by Ron Gurfein

This report is from Tuesday (Feb. 18) because of the USHWA Awards banquet this weekend.

It’s hard to believe that the Tony Alagna barn trained 99 horses Tuesday morning and, what’s more amazing, 99 per cent looked good. You would think 20 in 100 would be bad gaited or sore in the middle of February, it definitely was not the case.

NOTE: Maverick did not train due to a slight fever. This explanation is simply to avoid evil rumors!

Bali Beach (f Somebeachsomewhere—Hallie Gallie), Rita Captiva (f Captaintreacherous—Rita J) and Lady Midnight (f Captaintreacherous—My Lady Love) all looked solid in a mile around 2:40. They were in a set that had some setbacks due to illness.

Romona Hill the sensational Breeders Crown winner looked fabulous in her solo mile around 2:20. Captain Kirk looked very good in a comparable mile to the filly, also solo.

I am giving some times qualified by “around” because I gifted my mechanical stop watch to Donna Lee and received a digital in return that I was less than proficient in my ability to use it.

Next Odds On Whitney (f Somebeachsomewhere—Panera Hanover) the $400,000 sister to Papi Rob Hanover looked the part finishing on the wire with another nice filly Odds On Abba by Always Be Miki out of Classic Star.

On the trotting side, Simpatico, the $9,000 Cantab Hall colt who looked sensational in a heat last week against Maverick the sales topper for 2019, looked wonderful again going a mile in 2:35. He is from the Muscle Yankee mare Miss Otis Regrets. Also with him on the line were Roberts Hanover, another colt that looks like a bargain at $45,000, also by Cantab Hall out of Rule Of Hall and Cash Hudson, a homebred son of Chapter Seven—Crazy Grigio.

One that has looked great from day one is Cervi, an Always B Miki—Beachesof Cheyene filly she was accompanied by Angel On Earth (f Artspeak—Heaven Forbid) and Notorious Pink a Captaintreacherous filly from She A Hot Mess going their mile in 2:34.

From Lindy Farms, two colts returning to the wars after suffering minor setbacks were Okalica and KingsCounty going a nice doubleheader. Both were sound and good gaited.

The homebred filly by Sebastian K out of Product Placement, Mouse Circus, went a good solo journey with Frode Fladen, Freddy Grant’s assistant at the lines.

Abuckabet Hanover (c Betting Line—All Tucked Up), and Senor Cool (c Captaintreacherous—CPA) were at the finish together followed by Simon Says Hanover (c Captaintreacherous—Social Scene) and Pirate Hanover (c Captaintreacherous—Paris Hanover), all were well in hand. Abuckabet Hanover has been nothing short of sensational since he hit the Florida east coast.

From Team Zeron came a top group of 3-year-olds led by the 1:55 performer Solsbury Hill, a colt by Muscle Hill from Emmylou Who with Illdoitmyself a Chapter Seven colt from Dornello.

Two 3-year-olds that I really liked last year that ran into minor problems looked great from the Fred Grant barn. They were a filly Island Lily by Chapter Seven out of Upfront Hotsey and a colt Powerplay Goal by Muscle Mass from Finesse Hanover both trotting a quick 1:07 half finishing.

Back to the Alagna Barn a trio of nice trotting fillies went a mile around 2:35. They were Hello I Love You (Trixton—Flirting Miss), Lovey Belle (Chapter Seven—Somebody To Love), and Plaid And Pearls (Father Patrick—Domestic Diva). The latter has been a favorite from day one.

I had to leave to let my dogs out and my new assistant Jerry Glantz texted me to add some more babies to the list of those that impressed.

They were all 2-year-old pacers.

Babs Jensen (f Racing Hill—Unsolved Mystery), Warawee Will (c Captaintreacherous—Warawee Quick), Themysteryisover (f Artspeak—Mystery Game), Keystone Catalyst (c Betting Line—Keystone Caitlyn) and Exploit (c Captaintreacherous—Time On My Hands).

My sincerest apologizes to the Peter and Melanie Wrenn barn . I need a pair of binoculars to read your head numbers they are way too small. I will make some adjustments.

To Steve Condren who keeps yelling fictitious head numbers to me, it would be my pleasure to write about Casie’s horses, but it is her choice to train without head numbers and her posting of videos on Facebook is far better than my quotes.

R.I.P. Frank “the hands” Baldessare. You were a fixture on the deck for many years dating back to when The Deck was brown not blue, and you will be missed by all of us.

Please don’t miss Ask The Guru on Friday.

Two important questions:

One, a suggestion from a man who only described himself as Jim, but he had an important message. Can we start an Amanda Harris Cancer Fund? (details to come).

Two, it’s crunch time with the 2-year-olds dropping well into the 2:20’s and maybe the teens. This is when lameness rears its ugly head and you don’t have time to waste figuring it out. I will cover questions about. where to find the most common ailments and try to make your troubles lessen. The first will be hiking right hind in the turns.

Don’t miss it.

Keep the questions coming in and have a wonderful week.