by Mike Bozich, track announcer, Hazel Park

Hazel Park, MI — Michigan’s best 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers are set to square off for purses nearing $1 million on Saturday, September 22, at Hazel Park Raceway, with a starting post time of 7:25 p.m.

Starting on Thursday (September 13) and continuing through Saturday, eliminations will be held at the suburban Detroit oval. Below are some of the horses to watch in each division for Thursday night at Hazel Park Raceway. Post time is 7:25 p.m. with an early non-betting race at 6:45 p.m. (first division of the 2-year-old filly trot).

Keyanna Rose: Leading money earner in the division has finished no worse then second in her nine career starts. Driven and trained by Michigan trotting specialist Henry Wilson, Rose has won three of her last five, including victories in the Elite at Hazel Park and the Spartan Futurity at Midland.

Locksweeper: She is sharpening at the right time with two impressive victories over the Hazel Park oval in her last three starts, including a victory over Keyanna Rose three starts back. She drew in the opposite elimination of Keyanna Rose, so if the 2-year-old fillies can mind their racing manners, a throw down in the final is likely.

Careless Love: She flew on the scene (literally) on Michigan Breeder’s Futurity Day at Hazel Park Raceway with a calculated stretch burst to upend Keyanna Rose in the final strides. Up until her last three starts, she has been brought along slowly and kept away from the queens of this division. She has established herself and now is one of 13 looking for a Million Dollar Night visit to the photographer.

Honeycomb: She may have been on her way to a big finish at the Wolverine Futurity in Holland before she made the untimeliest of breaks. Then in the Elites at Hazel, she was the favorite against many of these and finished a tough trip second. Since then she has only mustered minor shares against Locksweeper and Keyanna Rose.

2-year-old filly pace – Eliminations Thursday night (two divisions)

Nillabomb: Daughter of Admiral’s Galley has made life terrible for the other gals in this division. She’s already banked over $44,000 in just eight starts, and the only bump in the road was a break at Hazel Park two starts back in the Elite Series. She showed in her last start that she can be versatile, as the usually speedy filly came from off the pace to win.

Rio Raider: Some would argue that she is the dominant female in this division. Her doubters were silenced two starts back when Rio came from off the pace to win the Elite at Hazel Park in a track record 1:56.1. She since went on to win on Breeder’s Futurity Night in which Nillabomb was absent. We won’t have to wait until Million Dollar Night to see these two square off, for they are in the same elimination on Thursday night (race two).

Roll The Di: She is on a short list of horses that defeated Nillabomb in a thrilling stretch finish at Midland in the Spartan Futurity. She has won three of seven and has banked over $21,000, which makes her the second leading money earner in the division. She’s not afraid to mix it up early and is a major player.

The Other Side: She is also on the short list of horses that defeated Nillabomb. She did so at Jackson Raceway back in July. Since then, her form has seemed to abandon her, but there is reason for hope. She came up with an improved effort at Midland in the Spartan (fourth place finish) and has since had a good qualifier over this track against the likes of Benns Shotgun, who is among the major players in the 2-year-old colt division. Don’t discount.

2-year-old colt pace – Eliminations Thursday night (three divisions)

The Admiral: Leading money earner in this division has had his share of seconds. He has finished second seven times in nine starts. The other two starts? You guessed it — wins. He has won two of his last three, including a win in the Elite Series at Hazel. As most 2-year-olds, The Admiral isn’t very mature, as he proved by showing breaks in his last two starts. However, he is fast and if his mind is on business, he is sure to be a part of the festivities on September 22.

Benns Shotgun: Trainer and part owner Merle LaFountaine has quite a talented freshman in Shotgun. He has already beaten many of these foes, and he has a ton of natural speed. He qualified very well on September 7, and with that tightener under his belt, a Million Dollar Night appearance is almost certain.

RC Raider: Spartan and Wolverine champ has banked over $28,000 in eight career tries. His game is from off the pace, something he could not do in his last two starts. In both of those races (at Hazel Park), the half went in :59. That is not a good number to hear booming over the loudspeaker if you’re preparing to rally late. Odds are the fractions in his elimination and in the final will be much faster early on.

Reminic: Consistency is certainly not his forte, but speed sure is. His 1:55 at Hazel Park back in August is still the fastest mile paced in his division. Since then, he had a disappointing effort in the Spartan at Midland, a near miss to The Admiral at Hazel, a race in which he broke (and was disqualified) on Breeder’s Futurity Night, and an impressive win at Kinross. The question is, which Reminic shows up tonight?

Remember, eliminations continue Friday and Saturday as well, and we will preview those for you in the next article.