For photos from the Meadowlands contact Lisaphoto@playmeadowlands.com

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Look Out New York and Pennsylvania

In an interview with Harnesslink's editor Duane Ranger, Lou Pena claims he plans on heading east to race in New York and Pennsylvania once he has his stable put together.  At the present time, he has no horses lined up but he has agents looking for horses (and owners) both in Canada and the United States. 

Not only is he planning on resuming his training career, he plans on doing it well, aiming to win the training title at the track he competes at.

Of course, the question is will tracks back east have him?  It is one thing to say you want to race at a certain racetrack, but with the ability to pull in the welcome mat, that racetrack may decide it doesn't want you.  For example, it's no secret that he is unwelcome at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs in addition to the Meadowlands.  I am pretty sure he will be back as some track will let him return, assuming the NYGC is unable to reinstate his suspension.


Maybe these races have a few FFAllers and plenty of pretenders, but my favorite early season series, the Blue Chip Matchmaker and the George Morton Levy Memorial series kicks off at Yonkers Raceway.  On Friday night there are thirty-five mares dripping in for five divisions of the Matchmaker while Saturday night there are forty-two horses going in six divisions of the Levy.  The one thing which surprises me is the number of horses making their first starts of the season in this opening leg of the Matchmaker ( a lesser number in the Levy).  While many of these first time starters have class advantage, this week may be the opportunity for some upsets.

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