Springsteen poised for Messenger success with inside draw
August 31, 2018,from the SOA of NY
Yonkers, NY — Springsteen’s sophomore season has been a mix of impressive miles and dull efforts. He won the $500,000 Max Hempt Memorial and two divisions of New York Sire Stakes, but came up flat in several other stakes contests.
Fotowon photo
Springsteen looks to turn the tables on elimination winner Jimmy Freight.
On Saturday (Sept. 1) at Yonkers, he looks to make amends for those poor performances in the $500,000 Messenger Stakes, slated as race seven on a stakes-laden card. The son of Rock N Roll Heaven drew the inside while morning line favorite (5/2) Jimmy Freight landed post eight.
Springsteen suffers from tying up when he trains too hard and deals with trying conditions, like long trips to the races and drastic changes in the weather. He can also be a difficult horse to drive. All these factors converged two starts back in the Milstein. After shipping all the way to Ohio, Springsteen was impeded in the race when Lather Up broke to his outside on the second turn and faded badly in the stretch to beat only that distanced rival.
Last week, Springsteen finished a distant second to Jimmy Freight in his Messenger elimination, pacing a 1:51.2 mile and finishing 3-3/4 lengths behind the latter’s track record effort.
But Springsteen has already won the Messenger post position draw. Although he typically doesn’t show early speed, he has the advantage of starting along the pylons while Jimmy Freight will start from the far outside.
Last week’s other elimination winner, Babes Dig Me, drew post five while the other runner-up, JK Wildfire, drew post four. Stay Hungry will try to keep his Triple Crown hopes alive from post six. Winston, Topville Olympian, and Nutcracker Sweet complete the lineup.
Saturday’s card also features the $500,000 Yonkers Trot for 3-year-olds in race six where Six Pack is favored over Helpisontheway. Lindsey`s Pride, Lindy`s Big Bang, Maxus, Mississippi Storm, Tito, and The Veteran will try to upend the favorites.
The filly companions to the Messenger and Yonkers Trot, the $129,014 Hudson Trot and $122,904 Lady Maud Pace go as races four and five, respectively.
The night’s $44,000 Open Handicap Pace goes to post in race eight and features Bit Of A Legend and Evenin Of Pleasure. First post time is 6:50 p.m.
- Tough task for Jimmy Freight in Messenger (Wednesday, August 29, 2018)
After a track-record performance in his Messenger Stakes elimination last week, Jimmy Freight will need to overcome the most unfavorable starting position at Yonkers Raceway — post No. 8 — in Saturday’s $500,000 final. While that presents a degree of uncertainty regarding the colt’s prospects in the race, owner Adriano Sorella is hopeful his horse possesses the skills to get the job done. Jimmy Freight, who won his Messenger elimination in 1:50.3 to become the fastest 3-year-old pacing colt in the track’s history, will have regular driver Louis-Philippe Roy in the sulky for trainer Andrew Harris and is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.