Cotolo’s Harness-Weekend Review, 6-6-11

Just as last week accentuated the power of the public, this week took more than its share of muscle off of mass opinion.  

Foremost, the three divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere at Mohawk, featuring highly touted properties in the glamour-boy colt-pacing division, went to horses other than those getting most of the ink during this early season.  

Among them was Roll With Joe, the colt we told you was the biggest enemy of Shadyshark Hanover in the third division. “Joe” toppled “Shadyshark” and a heavy  hometown choice, Betterthancheddar. Joe paid a whopping $22.60.  

In the first division, Big Jim was not so strong in the stretch, allowing Up The Credit to beat him at 10-1. Our choice, Powerful Mist, completed the trifecta, finishing just behind Big Jim.  

We finished third in the other split with Lookinforadventure.  

Another upset took place at Pocono where Some Girls Do was defeated. We recognized her possible fault but finished fourth with Kayla’s Dream and fifth with Live Inspired.  

As we predicted, the filly, See You At Peelers (pictured), part of a three-pronged entry that made wagering on the race impossible, won over weaker glamour-boy colts. It was history, of course, since the filly became the first of her sex to win an Art Rooney Final. Her real test against the boys will be the Little Brown Jug, if she remains healthy until September.  

The “Rooney” companion event, for fillies, the Lismore, was a surprise to us. That is, we hawked Honky Tonk Woman and she became the even-money choice. We passed and she finished second as another upset made the books—a win by third-choice JK Owhatanite.  

At Cal Expo, in June 4’s no-takeout Pick 4, there was a scratch in the third leg, leaving you with the decision to single the 7 horse or pass. It was moot, ultimately, using our choices.   

Our Pick 4 finished 4^th/ 6^th, 7^th / 6^th  , scratch/ 3^rd, 4^th  

Keep up with the colt and filly trotters aiming at the August classics at the Hambletonian Trail and Hambletonian Society web sites.

Harness News

Ed Hensley’s five-win program at Tioga Downs resulted in a flat-bet profit even though two of his winners paid odds-on prices. The $24 investment returned $32.30 mostly thanks to a $14 winner. The investment brought you a profit of $8.30.

The Meadowlands has announced a new series for three-year-old trotters that are non-winners of two extended pari-mutuel races or $25,000 lifetime up to and including June 5, 2011.

The series will have a pair of $15,000 legs on Friday, June 10, and Friday, June 17. The $40,000 final will be held on Friday, June 24.

Two-year-olds are going through the early motions in “baby races,” and all eyes are upon the first racing crop of Hambletonian-winner Donato Hanover.

At the Meadowlands last week, three from daddy “Donato” went at the Meadowlands. A filly, Real Babe, won in 1:59.3 for trainer Ray Schnittker. Another Donato filly from the Schnittker stable, Check Me Out, was an easy 8-length victor in 2:01 over Sculpted Vanity, another Donato miss. Astarsborn Hanover, Donato colt, gave Schnitter his next win. It was wire to wire in 2:01.3 

Some other impressive youngsters included a pacing colt, Delano (by Credit Winner) and a pacing filly, Hayworth Blue Chip (by Bettor’s Delight).

From the Jimmy Takter barn, colt-trotters Guccio (Yankee Glide) and Uncle Peter (by Cantab Hall) opened some eyes winning.

It’ll be the final week in June when two-year-olds begin to battle in sires stakes and other events that aim at high-profile miles throughout the Grand Circuit through summer.

(Cartoon by Thom Pye)