Harness Line and Comments

 By Mike Paradise

 Balmoral races on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; Maywood on Thursdays and Fridays. First Post 7:10 p.m. . All races one mile. +-Class hike. !-Class drop. *-Favorite. L-Treated with Lasix. LL-1st time user.

 

 FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Best bet: Devachan (5th race)

FIRST: PACE, COND, NW 1 OR 2, F & M, PURSE $3,000:

PN HORSE, DRIVER ODDS LAST 3

8 Pacing Penny Two, M. Miller 3-1 1 2 7

1 +Twenty-One Below, Gregory 6-1 2 2 7

9 !Dragon Fantasy, Oosting 7-2 4 5 1

2 The Face Of Love, Carlson 4-1 3 4 4

3 +Always A Cheater, Smolin 8-1 5 2 6

7 L!Winthisone Hanover, J. Finn 10-1 5 3 1

6 !Repertoire, Wilfong 12-1 8 3 3

10 !Late Hope, Carpenter 15-1 6 1 2

5 !T E’s Zenyatta, T. Warren 15-1 7 6 3

4 Bank On Her, L. Miller 15-1 4 7 5

PACING PENNY TWO drew off for new barn. Mare may do the same tonight. TWENTY-ONE BELOW was raced inside before she closed in a hurry. Very dangerous here. DRAGON FANTASY drops and may go out and be in position to win this race.

SECOND: TROT, COND, NW $2,500 LAST 5, PURSE $5,000:

2 L!Itz Alive, Widger 3-1 6 4 6

6 Sherwood Secret, Carlson 4-1 *3 *1 2

10 L-Didshepraynhowe, Sutton 6-1 2 1 3

4 !Merry High, Oosting 9-2 6 7 1

9 L-Big Sky Revenue, Da. Magee 8-1 *9 3 4

8 L-LW Jaynie Flyer, Wilfong 8-1 4 6 7

5 L-Brickie McGuire, M. Miller 12-1 1 8 7

1 Rehab Mountain, De. Magee 15-1 5 3 4

7 L-Fin Riziel, Carpenter 15-1 4 9 6

3 Perfectly Peachy, Sutton 15-1 6 9 9

ITZ ALIVE takes a double drop and could turn things around tonight. SHERWOOD SECRET a major threat, especially with the cover he lacked. DIDSHEPRAYNHOWE could sprint out and get up-close where she’s a possibility.

THIRD: PACE, COND/CLMG $7,000, NW 2, PURSE $3,200:

1 L+Classified Info, Widger 5-2 *1 3 7

6 Charlie Cat, Oosting 3-1 3 3 4

8 L!Apache White Foot, T. Warren 9-2 *1 2 3

3 L-Scorecard Mike, Carlson 8-1 4 7 6

4 Big Bear Bow, Smolin 10-1 10 7 6

7 The Thinker, Seekman 12-1 3 6 6

10 Frontier Joe, Ri. Finn 12-1 8 2 8

2 L!Intrepid Belief, De. Magee 15-1 9 8 5

5 L-Cole Call, Curtin 15-1 7 8 6

9 L-Mandretti’s Charge, Carpenter 15-1 3 8 3

CLASSIFIED INFO won for fun. Try and catch him again. CHARLIE CAT hasn’t been far off and is a threat to rally in time. APACHE WHITE FOOT an easy winner at Maywood. This is a tougher test with the hike and he’s without the pole position this time

FOURTH: PACE, CLMG $4,000, PURSE $3,200:

1 L-Johnny Be Cool N, Smolin 7-2 2 4 *2

10 L-Heath, Oosting 3-1 *1 *2 *3

5 L!Speakrighttomyheart, Carlson 9-2 6 1 3

2 Lavros Jasper N, Sutton 5-1 3 8 1

3 L-Jimenys Star, De. Magee 6-1 x 6 1

9 L-Luckability, M. Miller 8-1 3 6 1

7 L-Pure Addiction, C. Leonard 12-1 8 3 1

4 L-My Kind Of Towne, T. Warren 15-1 5 5 3

6 L-He’s Bucks Best, Carpenter 15-1 7 10 1

8 L-Hubastank, Husted 25-1 10 2 7

JOHNNY BE COOL an old-timer racing well now and post will keep him in the thick of it. HEATH has a big shot to get a repeat victory if he isn’t too far back with this poor draw. SPEAKRIGHTTOMYHEART drops to where he was claimed and won and might again.

