Showing posts with label American Jewel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Jewel. Show all posts

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Nov 11, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    It was a busy weekend for stakes, considering it’s this deep into the season. We had a great Saturday in the Midwest and a rotten Sunday in the East. But a few good bets got us over the top. 

    Saturday’s parade of American-Nationals at Balmoral featured eight events. Some of them did not warrant challenges of the top entries so we went with them and they won: 

    Market Share, $2.40 ; Always About Katey, $2.20 ; American Jewel, $2.10 ; and Chapter Seven, $2.10. 

    But where two challenges presented themselves, in our opinions, the profit was plentiful: 

    Our Dragon King, $46.80 ; Foreclosure N, $8.60. 

    We were second with Dynamic Youth and third with Canadian Justice, where the top choice, Northern Miss Hall was seventh, both defeated by a favorite.

    We lost the Messenger Stakes to the division’s greatest opportunist, Bolt The Duer. Our choice, Major Bombay was 26-1 and raced like he was 99-1. Still, “Bolt” won off of fractions cut by Pet Rock and was an underlay for us at 2-1. In the Lady Maude, Romantic Moment was hung out to dry and our equal choice, Economy Terror, finished second.

    Sunday at Dover the closest we came to a win, no less a strong one, was Moonlit Dragon, who was second at 14-1 to the favorite, completing an exacta worth $27.80. We will deal with the Matron finals and the Progress Pace in our Thursday blog.

    News And Notes

    Trainer Ron Burke had a pair of pacing mares that swept the Forest City Pace eliminations for pacing mares on Nov. 9 at Western Fair. Both were giant favorites: Rocklamation ($3.40) and Camille ($3.80).

    The $200,000 Forest City Pace Final will go to post on Saturday, Nov. 17. The field, in post position order, is Rocklamation, Modern Cinderella, Misty Moonstone, Tea Party Princess, Ginger And Fred, Ticket To Rock, Camille and Waasmula. The also-eligibles, in order of preference are Monkey On My Wheel and Swinging Beauty. We will analyze the race in our Thursday blog.

    Dover Downs opened last week and bettors mistakenly dumped dough on the usual top drivers at the meet. Dover is known for having heavy favorites based on drivers, moreso than a lot of tracks, and this affords a few lesser-known drivers to win on good horses that offer big prices. In the first week, Allen Davis was responsible for a few winners, one that paid $53, while Carlo Poliseno drove home a $30 winner and Jason Lynch nabbed a $35 win price. Be on the lookout for false favorites at Dover based on the popularity of the driver more than the form of the horse.

    Colonial Downs has been awarded 24 harness dates for 2013. It will begin Sept. 18 and go through Oct. 27. Racing will take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. EST. Colonial Downs is the only one-turn mile in harness racing and the only track in Virginia that features standardbreds.

    Victor Blue was a standardbred trainer, writer and photographer. The New York Times website paid homage to some of his work, including photos that have been called “atmospheric and evocative.” See it by following this link

    Harness horseman Mark King passed away on Oct. 25, at 53. He was from a well known and popular Delaware harness-racing family and spent his entire life and as an owner, trainer, driver and a track blacksmith. We knew him from his prolific campaigns at Pocono Downs in the ‘80s and ‘90s. In 1985, at Pocono, King set a track record when he drove five winners on one program.

    Extraordinary Extras

    Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. Every weekend as part of that blog we 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.  

    Get onto our mailing list and receive a free copy of a classic horseracing fiction book by clicking here.  

    Check out special podcasts available for beginners and veterans of harness betting, a new series available free so you can learn more to bet more and win more at TwinSpires. Click here.
     
     
    Cartoon by Thom Pye

  • Messenger, Am-Nats and Matrons Abound

    POSTED Nov 7, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    There are still arenas for stakes pacers and trotters this late in the season and plenty of money is hanging in the balance, even if divisional titles are quite settled by now. Among the programs that present an abundance of great overnight wagering opportunities, three tracks give the weekend features that top the marquees. 

