Paul Tuon
Hey, people! -- I am feeling lonely commenting by myself. Join me in posting comments and replies.

Open to all topics!!!


To those of you who are horse racing fans I give out my personal picks regularly when I see opportunities.

To see my personal picks login to your account to get a link to my picks.

Paul Tuon 3 days ago
HARNESS RACING FEVER, ANYONE?

I DO -- BIG TIME!!!



The Meadowlands Pace is a couple of weeks away -- July 12, to be precise -- but the entries for the 2025 Meadowlands Pace were taken early today (July 1, 2025) and exactly 10 3-year-old pacing colts had been entered with no morning line or post position assigned.

The morning line and post position will be assigned early in the week of July 12, 2025.


The horses entered in alphabetical order are:



CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC

FALLOUT

JOEL AND THE JETS

KNOCKOUT ROUND

LOUPRINT

MADDEN OAKS

MANOLETE

PAPIS PISTOL

PAPI'S ROCKET

PRINCE HAL HANOVER



One horse stands out from that list is LOUPRINT who just won the $1 million North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk on June 14,2025.

So LOUPRINT should be a very short-price favorite comes Saturday July 12, 2025.

Stay tuned!
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3 days ago
Paul Tuon 5 days ago
TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT CAUGHT MY EYES!


A STAR IN THE MAKING DAZZLED ON DEBUT!




On the closing day of Churchill Downs's spring meet -- Sunday June 29, 2025 -- a 2yo colt named Dazzle d'Oro dazzled the six-furlong proceeding in a dazzling performance, covering the distance in a "dazzling" swift 1:08.65 on a fast Churchill Downs main track while beating a stellar group of 10 2yo colts.

Dazzle d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro - Sunnysammi, by First Defense) was a $250,000 KEESEP24 yearling purchase and he is trained by Tom Amoss.

Dazzle d'Oro had seven workouts listed on his DRF past performance with the first on May 6 (2025) working at Keenland at 3 furlongs on a fast track in 37 3/5 seconds (35/64) and his most recent workout was at Churchill Downs on June 18 (2025) when he did it on a fast track at 5 furlongs in 59 3/5 seconds (7/23).

Prior to that last workout he had another five-furlong at Churchill Downs (fast track) on June 11 when he went in 59 4/5 (2/10) and the rest are at Keenland with all works at four furlongs with two of them were bullit works in 46 3/5 and 46 4/5 with the other two were 48 and change.

So Dazzle d'Oro showed brilliance in the morning and he showed that brilliance in his debut race.

Dazzle d'Oro was off among the three quickest from the gate while exiting from post position 4, and he contested the pace with other two fleeted foot rivals for much of the first three furlongs.

The trio, with Dazzle d'Oro being sandwhiched by his two fleeted foot rivals, continued to go at each other while setting very fast fractions of 21.33 seconds, 44.47 seconds, 56.23 seconds, to complete the six-furlong race in 1:08.65.



Very fast for a two-year-old this time of the year.



Sent off as the 9/5 favorite off fast seven workouts, Dazzle d'Oro pulled away from the other two fleeted foot rivals at the top of the stretch while continued strongly to the wire to win by five lengths with the third horse finished 8 lengths further back behind the second place finisher and the rest were one or two lengths in a bunched group behind the third horse.


To put that into perspective, a maiden special weight race for 3yo fillies going one mile on the main track running 22.59 seconds, 45.20 seconds, 1:09.38, 1:21.49, finished in 1:34.03 for the mile race.

This race's fractions were set by a 3yo filly California shipper named Margarita Girl who had three prior race that were very fast running lines, setting very fast fractions in all three of her prior races with 21 and change and 44 and change.

Margarita Girl once again showed her brilliance early speed to make all of the fractions only to fade to next to last in this race.

The point is, without Margarita Girl making all those fractions, the pace of this race would have been much slower, and perhaps the final time as well.


For a better comparison, consider the Bashford Manor Stakes an hour later for two-year-old colts running six furlongs with the fractions of 21.39 seconds, 44.39 seconds, 56.21 seconds, and the finish time of 1:08.61.

The Bashford Manor Stakes won by an 8-1 odd in the betting Romeo with a 5-2 second choice in the betting Comfort finishing second and the 6-5 favorite Password finishing third.


Another better comparison is a race run one and a half hour later in the Debutante Stakes for 2yo fillies at six furlongs with the fractions of 21.29 seconds, 44.82 seconds, 56.88 seconds, and the finish time of 1:09.71.

The Debutante Stakes won by a 3-1 third choice in the betting Percy's Bar with a 43-1 Jaboss in second and a 5-1 fifth choice in third, while the 5/2 favorite Americathegreat finished fourth.


The Bashford Manor race is for horses of the same sex as the race that Dazzle d'Oro race and the finish times are identical for both races with Dazzle d'Oro's time of 1:08.65 while the finish time of the Bashford Manor of 1:08.61 -- exactly the same!

However, the Bashford Manor field contains winners with the winner of that race came out of a stakes race at Saratoga on June 5 (2025) in the (5 1/2 furlongs) Tremont Stakes ($145k) while the race Dazzle d'Oro ran was a maiden special weight race.

Looking at the field of the Bashford Manor I see fast horses particularly the winner (Romeo) who went 22 1/5, 44 4/5, 57 seconds flat in the Tremont Stakes but only to fade to finish third, beaten 11 1/4 lengths.

Romeo, I think, will be a very good horse but maybe suited to sprinting while Dazzle d'Oro will be suited to longer races, in my opinion.


The way he pulled away from his two early speed rivals and at the same time maintained and even increased his margin of victory from other rivals was very impressive.


Here's an excerpt of the article taken from the DRF:


Off impressive debut, Dazzle d'Oro targeting Saratoga Special

The 2-year-old colt Dazzle d'Oro sent his trainer, Tom Amoss, traveling back in time. Amoss thought about when he first came to Churchill Downs in the early 1990s, and a conversation with the late Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Lynn Whiting.

"He told me if you ever have a horse work five-eighths from the gate in under a minute, you've got a runner," Amoss said.

Dazzle d'Oro, who had breezed through the spring at Keeneland, moved to Churchill and had his first work there June 11, going five-eighths from the gate in 59.80. And, yes, he is a runner.


