We head into the final days of 2016 still trying to get that first win on the season.  Boomer comes into the $4000 claiming race (with non-winner conditions) as the 9/5 morning line favorite but the race is far from a lock.  Here is a look at the field:

Jesuit Warrior (Cornwell/Molina) – Has some speed and the rail.  Battled our boy early in the last race only to fall off the pace late.  Moving inside and a 1/2 furlong less should help him out here.

Roarin Missile (Perez/Sanchez) – Scratched as the favorite out of our last race but the same analysis applies: Will be coming late and should be dangerous as there may be enough speed to open things up.

Dexterous (Booker/Montalvo) – Showed speed at Fairmount but was run off his hooves last out here at Hawthorne after a very long layoff and a bad break.  Been off six weeks after that one but with a clean break could have some say in the pace scenario.

Spectacular Act (Slager/Santiago) – Third race in three weeks after a ling break.  Even with the freshening, that’s an awful lot to ask.

Lights on Brite (Perez/Ulloa) – A relatively steady sort, may be able to hit the board late.  Has shown speed in some races but, when prominent, hasn’t been able to finish.

VANDERBOOM RIDGE (BRINSON/FELIX)

Strategic Game (Walker/Sanjur) – Will be starting wide again but certainly has the speed to mix things up in front.

Papasote (Mosier/Bielby) – Broke well in the last versus Boomer but hit a wall when they hit the lane.  Second after a layoff should help the stamina as should the shortening to six furlongs.

Boomer does tend to beak well but does not need the lead to finish.  In fact, if we can relax early and either A) have a lone lead (unlikely) and control the race or B) sit a length or two off the early pace and make a move heading into the lane (more likely) we could very well be in line for the first win of the season.

Good luck to all and safe travels for Boomer and Julio!

Here are the expert selections from Hawthorne for today’s action.

Ron Uchman

3-VANDERBOOM RIDGE should earn his first win of the year. He’s dropping in class and turning back in distance. He\’s never been much of a sprinter but, with the way he\’s been running, the turn back makes sense.

8-ROARIN MISSILE has been in good form while meeting a bit better. He just missed in his last at this distance. With the drop in class he could run by them all.

9-NAFIR\’S BEST hasn\’t been in the best of form but he did win, almost exactly a year ago, the last time he raced at this level and distance. Could awaken.

Jim Miller

1^st – #8 – Roarin Missile (Speed) – I think he needs to be put on the lead in this spot. If he is, he has the ability to wire this field.

2^nd – #3 – Vanderboom Ridge (Stalker) – Shortens up today but figures to be worth a look. Makes second start off the layoff and gets better post draw in here.

3^rd – #5 – Jesuit Warrior (Presser) – This is the other one that I expect we see some pace from. Battled gamely in his last.

As of this moment, racing is still scheduled for Hawthorne today with first post at 12:55 CT and our race at approximately 2:25 PM.

Vanderboom Ridge goes in the 8th Saturday at Hawthorne.  The race is a mile 1/16 over the main track for $5000 claiming horses which have not won 2 races in 2016.  Denny Velazquez will be in the irons.

Heading into the final month of the year – and the life of the 2016 Club – we are still looking for our first win.  It has been a tough year on that front and nothing would be better than to cap off the season with a win or two!

Here is a look at the field.

Ballyjamesduff (Haran/Gallardo) – 21 of 30 in the money at Hawthorne.  He likes the racetrack and has a win last time out.  He’s a closer and will need some pace to run at and he’ll get some just to his outside.

Super Twenty Three (Schwan/Perez) – Speedster will certainly help set the pace but he’s shown that it is hard for him to stay there at Hawthorne.  He definitely prefers the synthetic/grass at Arlington.

Show’em Pop (Gonzalez/Sanchez) – Really perked up since coming to Hawthorne. Will join the horse to his inside toward the front.  He runs his best up there but he’ll be under pressure the entire trip. Tepid 7/2 morning line favorite.

Paddybdancing (Domenosky/Felix) – Horse is 4 for 4 in the exacta in the fall meet with a pair of wins.  Trained by former Club trainer Tammy Domenosky and ridden by the hot Jose Felix (25% this meet), this guy will be coming hard late and, though the second choice, could take all the money.

Indy Awesome (Lynn/Lantz) -Former Brinson charge was distanced by 54 last out after a pair of solid efforts.  Something may have been amiss there and I wouldn’t expect that kind of effort again.  He’ll try and stalk that early pace.

No Nukes (Cady/Barnett) – Showed a spark in WV but it fizzled in Chicago with a very flat effort last out.

Shadrach Bond (Fridley/Emigh) – Has not been able to duplicate his Fairmont success.  Both of his victories down south were off the pace and that’s where he’ll be coming from here.

WW Orient (Slager/Santiago) – Had success earlier in the year but just been another runner since moving to the south side of town.

Hurricane Bay (O’Halloran/Molina) – Stalker has had success at the lower levels but stymied so far here.

