The Spotlight turns back on and shines in West Virginia where the focus is on a $4,000 claiming race open to 4 year olds and up.\u00a0 This is a local bred race which will be run on the dirt track going a seven furlong distance.<\/p>\n
1\u00a0 Clever For Love\u00a0 6\/1-Transfers back to dirt for first time in nearly two years.\u00a0 2017 season was a checkered season hitting the board in four of eight starts with one win all at mile distance.\u00a0 2018 debut race was poor, finishing last when running 7.5f.\u00a0 Trims distance back a hair to 7f in this one and this home time runner hopes the surface switch will create a spark.<\/p>\n
2\u00a0 Jesse White\u00a0 4\/1-Raced over West Virginia oval four times last year with a win and a third.\u00a0 Three of these races were in allowance and the win came in the low end claiming category.\u00a0 2017 was a lukewarm season where he was able to earn a paycheck each start with seven of nine starts resulting in third to fifth place finishes.\u00a0 Raced allowance last three outings and returns to cheaper claim class which should provide a nice benefit.<\/p>\n
3\u00a0 Kris’s Image\u00a0 78\/1-Will give the dirt surface another try.\u00a0 She ran twice in ’17 on dirt with a pair of 68 speeds.\u00a0 Speed is a factor here and this is lower than the competition, the main reason for the high odds.\u00a0\u00a0 Also working against her is she’s taking on a field loaded with boys.\u00a0 Looks like a difficult spot this time out.<\/p>\n
4\u00a0 Humo Negro\u00a0 5\/2 -Has generated 100 and up speeds in three of last five races, two coming at distances of 7.5 furlongs, a distance that tends to have inflated speeds.\u00a0\u00a0 He won on Christmas day in a $12.5k claiming race and bumped up to the allowance group, finishing fifth.\u00a0 He drops back to claiming where he has won 5 of 7 races at this level, a much better fit<\/p>\n
5\u00a0 Green Bay Week\u00a0 31\/1-Racing three times in January has taken a toll on this runner.\u00a0 Speed numbers have descended from 86 to 66 in his most recent outing.\u00a0\u00a0 He has one win this year in four starts which came in a HOT race which was half filled with CPU runners.\u00a0\u00a0 While he has had success at this track, winning two of three starts (both wins in Hot races, a third in claiming), his form is currently questionable.<\/p>\n
6\u00a0 Garden State Pkwy 3\/2-Speeds of 91 through 108 have been scored since the start of 2017 and the bettors seem to like this as this one goes to the gate as the favorite.\u00a0 He has had issues in hitting the board as he has made 12 starts since the beginning of 2017 and has won twice with a third.\u00a0\u00a0 One of the wins came at the beginning of December in a similar $4k claiming race.\u00a0 He returns to this level with hopes of picking up an easy win.<\/p>\n
7\u00a0 Wolf Peak\u00a0 21\/1-You have to go back to the end of 2016 to find the last time this guy has hit the board.\u00a0\u00a0 Things have been really tough for this horse who hasn’t showed much spark or enthusiasm in any of his starts of late.\u00a0 Speeds are generally in the 80-range and he just seems to be a lazy runner on the track.\u00a0 Not sure what it will take to liven him up but he is in need of something.<\/p>\n
8\u00a0 Jump Over Chachin\u00a0 45\/1-Has raced in claiming level twice with a third that came in October.\u00a0 Rejoins this class after a pair of failed efforts in starter allowance.\u00a0 This time he drops to the lowest claim level he’s competed in and he’s largely raced with local breds.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The lower claim ranks look to be the right place for him but a mile distance is where his best speeds have been earned.<\/p>\n
9\u00a0 Umpteen Postino\u00a0 27\/2-This runner likes to go out to the lead and will\u00a0 most likely make a bid to get there.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He’s looking for a better spot and has dropped from $20k in his last start to this $4k tag.\u00a0 86 speed in his 2018 debut race matched his high for 2017.\u00a0 He needs to pump -that up to be a contender here.<\/p>\n
10\u00a0 Cubpan\u00a0 10\/1-Another one who likes the lead and I think she may get it.\u00a0\u00a0 This lady is pretty demanding when it comes to leading the races in the early stages and makes it tough on her foes to get by her.\u00a0\u00a0 She moves to claimers after spending a good chunk of time in the allowance\/starter allowance levels.\u00a0\u00a0 She’ll take on the boys for the first time and that could make things a bit tougher.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Garden State Pkwy is my top pick but this gelding doesn’t have as strong of an edge as the odds may show.<\/p>\n
Humo Negro I feel has the best shot to take the favorite down and is not out of the picture.<\/p>\n
Cubpan has some front speed and has hit 90-speed before, it may not be enough to beat this bunch but maybe she can last long enough to snag something.<\/p>\n
Humo Negro<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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