Dazzle d'Oro ran to his work and his 9-5 favoritism, beating 10 maidens while making his debut June 29 at Churchill. Going straight to the lead under Jose Ortiz, Dazzle d'Oro never had an anxious moment, winning by three over Blackout Time, who had almost eight lengths on the third-place finisher. He clocked 1:08.65 for six furlongs, which yielded a strong 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

"So often with first-time starters you have a horse make a mistake at the gate. We just wanted a clean break and a fair shot, and he performed well," said Amoss, who thinks Dazzle d'Oro can run farther and rate off the pace. "We never entertained the idea, he was just speedy. He's got a great mind. As Jose says, he listens really well."

A $250,000 yearling purchase, Dazzle d'Oro, by Bolt d'Oro, campaigns for Robert Delaney Jr.'s Late Night Stables, and connections have designs on the Aug. 2 Saratoga Special. Dazzle d'Oro will join Amoss's Saratoga string sometime next week.

********************



I'm very excited about this 2yo colt and I can't wait to see him races next, which I think will be the Ellis Juvenile at Ellis Park on August 10 at seven furlongs.

Or he may end up at Saratoga in races like the Saratoga Special on August 2 and/or Hopeful Stakes in September.

Knowing Tom Amoss is a native of Kentucky and based his horses at Ellis Park I think he will send Dazzle d'Oro to the Ellis Juvenile instead -- that is the most likely race for Dazzle d'Oro.

Stay tuned!



P.S.


This past weekend we got to see Hambletonian prep races when Super Chapter trots away in Friday's $300,000 Grade 2 MGM Yonkers Trot from well off-the-pace but still having plenty in reserve to secure a 1:54.3 victory as the 1/9 favorite.

Lookout for Super Chapter in the Hambletonian and he will be a force to be reckoned with in that race comes August 2, 2025.


Another dangerous horse and a force to be reckoned with (in the Hambletonian) is Gap Kronos S who won his Hambletonian prep race, the Frank Reynolds Memorial at The Meadowlands this weekend (June 28), pulling away from a very good field of 10 horses.

The most impressive thing about Gap Kronos S in this weekend's race is that, he seemed to have no shot at being in the money at all after breaking from post position 9 and being hung very wide -- about five wide -- in the first turn and continued to be wide on the backstretch when his rivals left no room for him to insert himself in the line.

So the best way for his driver to do was to stay wide and try to hustle to the front before the far turn to avoid being hung three or more wide because other horses were already moving outside to pass the leaders.

Gap Kronos S' driver did just that by hustling his mount very fast approaching the far turn, using a lot of energy in doing so, because the horses to his inside were not going to let anybody go by and cut in front of them -- and rightfully so.

In the end, Gap Kronos S was able to go past the leaders and cut in front of them and continued thereafer willingly while the rest give chase but to no avail as Gap Kronos S had plenty left at the end to win by almost three lengths as the 9/5 favorite.

Very impressive considering the circumstance of the race coming from post 9 and they didn't make it any easier for him to race at all.

A better post position in the Hambletonian and he'll be a force to be reckoned with -- no doubt! -- a live longshot!

He won't be among the favorites but he'll be somewhere at 12-1 or longer in the betting, in my opinion!


Meanwhile, Emoticon Legacy is scheduled to run next in the Zweig on July 3 (2025) at Vernon Downs (NY), running against -- who else? -- last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland.



ENJOY HARNESS RACING THIS WEEKEND EVERYBODY!
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5 days ago
Paul Tuon 1 week ago
ANYONE GOT A HARNESS RACING FEVER LATELY?

I DO -- BIG TIME!!!





MARYLAND'S UP AND COMING 3YO SENSATION STABLE MATE SUPER CHAPTER IS PREPPING FOR THE HAMBLETONIAN!



One of the biggest programs of the year at MGM Yonkers Raceway is this weekend Friday (June 27), led by the Grade 2 $300,000 MGM Yonkers Trot and the Grade 2 $200,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes finals for 3-year-old colts and geldings, the first legs of the Trotting and Pacing Triple Crowns.


Super Chapter (post one, Dexter Dunn listed to drive for Marcus Melander) heads the MGM Yonkers Trot, which will go as race seven on the card.

Super Chapter is two-for-two so far this year, having won his division of the New York Sire Stakes and Empire Breeders Classic, both at Vernon Downs.

Stablemate Variegated (post three, Scott Zeron) also won in the NYSS at Vernon and was the sire stakes champion a year ago, while Chat Room (post four, Tyler Buter listed to drive for John Butenschoen) was another EBC victor at Vernon.

Hard Seven (post five, Todd McCarthy listed to drive for trainer Nancy Takter) captured the 2025 Dexter Cup at the Meadowlands.




The full field is as follows:


Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer

1-Super Chapter-Dexter Dunn-Marcus Melander

2-Happy Jack B-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt

3-Variegated-Scott Zeron-Marcus Melander

4-Chat Room-Tyler Buter-John Butenschoen

5-Hard Seven-Todd McCarthy-Nancy Takter



Super Chapter with post one is the 'lock of the night!'

Go all in on Super Chapter!



MGM Grand Messenger Stakes elimination winners Twisted Destiny (Dunn listed to drive for Chris Ryder) and Odds On No Limit (Matt Kakaley listed to drive for trainer Travis Alexander) had differing luck in the open draw for the final as Twisted Destiny got post three while Odds On No Limit landed the eight-hole.

Ryder also has another entrant in the field in World Of Wishes, who will start from post two with Joe Bongiorno listed.

The MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final is race eight on the program.



Here's a full look at the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes draw:


Post-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer

1-Manolete-Scott Zeron-Bruce Saunders

2-World Of Wishes-Joe Bongiorno-Chris Ryder

3-Twisted Destiny-Dexter Dunn-Chris Ryder

4-Fast Choice-Doug McNair-Jared Bako

5-Dandy Ideal-Jason Bartlett-Hunter Oakes

6-Banderas-Jordan Stratton-Tony Alagna

7-Papi's Rocket-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke

8-Odds On No Limit-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander



AE-Jon I Love Dat



Additionally, there will be a pair of Grade 3 $50,000 Park MGM Pace divisions (races two and four) and two Grade 3 $50,000 New York New York Mile splits (races three and six) for fillies on the docket.

The opening Park MGM Pace tilt features New York Sire Stakes and Grand Circuit star The Last Martini (post three, Doug McNair listed to drive for Jared Bako), and Please Be You (post one, Scott Zeron listed to drive for Linda Toscano), coming off a victory in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund final at the Meadowlands, goes for another stakes title in the second.

In the New York New York Mile, Royal Mission (post one, Scott Zeron listed to drive to for Marcus Melander), last year's NYSS champion, takes on 2024 Pennsylvania champion Shes A Shoe In (post two, trainer Ray Schnittker listed to drive) in the first section, and O'Brien Award winner Monalishi (post five, Yannick Gingras listed to drive for trainer Blake Macintosh) comes south from Canada to take on the undefeated-in-2025 EL Nightwish (post three, Dexter Dunn listed to drive for trainer Lucas Wallin) in the other grouping.



