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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: rainman2 on May 01, 2025, 05:11:17 AM
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A few of ‘big shots’ in for the day with 1 drive.
FYI, Walter Case has a live drive in the race as well as a few other live drives on the card.
Looks like some people were wrong here that Walter wouldn’t get quality drives at Plainridge.
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He may be getting some live drives right now, but if he doesn't start winning more races, those drives will disappear. Only 3 wins in 38 starts won't cut it.
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Massachusetts licensed Kevin Lare? ngc3 ngc3
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If you are going to use that example, look at ALL the stats. Shawn Gray is one of the best drivers at Plainridge. He's also won driving titles at many tracks. He drives his horses and selects only top trainers to drive for. He's 2 for 33. Are people going to stop using Gray? NOPE!!! Case is getting far more drives than anyone expected and will do a lot better than driving just in Maine.
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If you are going to use that example, look at ALL the stats. Shawn Gray is one of the best drivers at Plainridge. He's also won driving titles at many tracks. He drives his horses and selects only top trainers to drive for. He's 2 for 33. Are people going to stop using Gray? NOPE!!! Case is getting far more drives than anyone expected and will do a lot better than driving just in Maine.
Case will make more money at Plainridge than driving in Maine but as a driver, he's nothing special, if you think otherwise, I think you're kidding yourself and living in the past. As far as his drives, if most of them are on longshots, it doesn't matter how many he gets if it doesn't equate into wins. I'm very familiar with his horse in the Paul Revere, Primo Maschio, who was dominant in the Delaware bred races against a so so bunch, and faces much tougher today.
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Never said he was special. Father Time affects everyone. But who is Special at Plainridge? He fits with who drives there, and at least it's a step forward for him.
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He was just ordinary in Maine against weaker drivers, and Plainridge has better drivers than there, does he fit, only time will tell.
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A few of ‘big shots’ in for the day with 1 drive.
FYI, Walter Case has a live drive in the race as well as a few other live drives on the card.
Looks like some people were wrong here that Walter wouldn’t get quality drives at Plainridge.
Here’s my prediction, coming before the race not after,
Father Time will show up and that Case wasn’t and still isn’t a big stakes driver. Not that this is a big stakes but for him it is.
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I think Walter will fit in with the driving colony at Plainridge. I'm hoping he winds up in the top 10, but who really knows. Like all of us, "Father Time" does his magic. The Walter of 30-40 years ago is a ghost from the past. But he has enough "left in the tank" to make a decent living driving at "The Ridge".
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I think Beckwith has 11 drives in 11 races and is the only one . Why is that? 73cv.2 73cv.2
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Case Jr could make a living at Plainridge. It all depends on the stock. He will win enough if he has power. No one looks good without it.
A good example is Kakaley. Alexander was winning like crazy & Matt was on fire too. Travis cools off & Kakaley looks average.
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I think Beckwith has 11 drives in 11 races and is the only one . Why is that? 73cv.2 73cv.2
It's because in your mind he's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
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Case Jr could make a living at Plainridge. It all depends on the stock. He will win enough if he has power. No one looks good without it.
A good example is Kakaley. Alexander was winning like crazy & Matt was on fire too. Travis cools off & Kakaley looks average.
Great Example Matt K has 1.8 mill made to date average it out for the year 5.4 mill driving cool horses to quote you.
Case 73,000 so far.
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Great Example Matt K has 1.8 mill made to date average it out for the year 5.4 mill driving cool horses to quote you.
Case 73,000 so far.
It’s because he wins
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I think Beckwith has 11 drives in 11 races and is the only one . Why is that? 73cv.2 73cv.2
Of those 11 drives, how many have a legit shot of winning, that's all that matters.
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I have no idea if Walter will get good, quality, live drives or not. I have no idea if trainers with horses who can win will use him. In one respect, it doesn't matter. Walter is a fraction of the driver he used to be. A small fraction. He knows it. Anyone who knows this business knows it. Walter is simply trying to earn a living, if he can. He wants to show up, work, earn a living, and go home. He's not trying to come back and get YR, or the Meadowlands.
Personally, I still think he's fragile, at risk, etc., vis a vis his sobriety. Someone told me he already had a no-show day. Same someone told me that Walter is clean and sober from drugs, but that he has a drink here and there. His choice. Slippery slope I say, but his choice. Me, I wish him the best of luck, for his health, and happiness.....and sobriety......one day at a time.
