Handicapping the 2008 Hambletonian -- USTA Harness Racing

Handicapping the 2008 Hambletonian with Bob Pandolfo

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Sports

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• Standardbreds
• Harness
• Pandolfo
• Hadicapping

[pandycapping]

Thanks, good analysis

[pandycapping]

Yes, you're right. Posts 4 and 5 are the best from a statistical standpoint. If I had a horse in the race and first choice I'd take 5 but Schnittker likes the rail and with his horse I can understand taking post 1, since he has such good speed. I hope the off track doesn't hurt him, sloppy tracks are generally bad for front runners.

[spang99]

Good stuff Pandy.

No way can Ray do anything but stick them all in the hole right from the start.Even a give and go is very risky because if you get beat to the punch all of a sudden you are 3rd or 4th and forced to go a huge middle half parked, anybody remember Somebeachsomewhere?

Ray may not be the most highly regarded horseman in the race today, but then again neither were Hammer or Burroughs. No way he gets this one beat today, its down the road and never look back.

[TheEEconomist]

Pandy, didn't the three elimination winners choose their posts. Dewey didn't "draw" the rail. His connections "chose" the rail. And yet Crazed got first choice. His connections HAD to consider that Dewey's would choose the rail.  Still doesn't make sense to me.

Ray (not Ray S!)

[pccwsc]

This race is Ray's.... I have known him and his father since they came down from Buffalo. Long time ago !! He has grown as a driver and always was a very hard worker and a excellent horseman.

I wish him well and continued success to Ray, his lovely wife and his Dad ( Warren ).

[JeffreyL52]

You are right. Ray has come a long way from the days when he and his father invaded from BR/Btva. My opinion of him has grown over the years, though I think 10 years ago he ruined several good 2 YOS. But he has sold some for big bucks, has become more patient as a driver, and while one might say he lacks the verbal finesse of a Campbell or Jamieson, he is nothing if not quotable.

[pandycapping]

It won't bother him, the horse is a magnificent athlete, Schnittker rides him under saddle up hills.

[JeffreyL52]

Bob- Unquestionably Dewey is the fastest, most consistent entrant, and Ray has been very generous with the media. I wonder, though, if the activity the other day at the farm - photo shoots, videos, even Donna Brothers riding Dewey-could conceivably take something out of him. Personally, I doubt it, but this was unprecedented in my recollection, and I am wondering what you think.

Thank you.

[pandycapping]

Hi, this is Pandy. They didn't know that Dewey would draw inside of them and get the rail.

[TheEEconomist]

Question: Pandolfo makes it sound as if PP2 is bad. Yet Crazed's connections had first choice of post position and could have taken anything they wanted. They picked 2. Can anyone explain the contradiction here?