Mike's Race Analysis May 21, 2007

Race #1

1st - #3 Half A Hero | 2nd - #1 Entry | 3rd - #2 Sterling Edge

COMMENTARY : I'll gamble that the #3 HALF A HERO has gotten enough conditioning out of his morning trials to run a mile and a sixteenth first time out, he looks to be the best horse on paper and I'll hope he can run long. The #1 BRONTOSAURUS BILLY and the #1a TYLER THE MILER both have excellent chances in this soft heat and will probably go off as the favourites. Trainer Rob Maybin prepared the #2 STERLING EDGE beautifully for his debut last year going long and judging by his works he could remain undefeated.

Race #2

1st - #3 Wind Storm | 2nd - #6 Thendoftherainbow | 3rd - #4 With Vision

COMMENTARY : The #3 WIND STORM is in a much easier spot today after battling on the pace with some very nice fillies on opening day, she's come back to work extremely well and looks like a strong wire-to-wire candidate. The #6 THENDOFTHERAINBOW is the most experienced runner of the group with five starts and oddly enough finishing third every time. She has speed to be in a good spot early so if she's ready to roll off of the seven month layoff then she'll be very tough as well. The #4 WITH VISION would've been best with a clean trip in her first start at the $25,000 tag, she's up in class and does face a tougher assignment but she's improving and if the pace gets a little hot she could be the best 'closer' in the lineup.

Race #3

1st - #7 Mountain Musician | 2nd - #4 Magna Force | 3rd - #1 Beckenbauer

COMMENTARY : The #7 MOUNTAIN MUSICIAN had two tough luck losses in big stakes races last year and if he'd had any breaks last season he could've been voted top two year old. He's back in with maidens and with him going great in the a.m. he's definitely the one to beat. The #4 MAGNA FORCE has trained nicely this spring and I think will be one that improves a lot from two year old campaign. UPSET CHANCE !! The #1 BECKENBAUER closed up strongly in the stretch after taking a while to get rolling but he really doesn't appear to be a sprinter, he looks like a horse with a bright future and if he can beat the inside draw then he could be a big factor today.

Race #4

1st - #1 Anziyan Flyer | 2nd - #7 Above The Clouds | 3rd - #2 Area Code

COMMENTARY : The #1 ANZIYAN FLYER just finished beating a lot of these for $25,000 so with him resurfacing for $20,000 and getting the rail it's really hard to go against him. The #7 ABOVE THE CLOUDS missed the break then scooted up the inside to get third only a couple of lengths behind the #1 ANZIYAN FLYER. He'll need to get into a better spot early if he's going to turn the tables on my top pick but even if he doesn't I still like him to be in the TRIACTA. The #2 AREA CODE didn't really run to his excellent worktab first time out this year but perhaps his second start will be better and with the rains likely coming his chances will be even greater.

Race #5

1st - #1 Proud Son | 2nd - #9 Alferrari | 3rd - #4 Forecastor

COMMENTARY : The #1 PROUD SON was given a tough assignment first time out this year but with him down for $11,000 he should be a major threat, he should get a perfect trip sitting just off of the speedy #4 FORECASTOR and I think he'll be tough from that position. The #9 ALFERRARI just missed in a tougher $11,000 heat two weeks ago, he's always tough at this price and I put him in the second spot only because of his poor post. The #4 FORECASTOR should get the lead to himself and anytime he gets to the top he's usually quite stubborn.

Race #6

1st - #7 Classic Show | 2nd - #1 Albihighway | 3rd - #3 Regans Run

COMMENTARY : The #7 CLASSIC SHOW is hitting rock bottom after a disappointing effort with $25,000 maidens as the 4/5 favourite. He'll race on Lasix today and lineup with a very soft field so it looks like now or never for him. The #1 ALBIHIGHWAY raced five wide around the first turn in his first start this year and did well to finish in the runner-up spot, he too will race on Lasix for the first time and he will undoubtedly improve but will it be enough to beat a big class dropper from the leading trainer. The #3 REGANS RUN ran reasonably well in his debut and looks to be the best of the rest.

Race #7

1st - #4 Commodore Craig | 2nd - #5 Colondelivery | 3rd - #6 Diamond Terner

COMMENTARY : The #4 COMMODORE CRAIG has caught a pretty weak $25,000 (the $20,000 earlier today looks tougher) group and if he repeats his first run he should win the dough. The #5 COLONDELIVERY has been lighting it up in the morning and could be a major threat to the 'Commodore' today. The #6 DIAMOND TERNER was running with cheaper near the end of the year but he has won up this high in the past so he deserves respect as well.

Race #8

1st - #5 Ookashada | 2nd - #2 Stephanson | 3rd - #4 Packer Sweep

COMMENTARY : The #5 OOKASHADA will remove blinkers today after perhaps being too sharp and racing on a contested pace in the $55,000 Sales Stakes causing him to get a little tired late and finish second. With an outside draw Alvarado has more options with him and don't be surprised if he's laying third behind the #1 GHOST PIRATE and the #3 THESARATOGAEXPRESS, I think he'll rebound with another big effort. The #2 STEPHANSON capitalized on a perfect setup last time and he could actually get the same trip today. The #4 PACKER SWEEP looked good in his Hastings debut and definitely deserves the shot with stakes runners and with a tiny field and a contested pace in front of him he could surprise some people in the stretch.

Race #9

1st - #4 Mayne's Finale | 2nd - #7 Krone | 3rd - #8 Regal Roo

COMMENTARY : I'll give the #4 MAYNE'S FINALE another shot after being rank and throwing her head around after the start in her '07 debut, she's come back to work well and if she's better behaved today should be able to beat this bunch. The #7 KRONE is already making her eighth start of the year and with her down at a better level she could be a force in the late stages. The #8 REGAL ROO was held up on the final turn in her first start which caused her to lose valuable momentum as she ended up second, she's on the outside so she'll need some luck with the trip to win this afternoon.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE AND ENJOY YOUR AFTERNOON AT HASTINGS !!!!