    We will take a look at all of the action, which gives us plenty to pick and choose where and when to support some strong outsiders that buoy our bankrolls. The chill is in the air but the heat is still on as the year dwindles.  

    Messenger Men

     
    Saturday night’s $415,820 Messenger Stakes is the feature at Yonkers Raceway. On Nov. 10, soph-colt pacers go another round, this time on the half mile, with the early favorite Pet Rock.

    Pet Rock already recorded a Yonkers stakes-record mile when he won the $306,204 Art Rooney Pace in 1:51. For our followers, he paid 4-1 that evening, a generous price.

    Eight three-year-old olds will contest the Messenger Stakes.

    Hillbilly Hanover, who came into the Breeders Crown Final on the upswing after missing a head to Sweet Lou in the Tattersalls, remains winless in 19 tries for 2012 and leaves from the coveted rail for trainer Ron Burke. He is a professional pacer, though, having earned more money this season ($236,503) than any winless horse.

    Still dull since surgery, A Rocknroll Dance is back for redemption, as is Bolt the Duer, whose sole victory of note was taking advantage of a flaming three-quarters by “Dance” at the Meadows to win in record time. The field also includes a quartet of New York-breds, led by Major Bombay: Domethatagain, Lawgiver Hanover and Steelhead Hanover.

    While Pet Rock gets major attention and other popular names from the season attract dollars, Major Bombay will be left with a juicy price. We caught him once this way, earlier in the season, against state-breds. He won convincingly on this oval and paid $18. We will try him again, as the overlay in this weary crowd.

    The stakes companion event that evening is the $229,440 Lady Maud Pace for three-year-old filly pacers. The field looks like this: Bettor B Lucky, Handsoffmycookie, Ramalama, Economy Terror, Major Look, Romantic Moment and Rockaround Sue.

    Romantic Moment, trained by Jimmy Takter, is the New York Sire Stakes champ and this season has won the three times she raced at Yonkers. She is also the division’s top filly and only a troubled trip will stop her from getting to the winner’s circle. Racing her down could possibly be the job for Economy Terror but price will be the issue. It’s your call on her.

    American-Nationals


    Eight American-National Stakes, each with six-digit purses, adorn the Balmoral Park program on Nov. 10. It’s a mixed group in each division, with locals and some of the season’s stakes heroes. Let’s run through the divisions.  

    In the $113,000 frosh-filly pace the favorite, Always About Katey, may be too low to wager upon but has it all over this field. She is a product of a hot Midwest sire, Always A Virgin, who is surprisingly sixth in the nation with frosh earners.  

    The Am-Nat frosh colt pace, worth $157,000, is chock full of locals but we like Our Dragon King, who may be the third choice, which could offer decent dollars. 

    In the #130,000 soph-filly trot, Maven arrives from her stunning Breeders Crown win but we will back Northern Miss Hall again this week, since Maven’s victory was all flash and no style. Canadian Justice also has a chance at an upset and should be considered in all exotics. 

    Soph-filly pacers are next, battling for the lion’s share of $145,000. How do any of these overtake American Jewel on this oval? We like Blackjack Princess to pump up an exacta and trifecta here, along with Podges Lady. 

    Older trotters race for $180,000 next and Chapter Seven is a trot-away winner as he heads for retirement. He is the top candidate for Horse of the Year and may go one more time after this race but is under no pressure to lose among this group. This could be a watcher. 

    Glamour-boy trotters are next for $235,000. Yes, it is the usual suspects from the division’s second string, with a few locals sprinkled in for flavor, against the number-one division champ, Market Share. The Hambletonian champ lost the Breeders Crown elim and final to a horse of the moment; he is not here and his moment is over. Market Share wins, paying nothing. Exotics are anyone’s call. 

    Older pacers set sail for $182,000. The two best are on the outside and that gives some good footing for Foreclosure N. He is showing fiery signs of life late in this season and will be worth the price he could offer. 