ENJOY HARNESS RACING THIS WEEKEND EVERYBODY!
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1 week ago
Paul Tuon 1 week ago
HARNESS RACING FEVER, ANYONE?

A FULL DOSE OF HARNESS RACING STARTING THIS WEEKEND TO AUG 2!



MEANWHILE HERE IS A HARNESS RACING LEADERBOARD STANDING!



The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, which will continue weekly on Wednesdays through the Grand Circuit season.



[The Grand Circuit season in 2025 refers to a series of premier harness racing events held at various locations throughout the year. ]



The polls are based on votes by the members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association to determine leaders of the divisions.

As of this week, Louprint, who just won the $1 million North American Cup at Woodbine Mohawk on June 14, 2025, is the leader with Twin B Joe Fresh in second and a 3yo pacing filly Miki And Minnie in third place in the standing.

Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 2 – 6/25/2025.

3cp = 3yo male pacer
mp = male pacer
mt = male trotter
fp = filly pacer
ct = colt trotter
hp = horse pacer
g = gelding

In harness racing, the letter "H" typically indicates that a horse is a "horse" which, in the context of racing programs and Thoroughbred racing, specifically refers to an unaltered male horse (a stallion) that is 5 years old or older -- hence, an hp is a horse pacer.


Rank Name Age/Sex

1. Louprint (3cp)

2. Twin B Joe Fresh (5mp)

3. Miki And Minnie (3fp)

4. Emoticon Legacy (3ct)

5. Ken Hanover (5hp - or 5yo horse pacer)

6. Dial Square S (5mt)

7. Brue Hanover (5gp)

8. Chantilly (3fp)

9. Mossdale Ben N (7gp)

10. Nijinsky (4hp)

FOLLOW BY (in that order): Smooth Dream, Aardie B Miki N, Super Chapter, Private Access, Bythemissal, Captain Albano, Madden Oaks, up to Maryland in 28th place -- yes, that is right: my former Hambletonian horse watch prospect dropped all the way to 28th.

My newly Hambletonian watch horse Emoticon Legacy made the list in fourth behind the 'no surprise' leaders Louprint and Twin B Joe Fresh.

But the BIG surprise, for me, is the 3yo pacing filly Miki And Minnie in third ahead of Emoticon Legacy -- that is a huge surprise!

Anyhow, I'll take Emoticon Legacy in fourth place with a lot of momentum and confidence heading to August 2.

Stay tuned!
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1 week ago
Paul Tuon 1 week ago
"HOT" "HOT" HAMBLETONIAN TRAIL!

THE TRAIL IS SO HOT THAT I AM ALREADY HAVING A HAMBLETONIAN FEVER!




It all started what amounted to a simmering chill the weekend of June 13 (2025) when a Hambletonian prep race took place featuring Maryland versus his up and coming 3yo sensation stable mate Super Chapter -- and now, it turns into a full blown Hambletonian fever.



The symptom?


Here it is:




HARNESS RACING: HAMBLETONIAN IMPLICATION!

MARYLAND VS SUPER CHAPTER


A field of 10 Hambletonian-eligible trotters will go behind the starting gate Friday (June 13, 2025) in the $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male trotters at The Meadowlands.


[Please check out The Meadowlands' entries for the Friday card.]


ENJOY FRIDAY NIGHT OF HARNESS RACING AT THE MEADOWLANDS EVERYBODY!


The lineup includes three of this season's four fastest sophomore boys: Mr Walner Fashion, Mountcastle and Onajetplane.

The morning-line favorite, Mr Walner Fashion at 3-1, heads to the race 2-for-2 this year and is coming off a 1:51 2/5 score in a $25,000 second-round NJSS division June 6 (2025) at The Big M.

The mark is tied for the season's best; Mountcastle also trotted 1:51 2/5 in his NJSS prelim later that same night. Both horses won by a head.


However, on the same day (Friday June 13) my eyes are on Maryland running against his stablemate Super Chapter at Vernon Downs (NY), race 8, in the EMPIRE BREEDERS CLASSIC Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings.

A small field of five -- it looks to be a two-horse race between Maryland (ML 9-5) and his stablemate Super Chapter (ML 8-5) in what looks like a preview of the Hambletonian Civil War battle.

Super Chapter is the race's favorite (ML 8/5) and he has post position 3, while Maryland is the second choice and he will break from the outside post 5.

Advantage to Super Chapter in this race but he will have to earn it with Maryland in the same race.

Easy exacta!


MY PLAY OF THE NIGHT: HIGHLAND KISMET

Race 12 (The Meadowlands): $50K Graduate 2nd leg for 4YO Trotters

HIGHLAND KISMET has unlimited potential and Nancy Takter has been charged with trying to get the most out of him. The first qualifier two weeks ago seemed to be going along smoothly when he made what looked like a speed break to me -- HIGHLAND KISMET broke strides.

Nancy Takter, his trainer, said she thought maybe the miscue was because his hobbles were too tight.

So for this race I think she plans to correct the hobbles so they will be a little loose.

Bet HIGHLAND KISMET to win, place using double down!


ON THE SAME NIGHT [JUNE 14] AT WOODBINE MOHAWK THERE ARE STAKES RACES AND ONE IN PARTICULAR IS THE $1,000,000 NORTH AMERICA CUP


The Woodbine Mohawk race card is full of good betting races headlined by the North America Cup, race 11, in which, I like the 7/5 morning line favorite Louprint (post 4) in a full field of 10.

It's a $1 million race and a prep for the Meadowlands Pace (July 12) and as such anything can happen in a full field of 12.

Having said that, the likely winner is the 7/5 morning line favorite Louprint.

He is the best horse in the field and likely to go down in odd -- 4/5 or even money is my guess.


Also in the card, race 10, a cinch horse in Chantilly.

Bet Chantilly (ML 1-1) to win and put a lot of money on her because she is going to win this race at a very short price.

This is the easiest money you'll ever going to get on any card for this Saturday June 14, 2025.



Chantilly crowned Canada's Horse of the Year for 2024


Chantilly, the 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year (2024) was also named the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year (2024).

She became just the fifth 2-year-old - and only the third pacing filly - to be named Canada's Horse of the Year, joining the likes of Emilie Cas El, Whenuwishuponastar, Somebeachsomewhere and JK She'salady.


