Mike's Race Analysis May 19, 2008
Race #1
1st - #3 Juvee Hall | 2nd - #5 Tongue And Groove | 3rd - #4 Tendra's Way
COMMENTARY : The #3 JUVEE HALL ran very well last year in two tough maiden heats that actually ended up producing a stakes winner as well as a couple of stakes-placed fillies. This race isn't overly tough and she’s looked good in her morning preps and having the leading rider in the tack is another added bonus. The #5 TONGUE AND GROOVE has some sharp drills for her ’08 debut and check out the amazing rider/trainer combo (52%) over the past two years. The #4 TENDRA’S WAY blew the start in her comeback race which led to her poor showing but if she breaks better today I think she’s good enough to compete with these gals.
Race #2
1st - #5 Mighty Cahill | 2nd - #2 Tango Mango | 3rd - #4 Stephanson
COMMENTARY : The #5 MIGHTY CAHILL is taking on a much easier assignment this time as he looks for his first win since 2006; this $35,000 event has come up pretty soft so I think he’ll be very tough to outrun in this spot. The #2 TANGO MANGO is a solid runner that seldom runs a bad one, he missed the break in his latest and didn’t have the needed position to get the job done. He’s in tough with the #5 MIGHTY CAHILL but he looks to be the best of the rest. The #4 STEPHANSON did get a great trip at all last time so you can draw a line through that race and give him another shot in the exotics.
Race #3
1st - #3 Angel Came Down | 2nd - #6 Vyking Venture | 3rd - #2 Flying Princes
COMMENTARY : The #3 ANGEL CAME DOWN showed good speed from an outside draw and set a contested pace then drew off to win at the non-two level last time out; there isn’t as much early pace in this dash so she looks like a wire-to-wire candidate again today. The #6 VYKING VENTURE always seems to be on-the-board and I think she’ll be there again but she’ll need pace help if she’s to win this afternoon. The #2 FLYING PRINCES had only two starts in 2007 but did win one of them; works are good so I’ll put her in the top three.
Race #4
1st - #3 Slew's Boy | 2nd - #6 Sporty Jones | 3rd - #2 Huffman
COMMENTARY : The #3 SLEW’S BOY ran a winning race last time but the post got him beat; he’s drawn better today and shouldn’t need to work as hard for position so I really like his chances. The #6 SPORTY JONES weaved his way through the field to get the runner-up spot in his return to Vancouver and if the pace scenario is as favourable to him then he’ll be a big threat again today. The #2 HUFFMAN turned in a solid effort at this level two weeks back and is one that can beat the top two with the right trip. COMPETITIVE RACE !!!
Race #5
1st - #7 Henry West | 2nd - #3 Jajas Legacy | 3rd - #9 Harvard Grad
COMMENTARY : The #7 HENRY WEST was sitting behind a slow pace and still managed to run on and get third money; this heat appears to have come up far easier than that one did so I’m giving him to big shot to win this afternoon. The #3 JAJAS LEGACY is exiting a tough race in which he held his position in fourth place throughout and should appreciate this drop in price. The #9 HARVARD GRAD has a solid work tab for his career debut; he has strong connections and must be respected.
Race #6
1st - #5 Willie Katchem | 2nd - #2 Skimming On Ice | 3rd - #7 Big Shiny
COMMENTARY : The #5 WILLIE KATCHEM lacked room on the final turn which cost him any shot of getting second (only lost second by two lengths) money that day; he’ll get his blinkers back and should get a contested pace set in front of him. PRICE PLAY !! The #2 SKIMMING ON ICE ran reasonably well in his Hastings debut although I thought he would’ve been a little better with his fitness edge; he has speed and an inside draw and will also add blinkers this afternoon. The #7 BIG SHINY ran with some tougher non-two’s last year and performed quite well; if he brings that type of effort today he’ll be tough to outrun; inconsistent but very capable !!
Race #7
1st - #2 Remarkable Miss | 2nd - #4 Heaven On Hold | 3rd - #7 Wild n' Wicca
COMMENTARY : The #2 REMARKABLE MISS was a little too keen early and it cost her as she hung a bit to finish third; she’ll likely settle farther off the pace which could reward her with a win in this race that features a lot of early speed. The #4 HEAVEN ON HOLD is one of three stakes winners in the lineup, she has good speed and has been running in some salty races in California so she definitely is the one to beat. The #7 WILD N’ WICCA came running on late the snare second money on the line; there’s plenty of speed to help her out again so she look for her to be in the TRIACTOR and SUPERFECTA.
Race #8
1st - #2 Enforcement | 2nd - #3 Bank Emblem | 3rd - #4 The Visualiser
COMMENTARY : The #2 ENFORCEMENT was a ton the best (broke slow then was four wide for the first half-mile) beat against non-two allowance runners; this assignment is a much tougher one but I can see a early pace duel which would really help this guy out. The #3 BANK EMBLEM is the obvious choice off of his victory at this same level but he did get a nice trip in the clear on the outside in his win and he may have to race in between runners today which may cost him. The #4 THE VISUALISER set a lively pace in his comeback race and was reeled in late by the #3 BANK EMBLEM who did have a conditioning edge on him; as long as that hard race didn’t take too much out of him then he’ll be very ‘live’ against this bunch again today.
Race #9
1st - #1 Sir Gallovic | 2nd - #5 Forcefiul Intention | 3rd - #4 B R Remark
COMMENTARY : The #1 SIR GALLOVIC might not be the best sprinter around but he’s the best horse in the lineup today and I’ll gamble that he gets up to win setting up a showdown with True Metropolitan in a few weeks time. The #5 FORCEFUL INTENTION is a talented colt that has been working very well for his return and looks like the main danger to the #1 ENTRY. The #4 B R REMARK ran okay in the George Royal checking in third in a track record time; he must always be respected at this distance.
Race #10
1st - #2 Sovereign Charmer | 2nd - #8 Bold Path | 3rd - #9 Global Intention
COMMENTARY : The #2 SOVEREIGN CHARMER finds a soft for his first start in over a year, his works are far better than anyone else’s and I’ll take him to win off of the big layoff. The #8 BOLD PATH hooked into a big class dropper when running second in his last; this dash is easier and I like him to be right there. The #9 GLOBAL INTENTION is dropping down in search of his first victory and if the pace sceanrrio is hot then he has a good chance.
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