Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

After Captaintreacherous won the Meadowlands Pace, as we predicted, the fabulous pacing colt’s win price of $3.20 looked gigantic. His total command of the mile was another notch in the belt of a pacer that will rank among the best of all time, including his great sire, Somebeachsomewhere. 

 

Once again, handicappers tried to make cases for other colts, continuing to deny the superlative performances of the “Captain” and using nothing but blind hope to support their arguments. The Captain took the front and the race was over but before he won he put more distance between him and the rest of the field. Odd On Equuleus was the best of the rest, 3 ¼ lengths behind the winner. 

 

The Captain heads for the Battle Of Brandywine at Pocono next. Watch our blog for details, including which pacing colts are going to pursue an upset as that scenario continues to be a piece of fiction. 

 

In the “Haughton” we were third with Sweet Lou but we were right about the loss of last week’s buzzing speedster Warrawee Needy, who lost to Pet Rock. Opening the huge Meadowlands program, a colt we told you was poised for a big win but lost when we gave him out last time, won big. Hurrikane Kingcole raced a huge mile at 9-1 to win. 

 

The favorites won the New Jersey Sires Stakes finals for the freshmen and I Luv The Nightlife was super winning the Mistletoe Shalee but paid a mere $2.80. 

 

The soph-colt trotting event featured a surprise scratch. Smilin Eli was taken out of the race. The filly trotters again fell victim to the fabulous Bee A Magician. You can read those race reviews in detail if you visit the Hambletonian Society’s special archive page featuring our Hambletonian Trail stories.

 

H2W   

 

$16.40 Spender Hanover, Buffalo
$15.80 Hammers Cam, Running Aces
$11.60, Wanna Win, Northfield
$8.30 Fly High, Saratoga

$7.50 Manic Hall, Vernon
$7.20 Wingull, Pompano
$4.80 Filou Dream, Northfield
$4.70 Sweet Fancy Moses, Vernon
$3.40 All Shuttle, Scioto
$2.60 Ee Bay, Scioto

 

The following are the horses that finished second or third along with their post-time odds. Special notes on those finishes follow. 

 

Seconds:
Pathway Dot Com (7-1), Northfield; Missplacedart (7-2), Meadows; Nanicoke (9-1), Vernon; Brooklyn’s Dagger (4-1), Running Aces 

 

Thirds:
Zaine Royal (14-1), Meadows; Big Rock Star (5-2), Meadows; Hallin Cash (5-2), Vernon; Olay Boko (3-5), Vernon; Mchoffman (7-2), Vernon; Place At The Beach (4-1), Running Aces; My Immportal (10-1), Pompano; Diamond Master (4-1), Pompano 

 

All adjustments for returnees to the list and additions will be in the Thursday blog. 

 

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News And Notes

 

Truro Raceway was slated to close July 14 may have an extended life. New plans are in progress to save the Nova Scotia racetrack from the bulldozers. “I feel two-hundred percent better than I did yesterday,” Steve Morton, president of the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry and the Truro Harness Horse Owner’s Association, said in a story in the Truro Daily News. You can read the whole story here.  

 

Batavia Downs is poised to open. The 2013 season gets underway on July 22. Horses may begin arriving on July 16. The first draw of the season will take place on Friday, July 19, which will be for the opening night’s races. The 67th season at America’s oldest lighted harness track features 72 race dates, including six matinees. Evening post time is 6:30 p.m. and matinees tip off at 1:15 p.m.

 

The historic track, located in Genesee County, N.Y., is having a $27 million facelift which will move and expand the gaming floor to the ground level. The projected opening is Aug. 30. “We’re excited about nearing the completion of phase one of the expansion project,” said William White, VP of Administration. “We have been working closely with Todd [Haight, GM of live racing] to put this facility back together in time for racing. I’m confident both our racing and gaming customers will enjoy the benefits from having both venues on the same level.”

 

With eight horses entering the $543,000 Maple Leaf Trot on July 20 at Mohawk, no eliminations will be needed for the classic race for Open trotters. Mister Herbie, last year’s champion, will look for back-to-back wins for trainer Jeff Gillis. “Herbie” has earned $1,308,388 along with 17 victories. He has raced just three times this season.

 

“He’s had a hoof issue,” Gillis said, “which has been well documented so we’re not really as fit as we’d like to be. He’s a good horse and has won after long layoffs before. His hoof issue right now is under control and right now it’s just catching up. He didn’t have a harness on him for two and a half weeks after his last start at the Meadowlands so we’re just getting him fit again.”

 

A fascinating news report from Arizona regards the strange case of Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear, which is practically the middle of the desert. Read the story about what is and will always be a bad idea for a racing facility by clicking here.

 

Extraordinary Extras

 

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.  

 

Every weekend as part of that blog we offer Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page which includes suggested win bets. 

 

Connect to Twitter and follow Frank and Ray Cotolo for up-to-the-minute suggestions on wagers at many harness raceways. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts.   

 

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.  

 

Cartoons by Thom Pye