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Apr 24, 2018

After finishing a respectable fifth in his seasonal bow in the Open here last week, Cherokee Hiflyzane took full advantage of a drop in class to score his first win of 2018 in the $14,000 conditioned pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (April 23).

He’s Marvelous (Nick Graffam) left from the rail at 50-1 and played give-and-go with Jackson’s Image (Jim Hardy) to the quarter in a swift :26.3. From there Graffam continued to drive aggressively to the half in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:22.3, fending off a challenge from Windsong Jack (Greg Merton) for most of that time.

As the race rounded the final turn, Cherokee Hiflyzane (Michael Stevenson), who had been sitting on Windsong Jack’s back since the half, tipped three-deep just as they approached the top of the stretch and started a furious rush down the center of the track passing Windsong Jack and He’s Marvelous en route to a two-length victory in 1:52.

Cherokee Hiflyzane ($5.60) posted his seasonal best and 20^th career win for owners Barrie Farrar and Roger Farrar II of Wrentham, Massachusetts.

In the co-featured $10,000 mid-level conditioned pacing event, Commondiscourtesy (Drew Campbell) found himself parked out to the quarter in :26.1 by Mysharona Bluechip (Pat Curtain) before clearing and leading the rest of the mile before holding off a late challenge from Mysharona Bluechip once again and a late-closing Sinners Prayer (DT Sumner) to win by a neck in 1:52.3.

Monticello picks for our IdaBet players for today:

1ST RACE: 1-3-6-5

2ND RACE: 3-4-1-6

3RD RACE: 3-4-8-5

4TH RACE: 9-4-2-5

5TH RACE: 1-3-5-4

6TH RACE: 2-6-1-5

7TH RACE: 2-8-4-3

8TH RACE: 3-2-4-5

9TH RACE: 4-7-1-2

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 21^st 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.  

Posted by Carie Beard in Blog, Horse Racing & Betting News, Player News | 0 comments