Stakes Overtures For ‘Jug’ Meet

It the weekend before America’s Pace—The Little Brown Jug—which takes place next Thursday at the Delaware, Ohio fair meet, which begins Sunday, Sept. 15. We will be covering the entire meet, though not from the track in Ohio, through blogs here, Twitter and the TwinSpires Facebook page. So stay tuned to the social network for weekday harness action,including the biggest programs of the short week, Wednesday, Sept. 18 (The Jugette) and Thursday, Sept. 19 (“Jug” day). 



UPDATE -- H2W list below includes Sunday choices at Delaware, Ohio.

 

Meanwhile, Friday, Sept. 13 could be lucky for us at the Meadows, where we cover Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) finals for sophomores. As well, Mohawk delivers big frosh finals with the William Wellwood for colt trotters and the Peaceful Way for the fillies.

 

Plus, more live contenders from harness venues all over North America are projected in our exclusive horses to watch (H2W) list below.

 

TwinSpires offers special bonuses for Hoosier Park throughout the harness meet. Check out the Hoosier details here. 

 

Our featured Breeders Crown Countdown event this week is the Canadian Trotting Classic Final, with some of this season’s sensational glamour-boy trotters; for that analysis to help you with your wagering decisions, Go to Breeders Crown Countdown. 

 

Keystone Classics  

 

Pennsylvania-bred sophomores are treated to giant purses and the money spills over to fund PASS consolation events, too.

 

In the filly trot championship (each champsionship race has a purses of $260,000), Coffeecake Hanover looms as the outside contender. With a 6-1 morning line we only hope will be a mirror of the last flash on the tote, “Coffeecake” could overtake the probable choices—Classic Martine, Mystery Woman and Frau Blucher (most likely in that order).

 

The filly pace final leaves little evidence that Somwherovrarainbow will be beaten by any of these. Native Dream defeated her in a PASS leg in July but was 9-5 in that event. Since then, “Somwher” has gotten sharper and has beaten better. Niki Beach could make the place spot with some clearing (she was buried deep in the Shady Daisy).

 

The glamour-boy trot finds one of our usual choices, Aperfectyankee, as the morning line choice. But there is no counting out Bluto, whose recent pair of miles presented brutal trips. Certainly he may be a bargain on the board and that would be a cue for us to lose support for Aperfectyankee, considering we were on him at 25-1, 21-1 and 14-1.

 

The glamour-boy pace offers a strange morning line choice in Twilight Bonfire. Twice he completed an exacta at huge odds but he has not beaten many in this field. Though I would carefully measure the value on closing odds for Dedi’s Dragon, he appears to be in better shape right now than the lot of them. Lonewolf Currier has been suspiciously short of late, as has Martini Hanover, and without excuses we can excuse them from contention.

 

PASS Consolations

 

The soph-filly pace consolation is a great place for Aunt Caroline to romp over the probable choice, Scandalous Hanover. “Caroline” was dynamic in a Simcoe Stakes, second to the fabulous I Luv The Nitelife and doing it from the 8 hole at 75-1. Both of her stakes races ended in places and the Somebeachsomewhere filly is well placed here to win.

 

The colt pace consolation may present a fine overlay in Normandy Invasion. Tossing out his Sept. 4 race, where he broke at the start and never became involved, he was spot on chasing two far better colts than appear in this group. The probable favorites are iffy at best, so this is more than a stab—if “Norm” stays flat he will be a major factor, if not the winner.

 

The soph-colt trot presents an appearance by Hambo boy Creatine, winner of a Hambo elim (our Players Pool had him at 5-1). He had a great qualifier at The Red Mile before coming home and although Lindy’s Tru Grit has been hot, Creatine should be atop any exacta, including with “Grit,” the obvious second element.

 

‘Wellwood’ Winner

 

The $365,000 William Wellwood Trot Final for frosh-colt trotters is on the Mohawk docket for Saturday, Sept. 14, as well as its sister event for fillies, the Peaceful Way.

 

The green colt trotting division has a hero, we just have not heard enough about his prowess. Father Patrick is truly a giant young sidestepper. He has gone under the radar with all the hooplah about other divisional heroes this season but we truly cannot say enough about him. How he won his “Wellwood” elim from post 10 and shaking like Jell-O in the stretch while still trotting down the leader from a few lengths away is the trip of a champion.

 

Father Patrick is already next year’s Hambletonian choice and trainer Jimmy Takter will be doing everything he can to be sure the colt’s transition to sophomore is as smooth as possible. So what is not to like about him in the Wellwood final? There is no smarter wagering move here than to key Father Patrick and work on some exactas and triactors. Just don’t play against him and have to pray for a miscue. If that is your strategy, pass the race.

 

Give ‘Peace’ A Chance

 

The filly trotters are featured in a $374,000 stakes event, the Peaceful Way, on Sept. 14 at Mohawk and due to some circumstances in elims, two top contenders won’t be there to race. Shake It Cerry, at 1-9, broke after the half and left competition. Grammas Girl, at 35-1, took advantage of the favorite’s break, to win. Riveting Rosie was the second choice to “Cerry” and finished third after breaking at the gate. Danica Hall beat the public choice (Demanding Sam) in round two. 

 

Barring any breaking, Riviting Rosie may be the best to support in the final. Her comeback after the miscued start may have even beaten Cerry, had that one not broken. Exotics may be worth some investment here, too, using Toughs Legacy, who in elim two jumped at the start and made up 17 lengths once back on stride to finish third at 31-1.

 

H2W Legend

 

Review our horses-to-watch (H2W) choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races.

 

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 it 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. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires. 

 

H2W

 

Delaware, Ohio
9/15/13, Mannerism R1; Don't Muff It Up R2; Bella Fever R3; Pointe De Vue R5; Milliron Pete R6; Supreme Day R7; Prakasmakesperfect R12; Crown Time Keeper R13; Like A Dream R14

Freehold

9/14/13, Saywhatuneedtosay R2; Newsam R 4; Leg Up R5; Useful Hanover R9; Allstar Blues R11

 

Maywood

9/6/13, +Anescape 1e R13  

 

Meadows

9/13/13, All Heart Gal R1; Lady Ashlyn R2; Bohemian Spell R3; Keystone Fling R11 

 

Vernon

 

9/13/13, +Steuben Huckleberi R9    
9/14/13, Touch Of The Past R3; Skyway Poncho R8

 

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.