Race 1: N/W $3,000 L4 CD, trot, $9,500 purse

Though she is a 3-year-old facing older, Tactical Lori could hold a speed edge over these low-level condition trotters. She was able to get an easy lead in the $100,000 New Jersey Classic consolation in early September and post a 1:54.3 win with sensible-enough fractions. If Todd McCarthy can get her an easy lead-and he might-she could simply roll.

Fashion Ken appears capable of a good race against this bunch given his draw. He went an okay mile on Sept. 23 at Pocono before scratching sick his next start, so he may try for an easy trip here-and that’s certainly feasible given the inside draw. He’s one who could pop up for the exotics as well as Knickknack Hanover. Given her draw against his weak bunch, Steve Smith would be foolish not to launch forward. If placed near the top, she’s fast enough where she can give chase and collect a good chunk of change at likely high odds.

Contenders: 4-3-6

Race 2: Kindergarten Series 2-year-old fillies 4th leg, trot, $20,000 purse

R Dutchess really belongs in the Breeders Crown final. The main reason she instead is here, aside from finishing below the top three, is that she hooked wheels with an off-stride horse to the first turn and had to regain her footing. She’s much better when let loose, which Jody Jamieson should likely do from this spot. He’ll likely just place her on the lead and let her roll; incredibly obvious class here.

Kendra is the next-most logical. She’ll also sit close to the speed and maybe have something to offer, but she seems to need a trip more than R Dutchess does in this race. Maybe she’ll get it, but the reward for being correct here doesn’t seem that grand.

Sonmar Pond showed some life when finishing third at The Red Mile last out and likely will try to muster late speed again. As with most late speed, she’ll fight an uphill climb of which she may or may not prevail while also being a short price. This race has a stark division between the A horses and B horses, so leverage the bankroll accordingly.

Contenders: 4-3-2

Race 3: Kindergarten Series 2-year-old fillies 4th leg, trot, $20,000 purse

The inside draw for Voguish should allow her to sit more prominently than she could in her Breeders Crown elimination, where she finished fifth. She just needs to get away close and have a helmet to track to succeed here. Although, do beware that horses starting from the pylon post have a tendency to get stuck into first-over spots, a position she does not handle well. But with money going on potentially vulnerable favorites like Torrisi and R Charm, Voguish is a viable play here.

My Honor could be an Ake Svanstedt special. That is, Svanstedt could fire her forward and work a great trip; he is terrific with speed. Downside: if Svanstedt takes back with her, tearing the ticket, while not recommended, could be the next step.

Seventh Gen is an interesting one in here given trainer Jeff Gregory has shielded her from stout competition and let a seemingly large fish thrive in the pond. Now she treads to deeper waters and may offer value if the plethora of wins does not attract bettors to a horse who otherwise has not flexed true class to date.

Contenders: 1-6-5

Race 4: Kindergarten Series 2-year-old colts and geldings fourth leg, trot, $20,000 purse

This race possesses a lot of seemingly cheap speed, especially in the morning line favorite Papi’s Rocket, who presumably has to rebound here after having zilch in the tank off reasonable fractions in his Breeders Crown elimination.

Namaste Hanover could have the speed to work into a prominent spot while also holding the necessary punch to overhaul tired rivals. He enters here off a solid tightener losing to 3-year-old Captain Bazinga in his first start since taking a lifetime-best 1:52 mile over this track on Sept. 6. In his second start back, he should have more.

Power Code is probably the best horse in this race, but the outside draw makes his path into the race tough to gauge. Logically, he’d have to leave hard given he has the outermost post, and he can leave hard, but he also was a victim of his own speed in the $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final on Aug. 22 and was empty in his following start in Canada. So is he really going to thrust forward in his first start back in a month? For the best chance to win, he has to, but judging off his qualifier he also appears to maybe need a start to determine his fitness. But even then, with a helmet to follow, he could still overpower this field as he did a New Jersey Sires Stakes preliminary on July 19. So many mental gymnastics for a horse who probably will be no higher than 4-1.

TH Colby is among the cheap speed inside of this race, but maybe he’s built some more stamina over the months since last visiting the winners’ circle off an opportunistic trip in a Pennsylvania Sire Stake. He isn’t worth taking at odds below 6-1 in my humble, expert, opinion.

Contenders: 1-7-3

Race 5: Kindergarten Classic 2-year-old colts and geldings fourth leg, trot, $20,000 purse

Just because the best horse in the race and likely favorite draws the absolute worst post imaginable, the door has opened for Monserrate to maybe sneak through and win.

Inside his Breeders Crown elimination, he flexed speed for seemingly the first time in recent starts; he previously appeared a devout closing type. But drawing on the center of the gate, David Miller has the option to push forward while his main competitor, Onajetplane, will be forced into a rock and a hard place at the start. This tactical edge alone could get him to the winner’s circle. Though, if Andy McCarthy can somehow avoid trouble from post 10 with Onajetplane, then any tactical edge could be futile.

