Currier & Ives Classically Contribute Along The ‘Trail’ With Divisions At The Meadows; Some Colts At Buffalo

 

Hambletonian Trail action aplenty during the weekdays for sharp bettors as the Meadows offers fillies and colts top dollars in the traditional trotting series, the Currier & Ives (C & I).

The fillies meet in three divisions on Tuesday, June 5, each mile worth $24,000-plus each.

A field of six features three “Oaks”-eligible gals: Lady Palema, Nixie Volo and Win Treasures. The first two of those are morning-line (ML) favorites and an rogue “Trail” entry, Donato’s Jewel will also get hit with support.

The third eligible, Win Treasures, will be overlooked, even though she has more to gain than the others. She is still looking for her first win at three and this is a critical earning point for her. That kind of pressure alone deserves some backing.

Four eligible fillies go in the second split. They are Front Circle, Mighty Macko, Looking For Zelda and Msnaughtyashill. The latter is two for two this season and yet is the second ML choice. That could change, of course, but Mighty Macko has Meadows-hero-driver Dave Palone, so it is possible she gets more support than the unbeaten gal. Msnaughtyashill needs this win more than “Zelda” or non-eligible Kenziesky Hanover, who is second best in the field’s earnings, and her price promise should be better.

The last C & I split of the afternoon has seven gals swinging for the best of the purse. Four have August hopes—D’Bomb, Bill’s Lady, Andovermizbrenda and Zoi Bi.

The track handicapper likes Bill’s Lady best and D’Bomb next. The latter is from the Ron Burke team and apt to suck in bucks for that alone and perhaps turn the tables on being the favorite. The outsiders here make the race competitive for the Oaks-hopefuls, so we would look way outside of this box and back Zoe Bi. Post 7 and poor obvious comparisons to the aforementioned will put less dollars on the betting side of Zoe Bi but this could be a must-win situation, so if she is any good she will hustle for some bucks to keep her hopes alive for the classic.

Wednesday, June 6, the Meadows presents two C & I events for colts. Each of these miles is worth $55,000-plus.

Four of the six colts in this field are hopefuls—Rock And Miserable, Moonsonee, Patent Leather and Banker Twentyfive. “Rich” has won two of two, which bettors will like, as they should like Moonsonee’s bankroll from only a pair of races and one win.

What they may like most, however, is Trond Smedshammer’s non-eligible Donatover, who will leave from post 1 with Palone. This one has made near as much as Moosonee, and could be the spoiler for the August-aimers.

The crowd may overlook Patent Leather, Jim Campbell’s one-for-two colt that could be much better than he has shown as the season ensues. Well bred and well trained, he will offer value that can come through with a big price for this big win.

The other C & I for the colts is a six-guy field with half of them hopefuls—Meadowbranch Ricky, Crystal Fashion and I Know My Rights. This could make the C & I afternoon a sweep for Campbell, who sends Crystal Fashion to post. He is also lightly raced and also has won already at three. Improvement is expected, since Campbell sends out his steeds raring and ready and his eye on the big August prize assures this one will fire, as well.

At Buffalo on June 6, there are two $59,000-plus sires stakes for colts and the lack of eligibles in these two fields compels us to focus on the few that may have class advantages over the many.

In the first split, Don is the lone hopeful and Julie Miller’s colt will have little excuse losing this. As well, he may not be the favorite in the short field, so the edge goes to the bettor.

The second split offers a pair of August-aimers, Purpose Blue Chip and Tito. It’s getting late for these two so we need to bank on them showing their promise if they intend to drop into the classic’s box. The crowd will tend toward Yuge and Perlucky but we have to split the difference in odds (be the judge) with either of the eligible colts.


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