| Bookie Magee's Harness Picks |
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CHESTER DOWNS OPENED THIS WEEK This past week saw Chester Downs in suburban Philadelphia open with many of the best drivers in the country on hand. A familiar name to Chicago is burning up Chesters’ 5/8ths oval, that is Tim Tetrick, who was harness drivers record setter for wins in a year in 2007. If you are in the need to get a little Harness racing fix in the afternoon, you may want to come out to your favorite OTB a little earlier then normal and catch the action from Chester Downs. Race six at Balmoral sees ten pacing the mile in search for their share of a purse of $6,000. This looks to be a pretty wide open contest, with the one, Western Gambler, set to be the post time favorite. Four Starzzzz EC is moving up in class after a couple of impressive wire to wire finishes, just missing once and holding on last week. The ten, Thereplayinoursong, is coming down in class quite a bit and obviously drew poorly, maybe a pretty good price outside. Grouchy Old Man looks to hike and impress for new connections off the claim. $50 to win on the four Art Rite. Art Rite was in much too tough last week, keeps Holland and should be a pretty good price. The lone mare, Bobs Minute Maid, almost got it done last week against the FFA boys. However, two other worthy contenders enter the FFA fray this week, along with mainstays, Coldheartedrevenge and Boo Bug. The party crashers are Booze Cruzin and My Boy David. Booze Cruzin likes to leave and should clear fairly easily from post four, however, look for Coldheartedrevenge to make things difficult in quarters number two and three. This scenario would set up for any of the other contenders, but my instinct and $50 tells me, the three My Boy David gets up in time this week. The ninth race has ten entered but my sole focus is on the four, Fox Valley Gambler. This pacer was red hot earlier in the year in the FFA ranks and looks like he is rounding back into form. This gelding was game as nails last week fending off my race eight selection this week. Looking for Fox Valley Gambler to put together another stretch as earlier in 2008, $50 to win on the four, Fox Valley Gambler. In race twelve we’ll look to make a big score, with ten pacers chasing the gate there is opportunity. Fortune Ho will be heavily favored in this contest and may merit that favoritism, although last weeks driver left to pilot Staffords gelding. NJ’S Super Sport is moving up after pacing some impressive miles for these conditions, does draw nearer the rail, which may be the difference. Thesecolorsdontrun gets some post relief, as does Bolero Artifice both of which should benefit quite a bit and if they pace as they did last week they will be major players here. $1 trifecta box, 2-5-6-7. Don’t forget about next weeks Kentucky Derby, yes the harness guy pushing the Derby. However, it is great fun to experience this two minutes at any of our OTBs. Food and Beverage packages are available at any of our locations, you can get this information at www.illinoisotb.com. Come for the Derby, stick around for the harness action, sounds like a recipe to GET LUCKY…HAVE FUN…and WIN MONEY.
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