Goodtimes Eliminations Important Trial For Colts To Make August Classic A Reality

Hambletonian hopefuls (e) are in serious shape at Woodbine/Mohawk Park on Friday, June 7, as the glamour-boy trotters contest August-absentees for berths in the pivotal Goodtimes Final. Over the past few years, the Goodtimes has been a major prep for the division’s members to impress their connections enough to start feeling they could realize their dreams of August glory. It is still a tough trail ahead in the next month and some days but bad performances in this event has a tendency to stifle many Hambo campaigns. Two $30,000 elimination fields contain the 19 colts with all to gain and a lot to lose depending upon their finishing spots in these miles. There are 10 lined up for the first elim, headed by one of the early choices to go all the way in the classic, Swandre The Giant (e). He looked great winning at his hometown Hoosier Park in his soph debut but he did not defeat anywhere near the likes of these. This field is eligible-heavy and he will have to prove his weight in promises outside the boundaries of his country, no less his state. Many fans will look elsewhere in the field for tempting possibilities, including the other two top ex-frosh stars Trix And Stones (e) and Forbidden Trade (e). Of the other four eligible to the classic, Super Schissel (e) is our kind of prospect. Per Engblom’s colt may not have such a troubled time leaving from post 10 than most will predict. There is no way we would leave him out of exotic action if he were leaving from any post but here we will be afforded a terrific upset price. Super Schissel was super at two and has every reason to give this one his best. He may not win the final but the final is of no concern to anyone playing this race. With “Swandre” questionable and no other top early division monsters (like Greenshoe) available, Super Schissel needs to rally for us. The second elim has only a trio of Hambo prospects, with Southwind Avenger (e) the standout. Though it is not far fetched to see a winner come from the division’s Hambo-outcast cast, Southwind Avenger is the best of the others—Pilot Discretion (e) and Kings County (e)—and they look so much better to at least make the final than do the remainder of the field. For price and purpose, however, Tony Alagna’s Pilot Discretion is a candidate for the upset and we would gladly dismiss a win bet on the “Avenger” if the “Pilot” offers a great deal more in the win pool. Follow Hambletonian Trail action from this blog on Twitter #Hambo19 and @FrankCotolo in cooperation with the Hambletonian Society.