At The Raceway ...
An Expert Analysis of the Scarborough Downs Card
Saturday May 11th - 4:30 Post Time!
Race Two ... PC'S WILDCARD retains the level of last week's win in this classified system and in fact, his Track Master rating actually declined from 67.67 last week to 67.58 this week, despite the fact that he won as the bettor's choice last weekend - Guess it will take us a while to figure out the intricacies of handicapping this new system ... SIM BROWN saw his rating increase from 64.60 to 65.38 after that good tracking runner-up placing in last - Must overcome the outside post once again but at least his rating is more in line with how we imagined this system might work ... EXPLOSIVE AFTERNOON stutter-stepped his way to oblivion last weekend and draws poorly today - His Track Master rating stayed exactly the same despite being triple distanced in last ... 2-6-7
Race Three ... CERBERUS drops down to the Scarborough colt classifications off a scantly beaten 1:54.1 effort at Saratoga in last - Makes his first start for new connections at an advantageous level today ... THE SPINSTER makes her first start at the Downs off credible mid-Atlantic outings - The Gibbs roster was lights out last Sunday and has yet to miss the board at the Downs this season ... MARC ET MASTER draws well and continues to intrigue as he attempts to regain that mid-March Saratoga form ... 4-7-1
Race Four ... ANDERLECHT rides a two-race win streak up the class ladder to contest the bottom claiming class here at the Downs today - The cagey veteran is sharp and ready and benefits greatly if Campbell elects to steer over number five ... AIR FORCE GRAD makes his second start down at this reduced level as the trainer takes the seat from the rail today - Greatly improved post position is duly noted here ... OR draws poorly today but has yet to miss the board in any of his last five starts - Connections remain lightning hot this spring ... 3-1-8
Race Five ... ROCK DIAMONDS ventures forth to tackle the Scarborough FFA set off a tantalizingly close runner-up placing versus top-class foes at the Ridge - This is by no means an easy split but this tough newcomer appears well situated here ... ZACK LEE rides a nifty five-race win streak up the class ladder today after winning for fun in every state of Maine start this year - This guy has made it look so easy too ... JJS JET may well need a start or two under his belt as he embarks on his 2019 campaign, but then again, by the looks of that qualifying chart, maybe not - Tough to discount Scarborough's 2018 Pacer of the Year here ... 6-2-4
Race Six ... J PATCH really came to life last week while looking just a bit more like his former self - Steps up into the winners division of this classified scheme but still appears to have a reasonable shot with any repeat of last ... PRINCE PINANG continues to be one of the luckiest drawing horses at the meet as he draws his fourth rail from six local starts - This guy has enough good early foot to take full advantage of that happenstance too ... GOIN MANSTYLE is a winner of three out of last four starts and yet still retains the exact same Track Master rating as last weekend - This isn't really what we expected to see from this new classified racing system but the race secretary separating the winners from the non-winners appears to be a way of managing an apparent static scoring system ... 2-1-5
Race Seven ... MY SHARONA BLUECHIP steps up a slight rung on the class ladder today off a resounding romp last weekend - Draws handily once again in here and the Bickmore barn has been making itself heard from of late ... HERE'S THE SCOOP realizes class relief of Homeric proportions as he exits that tough optional $15K claiming classification level - This guy would have been my top tab with any improved post position but he's still a key player despite the outside draw ... WALTZ ACROSS THE WIRE bids to build upon that sturdy third place showing in last as he makes his second start back up in Maine ... 1-7-3
Race Eight ... SUNBURST IT IS finally draws an exceedingly rare inside starting spot as he makes his first state of Maine appearance today - This guy has been battling tough metropolitan foes while throwing in respectable closing panels of late ... STUDIO SESSION has been knocking on the door from poor starting spots this year - Must overcome the outside wing once again today but prick up your ears if KS-2 elects to steer her over numbers seven and eight ... BIG BAD ROCK may well need a start or two under his belt but that recent prep is rated A-OK indeed ... 2-6-1
Race Nine ... ROCK N ALL THE WAY climbs a slight rung on the class ladder off his initial score of the season last weekend - Sharp pacer is still modestly classified and the stable is heating up ... CARD RUSTLER threw in a game effort from the outside wing last weekend and remains at a reasonable level today - Draws handier here and benefits if Ranger elects to steer over number eight ... BOWED FORTY YOVA was out and about throughout during that game rally attempt in last - Draws poorly once again this week but appears to have the tools to deal with that effectively ... 4-2-6
Race Ten ...MAY DAY JO JO makes his second appearance of the season in a remarkably evenly matched field today - Sports the best top line and final panel clocking to be found on this program page ... BELLY DANCER finally draws an inside starting spot after toiling from the outside wing of late - Second start Campbell might be key in here ... VICTORY AHEAD makes the key second start off the qualifier in this wide open finale - This is the type of race we hoped that the new classified racing scheme would create ... 4-1-2
Sunday May 12th - Post Time 1:30 - Happy Mothers Day!
