Hambo/Hambo Oak elims...

[Harness racer]

I know they are only elims and I don't plan on wagering on them; but what your thoughts on the divisions.  I think SIG SAUER is getting no respect!  He is not the 5th best horse in that field.  I think TCI is getting too much respect.  He could easily be 3rd or worse in that group.

[SeattleSlew]

The one I will be watching like a hawk is Secret Agent Man.  He seems to be moving in a good direction and the Millers have been to this dance and had some success (although no wins yet!).  Clearly the "big 3" have questions to answer and then, as you noted Sig Sauer, Dame Good Time and the Ake contingent are also ones to observe.

[Jctoronto]

Strictly gambling side, highlight of big Elim nights in NJ, Indy or Toronto =
One good 'beat the bridgejumper' chance per night

You can't go wrong giving it a show or place pool shot
on two or three horses .vs the 'monster'. At worst lose a little bit.

[The Doctor]

Strictly gambling side, highlight of big Elim nights in NJ, Indy or Toronto =
One good 'beat the bridgejumper' chance per night

You can't go wrong giving it a show or place pool shot
on two or three horses .vs the 'monster'. At worst lose a little bit.

Don't bet one or two, bet rest of field.

[Papillon]

Sig Sauer is certainly one to watch

didnt try in his elim

Daley will have him at his best on Saturday

not sure if that will be good enough-but the horse will be primed

[PineHurstPacer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxXC5Ks4nmY

[The Thorn]

Elista and Karl both drew the rail.  Trotters from the rail have a hard enough time. They need to change the rules to draws for 2 to 6

[Ramone]

Elista and Karl both drew the rail.  Trotters from the rail have a hard enough time. They need to change the rules to draws for 2 to 6

To quote Ray Schnittker "I'll take the rail anytime" when talking about Dewey. Unfortunately people repeat things enough that they become accepted truths when they are not.
Here are Woodbine Mohawk Park trot stats.

Trot
              1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9   10   11
              -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   --   --
Starts      434  434  434  434  434  431  403  338  231  133    0
Wins         54   41   42   46   82   75   49   31   13    1    0
Win%       12.4  9.4  9.7 10.6 18.9 17.4 12.2  9.2  5.6  0.8  0.0

The Meadowlands post stats are not broken out by gait unfortunately but posts 1 through 4 are almost equal.
10.9  10.0  11.8  11.4

[Equus Caballus]

Elista and Karl both drew the rail.  Trotters from the rail have a hard enough time. They need to change the rules to draws for 2 to 6

I’ve been saying this for many years now. Ready for moni won his elim, Drew the rail, and was 1st over in the final. Arguably, he was a winner in the final from a better post.

I’ve proposed the “stealing post” method. Where the race would be drawn as normal, and the elim winners pick a post to “steal” from another entrant and swap with them if they so choose. Fastest elim winner or random elim winner chooses last as it would be last movers advantage.

[The Thorn]

The Goodtimes in Canada does do the 2 - 6 draw.  I'd like to see that happen in other races too. 

By the way AI sucks about questions like this.  I had to correct Bing four times when they gave me bad information about this question.

[MIKE CAMPBELL]

Post positions should be picked by owner/trainer. Fastest elim winner picks first..Fastest 2nd place elim picks third..Fastest 3rd place elim picks 5th and so on. It might actually make the eliminations more competitive too.

[Frankie T]

Post positions should be picked by owner/trainer. Fastest elim winner picks first..Fastest 2nd place elim picks third..Fastest 3rd place elim picks 5th and so on. It might actually make the eliminations more competitive too.

How about the elimination winners pick, then the second place finishers pick, then the third place finishers pick and so on?

[Papillon]

the two elim winners should get posts 5 and 6

the others should be an open draw

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Drawing the rail somewhat forces your hand to some extent. At least that's what many top drivers have said. Could it be an advantage? I guess if you are run and gun, want the top, and plan on going from gate to wire.

I think Ray's comment was probably based upon him wanting to be on top (and perhaps his driving style in general).

[The Thorn]

One of the problems with the rail is that some trotters just can't handle it.  Look at R Melina for example.  She drew it twice recently and look what happened.  xxx both times.  No problem when she drew outside the next few starts and now she is in the final.  Lucky for her she didn't draw the rail, they must have been praying at the draw and screaming for joy when Elista drew it.