VANDERBOOM RIDGE (BRINSON/VELAZQUEZ)

In my opinion, if we run our race, we win.  How’s that?  We know our boy hated the slop in his last local start and was flat after the long layoff in his Hawthorne debut.  He’s been training well and should get first run at the leaders.

As always from the outside, the run into the first turn is going to be key.  If we can nestle in behind the speed and sit 3 or 4 lengths back we’ll be just fine and just have to be good enough down the lane.  If we get hung out wide, however, then the mile and a sixteenth is going to feel like 10.  I have confidence, however, and I like our chances a lot in here.

Good luck everyone!

I’ll be posting a closer look later today.  Hint: I’m more in line with Jim than Ron, but I think they’re both wrong!

Ron Uchman

Race 8

3-SHOW’EM POP has a win and two seconds in his three races this meet. He led for most of last but he’s probably at his best when he’s stalking the pace and there does appear to be sufficient speed ahead of him.

4-PADDYBDANCING has been in great form for months. He finished in the money in his last nine starts, winning twice. He’ll be coming from farther back than top choice but he could be finishing the fastest of all.

2-SUPER TWENTY THREE is among the best of the speed. He hasn’t been showing that much of his good early zip lately but he still has his moments. Expect him to be pressing the pace.

Jim Miller

Race 8 1st – #4 – Paddybdancing (Closer) – Good recent efforts. Showed best ability to finish that we’ve recently seen from him in last.

2nd – #1 – Ballyjamesduff (Closer) – Another that runs on late. Has a lot of heart and likes this racing surface.

3rd – #10 – Vanderboom Ridge (Presser) – Merits a look as he moves to the dirt today. Working well and could get good trip.

Although we have not yet started winding down this season, we have started looking ahead to next year.

We do not envision the parameters of the Club changing: the purchase price will still be $250 per person and the Club will run through the duration of 2017.  We will look to close things up by the end of February and be able to start shopping the first week of March.

However, there will be some changes coming in 2017.  We will be looking in several locations for horses so as to try and get to the start of the Canterbury season with 2 horses ready to go.  To this end we will probably use more than one trainer and will be dependent upon how many folks we have signed up for 2017.

We will also be holding at least a pair of live information sessions at the track where folks can come and meet the team – at least those of us at Canterbury year round – ask questions and perhaps mingle with some folks that were in the Club in previous years.

Members will continue to receive free admission for the season, the opportunity to visit our horses on the backside via scheduled tours, special seating areas on race days (providing there is availability), rotating pre-race paddock access on race days and a trip to the elusive winners’ circle if we are so fortunate.

This past year we also held a ‘Breakfast at the Track’ to wind up the season that was very successful so we will be looking at that again – and maybe adding one to the start of the season as well so folks can get to know other Clubbers as we get rolling.

I will save the post mortem on 2016 until we are done but while we can say in terms of winning it was less successful that past years, there certainly was a lot to be learned!

Please continue to watch this space for announcements on the 2017 Club and, as always, you can reach Ted at ted@grevelisracing.com and Jeff at jmaday@canterburypark.com.

Clay had Vanderboom out over the track today and he said that he galloped strong like he was back to normal.  In the next day or two we are going to have the vet give him the once over and make sure all is well and then we will be entering.

We pointing to a race on December 2nd going long over the dirt.  It should be a good fit for him and will hopefully help us close out the season on a winning note.

Heading into Thanksgiving tomorrow it is our hope that you all have a very safe, healthy and happy day with your loved ones and know that all of us here are greatly appreciative of all of you for taking this ride every year with us.

Here are a pair of analyses from the folks at Hawthorne:

Ron Uchman’s Hawthorne analysis for Thursday, November 17th

Race 1 3-FORT DIXIE tired while meeting better company in his last start but he did beat rivals similar to these in his previous race. He’s been displaying good speed lately but is capable of coming from behind to score.

5-FRONTIER FORCE moves up off the claim. He beat a bit easier last time out but he’s also been able to run well with better. And, he’s one of the few in here that has done well at the distance.

4-VETER doesn’t win often but he’s generally in the hunt. He has no early speed, therefore he’s dependent on a fast pace ahead of him. Not sure he’ll get it but there just might be enough pace to set things up.

Jim Miller’s Hawthorne Selections

Thursday, November 17

Race 1

1^st – #5 – Frontier Force (Closer) – Responded nicely in the lane in last. Steps up now in first off the claim.

2^nd – #1 – Dandyman (Speed) – Wouldn’t be surprised to see him sent away to try to wire this field.

3^rd – #3 – Fort Dixie (Presser) – Interesting one in here. Could rate in second flight early and look to pounce at head of stretch.

Please see the link below for the September financial statement. Hopefully we can finish up the year with a couple of wins and pump the balance back up and get a solid claim for our boy by the end of the meet.

Boomer is doing well and has been going to the track every day. We’ll be looking for his next race and will be coming back in another $8,000 claiming race either on the turf or on the dirt. It is getting to be the time of year that turf racing winds down at Hawthorne but we can go a mile, mile and sixteenth over the dirt and be tough to beat.

crc-2016-running-financials-sep