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I have no idea if Walter will get good, quality, live drives or not. I have no idea if trainers with horses who can win will use him. In one respect, it doesn't matter. Walter is a fraction of the driver he used to be. A small fraction. He knows it. Anyone who knows this business knows it. Walter is simply trying to earn a living, if he can. He wants to show up, work, earn a living, and go home. He's not trying to come back and get YR, or the Meadowlands.
Personally, I still think he's fragile, at risk, etc., vis a vis his sobriety. Someone told me he already had a no-show day. Same someone told me that Walter is clean and sober from drugs, but that he has a drink here and there. His choice. Slippery slope I say, but his choice. Me, I wish him the best of luck, for his health, and happiness.....and sobriety......one day at a time.
So you put words into Walter's mouth saying "he knows it" yet he hasn't said that to you himself. You post here all day anonymously. You say a "someone" told you....twice. You also said the email I read didn't exist. I believe the point I'm making is pretty much everything you type is BULLSHIT. ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
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It's because in your mind he's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Must be in alot of other minds also!!! ngc3 ngc3
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I don't eat bread or drink kool aid.
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Of those 11 drives, how many have a legit shot of winning, that's all that matters.
I'm guessing he'll make nice money for a 22 yr old in one day.....
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Washed up Walter only has 2 wins today, a second and a 3rd in 100k race so far. Watched him drive that 8th race. He waited, pulled at exactly the right time and took command in the stretch. Brilliant drive actually for someone over the hill. Continued on and dusted off that upstart Brett Beckwith again (did it last week also) in the 10th for a 3 bagger today.
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Great Example Matt K has 1.8 mill made to date average it out for the year 5.4 mill driving cool horses to quote you.
Case 73,000 so far.
You miss the point. Many thought Kakaley was a top driver at Yonkers.
2024 had 549 starts, 93, wins, 17%, & that is through April.
2025 has 547 starts, 48 wins, 9%, & that too is through April. Average Alexander equals below average Matt.
The point is you have power you will do fine & Walter is no different.
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Washed up Walter only has 2 wins today, a second and a 3rd in 100k race so far. Watched him drive that 8th race. He waited, pulled at exactly the right time and took command in the stretch. Brilliant drive actually for someone over the hill.
We can go on n on, stats don’t lie, he was nothing more then an overnight drive who’s best yr was 4 mil in purses. He was never a professional, he had zero respect for his job hence all the failed drug test kicking fines and so on.
Won’t deny he could get up behind overnight horse and improve them over most over night drivers. He if ever rarely could do that when he drove at the Meadowlands , that’s why he left and went to RR& Yrs, plus Michael L went to Meadowlands. When he was at Northfield & would come over here to Meadows he was just not a professional at all. Which explains his success of failures. Let see how his year plays out and continue the debate then
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Massachusetts licensed Kevin Lare? ngc3 ngc3
His suspension in Delaware just ended.
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I'm guessing he'll make nice money for a 22 yr old in one day.....
The kid has hit little rough patch, lately....at Saratoga and Plainridge...but Sunday Saratoga should be the remedy..but realistically, he couldn't keep the pace up he was setting at Toga
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I think Beckwith has 11 drives in 11 races and is the only one . Why is that? 73cv.2 73cv.2
He's also the only driver who had 11 drives today with no winners.
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And as far as Casey,...it's sad to see him driving..doesn't look like the same guy the way he sits in the bike, Of course, his hay day was almost 40 years ago
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He's also the only driver who had 11 drives today with no winners.
Yeah, rough patch, for sure
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Must be in alot of other minds also!!! ngc3 ngc3
Not lately
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Cobalt Kenny, glad to see Casey with 3 wins, a second and a third today at Plainridge. He's fitting in well in that drivers colony.
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You miss the point. Many thought Kakaley was a top driver at Yonkers.
2024 had 549 starts, 93, wins, 17%, & that is through April.
2025 has 547 starts, 48 wins, 9%, & that too is through April. Average Alexander equals below average Matt.
The point is you have power you will do fine & Walter is no different.
No I did not,
Matt is driving at the toughest overnight colony in NA, not Maine.
So your comparison is moot.
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Yeah, rough patch, for sure
Do you know how much money he made today?? ngc3 ngc3
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Pacer 2, Walter had a nice day.
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His suspension in Delaware just ended.
They still have the option to deny him based on his long, long list of fines and suspensions. tmbz1
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Do you know how much money he made today?? ngc3 ngc3
I was talking as far as winning races..he's hit a rough patch, as far what he made today..about 800..1/2 of that was in the big race..not a bad days pay, Lissi
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No I did not,
Matt is driving at the toughest overnight colony in NA, not Maine.
