Catskill Steve's Picks

Thursday, June 17, 2021

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE.

I DEDICATE TODAY’S COLUMN TO MY DAD.

Just a note about my Dad who got me interested in the sport of harness racing back in the 60’s. It was “POP” who drove me to Yonkers and Roosevelt before I could drive myself. He was an amazing man in his prime, a great father his entire life and an avid harness fan for as long as he could be, before health problems, vision problems and old age took their toll. We called him “The Professor” at the track because he had as many systems as horses that were racing on the nights we went to the track. His favorite driver of all-time came along when The Meadowlands opened in 1976. Without a doubt it was the late Lew Williams. “POP” couldn’t get to the window fast enough if Sweet Lew had a pacer or trotter coming up in the next race. He didn’t need to handicap the race because he knew Lew would try his best to find his way to the winner’s circle. “POP’S” all-time favorite horse was Whata Baron who he loved to watch race and we made the trek almost every Saturday when this one was in to go. Although “POP” liked all of the man in blue and gold silks’ horses, others he particularly enjoyed watching were Plaza Bret and Jilley. Honorable mention on “POP’S” list of all time drivers were George Sholty and, again at The Meadowlands, Ted Wing. Rivaltime and Skip By Night handled by these two great horsemen of yesteryear drew plenty of “POP’S” attention. A reinsman from many years ago that for whatever reason “POP” had a fondness for was Ted Dennis. His regular overnighter Spike Ed brought us out to the half-milers many a night in those better years of long ago.

The following is an excerpt from an article I did for Monticello Raceway a few years back in June when the all-time Mighty M legends returned for a day at the races. Hope you enjoy it and maybe some of you can relate to it.

In the 60’s, while other kids my age were busy with school events, movies and dances I was getting sneaked in to Monticello Raceway by my late brother, an avid harness racing fan for his short life (died in 1981 at age 39). When I did become old enough to get the parental ok, I can still remember the rides to Yonkers and Roosevelt sitting in the back seat of my father’s 1963 and later 1971 Chevy station wagon studying the old “Doc Robbins” Tomorrow’s Trots (no computers in those days). I kept busy filling in the No Driver slots with names out of the New York Post’s graded ratings by Jerry DeNonno. My brother occupied the front seat smoking his Marlboros with his own Tomorrow’s Trots figuring out last quarters for every horse on the 9-race program. In those days, you did all the mathematics. “POP”, one of the first proponents of “road rage”, especially if he and his boys had a possibility of missing the Daily Double (only 1 offered in those days), took his spot behind the wheel. You kept your eyes glued to the Tomorrow’s Trots as “POP” weaved in and out of traffic over the George Washington Bridge, Major Deegan or Long Island Expressway. If you did happen to look up you would probably have seen your life flash in front of you. When it was impossible to move, and there were many occasions like that, “POP” would always have a story to tell us about Hugh Bell, Eddie Cobb, Del Insko, Benny “The Whip” Webster, Bill Myer, Earle Avery or any of the other popular drivers back in the 50’s and early 60’s and some of the owners Pop knew that they would drive for. Once the traffic started moving again it was back to our programs waiting to catch the aroma of the Stella D’Oro factory on those summer nights to Yonkers. That was like a two-minute warning and you had better have your doubles scoped out.

My father passed away in 2007 but I will always remember him for as long as I live. He was instrumental to me in those days before The Meadowlands, before Atlantic City, before the lottery and before OTB, when all the betting action was live and right in front of you, the potato kinishes or the incredibly hot pizza between the 8th and 9th Races downstairs at Yonkers waiting for a youthful Howard Oil to give you his predicted call of the get even race, may be long gone but NEVER forgotten. On every Father’s Day I include “POP” in my column and wish him up above and all the other dad’s (especially the one’s who took their sons out to enjoy an evening of harness racing) reading my article a Happy Father’s Day.

THANKS “POP”

Checking up on Catskill Steve (Wednesday)

7 OUT OF 8 LISTED WINNERS INCLUDING $23.80 NUMBER. – 6 EXACTAS LISTED (THE BEST A $117.50 TICKET), 4 TRIFECTAS LISTED ALONG WITH 3 PICK THREES, 2 DDS AND A SMALL SUPERFECTA.

Preferred Play Of The Day – TREVOR ONE (10TH RACE)
Long Shot Play Of The Day – MOXLEY (1ST RACE)

Race 1

Horse Number: 4
Horse Name: MOXLEY*
Odds: 9-2

Horse Number: 2
Horse Name: MISTER TRUTH
Odds: 3-1

Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: DONAU
Odds: 5-2

Horse Number: 7
Horse Name: OK GALAHAD
Odds: 4-1

Race 1 Comments: MOXLEY was overmatched in blistering Pocono miles in last two and Yonkers before that. Returns to The Catskills where he finished second at this level back in May after he was hard used setting sizzling fractions. Could be the value play to start the card for strong barn that is having best year in a while.

Race 2

Horse Number: 8
Horse Name: BULLVILLE KYLE
Odds: 5-2

Horse Number: 3
Horse Name: MAJOR JESSE
Odds: 7-2

Horse Number: 7
Horse Name: AVOGADRO HANOVER
Odds: 4-1

Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: APP HANOVER
Odds: 3-1

Race 2 Comments: BULLVILLE KYLE didn’t fade badly despite racing wide through :57.4 final half. Draws 8-hole but takes sharp drop and may prove better than these.

Race 3

Horse Number: 2
Horse Name: CAPTAIN NEMO
Odds: 8-5

Horse Number: 3
Horse Name: CATIE FAYE HANOVER
Odds: 9-2

Horse Number: 8
Horse Name: KJ CHICO
Odds: 8-1

Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: HOT ROD JOEY BIRD
Odds: 3-1

Race 4

Horse Number: 2
Horse Name: ROCK N ROLL LEGACY
Odds: 9-2

Horse Number: 4
Horse Name: IDEAL ROWAN
Odds: 5-2

Horse Number: 8
Horse Name: KOLT POWER
Odds: 7-2

Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: CRUISING CHARLIE
Odds: 3-1

Race 4 Comments: ROCK N ROLL LEGACY was a much improved second behind wakeup winner in first try for new barn. Finds a good spot and looks worth another shot.

Race 5

Horse Number: 3
Horse Name: R T LANGE
Odds: 7-2

Horse Number: 4
Horse Name: NEEDLES AND PINS
Odds: 9-2

Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: CERISIER
Odds: 5-2

Horse Number: 2
Horse Name: ROAD UNTRAVELED
Odds: 4-1

Race 6

Horse Number: 5
Horse Name: CHANCE TO SEE
Odds: 7-2

Horse Number: 3
Horse Name: GRAVE DANCER
Odds: 3-1

Horse Number: 2
Horse Name: ALL NET
Odds: 5-2

Horse Number: 7
Horse Name: T’S ELECTRIC
Odds: 9-2

Race 7

Horse Number: 4
Horse Name: MY LAST CHANCE
Odds: 4-1

Horse Number: 8
Horse Name: AUDREY ANNA
Odds: 7-2

Horse Number: 6
Horse Name: YS SUNSHINE
Odds: 3-1

Horse Number: 5
Horse Name: HUGH HEFNER N
Odds: 5-2

Race 7 Comments: MY LAST CHANCE drops and has been competitive at this level. Looks like my best guess in a field that’s a woeful 2 for 104 in 2021.