The TAKTER FAKTER and other Hambo day notes

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

As I mentioned in another thread, the TAKTER FAKTER that is poisoning the game is a big handicapping angle. In the 4th race, there were 6 (count'm 6) Takter horses in the race, with su excelencia himself, driving the 1-horse. So while I had confidence that each driver of the other 5 Takter horses wanted to win, not one of them would dare do anything that would piss off the boss and get in his way. For that reason, 75-1 Farsetti Hanover was an excellent choice to finish in the money. The $214 trifecta was beautiful.

Another TAKTER FAKTER also occurred in the 5th race. This one had little effect on the result because Takter's Manchego driven by Yannick Gingras was much the best. But sua Eccellenza ensured an easy trip for his entry mate (not BETTING entry mate) by overusing 50-1 Dab Hanover to ensure he would be on top so Manchego would have a guaranteed easy trip to the top. Those who used Dab Hanover underneath in gimmicks were cheated out of any chance of collecting.

Other notes:

Looked like the smallest crowd EVER for the Hambo. The $10 reserved seat section passed the finish line was 90% empty.

I thought PERFECT SPIRIT was the best coming in (see my note in the other thread). He was monster in the first heat, then as we all know, was best in the final -- but was beaten by What The Hill who was given a perfect trip by Dave Miller. Unfortunately for Miller, he did not wait two seconds more to get clearance from the fading Guardian Angel AS. Good for the Perfect Spirit connections and good for those of us who played Perfect Spirit at 7-1.

[timtam]

I was surprised that at the same time the Hambo was going on the Meadows

in Pa was having a full card of racing. I noticed Merriman, Tony Hall, and other

regular drivers were there. I asked a guy at OTB why some of these guys

( who have good records at Meadows ) didn't even get a slot in some Hambo

races. He said cause they suck is that the real reason?

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

The owners decide who they want to drive their horses. If an owner wanted Merriman or Palone or Hall, they would have been there.

[camluck49]

Palone for all of his wins. I dont think has ever won any grand circiut races? Has he won the Adios his tracks signature race? Hall, Merriman overnight drivers. Meadows is a B track regardless of purse size.

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

Palone for all of his wins. I dont think has ever won any grand circiut races? Has he won the Adios his tracks signature race?

That didn't seem likely so I checked it out.

https://www.harnessmuseum.com/content/dave-palone

excerpt:

In 1991, under Palone’s guidance, colt Dontellmenomore 3,1:55 ($542,823) won the American-National Stakes, Beacon Course Trot, and an elimination of the World Trotting Derby. The following year Palone drove Ultimate Goal 3,1:56.1 ($334,628) to a win in a Breeders Crown elimination at Pompano; and 11-1 shot Come Unwound p,2,1:54.2 ($282,088) to a surprise second place finish behind So Fresh p,3,1:53 ($803,794) in the Breeders Crown at Northfield Park. Palone and Ultimate Goal paired up again for a victory in the Matron Stakes.

Also on Palone’s resume are wins in the 1996 Cleveland Classic with Free Hart p,4,1:53.4 ($185,947), 1996 Messenger Stakes with Go For Grins p,5,1:51.2 ($302,003) and the 1997 Windy City Pace with Arturo p,3,1:51.2f ($1,298,491). In 1999, Palone won the premier race at his home track of The Meadows when he guided Washington VC p,3,1:52.3f ($560,984) to victory in the Adios over eventual Triple Crown winner Blissfull Hall p,3,1:49.2 ($1,468,648). Later that summer he followed up with a Jugette win driving Maudlin Hanover p,3,1:52.2s ($523,508). In 2003 Palone guided Numeric Hanover p,3,1:51 ($495,229) to victories in both the Nadia Lobell and Jugette, and also won the Galt Memorial with Hellava Hush 1:51 ($1,140,974).

Palone captured the Little Brown Jug with P-Forty-Seven p,3,1:48.2 ($707,660). In 2006, Palone drove Snowboarder 3,1:55.2 ($151,436) to a win in the Matron Stakes, and guided Go On BB p,4,1:50f ($1,003,523) to victory in the 2007 American-National.

[timtam]

And he couldn't get a ride on Sat in the Hambo my question entirely:confused:

[camluck49]

Palone is content at his age to race at his home track. He is a HOF driver at the twilight of his career. I doubt he even lobbied foe r any drives on Hambo day?