Northfield Track Announcer Ayers Ratliff’s free handicapping tips are provided for our IdaBet.com players.
Remember, due to their draw schedule, picks are made in advance and do not account for scratches or late driver changes.
From the “Ayers Above TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 24
Race 1: 5- Charlie Call Home – Could be successful upon coming to Northfield. 4- Lovely Feelin – Made the ticket in all six of
his most recent races and looks to be right there again. 8- Mt Adams – Looks to be a major factor despite starting from the far
outside. 6- No Pets – Could add some value to the exotics.
Race 2: 5- Pembroke Castaway – Could get the job done upon returning to Cleveland. 6- Sweet Honey – Looks to be tough in
here if he minds his manners. 4- Montana Skies – Should not be overlooked as a solid contender in here. 3- Ultimate WinnerCould
grab a piece of the action at decent odds.
Race 3: 1- Well Connected Kid – Draws the rail and receives the top-call to start tonight’s Pick 5. 2- Red Falkor – Draws well
and looks to be tough with the right trip. 7- Global Appeal – Could add some value to the ticket.
Race 4: 5- Pow Chicka Pow Pow – Draws in with some soft competition and looks to score tonight. 1- Royal Meeting – Drops
in class and looks to be tough from the rail. 9- Lightninginthesky – Could do well from the second tier. 8- Bettor’s Delight –
Has as good of a shot as any in here to complete the Superfecta.
Race 5: 6- Wellsaidandone – Looks to be a sharp contender and could score with the right trip. 3- Krusty The Clown –
Another that looks to have a big shot in here. 4- Blue Spanx – Moves back to the Kash barn and looks to be a solid contender.
9- Mcport In A Storm – Could grab a piece of the action from the second tier.
Race 6: 6- Holyholyguacamolie – Looks to trot home a winner if he minds his manners. 4- Miss...
Apr 23, 2018
Ridden with confidence by Mike Smith, Florida invader Nessy ran to his 4-5 post time odds in taking Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita by a measured length while getting the marathon mile and three quarters on turf in 2:48.03. Trained by Australian-born Ian Wilkes, whose biggest moment in racing came in 2012 at The Great Race Place, when he sent Fort Larned out to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Nessy broke a six-game losing streak in posting his first graded stakes win in his 21st career start.
“This race is all for Ed (Hudon, co-owner and breeder),” said Wilkes. “The horses went slow enough where he had to beat them, but he’s a cool horse. He’s getting better, that’s the whole thing about it. He’s improving. He’s just five. He’s still a young horse at this stage for this game, because if we stay in business (keep racing him), he’ll get better as we go on.”
Unhurried early in the run down the hillside course, Nessy, who rated kindly under Smith, was fifth after the first half mile, saved ground to the far turn, rallied three-wide turning for home and won going away while geared down.
The 4-5 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up, Nessy paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10.
“I was so happy to be able to ride for Ian,” said Smith. “We go way back, to when he was working for Carl Nafzger in Chicago. As you know, these owners have always wanted to win this race and they pointed for it with this horse. I did ride him with a lot of confidence. I was able to run him up into a couple spots and get him to turn on and turn off.
“He’s a really classy horse. You can feel him getting into a rhythm and he’s breathing deeply in and out…He’s the kind of horse that’ll run all day and when we hit the wire, his ears were pricked.”
A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Flower Alley, Nessy is out of Ed and Sharon Hudon’s...
Some insights into tonight’s racing program for our IdaBet players:
3RD RACE – (5) I’MA TRAGEDY N has lost 38-of-40 races in the past two seasons. That’s not good, but steps out of claimers after pair of decent tries, so…?
5TH RACE – (5) TICKET TO SEATTLE raced evenly in three series efforts, which may be good enough here. Tepid gaze in event for also-rans of Bonus Trot.
6TH RACE – (5) CAVIART SKYLER returns as a rock-bottom number after flashing Philly foot. Another (see 3rd race) who’s far from prolific winner, though.
7TH RACE – (4) OSVALDO BLUE CHIP has not done much wrong in trio of tries since returning here. These foes may actually be inferior to latest conquest.
9TH RACE – (HN2) BLUEBIRD JESSE wins draw for 85G finale of Bonus Trot Series. Pair of wins around locked-in trip, nod to upend three-headed monster.
11TH RACE – (1) CHANGE STRIDE N has no visible excuse here. Freefalls out of just-concluded Levy Series, sees best venue in forever. Out 17 days, though.
Northfield Track Announcer Ayers Ratliff’s free handicapping tips are provided for our IdaBet.com players.
Remember, due to their draw schedule, picks are made in advance and do not account for scratches or late driver changes.
From the “Ayers Above MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 23
Race 1: 1- Nono Lindy – Could strike from the rail. 4- At My Request – Looks to be tough in here if he minds his manners.
2- TT Tucker – Could make the ticket with the right trip. 8- Henpecked – Could grab a piece of the action despite starting from
the far outside.
Race 2: 2- Crusoe Hanover – Was a winner two starts back and could strike again tonight. 6- Momma’s Jolt – Won two of his
last three races and looks to be tough again. 7- Higgins – One of several in here that could make the ticket. 3- Outdoor FeverShould
not be overlooked as a potential contender in here.
Race 3: 5- Outburst – Gets the top-call to start tonight’s Pick 5. 3- Sass – Another that looks to have a big shot in here.
4- Chip Or Don – Could add some value to the ticket.
Race 4: 3- David The Saint – Could be victorious upon coming to Northfield. 1- Ballistic Tip – Draws the rail upon dropping in
class. 9- Yes Your Mattjesty – Should get a good trip from the second tier. 6- Rejoiceandbeglad – Has as good of a shot as any
in here to complete the Superfecta.
Race 5: 7- High Blue – Drops in class and could be successful at this level of competition. 6- Goldfinger – Has two wins in a
row and looks to be tough again. 3- Sam Has Class – One of several in here that could make the ticket. 5- Queen’s Ripsnort –
Should not be overlooked as a solid contender in here.
Race 6: 2- Zoom On Romeo – Made the ticket in all four of his most recent races; could step-up and lead the ticket this time
around. 8- Prairie Jaguar – Could do well in here despite starting from the far...
The 2018 spring/summer meet gets underway on Friday, April 27 with a three-day opening weekend, highlighted by the $100,000 Affirmed Success for New York-bred sprinters running on Big Sandy on Opening Day. The first Saturday of the meet will see 4-year-olds and up compete on the turf in the $125,000 Elusive Quality, and Sunday will feature older fillies and mares of the turf in the $125,000 License Fee.
First post time is 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Opening Day.
Data provided by Equibase
