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May 18, 2018

Walpole, Massachusetts native George Ducharme left his Vernon Downs base of operations to return home with two of his state-bred trotters and came away with two wins, two lifetime marks and a tie for a track record for his students after their day of work at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (May 17).

Last year’s Massachusetts Sire Stake (MASS) 2-year-old champion Hashtagmadeyalook bounced back from a disappointing start in a $40,600 New York Sire Stake at Vernon Downs last week to defeat nine rivals in the $12,500 Highland Light Series for 3 and 4-year-old trotters at Plainridge today.

Leaving from post three, Hashtagmadeyalook (Shawn Gray) took a quarter to get the lead, but when he did it was for good. After cutting fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:26.3, Gray kept his trotter on task and held off a rush from a late-closing Now’s The Moment (Mike Stevenson) to win by a half-length in 1:55.4.

The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner.

Hashtagmadeyalook ($3.20), who is a 2018 Hambletonian eligible, is owned by his breeder Ray Campbell Jr.

Ducharme’s other entry was 2016 2-year-old MASS champion Muscles Jared who made heads turn in the $12,000 conditioned overnight trotting feature.

In a similar manner to his stablemate, Muscles Jared (Shawn Gray) left and cleared past the...

Some insights into tonight’s racing program for our IdaBet players:

3RD RACE – (2) TWIN B SPEEDO was not prominent while chasing a level better than these. Returns to class of last win, no reason he shouldn’t appreciate it.

4TH RACE – (6) RYCROFT N has done decent work since hitting town from western PA. Confirmed closer tries tougher, but there could be some pace to chase.

6TH RACE – (1) DELIGHTFUL DRAGON is gonna be pole-dancer price in distaff derby. Impressed with resurgent second to runaway (No. 7 here) week ago.

7TH RACE – (5) FREAKONOMICS finally did us some good in last outing, ‘peeked’ and persistent to wire. Opposes a bit better here, surmising she handles it.

9TH RACE – (5) CABBIE’S DELIGHT offered some crisp, late pace inside in last, second to slipping-out fave. Suckered in by this one getting ‘tagged’ here.

10TH RACE – (4) AZUL POOL did not get involved from eight-hole in last, improves four places. Both season wins at this level, now some sketchy finale foes.

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$2 +/- (thru Tue., May 15) – 126 wins ($1,091.40)
from 578 ($1,156) selex (-$64.60, names changed to protect innocent)

highest-priced winner – INSPIRATION VIEW ($36.60)
lowest-priced winners – NATIONAL SEELSTER/JORDAN BLUE CHIP
($2.50 each)

BY FRANK DRUCKER,

Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

Thank you for choosing IdaBet.com!

We now have today’s, tomorrow’s AND Saturday’s Belmont full card selections & analysis AS WELL as Friday’s BlackEyedSusan and Saturday’s Preakness from Pimlico at IdaBet.com!

Good luck!

Undefeated Justify, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 5, and Derby runner-up and champion Good Magic lead the five graduates of Keeneland’s 2016 September Yearling Sale who are among the eight horses entered today in Saturday’s 143^rd running of the $1.5 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.

Keeneland sales have produced 23 Preakness winners, including Exaggerator in 2016 and Cloud Computing in 2017 and four consecutive winners from 2010-2013: Lookin At Lucky, Shackleford, Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another and Oxbow.

Justify, the 1-2 morning-line favorite to win the Preakness, is the 22^nd Keeneland sales graduate to win the Kentucky Derby. A total of 19 Keeneland sales alumni have won the Belmont (G1), the third leg in the Triple Crown, which will be run June 9.

Keeneland sales graduates entered in the 2018 Preakness are:

Diamond King (Quality Road-Akron Moon) – Winner of the Federico Tesio Stakes and Heft Stakes at Laurel and third in the Swale (G3) at Gulfstream Park, Diamond King was consigned to the September Sale by Four Star Sales, agent, and sold for $55,000 to Waves Bloodstock. JSM Equine bred the colt, who races for Cash Is King, D. J. Stable and LC Racing and is trained by John Servis. Javier Castellano will ride Diamond King in the Preakness.

Good Magic (Curlin-Glinda the Good) – The champion 2-year-old colt of 2017, Good Magic won Keeneland’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) before his runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby. For breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency,...

Some insights into tonight’s racing program for our IdaBet.com players:

3RD RACE – (2) GIRLY COCKTAIL tries a four-turn miles this time around and generally minds her manners. That, and decent draw make her as useful as any.

5TH RACE – (2) ANNAPOLIS HALL has awful win profile, losing 32-of-34 tries over past two seasons. He does, however, outdraw main foes, so we take shot.

6TH RACE – (4) PEMBROKE WILDCAT did not easiest of trips in last after being forced wide in final turn. Has disappointed us before, but need not be much.

7TH RACE – (4) CADILLAC PHIL had no taker for 25-large, which should not have surprised anyone. Price is halved this time around versus very blank foes.

8TH RACE – (6) SWAN FOREVER hits town off an improved Pocono effort and intrigues. Scheduled to race here earlier this month, scratched with med issue.  

9TH RACE – (5) CHAPTER TOO has been quite solid of late, including last-out, two-move second this level. Slapped around a recent series consolation crowd.

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$2 +/- (thru Mon., May 14) – 126 wins ($1,091.40)...