All said, this favorite is likely an obvious bet against for many inside of multi-race sequences; who wants to single a trotting 2-year-old from post 10? Many likely know of one guy at the OTB who would do that, and he’s probably someone they laugh at – undeservedly so, though. There is no need for such cruelty in the game of pari-mutuel horse racing.

Messenger Hanover is another who could work a good trip from the draw and maybe spring a surprise, but really everyone is going to try hard to make Onajetplane work as hard as possible.

Contenders: 5-10-1

Race 6: Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly trot final, $700,000 purse

Luna Lovegood appeared under heavy restraint (she raced hard on a line for Dexter Dunn) in her Breeders Crown elimination and still romped by over five lengths in a 1:52.2 mile. She’s going to launch forward from this draw, and seeing as she didn’t stretch herself too much in that elimination I have a hard time seeing how she could be short in this spot barring the first quarter be tumultuous with speed likely from the inside five.

Who knows what Aperfect Annie will do from this draw. She also has a lot of speed, but with half the field leaving to her inside she may be forced into her preferred spot: riding a helmet. I watched her early races at Oak Grove, along with the whole meet of Oak Grove, and I kid you not when I say she was one of the only trotters the whole meet that was able to kick a sub-28-second final quarter. She has vicious reach in her stride and, with the right heat to quell up top, Todd McCarthy may come rumbling late.

What A Bid Hanover is another live price inside of this race presuming others go way too fast. She likely will be coming from last, so she more likely is one to pump exotic payoffs than she would be a win contender, but weirder things have happened in Breeders Crown finals. I still don’t know what a Charley Barley even is.

Contenders: 6-8-10

Race 7: Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace final, $700,000 purse

Versatility really makes Looksgoodinloulou hard to beat. She’s handy enough to go forward and pounce off quick fractions while also being able to charge from off the speed. The pylon post maybe is the best draw she could’ve received in this race just on the options Yannick Gingras has alone.

Of the chalks in the Friday finals, she’s an incredibly reasonable single to lean on, though I will advise to not totally discount Rodeo Drive Deo. Sure, she kicked home because she sat off everyone else’s hard work, but this filly doesn’t necessarily pack speed as much as she locks in on a target. She doesn’t stop charging until she passes the last horse, and that type of closing ability is a huge asset from this draw in a race where we know the inside two will leave, Rose will leave and Miki And Minnie has to leave as well from post 9.

Of course not every race will simply unfold into a gung-ho brawl in the first half, but the conditions exist in the setup for a closer like Rodeo Drive Deo (as well as stablemate Looksgoodinloulou) to reap the spoils.

Unreasonable is another sharp closer in this race who should had some zest to the exotics since Scott Zeron likely will just take her back, find a helmet and kick a hard final quarter home.

Contenders: 1-10-8

Race 8: Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt and gelding trot final, $700,000 purse

I am of the impression Maximus Mearas S is the best of this class at this moment. And sure, the best horse isn’t guaranteed to win as a virtue, but he’s put a lot of pieces together quickly since making his first start in late August. His regal breeding shows in how he moves on the track; his speed and tenacity. Presuming he is not the favorite inside of this race, he is a safe play at a little bit of value.

He should be the favorite on ability, but Maryland will likely earn favoritism on accolades. He’s won three of the major stakes for trotting 2-year-olds-the $425,500 William Wellwood Memorial, the $390,000 Peter Haughton Memorial and the US$720,207 Mohawk Million. But inside of those stakes events, I don’t feel he faced the class test a stake like this poses-plus he has not raced in over a month, so the bye he earned by winning the Haughton could be something that works against him. He hasn’t earned being an 8-5 cinch in a race like this, but he definitely has the ability to be one of the main players.

Go Dog Go could offer a little bit of a price for the gimmicks seeing as the hopples helped him keep his stride for the last eighth of a mile. He has ability, but he also has that Greenshoe blood working through his veins which can make him a speedster as much it can a headcase. As long as the hopples do their trick, he maybe grabs a piece of the trifecta or superfecta at like 9-1 or something. There’s definitely room to experiment with some of the prices in this race for the underneath spots.

Contenders: 3-2-7

Race 9: Kindergarten Series 2-year-old fillies fourth leg, trot, $20,000 purse

Simply Perfect seems like the one who will land in the best spot off the wings of the gate given her draw. She has the speed to contend here and enters off a strong qualifier, signaling she’s itching to race. Beach Rules has a lot of speed, but also appears to have a lot of work to do out of post 8. When let loose in a $59,600 Reynolds Memorial division at Tioga Downs, she easily rolled to a lifetime-best 1:50.3 mile, but was short her next start in a less testing affair. Her best path into the race is probably with a methodical trip, and maybe then she prevails. But beware she holds risk if at a price lower than 9-2.

