Team Racing2day Pro Handicappers’ will be live from the Track at Turfway.

Follow their upto the minute hot information from the paddock and back stretch as they good you to a weekend of winners – hopefully!

You can do this by following our tweets on www.twitter.com/racing2day 

Team Racing2day

May the Horse be with You!

HANOVER KID OR KING? SERVING UP SOME CROWN PICKS FROM THE BIG M.
 
The stage is set at the BIG M Saturday as a group of 2 and 3 yr old’s go postward to do battle in this years Breeder’s crown. For most it will be the finale to their season, for some the finale to a great but short career!
Such will be the case for 3 yr old pacer Somebeachsomewhere, as he looks to end his career Saturday night with one last Breeder’s Crown, which he can add to his all impressive resume. The 3 yr old son of Mach Three has amassed over 3 million in earnings in 2 short seasons by mostly displaying a dominance over most he’s faced. At a time when the industry needs hero’s and stars like him, it will be sad that the fans of this sport will  not witness him back for his 4 yr old season! But, thats th e reality and the dillema that racing faces in general!
Our stars are dashed to the breeding shed long before the fans are ready to see them go! Thats a whole other topic of its own! For now, we get one last chance to witness a true champion! I over heard a fan say that Somebeachsomewhere is the best that he has seen since Niatross, so that puts him in pretty good company. Saturday night will be his chance to go out in a blaze of glory,but not before having to defeat the likes of Shadowplay one last time.  Let’s not underestimate this guy for he d id win the Little Brown Jug and has had a good season in his own right. If he does go down in defeat again to Somebeachsomewhere, it won’t be without a fight. 
 
Another horse with champion status that has to be mentioned in the same light, but on the trot side is Deweycheatumnhowe.  A brilliant 3 yrd old season and he looks to end his career tonight in the same fashion and make the same statements as Somebeachsomewhere.  He is another planning to exit the scene before we are ready to see him go.  His season has been just as dominant and includes a win in the prestigous Hambletonian. He was sparkling that day and a repeat effort of that will give him a crown of his own!
 
While the spotlight is surely on these two champions, the night offers a slew of crown undercards that will have a drama of their own!  Included in the mix is a race that could shape up to be one for the ages in the 2 yr old colt trot division as Muscle Hill and Explosive Matter look to end their season undefeated! Only one is likely to do that, unless someone else has an ace up their sleeve!  Upsets aren’t anything new in the Crown! We all remember Bays Fella’s stunner in the 1990 at 69-1! P aul MacDonnell was the driver that night and drives Somebeachsomewhere tonight! 
 
I’m not sure if a stunner like that is in the cards this year, but here are my selections for this years Breeder’s Crown races.
 
Race 2  #3 All Star Hanover, M/L 8-1  Joe Holloway capable of having this guy ready.
Race 3 #2  Hawaiian Drink, M/L 2-1    What a night to remember for Tracy Brainard!
Race 4 #8  Latern Kronos, M/L 5-2     Likes his chances with right trip and Campbell in the bike
Race 5 #5  Tom Cango, M/L 15-1         Is this the ace up Campbell’s sleeve that ends a streak for 2 horses?
Race 6 #8  Deweycheatumnhowe, M/L 6-5 Table is set for this guy to go out the true champion that he is!
Race 7- #1 Major in Art, M/L 9-5  has rail control and controls his own destiny
Race 8- #10 Good News Lady, M/L 8-1  Can the Gris win this from way out there? hmmm
Race 9- #3  Somebeachsomewhere, M/L 3-5  Rides off into the sun set with a cool 3 million and a crown!
 
Best of luck at the windows and remember we are all blessed when it comes to being able to witness a card and horses with this much magnatude!  It will be a night to remember!

SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE AND SHADOW PLAY TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THIS YEARS BREEDER’S CROWN FINAL AT THE MEADOWLANDS.
 
The connections of Somebeachsomewhere and Shadow Play have decided to take a different strategy regarding this years Breeder’s Crown final, which goes on November 27th.  Due to a lack of entries for the 3 yr old colt pace, horses with the most earned in that divison were given the option to race this week in an elimination or take a bye straight into the final.

Somebeachsomewhere who raced last Saturday at Woodbine in the O.S.S super finals night will not race this week  The connections will rest him a week, feeling that he’ll be fresher for the final.  The connections of Shadow Play are taking a different approach and will race the horse this week in order to get a race into him. Shadow Play’s last start was Nov 1 in the American National at Balmoral Park and if he had opted for the buy this week, it would’ve meant 3 weeks between starts and that would have been a concern.

Shadow Play will look for revenge on Somebeachsomewhere after finishing second to him in the Messenger Stakes last month at Yonkers. It will be interesting to see if either strategy has any impact next week when the two go head and head!
 
This week’s entries for the 3 yr old colt Breeder’s Crown elimination:
 
 1 Blue Claw(L) M Lachance  M Ford    15-1
 
 2 Mystery Chase(L) G Brennan  D Russell    8-1
 
 3 Lisfinny J Campbell  R Mc Intosh    12-1
 
 4 Share The Delight Y Gingras  L Toscano    10-1
 
 5 Rudy Rednose(L) B Sears  G Teague Jr    5-1
 
 6 Shadow Play D Miller  I Moore    9-5
 
 7 Upfront Hannahsboy(L) T Tetrick  J Arledge Jr    15-1
 
 8 Blueridge Western(L) D Palone  K Mc Dermott    4-1
 
 9 Bettor Sweet(L) C Manzi  J Poliseno    8-1
 
 10 Riggins R Schnittker  R Schnittker    15-1

The focus on the Woodbine season thus far has been with the thoroughbreds and as their season winds down, the spotlight turns this Saturday to the Standardbreds, more specifically Ontario breds.  The Ontario Sires Stakes program wraps up its 2008 season at Woodbine with 8 separate divisions, vying for at total purse of 2.4 mill ion dollars!  Each division goes for $ 300,000 and by far the main attraction will be the 3 y.r old colt pace featuring Somebeachsomewhere, who has been listed as the overwhelming 1/5 choice.  Canadians will get one last treat to witness this world champion, as he makes his final start on Canadian soil.  The Americans will get the final opportunity when he makes the final start of his career at the Meadowlands in this years Breeder’s Crown, on November 27th.  At seasons end, the Mach Three pacer will stand stud at Hanover Shoes Farm for a stud fee of  $ 20,000.
 
Other notable divisions include the 2 yr old colt pace featuring the Robert McIntosh freshman Nebupanezzar, 2 yr old filly pace – St. Lads Popcorn,  3 yr old filly pace – Voelz Hanover.  On top of those races the trotters will also be contested in 4 divisions of their own, making this a night to remember. Post time is 7:30 pm.
 
Best of luck to all of those entered in this years showcase of O.S.S stars!  Go gettum  THE HANOVER KID.