Mike's Race Analysis April 28, 2007
Race #1
1st - #3 Corone Real | 2nd - #4 Albihighway | 3rd - #5 Macho Mo
COMMENTARY : The #3 CORONE REAL is taking a significant dip in price for his 2007 debut so combined with the easier company, the sharp worktab and the advantageous post he looks very tough in the opener. The #4 ALBIHIGHWAY is also facing easier and hails from an outfit that sends them out ready to rock. The #5 MACHO MO turned a couple of decent efforts last year before heading to the sidelines in May, his works are a little more conservative than my top two picks but I still like him to hit the board.
Race #2
1st - #4 Krone | 2nd - #7 Perky Lass | 3rd - #3 Regal Roo
COMMENTARY : The #4 KRONE should be able to parlay her fitness into a victory this afternoon, she appears to be the main speed in this soft heat and sports a solid work over the course so I think she'll take these gals gate to wire. The #7 PERKY LASS should provide some pace pressure for the #4 KRONE and if she's ready off of her slow works then she probably has the best shot to knock off 'Krone'. The #3 REGAL ROO could be the beneficiary if the top two fillies hook up in a pace duel, she raced with better last season but just never could get on track. The freshening and the easier opponents could bring out a better showing from her.
Race #3
1st - #2 Suva | 2nd - #3 Chelsey's Image | 3rd - #4 Napa
COMMENTARY : The very talented #2 SUVA has scared away most of her potential rivals and only three brave souls decided to take a shot against her. She has grown into a beautiful filly and has made even more progress since her two year old campaign which spells trouble for the three fillies that are taking her on, her works are excellent and the tiny field should keep her out of any traffic problems so she should win the money. The #3 CHELSEY'S IMAGE managed to split (2 wins each) the season series with SUVA last year but I think SUVA has improved a lot so she'll need to be awesome to beat her although she does have a tactical edge in her favour with her good gate speed. The #4 NAPA received three small paycheques while racing against the top two last year so she will need to move forward a bunch to challenge them today.
Race #4
1st - #2 Bullseye Bess | 2nd - #4 Triola | 3rd - #1 ENTRY
COMMENTARY : The #2 BULLSEYE BESS is aggressively spotted down for $8,000 and will probably get an "off track" as well as a nice trip in behind what looks to be a speed duel so she'll have every shot to win. The #4 TRIOLA makes her Hastings debut for trainer Troy Taylor, she's fit and ready, down in price and with a nice pace scenario in front of her she has a big chance to pull off a win. The #1 BUILT THIS CITY must avoid a pace duel with the #6 ANOINTED ONE (she's a need the lead type as well) if she's to win but does have an entrymate in #1A NEVER DOUBT MALEK to maybe save the #1 ENTRY players.
Race #5
1st - #8 Caval | 2nd - #2 Fire Boss | 3rd - #4 Sharp Chevron
COMMENTARY : The #8 CAVAL has turned in three solid works signaling that he's ready for action and should get a perfect trip sitting just off of the speedy #7 SHUTUP N PAY. The #2 FIRE BOSS has also been training in fine style for his '07 debut, he exits numerous difficult heats and should appreciate this easier group so don't be surprised if he wins a decent price. The #4 SHARP CHEVRON had a late start last year which is always tough so with him geared up in April his chances are good to be a major factor in this dash.
Race #6
1st - #8 Alferrari | 2nd - #4 Tango Mango | 3rd - #2 Almost Par
COMMENTARY : The ever-consistent #8 ALFERRARI is back in the Alan May (purchased privately last fall) where he's a win-machine, his worktab (as usual) is excellent and with this particular $15,000 event not coming up overly tough he's going to be the one to fear. The #4 TANGO MANGO won out his conditions at the $8,000 level before heading wire-to-wire going long giving him three consecutive victories to close out 2006, his works are slow but the barn does very well at getting horses ready to fire off the bench. The #2 ALMOST PAR was a solid horse to begin the 2006 season but tailed off noticeably in the fall, if he can get back to his top form he'll be a solid threat at a nice price.
Race #7
1st - #7 Restless Lady | 2nd - #5 You'rejustlikeme | 3rd - #2 Destiny's Home
COMMENTARY : The #7 RESTLESS LADY was a perfect 2 for 2 in blinkers last year and with this race really not having a lot of speed in it she should get a great trip which will make her tough to beat. The #5 YOU'REJUSTLIKEME brings in nice credentials from Florida and makes her first start in the Jim Brown barn after being purchased privately by Bud Malette earlier this month. She's had three works over our smaller oval and seems to have adapted well to her new surroundings so she'll get a lot of respect at the mutuels in this one. The #2 DESTINY'S HOME has turned in two 1:00 and change works and could be the lone speed which would make her very dangerous, her form last year was better than it appears at first glance as well so don't sell her short.
Race #8
1st - #7 Lethal Grande | 2nd - #6 Winter Warning | 3rd - #5 No Sox Fox
COMMENTARY : I had a tough time separating my top three selections in this co-feature event but because of his racing fitness edge I sided with the #7 LETHAL GRANDE who should be on the pace throughout and if the tracks remains sloppy his chances improve even more. The #6 WINTER WARNING has been very good in his final two preps for today's race, he has speed and looks like a strong threat to the #7 LETHAL GRANDE. The #5 NO SOX FOX is back in town after an unsuccessful winter in Southern California, he's 6 for 16 lifetime here at Hastings so I'm sure he's happy to be home.
Race #9
1st - #7 Running Apache | 2nd - #2 Loving Laur | 3rd - #8 Cahill Casey
COMMENTARY : The #7 RUNNING APACHE is a well-bred daughter of Indian Charlie that only had one start last year going three and a half furlongs in which she ended up third. She's been doing very good things in the a.m. and I think she'll win in her first try around two turns. The #2 LOVING LAUR has also been very impressive in her morning trials and is another that has a strong pedigree, she'll race on Lasix for the first time and gets a great draw as well so she's very 'live' in this spot also. The #8 CAHILL CASEY is yet another talented filly in this tough maiden allowance heat that has a sparkling worktab.
WELCOME BACK TO HASTINGS EVERYONE AND GOOD LUCK THIS AFTERNOON !!!