Gil Winston: Meadowlands qualifier comments

Below are comments on the first qualifying races in preparation for The Meadowlands harness racing meet.

Meadowlands offers continuous racing starting October 20^th and ending in August. Their harness races are the most wagered upon in North America, so it is assumed that handicapping information for this track holds the most interest for the serious handicappers.

Historically, horses who raced in these first qualifiers have an edge over the shippers the first weekend. Unfortunately, horses with longer layoffs are now allowed to race without qualifying and their current form is a mystery for the players. We can only hope that someday the sport will realize this gross error in judgment and return us to the “glory days.”

The scores listed in the notes below are variances from what you might assume from looking at the charts. All other horses should be evaluated based on your own rules of handicapping. One unfortunate note is that the running times posted on the infield board were 100% wrong during the qualifiers. One might assume from the hundredths included on the infield board that the problem was a carryover from the thoroughbred meet. Can we trust the corrected times that were posted on the qualifying charts? You will quickly learn when these horses start racing next week. In addition, we will soon find out if the hundredths will remain for the harness racing meet.

I hope you have been heeding the comments from the Freehold analysis that we have been providing. There have been some fine payouts on horses receiving positive comments. NERIDAS WISH was the latest on Saturday. She was given a positive score among the 10/7 comments and won at 10-1 and was among the three favorites that comprised the $230 pick-4 ($1 bet) on 10/14. What is critical to note is that comments are as they relate to the fields they are facing. NERIDAS WISH was in against similar.

In addition, many of those horses will be racing at The Meadowlands meet, and Freehold notes will provide great insights into their potential when they move up the turnpike. These comments, like opinions on these qualifiers, are only as they relate to the competition faced when they are made.

Through the years, shippers from Freehold to The Meadowlands have rewarded players with many large payouts. Among the Freehold comments you will find notes on horses who had trouble negotiating the half-mile track turns. They tend to do very well when they move to the mile track. Very well, indeed.

Per the races below, both HUNGRY MAN and TREACHEROUS DRAGON came the fastest last quarters. 26:4 in winning efforts. In addition, TREACHEROUS DRAGON paced the last half in :55 flat in 1:51:1 while HUNGRY MAN paced the last half in :55:2 in 1:52:4. Edge to TREACHEROUS DRAGON. Or is it?

My recommendation is to give the edge to HUNGRY MAN if they race against each other. Numbers can lie. Choose eyes over lies.

Race      Horse                                   Score     Analysis

2             1 WILLY D                           -1           All out

2             3 CAPTAIN MCCRAE         1             Tripped over something, would not fear break in next start

2             8 HUNGRY MAN               2             Powerful close, expect much faster in next

3             2 STONEBRIDGE REEF     1               Accelerated willingly when challenged

4             8 LOCOMOTION                1             Kept 3-wide entire first quarter

7             2 TARRIFIC                         1             Last 1/16 very good after horse came off the rail late in stretch

by Gil Winston, for Harnesslink