Friday @ThistledownOhio

R3 

#3 SHESACLASSYGURL (Radasovich) is tempting off the cut back

R4 

#8 MUNSTER AUFGEWACHT  has been looking for this spot; she dominated here in October

R6 

#6 MAGNIFICENT gets plenty of pace to run at

R7 

Should be excellent race - wide open; Classy #1 FIRE CHIEF has my early eye - he has to break well from the rail and will be pressed; #4 BUZZ TOWN is another "hose for course;” what do you do with the Turfway shipper, #6 CASTLEPOST?

R8 

#3 WESTERN PIRATE may be prepped for this

Tuesday @BeulahPark

Race 1
It would be cool to find a price here but the 09Mar effort at today's distance makes MORE DISCREET look like the "speed of the speed."

• Scratch

Race 3
One day in it is apparent that Outz/Rone is a good a good combo to bank on. That said I've got my eye on ROMANTIC CHANNEL. He has done little wrong since discovering the Buckeye state. His experience over this track calls to me.

• Second by 5 lengths
• Pressed for a half was swallowed up by the winner passed a tired horse for place

Race 5
BEAMISH looks well prepped for today's class drop against a couple chalky shippers.

• Fourth of four by many
• Showed nothing

Monday at Beulah Park

Race 3
I've never had much luck picking winners in Columbus so I'll rely on hunches as I post my first ever online Beulah Park selection. Don Rowe is a familiar face at Thistledown who usually places his horses carefully. Searching for twitter connections to Ohio racing this morning I discovered jockey Edgar Paucar. Rowe sends JIMMY SCOTT to post here with his regular rider, Edgar up. Already a winner at this level the horse fits but cuts back in distance trying to repeat. Hopefully HIGH MAC and YOUR IN FOR HALF will hook up to make the pace right for "JIMMY."

• Third by a length.
• Closed willingly after being way off the loose leader YOUR IN FOR HALF after HIGH MAC missed the break. 
• Hindsight being 100% it was silly to overlook the winner CLIFF'S BEST BET who is 4-1-2-0 since arriving from Turfway.

Race 6
It looks like MORMON METEOR has found a surface and competition level that he enjoys at Beulah. Facing winners off that maiden score could be a task but he'll probably be back in slop sporting the most consistent figs in the field.

• Third by 4 or 5 lengths
• Broke alertly but green bearing out entered the turn widest of all to finish evenly under kind handling
• Probably worth keeping an eye on

This morning at Thistledown

A quick trip to my favorite local racing venue revealed that there are horses on the grounds and that despite all the racino frenzy the backsiders are also hard at work. There was a bevy of training activity on this very crisp morning.

Taking a glance at the first 2013 condition book, it appears the the claimers will be competing for purses that have been bumped up a couple grand. That's a start. I'm sure that the horsemen are hoping that the slot money will eventually provide enough value to put real food on their tables.

I doubt that they'll be ready for opening day but it looks like there will be some cool upgrades for us railbirds.

Don't let that sunshine fool you. It was FREEZING. I was the only idiot on the apron today.

I did not see any evidence that infield eyesore that blocks our view of the backstretch will be dynamited in the near future.

Yippee!

The barn area opens a month from today.

It appears that Thistledown will be alive and kicking for at least another season. I'm anxious to see the first condition book and discover if the anticipated, slot inflated, purse hikes will be instituted at the beginning of the meet. I'd expect that the horsemen are a lot more anxious than me.

It's been a long time since opening day has had the holiday feeling that it did "back in the day." I'm sure that the April 19th opener won't be a day that many non-regulars circle on their calendar for the live racing. The re-birth may take awhile. However, it should be a season full of intrigue as gamers sniff out the new machines and the potential purse hikes raise the quality of racing.

As rumors surround the place, I'm still betting on "The Big-T" to outlive me. Good luck Thistledown. You are the best sports franchise in Cleveland.

My last shot (2012)

Race 1
Who would be shocked if Jeff Radosevich had A HOTTY AT NOON ready to explode in his Thistledown debut? The linesmaker seems to think that will be the case. Jeff's young stock has been running lights out.
Favored, she was LAST of the bunch by 12

Race 5
Jeff Skerrett gets back on BIBLICAL NOTES, a personal favorite who has disappointed lately. I hope that we end the season friends.
Nabu Morales also saddle one here, showing his tale to the selection and the field - THIRD BY 8

Race 7
Nabu Morales shows up with RIKIM.
Skipped away from these, then was taken down - FIRST BY 1,  DQ'D TO SIXTH

Usually large fields as they try to get last runs in these creatures = plenty of exotic possibilities. It should be some fun in the sun. Off to race to make the first . . . live!
I struck out in this arena also. It was an interesting racing season. The entire plant is under construction to install the mysterious slots. What will 2013 bring?

#Thistledown Friday

Race 6 (3:10)
Look for a stretch battle between SKIPPY DUE and ROBYNS AFAIR after MYASTORM/JODY POWER set some quick fractions. Expect SKIPPY DUE to finish in the winners circle.
WINNER - the front runners did their part, the selection began to roll at the top of the turn to win with ease, ROBYN'S AFAIR, thankfully, did not fire ($5.40)

Race 7 (3:39)
Some of my favorite horses have been run off their legs by BLAZING PRIZE this season. Probably the only way to stop him is for me to bet him.
SECOND - pressed, but could not pass CANADIAN HOME RUN

Race 8 (4:08)
SARDEGNA'S LADY is another hot, young addition to Jeff Radosevich"s string. They are tough to beat.
SECOND - cleared the field early, led to mid stretch, surrendered to the quickly closing winner without much fight