For photos from the Meadowlands contact Lisaphoto@playmeadowlands.com

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Vernon Downs - What A Card!

Friday night at Vernon Downs is a must play card as it clearly is the best card they have offered this year.  The first two races are the Historic Series' Acorn Stake for 2yo filly trotters; the next race is the Goshen Cup for 2yo pacing colts and geldings; the following race is the E.H. Harriman Cup for 2yo trotting colts and geldings; then comes the Debutante Stakes for 2yo filly pacers.

Besides these overnight series, to be contested are The Muscle Hill for aged trotting members featuring some of the best trotting mares in racing including Buck I St Pat; and Te Credit Winner for Open trotters featuring Il Villaggio, Define The World, San Pail making a rare South of the border visit and Lucky Jim.  The two overnight races on the card are pacing and trotting opens.  If you are a fan of harness racing, this is a card you want to see.

Due to the number of coupled entries there are only two Superfectas on the card; the fourth race has a five horse coupled entry in to go.  While the short fields in some races may be something some gamblers will avoid, you seldom see a card as strong as this at a track other than Chester Downs, Meadowlands or Mohawk.  If you want to see stakes programs like this to continue, there needs to be some wagering  to support the effort.

Let's take a look at the evening's card:

1st Trot - $36,550; Acorn Stake - 2yo Fillies (1st Division)
5 - Upside Hanover (Sears, 9-5)
2 - Donatoprincess (Morrill, 3-1)
3 - Ava Marion (Jamieson, 5-1)

2nd Trot - $36,050; Acorn Stake - 2yo Fillies (2nd Division)
2 - She's All In (Plaon, 6-1)
4 - Pittypat Hanover (Morrill, 9-5)
3 - Cowgirl Hall (Brunet, 4-1)

3rd Pace - $75,500; Goshen Cup - 2yo Colts and Geldings
4 - Wrubellious (D Miller, 3-1)
6 - Coast To Coast (Bouchard, 5-1)
3 - Who's Your Maddy (Sears, 8-1)
Coupled: Allstar Blues and Hide Me Away - Teague stable entry

4th Trot - $79,900; E.H. Harriman Cup - 2yo Colts and Geldings
4 - Big Chocolate (Hochstetler, 3-1)
1 - One In A Million (Campbell, 5-1)
5 - Duluth (Ackerman, 8-1)
Coupled: One In A Million, My Cousin Lindy, World Cup, Blazed, and Paper Backed Lindy - Antonacci stable entry
#6 - Light N Shadow scores from the second tier.

5th Pace - $61,300; Debutante Stakes - 2yo Fillies
1A - JK Cracklin Rosie (Morrill, 9-5)
   1 - JK Fine Art (Tetrick, 9-5)
   2 - Blackjack Princess (Sears, 3-1)
   5 - Jinxy's Delight (Jamieson, 5-1)
Coupled: JK Fine Art and JK Cracklin Rosie - 3 Brothers stable entry

6th Pace - $10,000; Open (Post Positions 5 and 6 Assigned)
2 - Pacinello (Plano, 6-1)
1 - Mata Harry (Whittemore, 3-1)
4 - Diamond Stick Pin (Morrill, 10-1)

7th Trot - $164,000; The Muscle Hill - Aged Mares
1 - Action-Broadway (Sears, 6-1) - Tough mare finally draws rail.  Expect to take advantage of it.
2 - Jersey AS (Waples, 7-2) - Upset winner on Hambo Day disappointed in last at Mohawk.
3 - Pembroke Heat Wave (Macdonell, 9-2) - Another one that escapes the outside.  Can improve rating.
4 - Buck I St Pat (Tetrick, 5-2) - Has the real mare shown up?  One to beat but watch odds.
5 - Autumn Escapade (D Miller, 8-1) - Last was a disaster.  Does she behave this time?
6 - Ginger Tree Wanda (Morrill, 8-1) - Seems to be overmatched here.
7 - Sea Raven (Jamieson, 12-1) - This is a far cry from Harrington Raceway; pass.
8 - Yursa Hanover (Campbell, 10-1) - Just a step below the best here.
Selections: 1-4-5-2

8th Trot - $218,000; The Credit Winner - Open
   2 - Define The World (Macdonnell, 9-2) - Mohawk winner may be in deep today.
   3 - San Pail (Waples, 2-1) - On paper the horse to beat.  Last raced a month ago.  Do you want at 2-1 or less?
   4 - Hot Shot Blue Chip (Sears, 10-1) - As long as he doesn't take himself out of the race he is good.
   1 - All Cantab (Morrill, 3-1) - Weaker half of the two horse entry.
   5 - Take My Picture (D Miller, 6-1) - Winner of two ambitiously placed.
1A - Il Villaggio (Jamieson, 3-1) - Defeated a good field at Indy.  Can he take on San Pail?
   6 - Pembroker Prayer (Campbell, 10-1) - Tries the big track this week and has Campbell.
   7 - Lucky Jim (Tetrick,  8-1) - Best days appear behind.  Pass.
Coupled: All Cantab and Il Villaggio - Burgess stable entry
Selections: 1A-3-2

9th Trot - $10,000; Open
6 - Victom AS (D Miller, 8-1)
4 - Mr Avalanche (Lems, 7-2)
5 - Mystic Splendor (Sears, 8-1)
2- A Crown For Lindy (Tetrick, 5-2)
#6 - Victim AS - First Time Laxis

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