Terrific Tuesday

[cliff]

Selections for Tuesday February 24.

Race 1

#2 Eagle See - I guarantee she's going to lose...........someday
#1 Honey Creek Abby - the only real competition and the eaglet has beaten her a couple times already
#3 Cruizin At Dawn - don't know how good she is, but made it look easy breaking her maiden
#6 Ashley Cruiser - home cooking

Race 2 Breaker Breaker

#2 Bette Lavec - troubled trotter has the ability to go right down the road against these
#8 Connie Corleone - also has the ability, tough post
#4 Betta Ona Freddie - could get a wake up call with Kakaley
#6 Dashing Cory - hasn't shown a whole lot in this class

Race 3

#5 Looknforthebigtime - in air the whole mile last week, wouldn't give it up
#3 Miss Big Time - has shown some ability, a catch driver might get her home
#4 Diana Court - still waiting to see her true potential
#1 News Attack - hasn't shown much, no excuse tonight

Race 4

#4 Her Name Was Baker - shouldn't get parked tonight, only early speed in the race
#1 True Deluxe - the horse can get away better than she showed in her first start
#5 Best Be Lucky - post relief in her second start off the scratch
#2 Nuclear Beauty - backed up in the stretch last week, not a good sign

Race 5

#2 Baba S - hard to go against her, catches a very suspect field
#4 Hylite Lavec - second to the Babe a couple back, second to Baba tonight
#1 Striking Karat - the rail is a big asset in a race like this
#6 Broadway And Fifth - improving and moving up

Race 6

#7 Gates Of Heaven - new barn, new set of hands Could Be A value
#9 Village Catera - the kind of field this veteran should beat
#1 She's Precious - another old timer who needed that last start
#5 Ever Berries - if this head case feels like racing

Race 7

#5 Lobe's Player - looks ready to race after that qualifier
#1 She's All Country - place money last week from the inside, may be coming around
#4 Voo Doo U Too - under performer won eight times last year
#2 Coluptuous - has the good post and Kakaley

Race 8

#1 B B Balanced Babe - trainer won't matter, racing too well, only claimer with a post
#2 Kipling Avenue - hanging around in this class, can't seem to put one across
#4 Landm Sweatheart - moving out of condition claimers, has looked like a race horse
#5 Sunbury Girl - will like her more after a couple starts

Race 9

#3 Shady Time Gal - beaten by a sharp pocket sitter last week, unlikely this time Best Bet
#5 Nude N Naughty - won like a favorite should last week, these are tougher
#2 Rinestone Coddie - back on the gate, has been competitive in this class before
#6 Ms Fun - Aaron's back, she's unproven in the claiming ranks

Race 10

#1 Tequila - claimer in a cheap condition, sign of life last week
#3 Sweet Ashtin - has beaten better, excuses in last four Co pick - could actually win at a price
#4 Itza Goozi Girl - dropped in and gave a credible effort from the outside
#2 Sharp Trap Shooter - Merriman seems to get the most out of her

Race 11

#5 JL's Nite Music - upset special, awesome middle half for her new connections Value Play
#1 Fleur De Le - has been awesome in this class herself
#2 Maggi B - moves up off an impressive win
#4 Cristal Daddy Girl - hasn't been herself lately

Race 12

#9 Aint No Telling Now - love this horse, hope Wyatt can get her loose by the half Value Play
#3 Game Sophie - game effort last week, not a believer yet
#1 Polo Aub - has the rail and Aaron chose off, enough of a tell for me .
#2 Dessies Girl - another Merriman left over

Race 13

#6 Belle Beckley - I really liked her last week, even more tonight Best Bet
#3 Silly N Sassy - hasn't been in this close for a while, needs a check badly
#2 Sand Cache' - has the ability but has looked very rough the last month
#1 Jenna's On Jodi - tried to make a move and quit badly, not a good sign

Good Luck

[thegiss]

Cliff- BB Balanced Babe will be a judge's scratch (Just like Fleur De Le, etc) Horses in to go that are claimed must be scratched by rule.

Also surprised Game Portia does not get at least a mention in the 11th. Post?

[cliff]

Hey Gis, thanks for the reminder on the Babe...I thought about that later after I had posted.

As for Game Portia, I have to get off her after last week. With Fleur De Le out she had everything going for her, and blew it. She was beaten worse than her line would indicate, never really involved in the race. I'm also remembering the break the week before which I discounted at the time, but may have been wrong. She's also zero for her last 20+. She may be one of these that tantalize but never come through. Now she draws to the outside, I just have no confidence she'll do anything tonight. Of course I could be very much wrong about her, and she come roaring back tonight, so we'll see.

Besides I'm sold on JL's Nite Music. Another I could be dead wrong about, but the price will be right at least.