Chantilly, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, set a career best 1:49.4 mark while easily besting a field of 10 in the lone $140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series event for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday, May 24 (2025) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. It was the first OSS Gold event of 2025.

Millar Farms' homebred daughter of Big Jim out of Shiraz Seelster, who was sent off at 1/9, is now undefeated through all 11 career starts. It was her second pari-mutuel win of 2025 and pushed her career earnings to $897,756.

Starting from the rail, driver James MacDonald positioned Chantilly fourth in the early going. The pair took the lead with a strong brush before reaching the half in :55. They opened up on the field from there through the three-quarters in 1:21.4 and came home in :28 to win by 4-1/2 lengths over Wickedpace (Jody Jamieson) on a cold, windy night. Perfectly Chic (Bob McClure) was third.

"[Chantilly's] high gear is just something else, MacDonald told Woodbine Mohawk Park's Chad Rozema. "I was able to clear the lead pretty, pretty easily. And then she's just one of those horses -- and I've only driven a few of them in my life -- where you feel like you're absolutely crawling ...

You've got to be careful with her, because she's just got unbelievable speed.

"She's just a special horse. She's passed every test with flying colours. I would have liked to go :52 with the brakes on, but she's got other plans.

Sometimes when you put her in top gear she's just relentless with her speed. Hopefully, she keeps carrying on to bigger and better things.

Whether that means Chantilly will be entered against the boys in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup or the Fan Hanover for sophomore fillies -- both have their finals on June 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park -- will be up to her owner George Millar, said Chantilly's trainer Nick Gallucci.

"It's going to be George Millar's call, said Gallucci, indicating she'll get next week off. "We'll just see what happens, and I'm good with whatever decision he makes."



[End of Symptom]




The symptom is going to get worse when the up and coming 3yo sensation Go Dog Go tunes up for the Hambletonian in a race this weekend (June 28, 2025) in the Reynolds Memorial at The Meadowlands against Mr Walner Fashion, Gap Kronos S, and Maximus Mearas S -- all are Hambletonian-bound.

Also this weekend, Super Chapter, a Kentucky champion from 2024 and a stable mate of Maryland, is scheduled to take on just four rivals – Hard Seven, Happy Jack B, Chat Room and Variegated – at Yonkers Raceway on Friday night June 27, 2025.


If you read the "symptom" above you know that Super Chapter was the morning line favorite over his stable mate -- two-year-old champion Maryland -- in the Friday June 13 (2025) race.

If you didn't catch that race, Super Chapter reeled off a 1:50 4/5 Empire Breeders Classic win at Vernon Downs that night over his fancy stable mate Maryland to improve his 2025 record to two-for-two.

In that race Super Chapter went wire to wire in 1:50 4/5, just one-fifth off all-age track record.


Yes, that is right: 1/5 off the track record.



THAT WILL CATCH MY ATTENTION QUICKLY!!!


He did it against last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland while beating his fancy stable mate almost by two lengths with Hard Seven in a further distance third in a small field of five.


SPEAKING OF TRACK RECORD, ANOTHER HAMBLETONIAN-BOUND DID JUST THAT!




Emoticon Legacy absolutely crushed his foes by more than three lengths in the Goodtimes at Woodbine Mohawk Park (June 14, 2025) in a Canadian record 1:50 2/5, a mark he now shares with three older horses – Alrajah One It, Atlanta and Gaines Hanover.

At the end of the mile he was clearly pulling away from a good horse Gap Kronos S (who runs this weekend against Go Dog Go).

Trainer Luc Blais after the Goodtimes win: "I know he has lots of speed. He just has to control his emotions."

Emoticon Legacy is scheduled to run next in the Zweig on July 3 (2025) at Vernon Downs (NY), running against -- who else? -- last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland.



DID I SAY I AM HAVING A FEVER?



OH, BOY! -- DO I EVER?



THE WEEKEND COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!


THE JULY 3RD COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!


THAT IS NOT TO SAY AUGUST 2!


HOW AM I GOING TO SURVIVE UNTIL AUGUST 2?


UNTIL THEN IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY VERY EXTRA EXTRA FULL BLOWN FEVER!


OH, MY!!!

DID I SAY THAT I'M A HORSE RACING JUNKIE?


MEANWHILE THE FEVER RAGES ON!



Also scheduled to join Emoticon Legacy in running against last year's (2024) two-year-old champion Maryland are Monserrate, Hidalgo, and Onajetplane -- all are Hambletonian-bound.



AS I STATED ABOVE THAT ... ANY HORSE ... CAME CLOSE TO OR BREAKING A TRACK RECORD WILL CATCH MY ATTENTION QUICKLY!!!


OH, BOY! -- DOES IT EVER?


Emoticon Legacy absolutely catches my attention big time!


He tied a Canadian track record of 1:50 2/5, a mark he now shares with three older horses -- yes, this 3yo is now in the company of his elders.

That says a lot!



If you follow me all along this past spring about the Kentucky Derby trail, in which, I swore my Derby horse allegiance to Cornucopian [as my Derby horse].

And then, all of a sudden, a horse named American Promise broke a track record winning the Virginia Derby and I quickly switched my Derby horse allegiance prospect from Cornucopian to American Promise.


The same thing happens here: I just switched my Hambletonian horse allegiance prospect from Maryland to Emoticon Legacy after he tied the Canadian track record of 1:50 2/5.



IT'S A NO-BRAINER!!!



So from now on, I swear my Hambletonian horse allegiance prospect to Emoticon Legacy.


MARK YOUR CALENDAR: July 3 (2025) at Vernon Downs (NY).



I CAN'T WAIT!!!




MEANWHILE, ENJOY FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT OF HARNESS RACING THIS WEEKEND, EVERYBODY!
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1 week ago
Paul Tuon 2 weeks ago
LADY CANTERBURY EXCITEMENT SPECIAL!


EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR AS THE LADY CANTERBURY STAKES DAY IS HERE!



On this special day, the Lady Canterbury Stakes day, I will attempt to take a stab at the Lady Canterbury race itself and give you the winner of the race.

For the rest of the Canterbury card, I strongly encourage you all to follow our very own Angela Hermann -- she might give you winners meanwhile.

I also urge you all to support horse racing by betting Canterbury races through your simulcast signal at your racetrack.

Betting Canterbury races whenever you can means supporting horse racing in general -- and at the same time you may even get some enjoyment out of it.

On this special day, or on any other days for that matter, please bet on Canterbury races per Angela Hermann as your guide.