My Sweet Lily also probably gets a more conservative drive after getting strung to a 53.1-second half in her Breeders Crown elimination, but she seems like the type who could still kick home well enough to get a good chunk in a drop in class. Sometimes horses are better for miles like that, sometimes worse. For that, a 6-1 price for a win bet feels fair though unlikely.

Contenders: 4-8-3

Race 10: Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt & gelding pace final, $700,000 purse

Louprint has been impressive in defeat his last two starts. While getting collared by a longshot in D A Loveboat at The Red Mile, he fought all through the nearly quarter-mile stretch and just happened to give an inch in the final yards to the finish. Then in his Breeders Crown elimination, he persisted while pushing through a vicious third quarter and kept finding while extended to hold third. He has loads of grit as well as sharp speed that driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. has to play just right in this spot. And since he has lots of speed to his inside, Wrenn has the opportunity to work a decent trip off a helmet.

Fallout will try to work a similar trip; his performance winning the Metro Pace is a top-five effort by any pacing freshman this season. But he’s an incredibly obvious one given he’s the morning-line favorite so a boat load of money should head his way anyway. He’s at least deserving of the respect and could work his trip into the race.

Swingtown also appeared more adept popping off a helmet. His main problem is that he has a hot temperament, which from an inside draw could force him to go faster than Yannick Gingras likes early in the race. That either sets him up to hold a good check, or tee up the race for a closer. Definitely watch how he looks in the post parade, whether he’s extra on his toes or fighting the driver to gauge if he’ll be hard to wrangle in the race. I just don’t know what to make of Captain Optimistic in here either. He set a track record winning his elimination on a track many say was biased against speed, but I don’t know. He appears a one-dimensional type with a swarth of contending speed to fight, so he seems like a total toss for me in this spot.

Contenders: 9-8-2

Race 11: Kindergarten Series 2-year-old colts and geldings fourth leg, pace, $20,000 purse

Manolete seems like the default one to beat here. Nothing against his ability, he has ample speed and was runner-up in the $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final. He is just a glaring favorite inside of this short field who more likely than not goes forward and coasts. I don’t like being the one to tell you the favorite is good-the tote board often tells you that. But alas, I am worthless here.

Tom Horn has room to go a good mile too after finishing best of the rest in Fallout’s 1:48.4 mile in Lexington. He doesn’t seem like one that likes to really pass horses though looking at his 0-for-9 resume, so heed caution.

World Beater should work into a competitive spot too. If he can get the lead, maybe he stands a chance to win. But if he’s trailing Manolete turning for home, tough pickings.

Contenders: 7-4-3

Race 12: Kindergarten Series 2-year-old colts and geldings fourth leg, trot, $20,000 purse

Gap Kronos S is a big horse. He is a really big horse. As long as he can hoist his heft around the two turns, he just has a developmental edge on this field. No. 2 Seven Layer returns to the bigger track, where he finished second in the $100,000 New Jersey Classic consolation to (a different) Flightline on Sept. 6. As long as he can stay flat, he should have something to offer late at a price.

Frank Leahy seems like one who will just leave and try to carry his speed. More likely than not, he’ll carry it to a second- or third-place finish at a short price, but he lands too good a draw to not go forward and also is just fast enough to fend off some of the longer-priced chances here. Seven Layer probably offers the best exotic value, then, if defaulting to favorite Gap Kronos S who I will emphasize again is a big horse. Watch him in the post parade-he’s a gorilla compared to his peers. He makes Ake Svanstedt look tiny. Okay, now I’m embellishing, but also I’m telling the truth.

Contenders: 6-2-5

Race 13: MADC 1, pace, $11,500 purse

Hello Rocky should appreciate the shift to the bigger track. He has taken a boatload of air in his last two starts and will probably fair well from this draw at a high price.

Hurrikane Ironhead likely pushes forward into a stalking spot and tries to make something happen. Firstup is another who could push into the mix. This is an awfully tough race just given the speed doesn’t appear like it will hold to the finish, but this class also often is a guessing game of “who will get the best jump first?” And maybe, that’s all of horse racing when you break it down… a lot to think about.

Contenders: 4-2-9

Race 14: MADC 1, pace, $11,500 purse

Claytons Bettor N should perch himself into a prime stalking spot to pounce on speed that also doesn’t appear likely to hold to the finish. As long as he gets away close, he’s live.

Captain Terminator can push forward too to pick up pieces, but honestly probably races his best on the lead – a position he’d really have to work for from this draw. And maybe he can get there and clear a stubborn Ferdinand A to the inside. Who knows.

Rock On Line is another good closer, but is a tricky use given he’s a 10-year-old who went on layoff immediately after winning. He qualified well enough behind a top-horse in the conditioned ranks in Coaches Corner so maybe he’s fine fresh? A nightcap with loads of questions and few high-priced options that at least comes close to bed time. Nighty night.

Contenders: 5-7-6

Coverage of the Breeders Crown at Horse Racing Nation appears in part through a marketing relationship with The Meadowlands and the Hambletonian Society.