[jimhorseman]

Cliff - I agree Game Portia was not as good as her 3rd place finish last week. She was easily passed at the 3/8 pole by two horses and was all out to hold her show finish. As I mentioned in the Bet Back Book entry on Game Portia this is a horse that teases handicappers with short bursts of potential but can't seem to put a race away. I wagered many dollars on Game Portia in the Dec/Jan period before throwing in the towel. Now that it seems you have become a bit discouraged I'm sure she will soon light up the tote board. Lately my bet back horse that will probably continue my dry run is Nico Mirabel who is running tomorrow night with a second consecutive bad draw. Made an unbelievable move a couple of starts back and was winning by open lengths when she broke stride. Not much effort from post 8 last week and this week has post 7. Could be another race where Beachy keeps the horse flat and makes a late move for a check but I'll have to risk a few dollars just in case.

[cliff]

Hi Jim...there was Game Portia with a nice trip and second again. I think you're right, she's a teaser, but may hate to win. Time will tell. I don't share your confidence with Nico Mirabel. Beachy is not a driver you can bet, even in cheap trots. In fact cheap trots in general can be tough on your wallet. I stay away.

I'm disappointed in Kurt Sugg's decision to sit the pocket last night with JL's Nite Music. I still think he had the best horse in the race. The horse has the early speed to get to the front as witnessed by her last victory against NW300PS. When the gate swung and he left, I thought "good, he's putting her in the lead where she needs to be". But no, he chose to tuck behind Kakaley. Is there some unwritten rule that a driver has to sit behind a 2-5 favorite? Even I could see from Fleur's last two races she was vulnerable. So there we are, she backs up under pressure, Sugg gets shuffled and out too late. Bet he takes a new tactic next week, but I also bet she's not 8-1 either.

And while I'm ranting, how about drivers who have a sharp horse and decide the horse is good enough to grind it out without looking for any kind of trip? Last night Joey Mapes with Sweet Ashtin. Well, ok he got caught outside, and Joey is Joey after all, but how about Kakaley with Belle Beckley in the 13th? Sure he wore down the leader, but then was beaten by the pocket sitter. Same thing happened a few days ago with Merriman and Jo Jo's Circus. Merriman leaves with everything, but he didn't with Jo Jo, instead waited until the front end was settled, then came out to start the grind. Actually I don't mind a driver going first over if he has the horse, but if he starts that adventure before the half, it's usually suicide. Kakaley and Merriman are top drivers, I just don't get it when I see drives such as those. Ok, I'm done...feel much better....thanks for listening.

[thegiss]

I got a couple e-mails as well about the trip Kakaley gave Eagle See in the opener. Any comments?

[cliff]

Feb 25, 2009 13:11:25 GMT -5 thegiss said:

I got a couple e-mails as well about the trip Kakaley gave Eagle See in the opener. Any comments?

I won't be critical of Kakaley on that one. Except for when Clair put the horse on the lead at the half in her maiden, the horse hasn't raced on the lead (not to say she can't, just hasn't to this point). Matt has always won with her first over, or exploding out of the pocket. I'm not being generous with the term "explode". I've noted that the horse has another gear when asked.

In this race Honey Creek Abby, who has proved to be a formidable speed horse, took the lead from the rail. Kakaley raced his horse as he always has. Stahl rated his horse beautifully, and when it became a couple hundred yard sprint to the finish Abby had plenty left. Eagle responded, but not with the explosiveness we've seen previously. Let's face it, after six straight, she was due to be beaten, and circumstances dictated that it be last night.

Folks should remember also, this horse has had only (now) seven lifetime starts, and is still learning. I have a hunch they may try her on the front end soon. It will be interesting to see how she fairs. No, I won't fault Kakaley in this one.

[thegiss]

Feb 25, 2009 16:21:29 GMT -5 cliff said:

Feb 25, 2009 13:11:25 GMT -5 thegiss said:

I got a couple e-mails as well about the trip Kakaley gave Eagle See in the opener. Any comments?

I won't be critical of Kakaley on that one. Except for when Clair put the horse on the lead at the half in her maiden, the horse hasn't raced on the lead (not to say she can't, just hasn't to this point). Matt has always won with her first over, or exploding out of the pocket. I'm not being generous with the term "explode". I've noted that the horse has another gear when asked.

In this race Honey Creek Abby, who has proved to be a formidable speed horse, took the lead from the rail. Kakaley raced his horse as he always has. Stahl rated his horse beautifully, and when it became a couple hundred yard sprint to the finish Abby had plenty left. Eagle responded, but not with the explosiveness we've seen previously. Let's face it, after six straight, she was due to be beaten, and circumstances dictated that it be last night.

Folks should remember also, this horse has had only (now) seven lifetime starts, and is still learning. I have a hunch they may try her on the front end soon. It will be interesting to see how she fairs. No, I won't fault Kakaley in this one.

I agree 100%, but I am a fan of Kakaley and a friend of Umholtz and wanted to make sure I was not watching through rose-colored glasses. He gave the mare the same trip he has the last three starts, imo. Thanks.