As stated above, I will only give you one winner on the entire card of the Lady Canterbury day as I'm not a specialized Canterbury horse handicapper. Hopeless not! -- Angela Hermann is your specialized Canterbury horse handicapper.

So by all means, follow her and play Canterbury races as much as you can.



The best way to play the races on this Lady Canterbury day is to use a parlay betting strategy.

However, since I'm not a specialized Canterbury horse handicapper, I could only find one winner on the entire Lady Canterbury card, and as such, I will have to find winners from other racetracks to include in the parlay scheme.

This is not a problem when using parlay betting strategy as it states that you can use races from any racetrack(s) available to you.

In other words, the parlay play doesn't have to come from the same single racetrack.


With that said, here is the Lady Canterbury Parlay Special:




1st leg:

1 1/8 Miles
The Lady Jacqueline Stakes
Fillies & Mares 3 Year Olds And Up
STAKES Purse: $250,000


Date: Saturday June 21, 2025
Track: Thistledown
Race: 11
Surface: dirt

Horse: Where's My Ring (ML 2-1 favorite)

Bet Where's My Ring to win.



2nd leg:

1 1/8 Miles
The Ohio Derby (Grade III)

3 Year Olds
STAKES Purse: $500,000


Date: Saturday June 21, 2025
Track: Thistledown
Race: 12
Surface: dirt

Horse: Clever Again (ML 9-5 favorite)

Bet Clever Again to win.




3rd leg:

1 Mile
The Lady Canterbuy Stakes
Fillies & Mares 3 Year Olds And Up
STAKES Purse: $75,000


Date: Saturday June 21, 2025
Track: Canterbury Park
Race: 5
Surface: turf


Horse: Cupids Crush (ML 5-2 favorite)

Bet Cupids Crush (ML 5-2) to win and put all of the accumulated money on Cupids Crush to win because she is going to win the Lady Canterbuy Stakes this Saturday June 21, 2025.

Cupids Crush's post time odd is likely to be 3/5 or lower (in my opinion) despite a 5/2 morning line odd.

Hey, a win is a win instead of chasing some longshots in hope of a big payoff as most horseplayers often do to no avail.

Take the easy money!


I will say this:


This is the easiest money you'll ever going to get on the Lady Canterbury card or on any other cards on Saturday June 21, 2025.



THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PLAYING CANTERBURY RACES!



ENJOY CANTERBURY RACES EVERYBODY!
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2 weeks ago
Paul Tuon 2 weeks ago
I LOVE TWO-YEAR-OLDS: THEY'RE THE FUTURE!




I was and still am very excited about an expensive and well-bred 2yo colt making his debut race at Churchill Downs on Sunday June 1, 2025.

It was a 5-1/2-furlong race for 2yo colts on dirt and his name is Cannoneer (by Into Mischief - Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon).

Cannoneer finished third as a 2-1 favorite in that debut race and from the look of it -- it was a good debut race despite not winning the race.

The future is bright for this 2yo colt and the sky is the limit.

He is trained by Brad Cox, and he costs $1,750,000 as a yearling.

His dam, Catch the Moon, produced FOUR graded stakes winners: Girvin, Midnight Bourbon, Cocked and Loaded, and Pirate's Punch.



AS EXCITED AS I WAS WITH CANNONEER I AM EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT THIS VERY EXPENSIVE TW0-YEAR-OLD COLT AS WELL!


I LOVE TWO-YEAR-OLDS: THEY'RE THE FUTURE!


At this year’s (2025) OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing went to a sale-topping $3 million to secure a gray or roan colt by Gun Runner out of the winning Liam's Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to graded stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O.

According to Zedan, he revealed the colt had been named Brant in honor of the prominent eastern-based owner-breeder Peter Brant of White Birch Farm.

The record $3-Million OBS purchase named Brant is gearing up at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert and should be ready for a debut race later this summer, if he progresses well enough.

Brant has been on a steady work regiment since mid-April for trainer Bob Baffert.

On Saturday June 14 (2025) at Santa Anita, the colt worked four furlongs in 49 seconds.

At the under-tack show prior to the sale, Brant blazed an eighth of a mile in 9.60 seconds to command top dollar.

He is out of the winning Liam's Map mare Tynan, a half-sister to graded stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O.



Pappacap won the Best Pal (Gr II) in 2021, fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (Gr I) in 2021, 2nd in the American Pharoah and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2021, fourth in the Florida Derby in 2022, second in both the Pat Day Mile and the Woody Stephens in 2022.


Works at Santa Anita:

Brant worked 4f, June 14th, in 49.00 (h) finishing 40/83
Brant worked 4f, June 9th, in 49.60 (h) finishing 45/69
Brant worked 4f, June 2nd, in 48.20 (h) finishing 15/54
Brant worked 5f, May 26th, in 1:01.40 (hg) finishing 11/18
Brant worked 3f, May 3rd, in 38.60 (h) finishing 19/22
Brant worked 3f, Apr 25th, in 37.20 (h) finishing 4/6
Brant worked 3f, Apr 18th, in 37.80 (h) finishing 7/8
Brant worked 2f, Apr 11th, in 24.20 (h) finishing 1/3
Brant worked 2f, Apr 4th, in 24.80 (h)



I'm very excited about this two-year-old and I can't wait to see him hitting the racetrack competing.

Stay tuned!
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2 weeks ago
Paul Tuon 2 weeks ago
THERAVADA'S JOURNEY: TAKE THREE RECAP!

DISAPPOINTING TENTH-PLACE FINISH!


High hopes and pent-up excitements on my part for Theravada's third-start of her young career came to a devastating disappointment -- not for her defeat but for the changing in her running style to be a closer.


ONE STEP FORWARD TEN STEPS BACKWARD -- VERY DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE BY THERAVADA!


Not only a ten-step backward but it is a puzzling performance as well and I was expecting to see her at least maintained her form -- if not improving on it.

The most startling and puzzling aspect of it is the way the race unfolded when -- surprisingly -- she was off evenly near the back of the field, third last of twelve, to be precise, about nine to ten lengths behind the early leaders.

We know she has speed, particularly gate and early speed as she'd shown in her second race, but for whatever the reason, in this race, she showed no gate and early speed at all -- very disappointing to see her not utilizing her abundance of gate and early speed.

My guess is that her trainer changed her running style to be like her mom's running style to be a one-dimension, one-run stretch running horse -- that is my guess!


Why was she off evenly near the back of the field and third last of twelve?

The pace was not that quick [early on] for the one-mile race on turf with the first quarter of a mile in 23.54 seconds, half-mile in 48.0 seconds, six furlongs in 1:12.02, seven furlongs in 1:24.14, and finished one mile in 1:36.74.

