New Driver Fines Popping Up

I have noticed the past few days that some new driver fines have been popping up at Mohawk. A few have been for "talking on the track" and a couple for "not closing a hole".

Recently Standardbred Canada ran a survey about some of the things that annoy the betting public (and some horseman) regarding the way our races are run. We spoke about a couple of these here in this post.

It seems that some of the letters to the Trot editor (and some letters to the Harness Edge) were read by those in power. It does appear that this is perhaps a response to those letters.

The internet is a powerful tool. Twenty minutes ago I was asked by a company we do business with to fill out an online survey, for example. There are companies out there who supply an online web survey template for other companies to use. Companies scan blogs and chat sites (some chat sites for customers right on their websites) to see what customers are saying. Places like the Harness Edge and SC offer forms for immediate feedback on stories. It is all a click away in this day and age.

A small pebble dropped from a snow-topped mountain can turn into a snowball if enough people get behind it. We have seen that in a lot of instances in the internet age. Addressing the pebble before it becomes a snowball is something we all do in our businesses. It seems that this response echo's that racing feels the same way.

Burlington Recap

On Saturday night three divisions of the Burlington Stakes went forward at Mohawk Raceway in Campbellville. I found the races far more entertaining than I usually find them.

In division one Dali got the lead that I thought he would. But it was not a walk in the park. Luc kept him going pretty good speed, paneling back to back sub-28 quarters. At the top of the lane he looked to be perhaps beaten, but Miller’s horse Sand Shooter had not much to offer, and Stonebridge Magnum in the pocket was just keeping up. Out of the clouds came Ty Buter and Art Official, which if not for Somebeach’s effort in division two, would have easily been the talk of the evening. He flew home in a speed not seen at Mohawk, ever. He paced wide in the last three panels and clocked those in 120.3, with a 52.4 back half. Astonishing speed.

In the second division, Somebeach was, well Somebeach. Despite getting soundly stung in a 26.2 second quarter, and having to back that up with a 27.4 third quarter, he cruised home and jogged. Handicapping 101 says that if a horse is used a big quarter in the middle and gets zero rest, his last 100 yards will be slow, and he will be vulnerable. We see that every single day. That is a rule for regular horses, not this one. I also honestly thought that he would be somewhat short after seeing the fractions and knowing that they could not get proper work into him with the injury he had two weeks ago. By all reports he just went a 158 mile as a tune up. I was extremely impressed. Jeff Gillis’ horse – Santanna Blue Chip had a good tightener from the ten. I am not sure I have ever seen a horse pace sounder, or straighter. He might not be Somebeach, but he is darn good and should have a super season, as they point him to the stakes. Last night was clearly a conditioning mile.

In the last division, I expected Lonestar Legend to romp when he made the lead. It did not happen. Keystone Horatio sprang off cover and won fairly easily, defeating a tripped out Deuce Seelster. Y’know I never give Horatio too much credit. That is clearly a mistake. He is a nice horse who shows up every single week. These are the types that you look at their card, they have a mark of 151 and have made $900,000. or so. Time for me to give him the credit he deserves for being a damn nice horse.

Barring some sort of mishap, Somebeach is a clear favourite for the Cup. Fair odds? I honestly think he is even money to win the race. Big Brown was even money to win the Triple Crown after the Derby, which I thought was too low. Two races to win and even money with all that can go wrong? Not my cup of tea, but with this horse I can’t conceivably make him any higher odds. He simply looks to be everything that everyone has said – a complete and utter freak.

Handicapping the Burlington; and some notes

Well I might as well kill some time. Been busy today, and not much up for posting, but in reading a couple things tonight got me thinking of the Burlington.

First some notes:

The Molson Pace was contested tonight and was won in stunning fashion by longshot Eagle Luck. Gotta love the way they do it up at Western Fair. Frank really gets up for the event, they had a huge crowd and all looked well. I checked to see if it was on HPITv tonight, but HPIWest did not have the card. What a shame, they all work hard there, so the TV coverage would have been good for handles. Regardless, great race. You can watch it here. It is worth it. Old time harness racing.

On Equidaily.com, which I read daily, he rarely has a link on a standardbred story. But today he links the Toronto Star piece on Somebeach and calls it "Debut of Somebeachsomewhere is highly anticipated". How true that is. This is one of those horses who may be able to transcend breeds.

Below when I mentioned that Woodbine does many good things for the player, I got reminded of that this evening. I went to the mail and got my invitation to the North America Cup or Queen's Plate, with a meal and drink included. This is a nice thing to give to players. I enjoyed my time last year. I think I did not cash a ticket, but might have been the best time I had doing that at the track. I don't think too many players showed up, but I did.

Kevin from The Aspiring Horseplayer posted a nice comment below about the blog. That was nice. I thought of replying in private to it, but I posted it. Not everyone thinks I am a goofball, so I just want y'all to know that :) Kevin's blog is very well read and very well done. It is on thoroughbreds, and it is worth bookmarking. On Wednesday he posted a very good opinion piece on Rick Dutrow and some of his comments about Big Brown versus Curlin. That post had some awesome horseplayer passion. You can access that here.

Now, first up thank Greg R of the Edge who posts the updates on the Cup for us. He did that below, touching most of the bases as usual.

Second, time for me to dust off my handicapping pen (oh lord!) and take a look at the Burlington divisions tomorrow.

The Burlington Stakes are generally a little bit hard to handicap. For $100,000 the purse is not small, but with bigger fish to fry later in the Cup we have to handicap intent. It is also the first week of a three race stretch where your horse will be pushed. Not ideal for trainers and drivers in cooking a horse, so watch for that. Last year, for example, Cup Champion Tell All was 9th by 16 at the quarter in his Burlington divison.

The first division should probably be a cake walk for Dali. There are clearly some good horses in this race, like Art Official and especially Sand Shooter. But with those two having the outside posts, I do not expect much. I would need very fair odds to play either of them from there. I see Luc quarter poling Dali around possibly Tetrick with It's That Time. If they go slow this might be the exactor.

The second division has the superhorse. It is interesting to me. In the program, Ken Sr. goes against Beach. And with his injury it seems people somewhat see him as vulnerable. Good luck. If this horse loses, or even looks threatened I would be shocked. I believe by Sunday morning he is back being everyone's huge favourite for the Cup. Santanna will not be torched from the outside - no way Jody goes crazy I think. But perhaps they might leave and tuck. If so, that would be enough to fill out the exactor (imo).

The third division is very interesting. The three hyped-contenders drew the outside. Legacy and Diamonds might just give this a shot from out there to see how he stacks up (the Cup starting fee is $8000); Luc's horse has speed. Hmmm. Tough, interesting race. I am going to say Luc gets a great up close trip here with Four Starz Moxie, and gets the job done. I might try Lonestar Legend for second, as I think Swick will not instruct Tetrick to go back to last. He was 10th by 20 last time in Canada at the first call, and that did not work out too well. He might try from out there. If he does and works out a trip I will probably be not cashing on Luc as this horse is some serious stock. I'll throw Condren with Legacy in that mix as well. If that came in it would be a fairly good tri.

Remember, these picks are for fun only: I don't think I have cashed a ticket since last week. Or maybe last month. One of the two.

Who do you guys like in the divisions? Any words of wisdom?

Enjoy the Saturday, enjoy the stakes and go make some cash everyone. Let's hope the rain holds off and we see some great racing.