Friday Night Lights

It's not high school football...it's Canterbury Park racing. Let's get right to it...

Race 1: 5,000 Claiming, 1 Mile 70 Yards
5 - Go Fast - He registered a gritty W in Phoenix last out while registering a career best speed figure. He draws Paul Nolan for his local debut and should get a fair trip in here. He's likely the best in this 5 interest field.
2 - Lookatme Afleet - He may not be the most logical, but he shows a nice work over the local surface while shipping in from Tampa for Jamie Ness. He exits a win in tampa going shorter. You also get the 2B Unreal General, so that's nice.
4 - Sheba's Charm - He won on opening day going two turns and may set the pace in this heat. The lead is always a nice place to be on this oval.

Race 2: 19,000 Maiden Special Weight, 3 1/2 Furlongs, Fillies and Mares
6 - Special Occasion - MN bred baby girls debut in this race. Last year, a girl named AJ Bakes crushed in the first 2 yo race of the year and she's turned out to be pretty good. I like this animal's 4 furlong work leading up this debut. It's encouraging to see a horse this young put up a 48 and change time while training at a distance longer than the race.
1 - Dark Rosa - Nevada Litfin got a very strong work out of this girl on May 12. It's nice to see champion bloodlines including A.P. Indy on the sire's side. Litfin has hit with 25% of firsters in 2008 and with 21% of 2 year olds. Lots to like and should go favored.
3 - Black Ruby - After the top two, it basically comes down to choosing your favorite Ghazi offspring, as he has sired 3 of these. I'll take Ry Eikleberry's mount on a filly that has two decent works for Vic Hanson.

Race 3: 10,000 Maiden Claiming, 5 1/2 Furlongs
7 - Shady Ghazi - This field is full of animals that have shown nothing. This one, however, has actually crossed the wire first, but was DQ'd. Eikleberry is off to a good start this meet and should find the winner's circly here, albeit at a very short price.
8 - Email Alert - In his one career start he ran 9th of 11, beated by 17 lengths. That said, hey had a great work on May 16 and adds blinkers. There's a chance.
3 - Not So Timeless - I honestly don't think his last effort was as bad as it looks. He beat nearly half the field on an off surface. He hows a good local work and drops further down the class ladder. Not likely to win, but he could round out the super or tri quite nicely.

Race 4: 15,000 Claiming, 1 Mile
6 - Silent Preacher - If this horse could consistently get a clean trip, he'd have much more that 1 win. He tries hard every time, but often just misses. He's 10 for 19 in the money at Shakopee and is as likely as any in this group.
1 - Senor Scat - This race appears to be light on speed, which could set up nicely for the Scat. He appears to show the best early speed and will be making his second trip off the layoff. If he gets alone on the lead, he'll be tough to catch.
4 - Jagan - He drops in for a tag for the firt time in his career. After a couple of dull efforts so far this season, he'll appreciate the class relief. He seemed to improve considerably in his third start last season. If he repeats that pattern, he could run by them all.

Race 5: 10,000 Maiden Claiming, 5 1/2 Furlongs
8 - On Shaky Ground - He showed good speed in his local debut before being caught at the wire. He drops a bit in class, which should be enough to graduate in the contest.
6 - Donnofghazi - Derek Bell rides for Mac on this firster. He's shown some talent in the morning and could make some noise against this crop.
4 - Tony No Socks - He also showed some good speed before fading, thanks largely to a bad start. He's been close a couple of times and should be right there again.

Race 6: 7,500 Claiming, 5 1/2 Furlongs
5 - Tricky Titan - If you are looking to get paid, this should be the race to try something crazy. This field of statebreds is evenly matched and mediocre. I'll try Tricky Titan who has fared well at this distance in the past. He also takes a considerable class drop after running poorly against allowance foes. He's as likely as any.
8 - Ghazarino - The connections are here to produce some magic. Mike Kirby has sent out 32% winners in 2008 and Adolfo Morales is a good jockey that is due to starting winning some races. He draws a good stalking post outside which should set him up with a good trip.
6 - Sir William E - This is another Derek Bell/Mac ride that confused me a bit. He won his debut in October against open company in Ohio. Then he shifted to the poly track in Florence where the competition was just too tough. Dropping him in here against statebreds could be just what the doctor ordered. I'll take a shot with this one.

Race 7: 25,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 Furlongs, Fillies and Mares
4 - Mizzcan'tbewrong - She blowed up an allowance field in Iowa when winning at 10-1. You won't get that price here, but a repeat of anything near her last would get her to pose for pictures again.
5 - Mego - She should be your favorite after her dominating victory two weeks ago. Lots to like, except the price.
1 - Catch a Star - She'll make her 2008 debut with D Bell aboard. Her works are average, but she is 3 for 7 on this surface which is reason enough to respect her in this short field. Plus, there is a lot of speed and she seems most likely to come charging late if the front runners tire at all.

Race 8: 4,000 Claiming, 5 1/2 Furlongs
7 - Mining Gold - Let's see, there's a class drop and Ry Eikleberry and Justin Evans and a bullet work and the best last speed fig in the field, but then there's that pesky layoff. Hopefully the layoff is enough to inflate the price a little an this one looks like winner.
5 - Wicken Pancho - He closed strongly after breaking slowly on opening day. He's ripe to improve in his second trip off the layoff, so don't be surprised to see Mr. Smiley in the winner's circle.
1 - Tonys a Genius - He is 10 for 13 in the money in Shakopee. That should be reason enough to include him. The works are bit dull, but any animal that has that much success in one location demands attention.

Race 9: 5,800 Maiden Claimings, 250 yards
7 - The Inclindenator - This filly debuts for Ed Ross Hardy and Tad Leggett. Those are formidable QH connections, folks.
8 - Cajun Eye Opener - She ships in from SoDak after just missing at odds-on. She shows a good work here two weeks back. Favorite.
3 - Jazzi Appeal - She has shown next to nothing in her three career starts at Remington. She shorten up in distance and shows the best morning work of the bunch.

Race 10: 5,800 Maiden Claimings, 330 yards
2 - Miss Ernie - Last seen at Arapahoe Park in 2006, this filly has taken some time to grow up. The mroning works are the best of the bunch and may suggest that this girl is ready to roll.
3 - Whirling Voodoo - He's been off for nearly a year, but boasts two rock solid morning works. So what if she's never finished better than 9th of 10? Ralph Haglund appears to have this one ready.
6 - Bills Glamour - She missed by less than a length in the Ft. Pierre Derby last time out. A repeat of that effort could result in a W.

That's how I see them tonight...