Solid Stakes Situations

Pacing and trotting action ensues into deep spring with action from many divisions in the U.S. and business-torn Ontario. New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) and Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) for soph pacers and trotters are flowing with glamour-boys and girls. And they rev up for the giant Art Rooney Pace and Lismore at Yonkers, while the elders are shaking things up at Hoosier, Harrah’s Philadelphia and Western Fair.

Of course, there are soph trotters of both sexes testing their division foes as they trot the long road to August. Those races will be covered in this week’s Hambletonian Trail blog, brought to you exclusively by TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society.

Also, as we promised, our harness horses to watch (H2W) list from tracks around North America continues through the stakes season with hot prospects.

TwinSpires presents a special Dan Patch at Hoosier Park super bonus for May 25. CLICK HERE.

Other Hoosier offers ensue throughout the harness meet. Check out the Hoosier details here.

‘Patch’-work Pacers

The $200,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park on May 25 brings the top older pacers to Indiana before some head for Canada next week. The newest rage, of course, is Hurrikane Kingcole, who still has a lot to prove against these more experienced elders. But Rockincam has already proven to have the fury needed to make it a big season and he should love this track.

Also a danger, despite his post, is Aracache Hanover. He could handle the outside here and it may benefit his tactical side, as he may be able to find a good spot early and close on a lot of this speed.

 ‘Jersey’ Jaunts

Soph-colt-and-filly pacers bred in the Garden State go in round two of the New Jersey Sires Stakes for their divisions at the Meadowlands on Saturday, May 25. Leg two of this series follows through from last week’s episodes and for the colts we are staying with the choice we had in leg one, Rocnrolwilneverdie. He will be the outside contender over Johny Rock and Emeritus Maximus.

The second colt split may offer a few value plays to win. Rock Star may be the choice, but we give a shot to To Beach His Own. Trainer Ray Schnittker is in the bike for his budding star and this could be one of his steps into the limelight.

In the filly division (there is only one mile) we are going to try to beat Jerseylicious, the flaming hot gal that we nabbed as a longshot and gave to you live on Hambletonian day when she took a big stakes at two. Our value choice here is Authorize, who got a bum trip in the first leg and could come back strongly at a price.

Molson Pace Menu

The $150,000 Molson Pace Invitation at Western Fair Raceway has the connections of six horses accepting invitations to the event that is the track’s biggest race. Two-time defending champion and the richest pacer of all-time, Foiled Again will headline this year’s edition along with Aracache Hanover, State Treasurer, Versado, Keystone Velocity and Something For Doc. The Molson Pace Prep will take place Friday May 24 and the winner of that event will also receive an invite. The 12-race Molson Pace program will take place on May 31

The ‘Art’ Of Yonkers

A dozen three-year-olds are entered for the 23rd edition of Yonkers Raceway's Art Rooney Pace. That number of entrants makes for a pair of $40,000 eliminations Saturday night, May 25, with the first four finishers in each elim qualifying for the $275,000 final on June 1.

The dozen, in alphabetical order, are…Bet the Moon, Doctor Butch (a $30,000 supplemental entrant), Duel in the Sun, Good Day Mate, Just Bettor, Lonewolf Currier, Mach it So, Sir Cary's Z Tam, Source of Pride, Sunfire Blue Chip, Swift As a Shadow and Visa Viper.

The supplement, a Linda Toscano-trained pacer, is the morning-line choice in elim one but we’ll go with Mach It So with his inherent speed raring to make it three in a row on this half-mile oval. Then, Lonewolf Currier could make this small field wither by the fourth turn with a sweeping brush at a decent price for only six.

The companion event to the “Rooney” is the Lismore for three-year-old pacing fillies. It only attracted eight, so there will only be a final, worth $117,060, on June 1.

Sunday Spectacles

Harrah’s Philadelphia presents two star-studded fields, mare pacers in the $250,000 Betsy Ross Mares Invitational and male trotters in the $250,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational on Sunday, May 26. 

Some may argue that the femme pacing field is stronger than the male field, headed by seasoned frauleins Drop The Ball, Anndrovette and Rocklamation. On any given day each one could beat the other. The question about May 26 is how will the persnickity surface of Philly play? That won’t be a concern of the betting public, however, they will stick to current form and earnings and that means Anndrovette should be favored. It is difficult to assess before seeing where the crowd will lean but beware of Economy Terror, she is in her second race of the season and could be primed well to beat older foes; she should have a hellova season at four and this is a great place to start.

We’ve seen most of the older trotters in the “Lee” invitation, which features last week’s “Cutler” winner Sevuga and the red-hot Modern Family. Elder equine statesman Wishing Stone is all out in the U.S. this season so far but we have our eyes on the improving New York-bred Blacktuxwhitesocks. The three aforementioned guys are on the outside and although they mark speedier miles so far, that is not to say “Blacktux” cannot match them stride for stride and at a price.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track to decide how you will use the information.

The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means that horse is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared.

An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list (so it might not get into the race). Multi-horses may be listed in the same race.

Horses from previous lists that are not racing have a NR after the name on a separate line from dated entries.

Wagering on any of the H2W listed horses is based on your own judgment. Your handicapping skills should include decisions to wager to win, place, show or in exotics. If you have any questions about the H2W list, send them to us through the TwinSpires blog channel.

H2W

Buffalo

5/24/13, Ja’s Charmer R2; Berosis R4
5/25/13, Bombay Away R1; Coastal Highway R2; Dartmouth Hall R4; +Four Hoof Drive R5 
Undercover Bro NR; Debs Girloffortune NR; In Good Hands NR

Cal Expo

5/25/13, +Ridgerson R9; Lebo Jones R6
Terror Time NR; Chevie Balboa NR  

Hoosier

5/25/13, +Bellator R4
Jackets Required NR; Keep On Flirtin NR    

Maywood

5/23/13, +Park Bug R8; Nack Brenlin R9; +Summer Party R10; +Primrose Path R10; +Hoosier Jetta R12
5/24/13, +Jack N Water R2; +Catch The Rapids ae R5Blueridgevalentino R13
Huga Yankee NR; Free To Scoot NR; Prime Escape NR

Meadows

3/25/13, +Marty’s Charm R1; +They Call Me Moon R2; American Gangster R11
Lebron Hall NR; Whatagamble NR; Smokin American NR   

Northfield

5/22/13,  + Rose Run Leah R4
5/25/13, +Lucky Brad R7; Destiny Rides R8   

Pompano

5/25/13, +Bellator R4

Scarborough
5/24/13. Luvalicious R2; Can You Fly R4; Dvc Journey Home R6; Scootin Keefe R7; Allamerican Cheer R9

Scioto

5/23, +Frog Juice R 12
5/25/13, Lookinforadventure R6; Mybrothergeorge R7

Tioga

5/24/13, +Tiffany Mallone R2
5/25/13; +Strong Hope R6
5/26/13, Jk Geronimo R10
Oh No Three O NR; Stand Up Comic NR; Ramona Disomma NR; Rompaway Alvin NR

Vernon
5/25/13, +Joltin Duel R8
5/27, Millbrook Millie R6
 

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.