TwinSpires.com Blog

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

We managed to get to the post at Woodbine on the last day of January, only to find our Blizzard Final choice, Zip Car, at 51-1. It must have given our readers quite a thrill to witness the outsider (in wagering and in post) fire to the top early, as we predicted. Unfortunately, that rush turned into a duel that not only ruined his chances but opened up the race for a 10-1 shot to win. Zip Car finished last. Our other possibility in the race, Stoneridge Classy, finished fourth at 33-1.

Our overnight features offered more competition. In the second of two we suggested at Northfield, Wild Ride finished second ($9.60, $4.40). At the Meadows we gave you a $57.80 triple, though out of order. Our first choice was Double Dribble. He finished third ($5.60) at 32-1. The favorite won and our other contender was second.

Be on hand every Wednesday night for TwinSpires’ 10-percent-bonus Buffalo Raceway 50-cent Pick 4 wagers. Last week’s card was a victim of the winter weather. You can find our choices when Buffalo races via Twitter -- @FrankCotolo, @TwinSpires and @BuffaloRaceway.

H2W RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas are included when a H2W horse finishing first or second completes the result with a race favorite or another H2W horse listed as the winner in the same race (*asterisks note the particular races along with track name). This holds true, also, for trifectas if three H2W horses finish win, place and show.

Winners

I’m An Athlete, $28, $12.20, $7.40, Cal Expo
Yorkster, $18, $8.90, $3.40, Buffalo
Tallerthanwoody, $10.80, $5.60, $3.20, Northfield
Bakardi Arti, $4.20, $2.60, $2.10, Charlottetown
Eighteen, $3.70, $2.40, $2.10, Yonkers
Cole Diddy, $3, $2.50, $2.10, Buffalo
Cyclone Cully, $2.20, $2.10, $2.10, Freehold

Seconds

Sullys Guide, $22, $10.30, Flamboro
Big Guy Two Win, $15, $9, Cal Expo
Oh Whata Guy, $10.20, $5.60, Northfield
Eddie Sweat, $6.20, $4 (Exacta, $22.60), Meadows
Yank My Missle, $5.20, $2.20, Cal Expo
Modern Image, $4.90, $2.80, Flamboro
Trustmeonemotetime, $4.30, $2.40, Charlottetown
Stonebridge Adore, $3.20, $2.30, Flamboro
Genuine Star, $2.20, $2.10, Northfield

Thirds

Capitalism, $8.80, Charlottetown
Melboy, $4.80, Cal Expo
Lightning Madison, $3.70, Monticello
NJs Trick Pistol, $3.50, Flamboro
Yulfa, $3.40, Freehold
Mcmaverick, $3.20, Charlottetown
Artners In Crime, $2.50, Charlottetown
Castle Oaks, $2.40, Cal Expo
Upfrontoutthedoor, $2.10, Buffalo


News And Notes

He’s back after a winter break at Brittany Farms. Now a four-year-old pacer, superstar Captaintreacherous is back in the hands of trainer Tony Alagna, who has the horse poised for training. All readers of the TwinSpires blog in 2013 are acquainted with the talented pacer and should have benefited playing him through a stellar sophomore season. He is a winner of more than $2 million from 16 starts (and 13 wins) last year and has $2.9 million earned through two seasons of campaigns.

Bred by White Birch Farm of New Jersey and owned by Captaintreacherous Racing of Kentucky, the horse’s final 2013 start was at the end of November against free-for-allers at the Meadowlands. He ended up sixth, just 2 lengths back. That was the only race in the horse’s career to date where he hasn't collected a piece of the purse money. To keep an eye on the horse as he prepares for his 2014 campaign, click the following link to watch his webcam. Captaintreacherous' Webcam



Highly regarded trotter Donatella Hanover is trained by Jimmy Takter and is racing at three. Last year, Donatella Hanover didn’t race until the end of October and then faced almost all older horses in five starts. She won two and never finished worse than third, earning $20,125. Takter’s filly has strong breeding. “I love that family,” Takter said, “it’s a really good pedigree. She was very late, very immature. She just wasn’t ready for any [freshman] action. She was turned out a couple times last year and brought back. Now it seems like she is getting everything together.” Takter hopes to prepare her for bigger events later in the season. “When you have a young horse finding racing opportunities can be so tough,” Takter said. “They’ve got to race against older horses and it’s not easy for them. . . I think she is going to be a stake horse.”

Veteran horseman Tim Maier is producing some healthy prices for winners at Cal Expo. The longtime California harness campaigner continues to elude the support of bettors for some strange reason. Maier has been racing on the West Coast’s shaky circuit for decades and has been competitive on the old Hollywood mile, the Los Alamitos and Fairfax five-eighths ovals and has driven most of the horses he trains over the years. On Jan. 31 he drove for trainer Lester Smith and brought home Joey Hackett, paying $100.80. He followed that race with his own Little Anna Mae, paying $10.40. Be aware of Maier’s contenders at the Sacramento meet, they are being overlooked.

Extraordinary Extras

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

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

Cartoons by Thom Pye