Elmo

[Elgin]

Elmo is eligible to the Graduate, the eliminations for which go next week. Should he find a niche below that level this year, or keep trying the FFA stakes?

Last night he was third behind Aracache and Ideal Choice in a preferred pace at Woodbine. No disgrace in that because he had the outside post and Zeron took to the rail, so Elmo was last behind a single file field at an easy :55.3 half. He passed horses in the stretch to get third.

However, he

[Headpole Dave]

He's a lot like Major Hottie. Both really nice horses but just not FFA winners. He will get checks and make good money but he's not quite good enough to beat the bear cats. If the owners are happy with a horse making over 7000 bucks a start (and why wouldn't you be?) than is there much point moving him?

[pezz97]

He's a lot like Major Hottie. Both really nice horses but just not FFA winners. He will get checks and make good money but he's not quite good enough to beat the bear cats. If the owners are happy with a horse making over 7000 bucks a start (and why wouldn't you be?) than is there much point moving him?

  and with Scott driving him ( I am not a fan, I think he stinks) the horse has taken a step back this year.

[careless hal]

Put him in the Burke's barn and he'd be a true FFaller in no time.

[pezz97]

Put him in the Burke's barn and he'd be a true FFaller in no time.

You are probably right.

[Headpole Dave]

They've got better oats? 

[pezz97]

They've got better oats? 

10 times the trainer than Crone!

[Headpole Dave]

That's a good point. Have to agree about Zeron as well. He's amazing coming from off the pace, but he's not nearly aggressive enough many times. This may be because the horse was roughed up a couple times last year as well though, I'm not sure.

[tonyb147]

Last night he was third behind Aracache and Ideal Choice in a preferred pace at Woodbine. No disgrace in that because he had the outside post and Zeron took to the rail, so Elmo was last behind a single file field at an easy :55.3 half. He passed horses in the stretch to get third.

Exactly, Elmo was given no chance sitting 7th (last) single file to those fractions with the "best" two horses in the race sitting 1-2.

Elmo won all those races with aggressive driving, being handled like he was the best horse in the race (and usually was). That seems to have changed completely - now he's being handled very conservatively. I don't think it's just to cash a check but rather they may still be working him into top shape. That may explain why JJ drove Elmo in his first start this year then Zeron was put up. I'd love to know why the driver change.

Thanks for keeping the Elmo thread alive - love to see how his season develops.

[Elgin]

Saturday night Jamieson was the only one to leave, with Ideal Choice from the rail, but Zeron had Elmo three lengths off the gate when it opened so he was in no position to take advantage of that.

As others have pointed out this horse does best when you give him his head out of the gate, so a predetermined strategy to take back just works against him.

[Just Saying]

As others have pointed out this horse does best when you give him his head out of the gate, so a predetermined strategy to take back just works against him.

I had a nice little claiming pacer that would sulk like hell if you held him off the gate. If you let him leave when the gate closed, he'd come right back to you and go in a hole or on to the front... whichever you wanted. But keep him off the gate and he'd fall to last and just pout for a mile. You have to play to their strengths or weaknesses.

[Elgin]

Elmo's connections apparently decided to skip the Graduate. He's in against essentially the same bunch he faced last time, with the addition of Brave Alex Semalu who beat these a couple of times in April. Elmo drew the two this week. They have added 12K to the purse so they're calling it an open.

Put On A Show is also foregoing the Graduate. She faces Laneside Lexus in the F & M open at Woodbine Friday night.

[Headpole Dave]

Maybe the horse just needs to be woken up a bit? Throw Anthony MacDonald, Jody or Luc on him and send him down the road, see if he's good enough to air them out. I don't think he is personally, but it can't hurt to try at some point.

[Just Saying]

Maybe the horse just needs to be woken up a bit? Throw Anthony MacDonald, Jody or Luc on him and send him down the road, see if he's good enough to air them out. I don't think he is personally, but it can't hurt to try at some point.

Andy Miller will let you know if you've got one that can take air... even if you tell him not to.
 

[Elgin]

Jamieson, who was second to Golden Receiver with Elmo in the first leg of the Spring Pacing Championship in late March, and who won an open with him last summer, charging out of the gate on both occasions, drives him Saturday night.