Why was she near the back of the field with that kind of fractions?

I don't get it!

This tells me that her trainer changed her running style to be a one-dimension, one-run stretch runner.

That is a very bad idea to change her running style to be like her mom's running style.

I don't like that approach at all!

I like her second race's running style a lot better, because as all horse racing fans know -- speed kills -- and Theravada has abundance of speed.

Now it seems that her trainer changed her running style to be a one-run closer like her mom -- and I don't like it one bit!

Speed is her greatest asset [beside her stamina], and speed combines with stamina [through her breeding], it's a recipe for success.

Why not utilize her speed?

I don't get it!

Why not train her to be a "push button" horse?

In other words, why not train her to be a stalker instead of a one-dimension, one-run closer?

I don't get it!


Her mom never had this kind of gate and early speed and most of her races were compromised by the pace upfront and she struggled mightily to close on horses that were leaders or close to the pace.

She would always made a one-sustain run on horses but usually came up short due to the pace upfront being not fast enough for her to close on them.

To see the trainer changed Theravada's running style to be like her mom's running style is very disappointing.

After her second race I was very excited about Theravada's future due to the fact that she had abundance of gate and early speed, and now my excitement is tamed quiet a lot, if not downright disappointing.

I was hoping that her connections realizing what a great asset she has in her gate and early speed and utilizing it accordingly to their advantage.

Now I'm not so sure they realize what a huge mistake it was to not utilize her speed asset.

Still, it's not too late to revert her running style back to her second race, but it has to be sooner rather than later before she accustoms and turns into a one-dimension, one-run stretch running horse.



IT HAS TO BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BEFORE SHE ACCUSTOMS AND TURNS INTO A ONE-DIMENSION, ONE-RUN STRETCH RUNNING HORSE!


If she accustomed and turned into a one-dimension, one-run stretch running horse, she cannot be easily turned into a speed horse, especially as she grows older and older -- that is a fact!

She is three-year-old and window of opportunity to revert her back to speed is closing every single day as she gets older and older.

I hope her connections realize that -- but I wouldn't hold my breath for her connections to realize that.

I think they are thinking that if her mom can win multiple graded stakes races with a one-dimension, one-run stretch running style, Theravada can do the same.


That is a mis-guided thinking, in my opinion.


I am very disappointing that her connections seem to feel that way, and as such, in my opinion, Theravada's future is bleak -- not a lot to look forward to!

It is fair to say that I'm not as excited nor looking forward to see her run as was after her second race.

My enthusiasm is now very tamed!


As any horse racing fan knows that a big and tall horse with a distance pedigree (like Theravada) who has abundance of speed is a dangerous horse to his/her competitors.

Case in point is East Avenue who is a big and tall horse with abundance of speed (combines with distance pedigree) and he utilized his speed to win the Keeneland Futurity in 2024 as a 2yo, beating a stellar group of 2yos.

I am not telling you anything new here, it is a universally well-understood horse racing paradym that a big and tall horse with a distance pedigree who also has abundance of speed is a "weapon" ready to fire [or a force to be reckoned with] -- and is a dangerous horse to his/her competitors.


It is the law of Physics that the bigger, taller you are the harder and slower you are to get going -- it's a true fact!

If you drive an SUV vehicle you know that it takes a while to get going, i.e., to go from zero to sixty speed readings; however, it doesn't take as long to go from zero to sixty speed readings if you drive a sedan vehicle.

This is the law of Physics at work!

The law of Physics applies to horses as well, horses like Theravada and East Avenue who are big and tall and both have speed combined with distance pedigree.

To make these horses to not utilize their deadly "weapon" or speed (like Theravada's trainer did) is just a mis-guided understanding of the law of Physics.



Leading up to last year's Breeders' Cup (2024), you may recall Marcus Hersh of the DRF writing articles about East Avenue's combination of size, height, speed, and stamina -- a rare combination that makes East Avenue a horse to beat in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile 2024.

Leading up to East Avenue's 3yo debut race in the Risen Star Stakes (2025), Marcus Hersh, again, pointed out in his article that East Avenue's combination of size, height, speed, and stamina, making East Avenue a force to be reckoned with in that race.

And sure enough, East Avenue exploded right out of the gate the fastest of twelve runners to set the pace but Magnitude had other idea when he sprinted quickly from post position 12 to take over the pace setting from East Avenue when they crossed the wire for the first time, and Magnitude continued to set the pace to win that race as a 43-1 longshot.

The winning time of 1:48.85 for the 1 1/8 mile race is the fastest time since the distance was extended in 2020.

As for East Avenue, he defied the law of Physics by showing abundance of speed and agility to almost setting the pace but relegated to chasing a smaller rival all the way to the top of the stretch and tired.

It was his first race since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile 2024 race.



Marcus Hersh didn't tell us anything new, either -- it was a universally well-understood horse racing paradym that all of horse racing fans knew all about since the existence of horse racing.

Whether they read Marcus Hersh's articles or not, they sent East Avenue off as the 2-1 post time favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile race 2024.

Likewise, they sent East Avenue off as the 8-5 post time favorite in the Risen Star Stakes 2025 as well.


My point is, all horse racing fans, including trainers, know that a big and tall horse with a distance pedigree who also has abundance of speed is a "weapon" ready to fire [or a force to be reckoned with] -- and is a dangerous horse to his/her competitors.

So Theravada's connections should also know this universally well-understood horse racing paradym.

Or do they?

I hope they do -- but I wouldn't hold my breath on that either.



Looking at the totality of Theravada's race, it was a very good race containing a full field of tough group of twelve runners after a horse in post position six got scratched -- and therefore, moving Theravada one slot better to post position eleven while also drawing in a horse from the "also eligible" list horses into the race.

This race is a race for maiden special weight fillies and mares 3yo and up; however, it is only one 4yo Hello Beauty and the rest are mainly 3yo fillies.


Theravada was sent off as a 9-1 longshot behind the 3-1 post time favorite Mo Expectations (post 6) and the little over 3-1 second choice Hello Beauty (post 1) and the 4-1 third choice Bembridge Ledge (post 8), the winner of the race.

Running Game (post 2) finished second at 5-1 fourth choice in the betting, Hello Beauty finished third, while Mo Expectations, the race's favorite, finished fourth.

Theravada finished ten of 12, beaten about fifteen to eighteen lengths by Bembridge Ledge.

That is a massive defeat considering in her second race she was seventh, beaten nine and one-quarter lengths after dueling fast fractions and she was still leading inside the eight pole [in that race].