Race Two ... DELLA CRUISE boasts the best top line to be found on this program page following a successful debut for new conditioner last weekend - May even be experiencing a modicum of hidden class relief here too ... NORTHVIEW PUNTER had the misfortune of squaring off versus a resurgent upward bound sort from an impossible starting spot in last - Different tale may well be spun from the rail today ... CADILLAC PHIL exits MADC competition for a shot against the bottom conditioned class today - This one threw in a steady effort versus a bearcat in last ... MUST BE THE BUNNY figures to win one soon ... 5-1-3-2
Race Three ... CARBON FOOTPRINT benefits greatly from the also eligible clause as he makes his first start back in Maine today - Has been idle and his last start was less than stellar but this classy campaigner knows his way around the raceway ... SIERRA MADERA bids to build upon that good tracking runner-up placing last weekend - Advantageous starting spot almost guarantees another handy trip today ... AXIOS may well need a start or two under his belt as he makes his seasonal debut today but on the other hand, any repeat of that prep mile would prove quite effective versus these ... 7-3-6
Race Four ... ARTZUMA drops handily into the bottom conditioned class today after tussling with tougher mid-level optional claiming sorts all spring - Must contend with the outside draw but class relief can often be an ally in that regard ... SPIRIT OF AMERICA bids to rebound from a clunker from the 8-hole in last but any repeat of his seasonal debut effort makes him handy in here - Post position relief is palpable here ... THREE NEW DAWNS drops from MADC level competition as driver Bruce Ranger takes over the piloting duties ... 7-3-6
Race Five ... PEMBROKE CASTAWAY makes the key second start off the qualifier off a dead-game front running gambit in last - A 12-time winner last season, he figures to be even handier this week ... CHERRY CROWN JEWEL never found a way to overcome the dreaded starting spot last weekend but bids to regain her winning ways from the inside wing today - Key competitor in this class ... MACK'S GOLD BAND sharp campaigner has now hit the board in four consecutive starts - Has enough valid early speed with which to overcome the outside post today ... 6-3-7
Race Six ... JK ALL NITE LONG drops down to the bottom classified level boasting respectable efforts versus tougher optional claiming competition - Represents a possible price play scenario in a rather evenly matched field ... PERSONNEL SPACE makes his second start at this reduced level while making his third start of the year - This horse loves to win races and appears quite capable here ... JIN DANDY makes his second start for new connections after encountering 1:57 speed in his local debut - Prick up your ears if Ranger elects to steer over our second tab ... 3-5-4
Race Seven ... TWEEDLE D TWEEDLE DUM threw in one of his better starts of the spring in last and bids to build upon that effort as he retains the bottom conditioned class once again - Ran up against a class-dropping relative bearcat in last ... SHRINK WRAP is the lone class dropper to be found on this program page today - Draws horribly here after stutter stepping late in last but that was a start that he figured to need anyway ... REMIX makes the key second start off the qualifier off a decent seasonal debut - Zero for 30 record over the past two seasons is of some concern though ... 3-8-7
Race Eight ... KIM'S DAY realizes her first reasonable shot at success for new connections after squaring off versus class dropping Bearcats lately - Figures to set sail gallantly from the rail today ... DANDY'S BEAUTY has comported herself quite effectively since venturing onto the state of Maine circuit - She even bested our top tab two starts back ... CHEYENNE PATTI dull form is duly noted but this mare is better than what she's been showing lately - Might prove usable at price in the exotics if she reawakens here ... 1-4-2
Race Nine ... CODE WORD must overcome the outside wing today but he retains the level of last week's win and remains spot on sharp - The millionaire pacer has done nothing but impress since venturing to Maine ... BLACK TREE makes the key second start off the qualifier following a respectable debut - Draws the inside edge over our top tab for top connections here ... A WORLD APART this pacer absolutely loves factoring into the pari-mutuel equations and remains brilliantly classified for continued success at this optional claiming class level - Fun race! ... 6-1-3
Race Ten ... GO WEST LUCKY CAM experiences a steep drop from the optional $6K claiming ranks to the NW's bracket of the bottom classified scheme - Draws well enough to front this field as he strives for his first win of his 2019 season ... SOUTHWIND REX has been knocking on the door just about all season long and should have valid speed to take a crack at here - Figures to win one soon ... YOU'RE NEWS bids to build upon a deceptively decent 5th place showing in last as Campbell returns in the sulky today ... 3-1-6