    The nightcap is for glamour-boy pacers, again featuring a mix of locals and divisional understudies. We will step out with this call: Dynamic Youth. This field is rife for an upset and this colt has been poised for a good mile, having worked hard against far better than appears in this $260,000 event. Look for Hurrikane Kingcole to do better and be in the mix.

    Delaware Dates


    Dover Downs is open and beginning its season with the year-end stakes series, the Matrons. On Sunday, Nov. 11 there are some related events on the program.

    Frosh-filly trotters begin the card with a $41,375 Matron Preview where a huge favorite can be beaten by Ma Chere Hall. She comes fresh off of a stakes victory and may be able to topple the choice this time.

    Frosh-filly pacers go next for $53,550. The problem here is trying to beat Breeders Crown winner Somwhereovrarainbow. That hope will rest upon Offintothesunset, who has had some bad trips while being competitive with top gals before breaking her maiden. This would be quite a shock to bettors but trainer Linda Toscano’s student is getting better as becoming a sophomore nears.

    Frosh-colt trotters are previewed in the next Matron episode, worth $53,225. A good shot here should go to All Laid Out, sharpened in the Kindergarten after a strong showing in Kentucky. He won’t be supported well, although he has what it takes to beat  Dontyouforgetit, the prohibitive favorite.  

    In the soph-filly pace elim, worth $41, 313, the first eight finishers will make the final. Shelliscape is the gal to beat and Moonlit Dragon could be the one to steal this with a burst of speed. Shelliscape won’t get started early and perhaps could come up short if Moonlit Dragon can command the pace. 

    The glamour-boy trot reunites a few from the division that are familiar. The $46,813 elim (first eight make the final) marks the return of Googoo Gaagaa to the arena with these true-bred trotters. “Googoo” has the outside but will be gunning for control early, for sure. With all the speed here, though, Googoo could be compromised and it could set up for My Mvp. Look for the upset to get any price worth a bet.

    Frosh-colt pacers go for $55,325, and we like an outside contender here: Bet The Moon. With Twilight Bonfire the probable choice, there is room enough here to watch talent be dismissed. “Moon” is a solid New York stakes contender that has a remarkable seven seconds but his two wins are strong among the 10 starts.

    Soph-colt pacers rev up in a $35,000 preview for the Progress Pace, Dover’s signature event. Bettor’s Edge will be a reasonable outsider and coming off a strong win will give the choices trouble.  

    Finally, soph-filly trotters go for $49,800 in a Matron elim (first eight to the final). Here we like Cowgirl Hall. She was very game in the Breeders Crown from post 10 and may use that power to thwart foes that are right in her court, more even than the crowd will assess.

     

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Oct 27, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    A dozen races on any night are tough to handle. Who, after all, finds a dozen races, no less on one program, that offer good wagering opportunities? But it was the night of champions, the best of the best in every division, so we approached the dozen Breeders Crown finals at Woodbine on Oct. 27 with all the tools we had available, looking for our usual suspects, overlays, and paying respect to the obvious favorites that seemed undefeatable.  

    What became of the night, we hope, was profitable for you. Our suggested contenders did well, though only one on top offered a victory among a slew of public choices. As well, we were not so adept at the upsets, though one of our second choices wound up to pay the most to win of all the races. 

    Our winner was Wheeling N Dealin, the frosh-colt trotter we thought would continue his win streak to nine races. He did just that, paying $4.20. Our pumped-up overlay exacta did not come through, as Caveat Emptor could only finish fourth. 

    The biggest upset of the night finished with our second choice beating our first. Rockin Amadeus orchestrated a crushing defeat to Captaintreacherous, who came up short with no particular excuse. “Amadeus” won to the tune of a $37 win mutuel. 

    Some voices of handicapping brought up a possibility for that upset, which like a few victories, seemed to favor first-over trips (or, as the case may be, offer a slowing inside lane). Captaintreacherous had little to offer in the last few yards of the mile, uncharacteristic to his style. The strongly favored Chapter Seven won the Open Trot racing the entire mile first over, while the European invader Commander Crowe had an easy trip on top until the same spot where Captaintreacherous tanked. 