I attribute to her massive defeat in this race due to in particular in the changing of her running style, and perhaps, her competition played a role as well.

This race seems a little tougher than her previous two races but well within her ability as it should be.

In other words, she belongs with this group of tough horses and it will serve her well into the future, albeit not a very exciting one.

This is a case of one step forward ten steps backward and you are never going to get anywhere.

That is how I feel after seeing this race.


With that said, we should take some solace knowing that this race is full of future stars potential, although I have to admit that Theravada is at the very bottom of that list if the trend takes its course.

One such star potential is Mo Expectations by Uncle Mo and she is out of a Bernardini mare Havisham, making Mo Expectations a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress.

Mo Expectations is trained by Brad Cox.

Mo Expectations was sent off as the 3-1 favorite and finished fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths without any apparent excuse.


As stated earlier, the pace was not that quick [early on] for the one-mile race on turf with the first quarter of a mile in 23.54 seconds, half-mile in 48.0 seconds, six furlongs in 1:12.02, seven furlongs in 1:24.14, and finished one mile in 1:36.74.

The track record for the mile distance on turf listed as 1:32.88.

So this race was run almost four seconds slower than the track record -- however, it is an average running time for a group of this caliber of maiden special weight fillies and mares 3yo and up.


To put into more perspective, consider a race that was run two hours earlier in race four for the same one-mile distance also on turf but for a much higher and tougher condition and tougher group of horses as well.

This race is for three-level allowance, [optional claiming price $125k], purses $134k, for fillies 3yos.

This race was run somewhat slower than Theravada's race with the first quarter of a mile in 24.32 seconds, half-mile in 49.0 seconds, six furlongs in 1:13.49, seven furlongs in 1:25.14, and finished one mile in 1:37.00 -- comparatively very slow considering that these horses are stakes horses who had competed in stakes races and most of them have very good running lines.


There are tough group of seven 3yo fillies in that race but the race produced slower fractional and final times than Theravada's race.

Case in point, the 5/2 second choice in that race, a horse named Admit ran in the Ashland Stakes (Gr I) at Keeneland April 2025.

Before that race, Admit was third in the Bourbonette Oaks Stakes, a Kentucky Oaks prep race being run at Turfway Park in March 2025.

Prior to that race, Admit finished second in the Cincinati Trophy Breeders Stakes at Turfway Park in February 2025.

Another horse named Just Ruthless also ran against Admit in both the Bourbonette Oaks Stakes and the Cincinati Trophy Breeders Stakes, however, Just Ruthless didn't do as well as Admit in both of those races.

The point is, both of these two horses are good stakes horses.

One more horse named Zealous Moon also ran against Admit and Just Ruthless in the Bourbonette Oaks Stakes at Turfway Park in March 2025.

Just Ruthless had some successes with good running lines on races at Churchill Downs prior to the meeting with Admit at Turfway Park.

As a matter of fact, after breaking her maiden by six lengths on November 10 (2024), Just Ruthless battled a very fast 2yo filly named Book'Em on November 30 (2024) on the card known as the "Future Stars of Tomorrow".

Book'Em ran that mile race in 1:34.17 while earning a whopping Beyer of 94 -- the highest number for a 2yo filly at that time.

Sadly, the following year in February (2025), Book'Em broke down while training and she was euthanized as a result of the severe fracture to her leg.

As for Just Ruthless, she battled Book'Em head-to-head from start to deep stretch when she got tired to finish fifth, beaten 14 1/2 lengths by Book'Em.

Another horse named Mean Eileen finished fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies at Kentucky Downs in September 2024.

To top it all off, a highly regarded $130k OBSMAR24 purchase 3yo filly trained by Steve Assmusen named Mila Rose who just competed in the Miss Preakness Stakes on Preakness under card four weeks ago.

She finished fifth in that tough race -- not bad!


The point is, this race is full of good 3yo fillies with future stars potential.


However, this race produced slower fractional and final times than the race Theravada ran -- albeit Theravada was not a factor in making those times.

Still, you would think that this race should produced faster times than the one Theravada was in.


The thing to take away for future handicapping purposes, Theravada not withstanding, is to judge the horses in the race that Theravada was in with positive and favorable weight than those horses in this third-level allowance race.


In other words, put more weight in horses like Mo Expectations when she runs next time because she helped produced her race to be faster than the third-level allowance race.

Well, sort of in the mix of helping -- but you get the idea!

Personally, I think Mo Expectations is a future star in the making with that impeccable breeding.
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2 weeks ago
Paul Tuon 3 weeks ago
HARNESS RACING: HAMBLETONIAN IMPLICATION!

MARYLAND VS SUPER CHAPTER


A field of 10 Hambletonian-eligible trotters will go behind the starting gate Friday (June 13, 2025) in the $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male trotters at The Meadowlands.


[Please check out The Meadowlands' entries for the Friday card.]


ENJOY FRIDAY NIGHT OF HARNESS RACING AT THE MEADOWLANDS EVERYBODY!


The lineup includes three of this season’s four fastest sophomore boys: Mr Walner Fashion, Mountcastle and Onajetplane.

The morning-line favorite, Mr Walner Fashion at 3-1, heads to the race 2-for-2 this year and is coming off a 1:51 2/5 score in a $25,000 second-round NJSS division June 6 (2025) at The Big M.

The mark is tied for the season’s best; Mountcastle also trotted 1:51 2/5 in his NJSS prelim later that same night. Both horses won by a head.

However, on the same day (Friday June 13) my eyes are on Maryland running against his stablemate Super Chapter at Vernon Downs (NY), race 8, in the EMPIRE BREEDERS CLASSIC Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings.

A small field of five -- it looks to be a two-horse race between Maryland (ML 9-5) and his stablemate Super Chapter (ML 8-5) in what looks like a preview of the Hambletonian Civil War battle.

Super Chapter is the race's favorite (ML 8/5) and he has post position 3, while Maryland is the second choice and he will break from the outside post 5.

Advantage to Super Chapter in this race but he will have to earn it with Maryland in the same race.

Easy exacta!


MY PLAY OF THE NIGHT: HIGHLAND KISMET

Race 12 (The Meadowlands): $50K Graduate 2nd leg for 4YO Trotters

HIGHLAND KISMET has unlimited potential and Nancy Takter has been charged with trying to get the most out of him. The first qualifier two weeks ago seemed to be going along smoothly when he made what looked like a speed break to me -- HIGHLAND KISMET broke strides.

Nancy Takter, his trainer, said she thought maybe the miscue was because his hobbles were too tight.

