Hambo Day Strategy and Picks

[CyberChamp]

Hambo Day is here...which means big pools, ridiculous speed, crazy outcomes, and nice payouts.

Chance of storms tomorrow could hurt the speed.

If I learned anything from past Hambo days, it's that heavy chalks can lose and make your head scratch.  Trip handicapping is more important than ever because the speed holds longer than it normally would. Deep closers often have no shot.  Keep that in mind when drawing up your pick 4's and 5's.  Since they're only 50 cents, you can afford to spread a little on some longshots.

Here's a quick rundown of who I like:

Race 1 - CLASSIC MARTINE has a nice post advantage.  If speed holds, I wouldn't be surprised if NF HAPPENSTANCE hits the board again.

Race 2 - Tough race.  EQUULEUS drew poorly.  Brett has been aggressive with WAKE UP PETER, worth a shot.

Race 3 - Yannick gave action with GETTINGREADYTOROLL last week.  Wins right back.  ACT NOW is the obvious contender.

Race 4 - DOO WOP HANOVER was overmatched in the Pace.  Fits better here.  BEAT THE DRUM is worth a long look.

Race 5 - SWEET LOU is beatable here, will have to work out a trip.  Is speed holds, expect BETTOR's EDGE to go a long way today.  GOLDEN RECEIVER will last long on the front as well.

Race 6 - MISSION BRIEF can only beat herself.  JOLENE JOLENE looks like she can trot with the fav.

Race 7 - GUESS WHO'S BACK and Sears are an appropriate fit.  CENTURION ATM could be another beast for Svanstedt.

Race 8 - AMPED UP HANOVER looks like the best here, but not a gimme. DEJATIERO improved well with DMiller.

Race 9 - LIGHTNING FORCE is my price play here from the second tier and comes off a break.  HILLUSTRIOUS seems to have some issues, but if anybody can figure him out it would be Yannick.

Race 10 - D'ORSAY, the lone mare in here, is razor sharp right now.  CORAGGIOSO had no chance from way back last time, should be a major contender here.

Race 11 - SEBASTIAN K looked short last two times out.  Beware!  ARCHANGEL needs to stay flat.  INTIMIDATE seems to have gotten over the foot issues, but drew poorly.  MARKET SHARE needs to find an early hole to contend.

Race 12 - DESIGNED TO BE has no excuse this time.  VANITY MATTERS is a live longshot in here, drew well.

Race 13 - FATHER PATRICK drew poorly and post 10 has never won the Hambo.  Expecting HARPER BLUE CHIP, TRIXTON, and ROYAL ICE to leave here with NUNCIO and DATSYUK.  They are going to mix it up early and I give the edge to NUNCIO.  RESOLVE might hit the board here with perhaps TRIXTON.  FATHER PATRICK might get roughed up.

Race 14 - DROP THE BALL looks sharp.  ROCKLAMATION and JERSEYLICIOUS have been solid as well.

Race 15 - NATIONAL DEBT gets the nod here, but no lock.  IAM BONASERA deserves much better than 15-1 ML.  Huge contender here.


Good luck!

[CyberChamp]

Another note: On Hambo day, I've seen the early races favor speed and the later races favor closers.  Check the track bias.

[RocknRoll]

Another note: On Hambo day, I've seen the early races favor speed and the later races favor closers.  Check the track bias.

Speed has definitely been really good early on Hambo day. Maybe if the track is off this will change.

I know Mission Brief has been unreal, but don't sleep on Lock Down Lindy. Zeron hasn't yet asked this one to trot, I know he'll have to tomorrow to get near Mission Brief but I look forward to this matchup.

[pezz97]

The rain is gone, track should be pretty good today

[careless hal]

Should be fun to watch this card.  Betting it is another matter.  My strategy bet small-win Big.  Hope whatever anyone decides to do that they come out a winner.
R&R I agree that Mission Brief will be challenged.  Think there is a decent chance MB  XXXX Now watch her win by 10

Champ great observations as usual. 

[Mags]

my likes for Hambo day..looking to build for Balmorals card tonight

Race 1 - #3 Classic Maritine
Race 3 - #3 Gettingreadytoroll
Race 5 - #6 Bettors edge
Race 6 - #5 Mission Brief/#3 Lock Down Lindy
Race 7 - #1 Centurion ATM
Race 9 - #5 Outburst / #8 Auspicious Hanover
Race 10 - #11 Coraggioso
Race 12 - #1 Design To Be
Race 13 - #7 Trixton
Race 15 - #1 National Debt

good luck all

[burton]

Race 2 - a race without tons of speed and a favorite (Odds On Equuleus) who is coming from last. I'm going with Heston Blue Chip. Not exactly a mile track horse but he has speed for position and can get through late if he's sitting 2nd or even 3rd. He'll have a big jump on Odds On.  7W6/3/9

Race 7 - Centurion ATM is just faster than the rest here. Svanstedt is very high on this horse and says he will be leaving hard. That's good enough for me. My best bet. 1W2/5/7
Pick Four (1-1/4-4/5/11/12-2/6/8/11)

Race 12 - Designed to Be finally gets some room on the racetrack and wins this. She hasn't been able to show her best yet and Shake It Cerry has not been pushed hard and challenged. 1W11/8/4
Pick Four (1-7/10-2-4/6/7)

Race 14 - Drop The Ball has a huge brush that usually has to be perfectly timed. Last week she went to the top and was challenged throughout the mile and she won. That's a big change for her. She is very brave now and will win here with any kind of a trip. Remember Anndrovette has a miserable record at the Meadowlands. 1W5/1/3

Good luck to all!!!!
 

 
 
 

[Yeah Baby]

The rain is gone, track should be pretty good today

I suggest handicapping based on a sloppy track due to this comment....       

[CyberChamp]

R1 P5

137/3689/23/1249/7
37/3689/23/129/16

[careless hal]

"deep purple"  wins 4th race at 90-1. Sure LVGD had it!   

[pezz97]

I suggest handicapping based on a sloppy track due to this comment....       

[pezz97]

Late Pick 4's


1,4,7,8,11 x 10 x 1,2,3,6,7 x 2,4,6,7,10


1,4,8,11 x 5,7,x 1,2,3,6,7 x 4,7

[RocknRoll]

I'm still looking for the strategy that said to bet Verlin Yoder....

[The Skipper]

I'm still looking for the strategy that said to bet Verlin Yoder....

Please tell me you hit that P-4 & P-5

[CyberChamp]

Hambo Day Recap

1.   Sears needs to go back to Yonkers.  He drives like Zeron.
2.   Only 2 of the 15 winners were positioned worse than 4th at the first quarter call.
3.   I had this really f-ed up premonition on Friday night that Sweet Rock was going to win.  Didn’t put a single dime on him.
4.   Sweet Lou is a beast.  Gets my vote for Horse of the Year.  Pierce thinks he can go 1:45.
5.   Dd’s Hitman was 20-1 ML and opened up as the 2-1 favorite.  Somebody knew something.
6.   Yoder: Imagine how fast that horse would’ve gone with a driver half the size.
7.   These race times are ridiculous.  I think they’re juicing the track.  They’d lose 3 seconds at Balmoral.
8.   No horse have ever won the Hambo from the 10 hole.  LOL!
9.   Trixton never saw the rail.
10.   The camera views on CBS were horrible.  Let’s just zoom in on the lead horse down the stretch as if there were no other horses in the race.  Doesn’t seem like a horse race anymore.