While most top drivers will say they are going into the race without locking in a plan and let events dictate there is usually more to the story.
What they usually mean is that they have narrowed it down to a few options after careful study and will take the one that suits best.
That is not so easy for Mark Purdon and Chase a Dream in the Betcha $1m slot race at Cambridge tonight.
When you are one on the second line and the two favourites face clear air out of the gates what options do you have.
Not many.
“Going on what I saw last time I don’t think Duchess Megzit (ace gate) is going to have enough early speed to carry us into it. So we have to look at the other options and there are no easy ones” Mark said Thursday.
“I am very happy with his condition, he is dead right for the race but at this distance you are going to need all the luck you can get”
Some may wonder how those who paid up for the slot regard the decision to have a second row in the race anyway. It is probably necessary to make the stake what it is but for some the race is over before it has begun.
Mark is not taking a defeatist attitude but concedes his charge faces a big target.
He has had a lot of success in mile races at Cambridge in the Harness Jewels days and considers gates count for a lot especially in major races.
“There is less between these horses than in age group races that makes the gates fairly crucial”
Most read the race as a Don Hugo lead, Leap To Fame outside and there will be a tussle to get in behind both for one shot at them in the run home. Where no doubt Mark will hope to be.And after last week’s big odds against Chase A Dream
It is more straightforward race read for Oscar Bonavena,also raced by Mark and Chris Ryder, who may be looking for the early lead with The Locomotive predicted to work for the lead no matter what. Trailing him is the place to be. But there is a caution.
Oscar has tripped some high class drivers not used to him with his tricky gait in the first 10m or so,a cause of his break in Australia most recently. So while he has high speed it takes a short while to cut in and Mark sees this as a potential problem.
“Queen Elida can run the gate and is drawn inside us so that could be a worry for us. But if that happens I will just have to look for somewhere handy and launch later”
“He is in a great place.It is amazing how sound and sharp he has been for a long time now”
Without You with the benefit of good gate at last is rated a strong place chance and also Midnight Miki while Andretti “has picked up a lot from his first race and could challenge Fugitive this time”
Gate 1,the one Mark would have liked for the Betcha,is ironically a mixed blessing for Luby’s Luck in the card opener.
“I wouldn’t like to push her hard early from there so we wil see how it develops”