Hawthorne Racecourse (3/11/11)
Contact: Jim Miller
(708) 780-3700
Fan Friendly Friday at Hawthorne
It looks like spring is trying very hard to arrive! We have sunny skies, temperatures in the 40s and a fast track for a very good nine-race card. This is a card that has two maiden allowance races along with a good pair of state-bred allowance events and there are some bucks to be made, including a Pick 6 with a carryover over $4,000.
Looking back at Wednesday, we got off to a very scary start to the day as jockey Eddie Perez and Kitty Covenant were dropped in the opener. Kitty Covenant ran on and was caught by the outriders, and after being shaken up a bit, Perez walked off under his own power. Perez didn’t call it a day at that point, instead he guided a pair of winners on the card in Officer Philly and Challenge Me to bring him within one win of 2,000 on his career. Perez won’t have a shot to get to 2,000 until next Wednesday though as he serves a three day suspension for an incident where Take Manhattan ducked out late in the stretch and impeded another horse last week.
Aside from the Eddie Perez double, jockey Jozbin Santana also carried on his hot riding ways as he had a double on the card. The two riders on the current hot streaks, Santana and Florent Geroux, are also the top two in the standings. Santana currently leads with 14 winners on the meet, followed by Geroux and Tanner Riggs with 12 apiece and Tim Thornton with 11. Trainer Joel Berndt currently stands atop the trainer standings with 9 wins on the meet, followed by Manny Perez and Jimmy DiVito, with 6 wins apiece.
Today we will be having another online chat during the racing card on HorseplayerNow.com. Joe Kristufek and myself will be covering the entire Hawthorne card, providing selections and information on today’s races. The chat opens at 1:15 and will go throughout the day.
Changes
Main Track – Fast
Race 1
Scratch #7 – Neverrguwithrichie
Race 8
Scratch #3 – Dancing Euro
Race 9
Scratch #2b – A Rogue Snuck In
Survivor Selections of the Day
Total Survivor Entrants: 1,780
Eliminated Wednesday: 18
Total Remaining: 106
My Survivor selection comes in the 7th race on the card as I like the chances of #2 – Kitty City. The Ness trained runners have now been here for three weeks and are getting some works and races under their belts. In her last start, Kitty City drew in from the also eligible list, thus drawing the outside post. Despite being a bit light on fitness, she ran a huge race that day. She is more fit now and draws much better. She should be very tough today.
Jim’s Survivor Selection: Race 7 - #2 – Kitty City
Inez’ Survivor Selection: Race 1 - #1 – East Coaster
Hawthorne Race Course is in its 102nd year of racing under Carey family ownership. Hawthorne races Friday and Saturday in February, beginning February 11. In March and April, live racing will take place every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through the end of April. First post daily is 1:30 pm. For more information on racing at Hawthorne, visit our website at www.Hawthorneracecourse.com.
