News & Notes

Ideal weather conditions and a very fast racing surface last Sunday evening produced three sub-1:51 miles—two by horses on the engine and one from off the pace.

The $12,000 open pace went to Soto, who left from post 7 in a very tough field but was able to get the lead quickly and wasn’t seriously challenged in a 1:50 1/5 victory. He returns to Harrington, where he’s one of five entered in the $15,000 open handicap pace Monday, Oct. 14.

Kotare Yael N, in his second local start, easily won the “winners over” pace on the front end in the same 1:50 1/5 with fractions similar to those of the open. He isn’t entered this week.

Outstand Forever, who is scheduled to race in tonight’s open pace, rallied strongly from seventh at the half-mile mark to get up to win a “non-winners of $6,000 in the last 5 starts” condition event by a head over Bro Hanover, who just missed being another front-end winner. He set the fastest pace of the night—1:21 4/5 for three-quarters—and still came home in :29. Bro Hanover is entered in the same spot tonight in Race 11 and again figures to head on down the highway.

Here’s a look at a few other races on the Sunday, Oct. 13, program:

Race 1

Puddin N Pie has rounded into good form in his first three races of the fall meet and is one of seven trotters exiting the same race won by Egosnattitudes, who lands in the “winners over” in Race 6. Puddin N Pie does his best work in the final quarter-mile and may need some help up front; that could be the case if the expected leavers leave.

Race 3

Talking Blues got jammed up at a key point in the race last week and recovered well to finish fourth in a 1:53 2/5 mile. He drops to the bottom-level condition and draws well in the middle of the starting gate.

Race 7

Simon’s Artist was in the Open II pace for his last Rosecroft appearance on Sept. 23 and then raced twice at Harrington—he had little chance against the victorious Seventh Secret from far back and then was a good fifth at a lower level last week. With Da Chief, who drew the pylons, appearing to be the only consistent early speed inside of him, Simon’s Artist is poised to land very good trip.

Race 9

This might be a good time to jump in on Diamondkeeper, who makes his fourth start of the meet after a summer break. He has come home in :28 and change in his fall meet starts, drops one condition and has gotten inside trips; post 9 may not be a big hindrance in a race with the potential for a lot of movement early and late.