TwinSpires Blog: Winning In The Dark Days Of January

Winning In The Dark Days Of January

POSTED Jan 15, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

What is it about January? Every year in the Western Hemisphere begins behind a bleak and dull curtain of sour weather and, sadly, flu bugs and malaise. This is another reason we place a premium on playing pari-mutuels as the new year launches because the action and, of course, the wins, cut through the cosmic fog of the season and perform like a grand overture for the great horse racing theaters to come with better weather and, naturally, better horses.

We have been doing well with pari-mutuels here so far, helping to buoy the bad senses of the season. Concentrating on overnights we’ve hit for some major scratch and our horses-to-watch (H2W) list has accumulated 10s of winners so far.

At the Meadowlands another round of the Super Bowl series for trotters may offer value it has denied players thus far, so check into our choices below. We target more overnight events that propose profitable results and the H2W list ensues with hot candidates for win, place, show and exotics.

’Super’ Series Ensues

The Super Bowl series at the Meadowlands for three- and four-year-old trotters holds its second preliminary leg on Thursday, Jan. 16. There are only two divisions this week and if we look beyond the obvious we find there may be a few upsets in the making.

Division one will find the entry an overwhelming public choice but let’s not fall in love so soon. There is plenty of competition here and a 30-1 morning line (ML) trotter from post 1 that deserves an upset chance. Connie Keeper does not have enough wrong with her yet to dismiss here. She failed last week at 110-1 in her second outing this year. She is still a maiden but has very good lines from October of 2013. She can do nothing but improve with only 16 starts and if she does get better or wins off of major mistakes by the entry or Cajole Hanover, this is where you will get a big price.

In division two we will once again go with Clementine Dream. She broke at the start and was eliminated but her general composure is worthy to back and there will be a decent price on her, certainly better than her ML.

This week’s overnight offerings:

Meadows
Jan. 17, Race 4

Four Starz Kyle has changed trainers a few times and settles in at the Meadows after tours at Pocono, Philadelphia, Yonkers and one at the Meadowlands this year. He faces a probable favorite that must prove himself at a higher level, a Dave Palone drive (dropping) and not much else that has had decent success at this level. “Starz” has won at this level and been knocked around with tough trips trying to step up. He will be a price here, surely offering higher odds than his chances.

Meadows
Jan. 17, Race 8

Two going from the outside make this race look appetizing to our kind of bettors. PL Dragon (post 6) has been racing with winners-of conditioners until recently and was all out from post 8 last week in Pittsburgh, finishing second strongly. Leaving to his right is Hall Of Memories, who was stifled from post 9 in a step-up (94-1) situation at the Meadows last week. He left slowly and showed no interest in being a part of that race. He has won a winners-of event at Northfield and one here at a lower level and he deserves a shot at being in the mix here, certainly in exotics.

H2W Legend

Review our 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

Cal Expo
1/17/14, +Hillcrest Romeo R1; Poorlittlerichgirl R4; Perfect Pitch R7; Twentyone Guns R9; +Plum Crazy Baby R10
1/18/14, Fragons Wall R6; All Is Lost R10; Lie A Little R10; Energy Angle R11

Flamboro
1/18/14, +Frilly Throng R5; +Shiny Mach R8; +New York Colossus R11

Frasier
1/17/14; +Nazko Tribute R1; +Pinepitch Cam R5; +Rock Allstar R6; +Westridge Warrior R7; +Panic At The Disco R9; +Latino Hall R10; +Pureform Dreamer R11; +Somethinsgoinon –AE—R11
1/19/14; One Last Shot R5; +Stiletto Hall R6; +Pureform Athena R7; I Hear Voices R8; +Taylor Special R9; Branding Party R9; Somethinsgoinon R10; Mmmmmh R11

Freehold
1/16/14, No Tears Here—AE—R7; +Hagi R8; Kaya’s Sweetheart R7
1/18/14, Ala Carte Bill R3; Major Bet R5

Northlands
1/17/14; +Real Pretty R3; +Shyster Hanover R5; +Sunny Bee R5; +Skirmish R6; Cinderella Smiles R7; +Brave Rustler R9; +Kg Cody R11; Too Young Man R11
1/18/14; +Kg Explorer R4; +Rascal Shark R9; +Loneridge Shannon R9; Smooth Criminal R10; Man Alive R11

Meadows
1/17/14, +Lookinforadventure R1; +Dellie’s Jewel R3; Karets R6; +MM’s Copper Touch R12; Mattachardle R15

Monticello
1/20/14, + Now It Begins R2; Connie Lauxmont R7; +Chop Chop Suey R12

Pompano
1/18/14; +Ding Dong Boy R1; +Mai Tai Guy—AE—R1; +Just Fred R2; Flight Exec R3; +Oh My Joepa R4; Red Hot Yankee R5; Mc Kelvie R6; +Odd Man Out—AE—R10
1/19/14, +Oceans Motion R3; +Bar's Gold Medal R4; +Kayla's Dream R9

Western Fair
1/17/14, Knuckles R2; Flip Top R3; +Hesurbuddy R4; Hazy Lady R5; +Wattafine Rythem R7; Tymal Presto R8;+Beach Hero R12

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.