FIFTH: PACE, COND, NW $2,500 LAST 5, PURSE $5,000:

3 L!Devachan, T. Warren 5-2 5 3 7

2 L+BS Mary’s Delight, Carlson 7-2 *1 2 7

5 L-Maddison Paige N, M. Miller 4-1 4 9 3

1 +Metis Blue Chip, Wilfong 9-2 1 3 4

10 L-Ellamakailey, Widger 12-1 8 6 5

9 L+Judy’s Jet, Husted 12-1 1 4 4

8 L-BP Giant Fool, Wilfong 15-1 6 8 7

7 L-Mearl Finn, Gregory 20-1 4 6 8

6 L-Kickapoo Cher, De. Magee 20-1 9 2 10

4 L-She’sabadbelle, Sutton 20-1 6 7 8

DEVACHAN takes another dip and looks like she’s in cheap enough to get her initial season win. BS MARY’S DELIGHT in tougher but she’s at her best now that she went on Lasix. MADDISON PAIGE had too many horses to try and pass. Late rusher can be considered.

SIXTH: PACE, CLMG HANDICAP, $6,000-$8,000, PURSE $4,500:

6 Blueridgevalentino, Sutton 3-1 2 5 2

7 L-Allamerican Solo, Widger 4-1 7 1 9

3 L-Jitterbug Jack, Roberts 9-2 4 7 8

5 L-Legends Never Rest, R. Leonard 65-1 8 3 6

2 +Bell Valley Zeke, Smolin 5-1 1 2 6

8 L-Celtic Manor, Oosting 6-1 *2 1 1

1 L-Look To Kilowatt, M. Miller 10-1 3 6 6

4 L+AJ’s Delight, Carlson 10-1 *1 6 5

BLUERIDGEVALENTINO batted well before giving way when he was claimed. I like his chances best off the pace. ALLAMERICAN SOLO was too far behind. Maybe he’ll follow-up live cover tonight. JITTERBUG JACK found his best stride too late. No surprise if he popped he popped here.

SEVENTH: PACE, COND, NW 4 OR 5 RACES, PURSE $6,900:

4 +Rego Park, Carlson 7-2 1 *4 1

1 L-Pansaflying, Carpenter 6-1 5 8 1

7 L-Dial A Dragon, Wilfong 4-1 2 7 1

1 L-No Bu, Sutton 9-2 4 5 2

5 L-Ideal Joe, Oosting 6-1 7 10 5

10 L-Don’t Worry Be Happy, M. Miller 8-1 3 1 7

8 L-Quality Sport, T. Warren 8-1 5 4 2

6 !Revolutionary, Curtin 15-1 4 4 *1

9 L-On The Green, Widger 12-1 4 6 2

3 +Boogilee Boogilee, Husted 15-1 9 4 5

REGO PARK steps up but he overcame the 10-hole last week. PANSAFLYING was shuffled out of contention. A good trip might see him succeed. DIAL A DRAGON comes off a good try and can’t be discounted.

EIGHTH: PACE, COND, NW $9,000 LAST 5, F & M, PURSE $10,000:

2 L-Let’s Talk About Me, Oosting 5-2 1 1 1

3 L-Third Easy Hotspur, M. Miller 3-1 2 6 3

6 L+Dee Dee Sage, C. Leonard 4-1 *2 3 3

7 L-Windsun Montecarlo, Widger 6-1 5 9 8

1 L+Hoponit, Sutton 8-1 2 2 *2

4 +Fox Valley Absolut, Smolin 8-1 2 4 *2

5 Cadie’s Gotta Gun, Carlson 12-1 6 5 6

8 L-Lauren, T. Warren 12-1 9 8 2

LET’S TALK ABOUT ME is a very confident mare right now and another up-close trip is very likely. THIRD EASY HOTSPUR will need more to overtake the above. She’s capable. DEE DEE SAGE about due to overtake a field, so consider.

NINTH: PACE, INVITATIONAL, HANDICAPPED BY GROUPS (1-4) (5-7) (8-9), PURSE 7,000:

9 L-Power Of Tara N, Oosting 5-2 *1 3 1

8 L-Dabestleaderever, M. Miller 3-1 *5 1 1

6 L-Star City Hero, Widger 5-1 3 6 2

1a Perrito Caliente, Seekman 6-1 *2 1 *2

1 +Best Man Hanover, Carlson 6-1 *4 10 *1

7 L+Dinneratartsplace, T. Warren 8-1 1 1 7

5 L-St. David Hanover, M. Miller 8-1 2 1 1

2 L-Bet On Him, Gregory 15-1 4 2 8

3 L+Special Joe, Sutton 15-1 3 1 5

4 L+Major Monet, C. Leonard 15-1 6 4 4

POWER OF TARA dug in nicely in the lane and showed her Down Under class. He may get to the front and win another. DABESTLEADEREVER was a little short with the month off. Maybe tonight he’ll rally in time. STAR CITY HERO will need the cover he lacked for a good shot to pull off the upset.