So your comparison is moot.
OMG I was making a point & not a comparison.
Carry on....
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I agree with you seen2much. Despite the "doomsayers' and "haters", I have thought from Day 1 of the Plainridge meet that Walter would do well. The truth is, Yonker's driving colony is pretty tough. But Plainridge, in my humble opinion has no abundance of "superstars" driving there. So Walter, certainly not the great reinsman he was 40 years ago, is still good enough to compete there.
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His suspension in Delaware just ended.
i guess Harrington will be giving him the key to the city!
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I agree with you seen2much. Despite the "doomsayers' and "haters", I have thought from Day 1 of the Plainridge meet that Walter would do well. The truth is, Yonker's driving colony is pretty tough. But Plainridge, in my humble opinion has no abundance of "superstars" driving there. So Walter, certainly not the great reinsman he was 40 years ago, is still good enough to compete there.
Correct! Look at the current driving colony at Plainridge. What “laurels” are on the resumes of the leading drivers at Plainridge right now as we speak?? Looks like a bunch of overnight drivers making good living now, nothing else. Case has won the Haughton Memorial on a few occasions, the Cleveland Classic and other minor stakes and this was pre 2000.
As far as Yonkers , post position draws are the key to success! Quite a few has beens and journeymen driving here too. Also look at some of the questionable trainers there also.
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i guess Harrington will be giving him the key to the city!
If they don't, he can borrow the one his son Shea has.
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Wat happend to alexanders horse he had one similar do the same last year at plainridge young one
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No I did not,
Matt is driving at the toughest overnight colony in NA, not Maine.
So your comparison is moot.
Pocono or Yonkers?
Leading YONKERS RACEWAY Drivers
(with 1 starts - sorted by WINS)
From 01/01/2025 thru 05/02/2025
Purses UDRS 3rd 2nd 1st Strts Pct
Bartlett Jason 34.0 662 225 112 80 .474 3,232,690
Gingras Yannick 17.4 575 100 87 67 .297 1,876,315
Stratton Jordan 14.5 634 92 95 91 .276 1,802,200
Holland Brent 12.7 565 72 94 86 .271 1,412,490
Brennan George 10.4 537 56 81 74 .234 1,158,050
Kakaley Matt 8.8 547 48 60 85 .200 1,152,490
Zeron Scott 14.5 289 42 39 39 .265 886,430
Napolitano Anthony 8.2 404 33 40 41 .171 689,100
Siegelman Austin 5.8 416 24 30 58 .144 618,940
Lachance Pat 9.0 255 23 34 41 .218 611,640
Marohn Jr Jim 6.9 306 21 39 32 .174 489,065
Buter Tyler 8.2 61 5 3 12 .175 85,530
Bongiorno Joe 9.3 43 4 7 7 .238 104,860
Cushing Ron 7.8 51 4 10 9 .246 136,180
Karna Niko 33.3 12 4 2 2 .481 53,530
McCarthy Todd 13.8 29 4 2 6 .245 123,160
Herschberger Mark 4.9 61 3 9 4 .153 85,130
Schwartz Alan 37.5 8 3 1 0 .444 27,573
Smith Steve 3.0 100 3 7 12 .109 114,410
Leading Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Drivers
(with 1 starts - sorted by WINS)
From 01/01/2025 thru 05/02/2025
Purses UDRS 3rd 2nd 1st Strts Pct
Buter Tyler 19.4 412 80 64 57 .327 920,650
Napolitano Jr Geo. 19.6 363 71 50 40 .309 721,400
Napolitano Anthony 19.0 295 56 47 41 .325 666,175
Kakaley Matt 12.3 366 45 58 64 .269 686,295
Boyd Braxten 11.4 367 42 50 50 .236 574,040
Allard Simon 14.0 222 31 32 32 .268 394,325
Bartlett Jason 27.5 102 28 23 13 .442 385,900
Warren Ridge 6.1 343 21 40 52 .177 437,420
Pantaleano Jim 5.6 302 17 28 33 .144 325,475
Tetrick Tim 27.3 44 12 7 3 .384 168,335
Miller David 19.5 41 8 4 5 .290 105,790
Marohn Jr Jim 10.9 55 6 5 5 .190 65,340
Dube Daniel 25.0 20 5 3 1 .350 69,240
Herschberger Mark 5.1 98 5 11 9 .144 104,660
Miller Andy 22.7 22 5 4 2 .359 77,200
Pelling Jack 27.8 18 5 5 0 .432 60,170
Miller Tyler 15.0 20 3 3 3 .283 55,730