Looks like the weather is going to hold up today (knock on wood). Good luck to all!
Race 4
Love Me Tomorrow
7-11-19
Race Note: Was 4-1 ML. Pace was on faster side early. Winner and place finisher were both closers. Place horse was best after steadying away from the gate and a bleeping blur in the stretch.
Trip Note: Was away well and straight to lead. Clear & uncontested while at a good clip early. Was engaged by stalker early in the far turn and the pace quickened. Asked to hold off stalker for about ½ mile but not able. Did not switch leads until inside the 1/8. Big speed always dangerous but needs to finish.
5-30-19
Race Note: Considering this one was 9-5 ML and there were 2 scratches in the race this one wasn’t bet all that hard for a Wesley Ward FTS. Winner was 9-2 ML and paid $6.20.
Trip Note: Was clear just over a length 10 jumps from the gate. Two outside foes caught up quickly and race became a 3-prong duel while 3 lengths clear of fourth runner. At rail. Some mild nudging through the turn but in between runner clearly going better. Was fighting to hold the lead at the top of the stretch but couldn’t match strides with the top 2 which were both apart of the early pace. Switched leads well. Will need to improve but most of Ward’s runners are ready to go at first ask, so I’d tread lightly here.
Shandian
7-18-19
Race Note: Was 6-1 ML. Track bias – none. MTO entrant & 6-5* for Clemente gets a nice view of the parking lot and wins easy. Aside from the winner, 1-2-3 early finished exactly 2-3-4. This one was one of only 2 in the race with experience. The other ran a troubled 3rd.
Trip Note: Away best & straight to the lead. On hold and uncontested. Pace seemed on slower side. Pretty much had it her own way until late in turn when she was asked to kick on. Given the trip I would have expected better and believe the drawn to her inside is quicker.
6-21-19
Race Note: ML meaningless as this race came off turf. Winner was 1-1* from Mark Casse barn.
Trip Note: Away well enough. In between early. Not the best spot through the turn and fairly wide at the midway point of the turn. Pretty decent kick into the stretch. Didn’t switch leads until midway in stretch and tired late while in between. Could have easily run third and in my opinion was 3rd best.
Fly Fly Away
7-18-19
Race Note: Was 3-1 ML. Tack bias – none. The real note here is that Clemente had 2 in here, one of them winning and hammered to 6-5*. Seems like this is the one that was “given” the race.
Trip Note: Away with a mild bump. No big deal. Showed decent speed throughout from outside post. Stuck 4W through turn. Driven through lane and even but don’t believe they had this one cranked. Will get some of my money.
Turbo Drive
7-18-19
Race Note: 7-2 ML. Track bias – none. MTO entrant & 6-5* for Clemente gets a nice view of the parking lot and wins easy. Aside from the winner, 1-2-3 early finished exactly 2-3-4. This one was one of only 2 in the race with experience.
Trip Note: Stumbled terribly at start. To her knees. Amazing recovery to show very good speed. Was making a run for the lead when an outside foe dropped on her. Pause. Now moving to go around. An outside mover put this one in a bit of a tough spot while finding her way to stalk the leader. Decided to stay in. Was moving well enough in the turn and looked to have a say. Switched leads well and in tight spot for the first half of the stretch. Tried hard.
6-21-19
Race Note: ML meaningless as this race came off turf. Winner was 1-1* from Mark Casse barn.
Trip Note: Away best and clean. Hard ridden for speed. Outrun for lead but a joint second at the rail in turn. Saving ground. Ridden to earn a clear second. Success but winner getting away. Was tired in the lane and token ride from the 1/8 pole.
5-31-19
Race Note: Was 5-1 ML. Bet well. Pletcher horse bet hard to 6-5* and runs third.
Trip Note: Away a touch slow. Maybe 1 length. Took off for lead. Stuck 3 wide through the turn and contesting lead. Hard ask late in turn to put away other speed. Perfect tripper that was behind this 3 prong duel eased around these 3 and won easy but this one ran very well after a touch slow early, being stuck 3 wide and being the best of the speed.
Race 6
Raggedy Annie
7-17-19
Race Note: Was 15-1 ML but also a couple of scratches.
Trip Note: No head on view available. Seemed to break OK. Ridden away from the gate pretty hard. Average speed. Seemed to bump a foe to her inside and both had a bit of trouble but hard to tell. Stuck 4W through turn and was even all the way around. Feel like this one needs more ground.
Mom’s Pass
7-21-19
Race Note: FTS for Wesley Ward backs into field late.
Trip Note: Away OK and then slight pause shortly after start. Big recovery down backstretch. Heading into far turn was in a box and slightly steadied. A few going by this one in turn. Gets a pass from this race as didn’t get to show her speed and is definitely not the passing type.
6-20-19
Race Note: Was 3-1 ML. Tough to get a read on the action with the full field.
Trip Note: Broke like a rocket and immediately clear easy. To the rail. Nibbled at early to maintain lead entering far turn. Held rail spot through turn and cut corner well into the stretch. Switched leads right of the turn and good kick for home. Ran well but believe Fly So Pretty has more upside and maybe even ran better.
Palace Avenger
7-3-19
Race Note: Was 7-2 ML and bet hard. Seven of the nine in here was FTS. Winner of this one ran a very respectable 4th in a G2 event on Saturday.
Trip Note: Away well enough and ridden for speed. Had what you would think was a good spot early in the turn while stalking a hooked duel while saving ground – but it wasn’t. Started climbing when hit with throwback. Went from 3 back to 8 back before she stopped losing momentum. Well don’t to get back into the race – and actually galloped out with the winner who was a deep closer. This is usually the kind of horse that you’ll find me at the window telling the clerk, “Hit it again. Hit it again. Again. Again. Again. Um….yeah….3….no….5 more times.” Believe this one has hidden speed, too.
Nikki My Angel
7-20-19
Race Note: Was 6-1 ML. 9-5 while in gate and drifted up. Took some money.
Trip Note: Was away 2 lengths slow. Last early. Decent speed to recover some down the backstretch. At rail through turn when gaining stopped and she began backing up. Will need big improvement. Not running against Ohio-breds at Toga.
