Expert Analysis of the Scarborough Downs Card
by Mike Sweeney
by Mike Sweeney
Saturday, May 18
Race One ... GEMSTONE raced first-up forever versus some pretty stout Queen City foes in last and still held on for a game 3rd place showing - Key 2nd start LASIX as he debuts at the Downs today ... SWIM SHARK SWIM rode the good journey to a respectable showing in a start he figured to need last week - Finds a reasonable grouping from which to make his first local appearance ... TYRANT HANOVER classy sort invades from the Ridge sporting credible early foot ... 1-3-6
Race Two ... SUNNY VICTORY sharp mare is capable of mounting sustained rally bids - Patient driver with familiarity of his charge will be a plus as the MADC switched to the diagonally gaited set ... PUSS IN BOOTS comes sharp off a win but did rally into backward fractions in last ... MAGIC has enough early speed to takes these down the highway as he trades in the dreaded 8-hole for the coveted rail today ... 4-2-1
Race Three ... BABE PER VIEW threw in a rare clunker as the beaten favorite in recent Queen City appearance - Certainly worth another shot here as she regains the Campbell Call ... LISLEA BONITA makes the key 2nd start off the qualifier following an extremely useful seasonal debut effort - A win here would not surprise us ... OCCASIONAL CHEAT had a ton of excuses in rock em sock em mile last week - Represents a decent value play in the exotics here ... 4-1-5
Race Four ... SWIFT SAMANTHA lost her concentration as the bettor's choice with breaking horse up close to her in last so we're willing to forgive the rare miscue - We thought she was gearing up for a big effort last weekend so we'll stick with her from the rail today ... MUSCANA retains the level of last week's win so what's not to like here? ... NEVER DIE steady performer has now hit the board in all 7 of his seasonal starts - A must play on all exotic tickets ... 1-3-4
Race Five ... WAR GLORY charged to an insistent sort of win in last and retains the level of that score today - This Maine-bred appears ready to step up to the next level now ... MAPPLE BI has now hit the board in 4 of her 5 seasonal starts and also retains the level of her latest win - Sharp commodity who should also be handy as she takes dead aim on the next colt class ... KENNEBEC VALLEY well-bred and from impeccable connections - The 8-hole should offer only minor concern here ... 5-4-8
Race Six ... PERSONNEL SPACE aired to the quarter through a pretty torrid panel from the 7-hole last weekend but draws to the inside wing today - Heads down the highway and says "come 'n get me boys" from here ... POINT STANDING keen rally threat makes a strategic appearance at the MADC level today - Keen rally threat will have legit pace to take a crack at here ... IN THE POCKET THIS TIME poor post will hinder his chances today but none are sharper than he ... 2-5-8
Race Seven ... MR ABUNDANCE drops way down to the MADC level today as the trainer takes the seat - Draws the rail just to add insult to injury and can leave like the wind too ... ARMBRO BRANDO classy sort will likely leave out for position from the outside wing today - The tale will get told in the stretch ... FULLA FIRE capable sort has finished 3rd to similar in each of his last two starts - Why not again today? ... 1-6-3
Race Eight ... BONUS MILES steps up in company off a speedy Queen City score and has proven more than capable versus similar - Driver Gary Mosher had had success steering this veteran before so take heed if he elects to drive ... NO SURRENDERS comes speed tightened from recent raids on the Ridge - Shows winning every other start in those recent charts and if that trend continues he'll win today - We're not overly enthused with any particular horse in here so that theory holds as much water as any ... BIG JOHN C takes a double jump in class today off jaw-dropping performance last weekend - This one has had trouble at this level in the past though ... 4-2-3
Race Nine ... J PATCH steps up the class ladder with complete confidence following insistent score versus maidens last week - This one came calling with authority mid-mile and then paced a handy 59.1 back-half -Impressive indeed ... BENS BEACH BOY has shown solid improvement and has hit the board in each of his last 3 starts - Wins one soon - Perhaps today ... INDIAN NATION keen rally threat draws poorly once again today - Cannot be ignored in the Pari-Mutuels though ... 4-5-6
Race Ten ... MATTDULTERY drops way down to the $3K claiming level while drawing the advantageous post today - We had sworn off this classy veteran following that beaten favorite performance back on Kentucky Derby Day but how can we resist one last shot? ... FOURTH PAGE sharp veteran rides a 2-race win streak back to the raceway - Poor post may hinder but he may have found a sweet spot to compete in this split today ... MONEY FOR COLLEGE cannot buy a decent post position but this one sure can rally effectively on the tail-end of the mile ... 1-6-8
Race Eleven ... FOR NOW retains the level of last week's well-meant romp while drawing the perfect spot from which to flaunt his good early foot - Connections have drawn exceedingly well today ... THUNDER'S TOY conventional wisdom says this one may need a start or two under his belt but check out that incredibly useful morning workout - May be ready to rock n roll fresh off the shelf ... BURL HANOVER jumps up in class off handy win in last - This one has yet to miss the board in any of his 7 local starts ... 1-2-3