TENTH: PACE, COND, NW $5,000 LAST 5, PURSE $7,500:

5 Anescape N, M. Miller 7-2 4 5 1

4 L-Camgrandest, Carpenter 3-1 4 *3 4

8 L-Tuffery N, Widger 4-1 7 5 2

1 Tink And Tiger, Carlson 9-2 8 *1 1

3 L-Washington Hanover, Sutton 6-1 6 1 3

1a Major Tipper, Seekman 9-2 5 2 4

6 L+Big Gus, Smolin 8-1 *1 1 1

7 !Loverboylou, Roberts 12-1 6 4 3

2   L-Make It Work, Oosting 12-1 3 8 4

ANESCAPE gave way on the engine but might get the job done tonight out of a hole. CAMGRANDEST is overdue to power past a field. New driver tonight. TUFFERY N failed 1st up. Import looks capable if he can get brought up this time.

ELEVENTH: PACE, COND, NW $5,500 LAST 5, F & M, PURSE $7,500:

3 L-Discoverer, Oosting 3-1 4 3 *3

1 L!Waiting And Hoping, Widger 9-2 8 2 *2

4 L-Endless Motion, L. Miller 4-1 *5 4 4

6 L-Weekend Update, M. Miller 6-1 8 2 *6

9 L!Peace, Carpenter 6-1 4 6 2

2 Lady Lakers, C. Leonard 12-1 6 8 5

5 L+Hoosier Jetta, R. Leonard 12-1 1 3 3

7 L-Leanmean Normajean, Smolin 15-1 6 1 8

8 L-Houlihan, Sutton 15-1 6 1 4

10 Kimberley R, Wilfong 15-1 6 4 3

DISCOVERER reunited with Oosting who drives her 1st time at Balmoral in this open race. WAITING AND HOPING lost all chance with a break at the start. Mare has speed from the rail to merit your consideration. ENDLESS MOTION parked out to a fast half leaving from the 10-hole. She has a big shot here.

TWELFTH: PACE, COND, NW $2,500 LAST 5, PURSE $5,000:

7 L!Bring The Rain, Sutton 3-1 8 6 6

5 L-So Be It, De. Magee 7-2 2 4 7

2 Indescribable, Carpenter 9-2 2 6 6

8 L-Smiling Bob, Oosting 6-1 5 3 4

4 L-Once A Cheater, Carlson 6-1 3 2 5

1 L-Western Ravenswood, Widger 8-1 5 8 5

3 Bay Fishen Doc, L. Miller 12-1 6 2 6

6 L-David’s Brother, M. Miller 20-1 8 6 6

9 L-Cabana Jack, Wilfong 25-1 9 8 2

10 L-Southwind Index, Roberts 25-1 8 5 8

BRING THE RAIN got pushed back out of contention. Dropper is overdue. SO BE IT finished nicely. Another big try might not go un-rewarded. INDESCRIBABLE had an encouraging qualifier and looks well placed here. Consider.

THIRTEENTH: PACE, COND/CLMG $8,000, NW 4, PURSE $3,700:

6 L-Life Is Good Today, Smolin 4-1 3 3 1

10 L-Ifeelthelight, Widger 3-1 *2 *3 2

1 L+Big Bad Roc, M. Miller 7-2 *1 4 2

5 Eggroll, Da. Magee 9-2 *9 *2 2

4 !Hurricane John, Roberts 8-1 10 1 1

7 L-Fox Valley Boogie, Carlson 8-1 7 1 3

2 L!Dip B Chips, Wilfong 12-1 9 10 1

8 L-Brooklets Realdeal, Carpenter 20-1 5 6 5

3 L-Ldess Olympicdream, De. Magee 20-1 4 8 8

9 L+Impressive Boy, De Salvo 50-1 9 10 10

LIFE IS GOOD TODAY might see another big finish earn a trip to the winner’s circle. IFEELTHELIGHT quick from the gate and likely will have to be caught again. BIG BAD ROC steps up but another up-close winning journey looks very possible.

Mike’s Solid Play

Devachan (5th race)

Mike’s Price Shots

Twenty-One Below (1st race)

Pansaflying (7th race)

Windsun Montecarlo (8th race)

Tuffery N (10th race)

Indescribable (12th race)

 (Mike Paradise writes an additional weekly column—Trot Topics—in Saturday's The Daily Journal. The Kankakee, IL based newspaper has expanded its coverage of racing at Balmoral Park. The paper welcomes comments and questions on Illinois harness racing. Just e-mail at harnessracing@daily-journal.com.)