The 2023 George Morton Levy (aka Borgata) Open FFA Pacing Series

[HornbyDuke]

How about fun at the beach there. Stratton had the 9 yr old out from before the half to the wire. Thats a long way parked for a nine yr old with a pretty nice horse on the inside. Remarkable endurance.

Gillis horses at times can run HUGE. If everything was equal, id shade fun at the beach in the final thinking the old guy had been first over in 2 huge miles and might have a partially empty tank but maybe the tank will be replenished somehow lol.

[HornbyDuke]

Lol. Covered bridge (another gillis trainee) took more $ than expected there and ran a big race too. Prolly a lot of hard work that went into win; and the lazy trainers got what they deserved!

[GlenMidby]

With Backstreet Shadow (equaling the track record in 1:49.3), Funatthebeach N (1:50.1) and now the clearly well meant Covered Bridge (1:50.2) all demonstrating the ability to overpower legit rivals in 54 second back half's, if it wasn't perfectly clear before, it IS now.  This series is WIDE-OPEN!   As I said earlier, for my money, this FFA Pacing series continues to be the best Harness Racing has to offer.

[Here they come]

Alexander must be using something.  Backstreet Shadow was never this good when Burkes had him. Looks like a different horse at 9 yrs old.

[HornbyDuke]

Looking forward to final. Not a huge 1/2 mile fan but will be a fun win betting race. All of backstreets races in series have been sharp so i guess he'll be favorite but some nice hardknockers in there. Ill have to get at least 5-1 on my bet so i wont know where my $ going till draw.

[Bernie Madoff]

Looking forward to final. Not a huge 1/2 mile fan but will be a fun win betting race. All of backstreets races in series have been sharp so i guess he'll be favorite but some nice hardknockers in there. Ill have to get at least 5-1 on my bet so i wont know where my $ going till draw.

I love hard knockers.

[Mailbox Money]

The final will be a zoom fest. Lochivar will be toast if he draws outside!

[Bernie Madoff]

The final will be a zoom fest. Lochivar will be toast if he draws outside!

I'm pretty sure most horses will not relish an outside post. Incredibly redundant observation.

[Mailbox Money]

Looking forward to final. Not a huge 1/2 mile fan but will be a fun win betting race. All of backstreets races in series have been sharp so i guess he'll be favorite but some nice hardknockers in there. Ill have to get at least 5-1 on my bet so i wont know where my $ going till draw.

This game has turned into a chemistry contest ! Horses no longer digress after 4 or 5. It's not an extra mile a day jogging or training variations, it a tube or a poke. Quarantine the field for a couple days and watch what happens!

[GlenMidby]

The final will be a zoom fest. Lochivar will be toast if he draws outside!

I beg to differ; sort of.  While generally speaking, in most scenarios drawing the 7 or 8 hole at YR is fatal.  But in a lucrative final like the Borgata, you are all but certain to see speed (lots of it) early and often, movement and action throughout which generally sets up nicely for those in the outer flow. 

Look no further than last years final (26.3-53.4-121.4-150.1) where Leonidas came from far back to be first up (3 deep on the backside) towing the eventual winner Funatthebeach into the race and to the win.  Meanwhile, perennial over-bet money burner Tattoo Artist (Dunn), who drew the rail, sat in, and was lucky to hang on for 4th money. 

To watch last year's final, go to the replay link on the YR website here:  https://empirecitycasino.mgmresorts.com/en/racing/watch-races-online.html

Reset the replay calendar to April 2022; it was race 8 on Monday April 25, 2022.  It was a great horse race. 

[The Thorn]

Final leg tonight.  Here's the points info for the final.  First division Lochinvar Art is in as long as he is not scratched, no one else has a chance. Second division has the top four points earners Idealsomemagic, Jimmy Freight, Backstreet Shadow and Funonthebeach. They are all in no matter what and just have to race to stay tight tonight. Jimmy Freight will probably go off odds on as he got the rail. The third division has all the drama. Its a bit complicated but basically its like this. Hellabaloo is in unless he is scratched. The final two spots depend on the following.  Hemsworth and None Bettor have to win to get in, no other way for them. If Tattoo Artist wins he's in, if he comes in 2nd he can still get in depending where Leonidas and Covered Bridge finish. If Leonidas beats Covered Bridge or finishes 1st or 2nd he's in. If Covered Bridge finishes 1st or 2nd he's in, but I wonder if Ford and Gillis would rather have him in the Consolation since he's their #2 horse,  as Alexander seems to have done by not entering American Courage tonight. He had enough points to get in with a good finish tonight.

[Senator Blutarsky]

This Is The Plan, Race 3, #6.  Sticking with him.  Could of left last week and was super charged but Gingras pulled him back and decided against.  Last year running with the likes of Bulldog, and TITP had more than his share of bad racing luck and an off drive at times then.  Super talented, one of the fastest horses ever, maybe needs the mile track to fully extend to his potential, but I'm sticking with him.  Send him Yannick!    

[Harness racer]

Can definitely line up with Lochinvar Art and sprint home for the win. I doubt they will over exert LA this week with a spot in the final locked up.  TITP could win tonight.  I'd need 5-1 or better to try him.

[Senator Blutarsky]

Can definitely line up with Lochinvar Art and sprint home for the win. I doubt they will over exert LA this week with a spot in the final locked up.  TITP could win tonight.  I'd need 5-1 or better to try him.

Who says the 1 has to be there at all.  Best strategy for the 1 zing out there in 12 seconds for the first 1/8 and secure a top or pocket position in 28 for the first quarter.  The way I see the race, TITH plan leaves, Lochinvar Art A ends up sitting an open pocket because he punched his final ticket into the final, no enthusiasm to chase TITH plan who wins in 150 3/5 or 4/5 w2w, and 2,3,4,5 flying for the rest.  Lochinvar Art A could still run a 151 and change mile and finish 6th.

Is their money to be made here?  6/2345, I think so.    

[The Thorn]

This is the Plan is a logical choice and I think he will be 2nd favorite. 

Art will take too much money and he is not really even a wicked gate speed horse and only needs to show up to be in the final. 

All of his best performances down under before his leg injuries were 1st over.  He would beat up on weaker with front running scores but in most of the Grade 1s he did not have the gate speed of a lot of his competitors and would win 1st over.  He even won a 1 mile and 5/8th grade one race parked the entire trip with more than the last mile in the deathseat and he still drew away late.

If anybody's interested here is a link to all of Lochinvar Arts races down under

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/horse-search/?horseId=804572