So for this race I think she plans to correct the hobbles so they will be a little loose.

Bet HIGHLAND KISMET to win, place using double down!


ON THE SAME NIGHT [JUNE 14] AT WOODBINE MOHAWK THERE ARE STAKES RACES AND ONE IN PARTICULAR IS THE $1,000,000 NORTH AMERICA CUP


The Woodbine Mohawk race card is full of good betting races headlined by the North America Cup, race 11, in which, I like the 7/5 morning line favorite Louprint (post 4) in a full field of 10.

It's a $1 million race and a prep for the Meadowlands Pace (July 12) and as such anything can happen in a full field of 12.

Having said that, the likely winner is the 7/5 morning line favorite Louprint.

He is the best horse in the field and likely to go down in odd -- 4/5 or even money is my guess.


Also in the card, race 10, a cinch horse in Chantilly.

Bet Chantilly (ML 1-1) to win and put a lot of money on her because she is going to win this race at a very short price.

This is the easiest money you'll ever going to get on any card for this Saturday June 14, 2025.



Chantilly crowned Canada's Horse of the Year for 2024


Chantilly, the 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year (2024) was also named the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year (2024).

She became just the fifth 2-year-old - and only the third pacing filly - to be named Canada's Horse of the Year, joining the likes of Emilie Cas El, Whenuwishuponastar, Somebeachsomewhere and JK She'salady.


Chantilly, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, set a career best 1:49.4 mark while easily besting a field of 10 in the lone $140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series event for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday, May 24 (2025) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. It was the first OSS Gold event of 2025.

Millar Farms' homebred daughter of Big Jim out of Shiraz Seelster, who was sent off at 1/9, is now undefeated through all 11 career starts. It was her second pari-mutuel win of 2025 and pushed her career earnings to $897,756.

Starting from the rail, driver James MacDonald positioned Chantilly fourth in the early going. The pair took the lead with a strong brush before reaching the half in :55. They opened up on the field from there through the three-quarters in 1:21.4 and came home in :28 to win by 4-1/2 lengths over Wickedpace (Jody Jamieson) on a cold, windy night. Perfectly Chic (Bob McClure) was third.

"[Chantilly's] high gear is just something else, MacDonald told Woodbine Mohawk Park's Chad Rozema. "I was able to clear the lead pretty, pretty easily. And then she's just one of those horses -- and I've only driven a few of them in my life -- where you feel like you're absolutely crawling ...

You've got to be careful with her, because she's just got unbelievable speed.

"She's just a special horse. She's passed every test with flying colours. I would have liked to go :52 with the brakes on, but she's got other plans.

Sometimes when you put her in top gear she's just relentless with her speed. Hopefully, she keeps carrying on to bigger and better things.

Whether that means Chantilly will be entered against the boys in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup or the Fan Hanover for sophomore fillies -- both have their finals on June 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park -- will be up to her owner George Millar, said Chantilly's trainer Nick Gallucci.

"It's going to be George Millar's call, said Gallucci, indicating she'll get next week off. "We'll just see what happens, and I'm good with whatever decision he makes."


ENJOY SATURDAY NIGHT OF HARNESS RACING WITH LOTS OF STAKES RACES AT BOTH THE MEADOWLANDS AND WOODBINE MOHAWK



MEANWHILE ON SATURDAY JUNE 14 -- DON'T FORGET THERAVADA -- CD -- RACE 8
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3 weeks ago
Paul Tuon 3 weeks ago
THERAVADA'S JOURNEY: TAKE THREE!

SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE THERAVADA IS ENTERED SATURDAY JUNE 14, 2025



Sentimental favorite Theravada is entered to run in a 1-mile turf race for Fillies and Mares 3 Year Olds-And-Up MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT Purse: $120,000 at Churchill Downs on Saturday June 14, 2025 (race 8).

Theravada makes her third career start for trainer Rusty Arnold. Theravada is a 3-year-old Tapit filly is out of Grade 2 winner Cambodia, who earned $859,000 with four graded-stakes wins.

In her most recent start on April 12 (2025) at Keeneland [in a 1 1/16 miles turf race for 3-Year-Old Fillies], she finished seventh, beaten 9 1/4 lengths.


[Check out my detail description on this thread about 15 or 16 posts down titled: "THERAVADA JOURNEY: THE TRAIL OF SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE THERAVADA !", describing the reasons she lost that race]


She was bred by her owners Don Robinson and Allen Schubert of Winter Quarter Farm.

She'll be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr in this 1-mile turf maiden special weight race in an overflow field of 16 horses, but it is limited to just 12 runners.

Theravada is a 5-1 morning line third choice behind the Jack Sisterson-trained 7-2 favorite Hello Beauty and Joe Sharp-trained 4-1 second choice Running Game.


Bet Theravada (ML 5-1) to win, place, show using double down betting strategy -- however, personally, I will only bet her to win.

With that said, I think she will win this race and I'm planning on gluing my eyes on the TV set the whole time the race is on.


BRING IT ON!!!

I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS SATURDAY AND I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THEN!

BRING IT ON!!!


Looking at the field, without having a chance to examine every horse in the race, I see one horse (beside Theravada) stands out among a good group of horses.


That horse is Mo Expectations (ML 8-1), a 3-year-old filly trained by Brad Cox.

Mo Expectations is by Uncle Mo and is out of an extraordinary family credential through her Grade 1-winning half-sister Serengeti Empress.

Yes, that is correct: Mo Expectations is a half-sister to Serengeti Empress.

That champion filly Serengeti Empress earned over two million dollars and captured multiple graded-stakes, including the Kentucky Oaks (G1), establishing this as one of racing's premier female families.

The Saturday Churchill Downs debut race for this impeccably bred filly suggests connections view this as a significant unveiling, and Uncle Mo's record with fillies adds another positive element to an already compelling pedigree package.



As for Theravada, she never get a break from a post position standpoint as last week she was drawn post position 15 [and did not get in], and this week she is drawn post position 12 -- an outside post position as her previous two outings.


She never get a break -- what is up with that?


As far as the competition -- again a stellar group of horses, but I'm not complaining about her competition at all as I think she fits with these tough group of horses and it will serve her well into the future whether she wins this race or not.

She needs tough competition to be the best of the best of her generation, and so far, her competition was very tough in all of her races.


BRING IT ON!


I THINK SHE IS UP TO THE CHALLENGE INCLUDING FACING SERENGETI EMPRESS' HALF-SISTER!


BRING IT ON!


I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SATURDAY!



ENJOY THE RACE EVERYBODY!
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3 weeks ago
 
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