/17: 5w, + speed
2/16: 6w, + speed
SHARP@MAYWOOD
SKINNY JEANS – Was parked the mile without cover from post 8 and held okay
ANESCAPE N*** – Had post 6, left and tucked 4th, powered first over pacing a :27.4 third quarter and drew off to a nifty win
BLUERIDGEVALENTINO – Was first over a long way pacing a :56.2 middle-half, held okay
MIKE LANIGAN – Left from post 7 and was parked to a :28.2 opener, pulled uncovered at the three quarters and held the show
MONTICELLO
2/16: 5w, no bias
2/15: 5w, no bias, wet track
2/14: 5w, no bias
2/13: 6w, + speed, all winners left or went first over
SHARP @ MONTICELLO
C U NEXT TUESDAY – Had post 6, left, tucked, went first over and held okay
L M XKR*** – Had post 7, slipped out third over, finished fast in the stretch gobbling up ground gamely
TATTOO HALL – Gunned from post 8 and was used hard to a wicked :27.2 opener, very fast for this track, yielded and tired badly but understandably through the final quarter
YOU RAISE ME UP*** – Had post 7, went third over, stormed wide around the final bend and drew clear
WHATAMACH – Was first over a long way and paced a quick middle-half, held okay
BREAK DANCER – Shipped in from Yonkers and drew post 8, got moving early and flushed out cover, angled wide and finished fast in :28.3 for the win at 36-1, seems to like this track
NORTHFIELD PARK
2/17: 8w, ++ speed
2/15: 5w, no bias
2/14: 4w, no bias
2/13: 6w, no bias
SHARP @ NORTHFIELD
SUMMERHILL CHRIS*** – Left fast and yielded to a :27 opener, yielded and was shuffled back to 9th with pace
BACK HOME AGAIN – Left and was parked the mile without cover, held okay for the show
PANNA NICOLE – Had post 6 and terrible cover while trying to close against a speed bias, rallied wide and finished gamely for the show
SJ’S BLISSFUL LADY – Had post 7, raced parked the mile without cover and drew off
DOVER
2/19: 6w, + speed, all winners either left or went first over
2/16: 5w, no bias
2/15: 11w, ++ speed
2/14: 1w, no bias
2/13: 4w, no bias
SHARP@DOVER
NOVA ARTIST*** – Went first up and paced a :53.4 last half for a sharp win
MCMURRAY HANOVER – Showed early speed then was shuffled in tight quarters; price factor in exotics
BROADIES SONG – Left from post 8 and was used hard to clear the lead, set a quick pace under pressure and didn’t tire that badly
STAND BY CAM – Was parked a long way uncovered from post 9, was unable to reach the sharp 3-5 pacesetter but kept on chugging and was a solid second
STILL ELECTRIC – Was first over into a :56 last half and held okay
EBONY CHAPEL N – First over into a stepped-up final half against the 1-2 winner, just missed
TOO MUCH FUN – Left from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27.1, yielded to the winner’s retake and held okay; tough from a better post
MASTERMAKER – Left three wide to the lead past a :26.3 first quarter, yielded approaching the half and weakened but beat 4 horses home in a respectable effort after being used hard leaving
NORTHERN IDEAL*** – Was first over a long way, paced a :27.3 third quarter and held well
POMPANO
2/18: 2w, no bias
2/15: 4w, no bias
2/14: 4w, no bias
2/13: 7w, + speed
SHARP@POMPANO
PRAIRIE GANACHE – Got moving early on a long first over bid, paced a :28.2 third quarter, finally wore down the leader in the lane but was out-kicked, held the place in a good try
FOX RIDGE BANKER – Was first over into a fast last half and held well for the place
TOUGH LUCK*** – Was parked to the lead in :27.1 from post 9, set a quick pace under pressure and didn’t tire that badly
THREE NEW DAWNS – Had post 7 and shot to the lead in :26.2, rated the half then reeled off a :27.2 third quarter and held on for a sharp win
RICK’S SIGN – Was parked the mile without cover in a fast race and held okay
MEADOWS
2/17: 3w, no bias, nice fair surface again this week, as usual, the least speed favoring 5/8’s track
2/15: 4w, no bias
2/14: 3w, no bias
2/13: 4w, no bias
SHARP@MEADOWS
UPANDOVER HANOVER – Trotter left from post 7 and worked his way to the lead past the quarter, yielded to pressure from the post 8 leaver and was shuffled back
SUIT UP – Left and tucked from post 7, went first over into a :28.2 third quarter and held well
MR RIGHTNOW – Left from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27.2, yielded and was shuffled back
I LIKE IT HOT – Left from post 8 and was used hard to get the lead past the quarter, set a fast pace and tired but only lost by 3 lengths
NONVERBAL HANOVER – Trotter worked his way to the lead past the quarter and set a lively pace, dug in gamely for the place
SPEED MCQUEEN – Left from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27.2, set a pressured pace and held okay
YONKERS
2/18: 4w, no bias
2/17: 2w, no bias
2/16: 7w, + speed, wet track
2/14: 2w, no bias
2/13: 2w, no bias, windy night
SHARP@YONKERS
IT’SJUSTABEGINNING – Hustled out from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :28, set a pressured pace and didn’t tire that badly with a :29.3 final quarter
MATTJESTIC ART – Third over behind weak cover, finished with solid pace for the show
FROGGY TURNER*** – Left well from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27.3, set a quick pace under pressure including a :27.3 third quarter and held stanchly for the place in a big effort
KEVLAR HANOVER – Paced a :27.1 third quarter first over against a tough front runner and held okay
MEANT TO BE ME – Left from post 6 and was parked to the lead in :27.1, set a well rated pace despite some pressure and was 2nd best with a solid :28 final quarter
DEAR MAC – Second over behind a parked-out horse, brushed wide to clear that one and went after the leader, wore him down with a strong :27.3 final quarter, sharp in first start off the Mitchell Mac Kenzie claim
ALFREDSSON*** – Had post 6 and made three moves in a commanding win that was very fast for the class
MIXED MEDIA – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over into a quick last half and held okay
WESTERN DEXTER – Had post 8, tried to leave but tucked 6th, went first over from there and really had no shot in a race where the one horse backed down the pace, held okay
MILITARY STRATCOM*** – Had post 7 and left strongly to the lead in :27, rated the pace under some pressure and drew off with a :57 last half
CANNAE CAMMIE – Left from post 6 and was used hard to clear the lead, set a quick pace and held okay
EMERALD EXPRESS*** – Left and tried to squeeze into the pocket but was shut out, was cooked in a wicked speed duel, finally took the lead briefly in the lane and held surprisingly well
MERCURIO N – Followed weak cover from post 8 and finished stoutly for the place
SHORTSTACKED – Paced a :27.2 third quarter first over and drew clear strongly
*** = extra-sharp preferred plays