Remmen has 4 for Saturday

Trainer Ray Remmen qualified four finalists for Saturday’s winter series finals: the entry of Stately’s Hoss and Civil Attack in the $70,000 Exit 16W and Mr Lifeguard and Spin Rate in the $90,400 Junior Trendsetter.

"He'll be out there trying to get a check,” Remmen said of Stately’s Hoss (race 4, post one). “JK CU Later lays over the field. It’s a tough race. If both of my horses get some money in here, we'll be thrilled. Civil Attack’s (race four, post five) got some talent, but against these, it's going to be very tough."

Of his Junior Trendsetter duo, Remmen said: “Mr Lifeguard went a big race last time. He hadn't shown a whole lot before that. If things go his way, don't be surprised if he's right there. Spin Rate’s in a similar spot to Mr Lifeguard. They both need to work things out their own way, but he's got some ability, too. He's been second and third in this series. If he gets a break or two, he can be right there."

Trainer Erv Miller will send out Pirate Image (race six, post one) in the Junior Trendsetter and Western Shore (race four, post five) in the Exit 16W.

"I bought Pirate Image for the owner (Nick Capparelli of Elmont, N.Y.) to be a fair horse,” Miller noted, “but he's already made back more than we gave for him.

"Western Shore’s got a big chance,” he continued. “I'm quite happy with how he's done so far this year. The reason he has only 13 races combined at ages three and four? He's a narrower type of horse. I wanted to add some weight to him. Last year, he went two heats in the Hoosier Cup and bled. Now he's on Lasix. I've made some bridle changes on him this week in hopes he'll be smoother in the turns."

Driver Daniel Dube rated two of his Saturday contenders Carr’s Character (race four, post four) and St Pete Star (race six, post five):

"Nobody was leaving last week so I raced him up front,” Dube said of Carr’s Character. “He raced well, although he's probably a little better if he can race from off the pace and close some. This is a tough field, the best horses he's faced. He's going to need a great trip against these kinds of horses.

Of St Pete Star, Dube said: "I two-moved him last week to the top. He just got beat a nose. The week before was the first time I drove him and he had a lot of traffic. So far, so good with him."

Aquarius finalist Fox Valley Appeal (race eight, post six) may be pint-sized but he has a powerful engine, according to trainer Jeff Smith.

“He's a little guy, not much bigger than a pony,” Smith said. “When I bought him, it was to be a raceway horse, mostly on the half-mile. He's turned out to be a lot more than that.

"He's a bit of a trip horse,” Smith continued. “If he gets towed into it, he's a winner. He loves to finish. He trained super on Wednesday. Last year, he was chasing horses like Artistic Fella around. He's not the kind of horse who can go out there and rough it, especially not against this kind. But, I'm very much looking forward to the race. I feel he's got a big shot, as good as any." (Meadowlands)

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