MastComm tops Saint in Nat'l JCH (HAW)
 

4th (2:34)

National Jockey Club H. (G3)

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $250,000

1 Sweetnorthernsaint Pino M G 120 L
2 Courthouse Houghton T D 110 L
3 Le Jester Thornton T 112 L
4 Master Command Velazquez J R 123 L

4 horses?!

Same exact thing that just went through my head. :eek:

Yes! Now there are two threads on page one that involve two of my three current favorite horses at the same time.

What a sad sad day for Hawthorne. Not up to speed on what Le Jester is doing, but Courthouse has yet to clear his NW3X...the same condition he had not cleared when entered in this race last year....and the same condition he had not yet cleared when racing in August 2005. Not saying that to be mean, because I like him a whole lot -- but seriously, it's insane.

Then again, he's gauranteed a check just for showing up.

Does this race ever have more than five horses?

I look for Master Command to win this. I think the horse has really developed into a nice older horse.

Is this the first time a Graded Stake race at Hawthorne was ever carded as Race #4?

At least the Sixty Sails managed to attract a field of five.....with a 115lbs highweight.

What would "graded stakes placed versus males" do for the value of a female? If I had a decent one, I'd take a shot in here.

Weren't there six last year? Three Hour Nap, Summer Book, Courthouse, ________, Evening Attire, and Colita?

I can't think of who the other horse is though...maybe I'm just making that sixth horse up.

Can I enter the race to take the 5th place $$?? It may take me 10 minutes to get around the track, but it'll be worth it. :)

What do they do with that money?

Well, like I say during football season (minus the s)...

Geaux Saint!!!

Nkosi Reigns, I needed him 3rd for a nice trifecta for $5, as usually
he ran fourth

Yep, that's it. And I needed Courthouse to run second to hit a BIG tri.

I keyed him in second with ALL on both sides of him. Then stupid Summer Book edged him out late for the place.

Summer Book... oh, the memories.

Such a joke, I was going to unload on a DD but I can't even do that because they can't put them next to each other. Can't wait until Arlington just buys them and takes Illinois completely over. Would be so much better.

Yep, you got me there -- Florida was definitely NOT the first time that horse screwed me. Though at least in Florida I had intentionally put some money on him -- the wrong money, but money still :)

My mistake. Six horses. I wonder how they found a starting gate big enough to fit that many runners.

I didn't intend it to be a smartass comment, but ho-hum anyway.

Nothing more than being stakes placed.

It would be a much more interesting race if the 2 and 3 scratched

you might be able to make some money here actually.

Lets say you start with $300 and put it to win on SNS, who I consider a much better horse then Master Command. I think the ML has MC right as Chicago Pletcher steam will have him 3/5 or 4/5. You will probably get 6/5 on SNS.

SNS wins and you get back $660. You take that $660 and put $300 WP on Rolling Sea, who is a MORTAL LOCK in that race. MORTAL. Pletcher filly is along for the ride and while quite possibly lone speed, I am guessing that ET on the far outside will get trigger happy like he always does. 3/1 is ludicrous on this horse as the Illinois faithful will pound her so I am guessing more like 2/1, possibly favored.

You also play Rolling Sea singled in the end on a $10 pick three ticket starting in race 6

6: 4,5,6
7: 3,8 (8 is a lock here also but just in case (Hazelton horses always get a race and then lock and load 2nd out, especially with 3 year old MSW's, he is lethal with 2 year old First MSW))
8: 3

So it looks like this

$300 SNS = $660 back
$10 Pick 3
$300 WP Rolling Sea = $1100 + whatever the pick three is paying times 10

All is pre-TG's, but I know Rolling Sea's sheet well along with SNS and both will be solid plays IMO.

NICE PICK;)

Where is Tufflesburg when you need him.

Isnt the Saint still elgible for nw of 3?

If Rolling Sea was a mortal lock there would be no reason to bet to place. . .

True, but it is racing, and I don't want leave broke becuase I get nosed because of a ride or stumble. Looking at the TG's, I kinda of like Borel's horse a little.

With Premium Tap no longer racing in the US, Master Command is probably the only horse that can run with Invasor, unless Curlin or one of the 3yr olds grows up real quick. I think Master Command wins pretty easily here.

Do you think Master Command has faced/beated a horse like SNS who runs good figs. All his wins have been on easy leads. Not saying they weren't impressive, but this horse likes to hang sometimes. I have to think about the competition for Invasor, that is a great question, gonna waste the rest of the afternoon thinking about it

But who has SNS beaten? Those horses at LRL?

I take it you didn't notice what happened at Oaklawn the other weekend?

Look at Master Command's PPs - he only runs well when the first half is in 47 sec or more. Anybody goes faster than that and he wilts at the end. That's why he stays in the minor leagues.

There is absolutely NO WAY that Pino should let MC get the rail in this race, if Pino is smart, he will be able to ride the rail home.

If SNS keeps the rail, he will win, if he lets MC get it, he will win.

Agree, but you can say that about Master Command also

I try to stick up for Midwestern racing but this is downright embarrassing. They get 2 horses and all they can dig up is an over the hill Courthouse and a Bruggemann move-up job.

BTW, if you don't know who Bruggemann is, he's becoming one of the top move-up artists in the Midwest. But even he can't move Le Jester up enough to contend here.

It is sad, to be sure.

I'm the world's biggest Courthouse apologist, but the fact that he's going to pick up at least a 4th place check in a GIII race given his current form is appalling.

At least last year he came into the race better than this year. I guess the connections are afraid to lose him, because he's more than fast enough to contend in higher priced claiming races, yet they keep throwing him in against optional claimers. I don't see how his picking up checks for running 4th or so in races like that benefits them more than dropping him in for a decent tag and letting him be put up for sale with a chance to take the lion's share of the purse.

Oh wait, I do see it. They can keep him and run him in guaranteed check spots in GIII races. Nevermind.

Real interesting about Bruggemann JJP, it seems to happen more at Hawthorne with him then Arlington.

I stopped by Arlington tonight and the Poly looks amazing, pretty f'n cool if you ask me

BOATLOADS of cash to be made at Arlington. BOATLOADS

We might see a half way decent FULL FIELD of 12 dirt race in Chicago for the first time EVER

Courthouse makes 10k (probably more with distributation of 5th place going somewhere) just for running in this race, he could gallop around, hell, they win another 23k if they can beat a rat in Le Jester, a great opportunity for free money, just can't fall off

I may head over there today and I'll take a look. I liked the old track; very predictable. Rail was dead 95% of the time and the 3 wide stalkers won almost everything. It was one of the few regular dirt tracks where you could close.