Race Twelve ... REAL SPECIAL continues to dazzle with gritty performance followed by gritty performance - Gains the slightest of edges in here as he gains the slight advantage in post over his chief rival ... JOHNNY Z gets assigned the outside post after roaring from the rail in last - He's sharp, speedy and versatile - What a great race this is gonna be! ... PLAYERS BALL simply had too many horses to get around in gallant effort in last - He's made a believer out of us all ... 5-6-4
Race Thirteen ... JITTERBUG HANOVER plummets all the way to the NW's division of the $3K claiming classes today - May well head on down the highway and swell up versus these ... D M SUNDANCE keen rally threat will have speed to track down here - Sports perhaps the best top line to be found on this program page today ... YOUR A GAMBLER'S SON makes his 2nd start down at this reduced level and slides in a few spots behind the gate too ... 4-6-5
Sunday, May 19
Race One ... WING AND A SHARE switches barns today as she makes her 2nd start down at this reduced level - Held her own in overland fashion in the teeth of a substantial back-half in last ... FRITZIE ROSA rode the good trip from the much improved starting spot last weekend - Scenario figures to be similar from the rail today ... ALL AMERICAN VIXEN any repeat of that 4-28 line makes her handy in here - Perhaps the best of the rest ... 2-1-5
Race Two ... EXECUTIVE FEMALE drops back down to her handiest level and the level of her most recent wins - Has enough early speed to insist on the pike trip today from the rail - Plays catch-me-if-you-can ... TERRI I FRA appears as sharp as anything on this program page and comes with the demonstrated ability to rally from off the pace - Will have legit early speed to take a crack at here ... ER MADE OF HONOR looms large off scant beaten favorite effort in last - Seeks the good trip once again versus these ... 1-5-4
Race Three ... ROYAL HAWAII looms as the one to beat once again this week despite the outside post position - Just missed as the bettor's choice in last and makes her 2nd start down at the bottom conditioned class today ... JUNIATA COUNTY rallied effectively with Goodblood calling the shots last week - Pay attention if Dude elects to drive this entry today rather the #1 ... S J'S REEL GIRL deserves some consideration as she drops in company while making her 1st start from new stable - Draws very kindly today too ... 8-4-1
Race Four ... KIMMIE CAM confirmed upper-class threat is working her way back up the ladder now - Gets to sit closer to the early pace from the improved post today ... HAWK'S CRY ELECTRA classy lassie jumps up a notch after throttling bottom claiming class sorts in recent Queen City appearance - This is still a very moderate level for this former FFA threat ... A LITTLE NAUGHTY calls dibs on the front seat from the rail today - Should be ultra-competitive in this extremely wide-open affair ... 4-5-1
Race Five ... ESCAPE ATTACK jumps up one level in company following a jaunt in the park versus bottom class claiming sorts in last - This sharp fella appears perfectly situated to attempt to bottom out this field today ... HIGH CALIBRE the class of this class can never be discounted at or about this level - He's now hit the board in each of his last six starts ... ACE LAUXMONT rallied effectively from well off the pace in last - Appears to have everything sorted away now and will have legit early speed to track down in here ... 1-5-4
Race Six ... WILL HE new blood from the Buckeye State deserves serious consideration as he debuts at the proper level - Classy campaigner shows a recent 2:00 score right on his papers ... CHERRIES HANOVER continues to thrive since the recent reclassification ploy - Remains a key player week in and week out at this claiming class ... YOU GO GIRL makes her 2nd start back down at her handiest level - Probably loses Campbell today but she should still be OK versus these ... 2-5-4
Race Seven ... PERLE NOIRE draws her first usable post position since mid-April while simultaneously dropping down to the NW's division of the bottom claiming class - Gets the Campbell Call today ... IMPERIAL ART another class dropper of note today - Was a close-up runner-up when last seen down at this reduced level ... POISON IVY bears some watching today as she adopts the claiming tag off decent 4th in Queen City colt class spin ... 3-5-2
Race Eight ... WESTERN EDGE appears pointed in the right direction as he makes his way back to the home track today - Lands in the midst of a very manageable field today too ... FEAR ITSELF drops down a slight notch while continuing to draw well - Figures to secure the good trip in behind our top tab early on, with the tale being told in the stretch ... CAM IT YOUR IN MY WAY makes the key 2nd start off the qualifier off steady debut effort - Benefits from the also eligible tag but post will hinder once again today ... 4-1-8
Race Nine ... MISS ANNALISE adopts the fashionable claiming tag that allows her to draw for the inside post positions today - That one small development may well make all the difference in the world here ... GRANDMA FINN missed the board for the first time all season last week but bids to make amends from the rail today - Has enough early speed to insist on the pike route here ... COUNTRY FRESH may well prove to be the fastest of these but must contend with the outside starting spot today ... 3-1-6
Race Ten ... SASSY SARAH slides in a few notches behind the car today and regains the Campbell Call - Classy old race mare is just a winning machine ... ANGEL OF DESIRE jumps up to test the big girl $3K classes after demolishing the NW's grouping last weekend - She had been facing much sterner competition in the earlier part of the season though ... SATURDAY NIGHT DANCER seeks the good trip from the advantageous post today ... 6-2-1