    Maven defeated Check Me Out in the soph-filly trot, also by using some first-over tactics against a filly she could not defeat all season on any sized track. Check Me Out also tanked late, finishing third. It was another one of the obvious favorites we put in our first spot.  

    Choices we listed as win plays that were in the thick of the race were Sweet Lou and Golden Receiver, finishing second, and Rebeka Bayama and Market Share, finishing third.  

    Choices we included that finished by completing exactas—as we thought they would, only with different winners—were I Luv The Nightlife and Shelliscape. 

    Our exclusive Breeders Crown Countdown blog will offer closing comments this week, so check in for the aftermath entries. 

    Review all of the season’s great harness action at the archives we produce at Hambletonian Society’s page.

    News And Notes

    Trainer Jimmy Takter came into the 2012 Breeders Crown (BC) evening as the event’s all-time leader in purse earnings, was elected the Most Valuable Trainer, a title sponsored by Walsh Products. Takter had $6.3 million in BC earnings before he won with three students on Oct. 27: American Jewel, To Dream On and Rockin Amadeus.

    Driver Tim Tetrick became the first driver to win four BC events since the series was held on a single program. He drove Anndrovette, Chapter Seven, American Jewel and Heston Blue Chip to their victories.

    Long-time horse owner/breeder, amateur driver and harness lover Alan Kirschenbaum has died. The 51-year-old was a well-known comedy writer with many successful programs over the years. He was instrumental helping to keep harness racing in California as an activist for standardbred issues in the state. As of this writing the details of his passing are unclear. He was a friend of ours and of this column and we are profoundly affected by his death.

    There will be a new format for major race days this upcoming meet at Dover Downs with the top pace, the $30,000 Preferred pace moving to Thursday this season. On Tuesdays, the feature race will be a $23,000 Filly and Mare Open pace. The week’s top event for trotters, a $23,000 Open, is also now set for Tuesdays.

    Dover Downs’ opening day is Sunday, Nov. 4. The November and December racing schedule is Sundays at 5:30 p.m. and Mondays through Thursdays, post time at 4:30 p.m. During the first two month there is no live racing on Fridays and Saturdays.

    Beginning with the New Year, another race day, Saturday, will be added to the weekly schedule for January and February with Saturday and Sunday post time for weekend racing at 1 p.m. There are no change weekdays.

    All tracks are poised to cancel programs from Monday, Oct. 29 in lieu of the forecasted super storm Sandy, scheduled to hit the East Coast and go west to inland locations. As the area braces for an unprecedented climate trauma, updates will persist as to the continuation of all events.

    Extraordinary Extras

    Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. Every weekend as part of that blog we 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 and for live coverage of the Breeders Crown elims and finals. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts.  

    Get onto our mailing list and receive a free copy of a classic horseracing fiction book by clicking here.  

    Check out special podcasts available for beginners and veterans of harness betting, a new series available free so you can learn more to bet more and win more at TwinSpires. Click here.
     
     
     
    Cartoon by Thom Pye

  • Battlefield Breeders Crown: The Cavalcade Of Freshmen and Sophomores

    POSTED Oct 24, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    Once again, this TwinSpires blog and the exclusive Breeders Crown Countdown blog are working in tandem. We are splitting up our comments on the Oct. 27 Breeders Crown finals at Woodbine between here and there.

    At the other blog, we present the older divisions in the classic series, while the two- and three-year-old events are covered below. And follow us on Twitter -- @FrankCotolo and @RayCotolo, as we report live on the Woodbine program.

    Shuffle your attention once more to be abreast of all the coverage, available exclusively at TwinSpires in cooperation with the Hambletonian Society. Here are our comments and suggested contenders in the order of the frosh or soph event on Saturday, Oct. 27.

    Two-Year-Old Filly Pace


    Off of a striking win at The Red Mile, Parlee Beach comes to this affair fresh and strong. She qualified at Mohawk to prep and should be ready to pounce on the top choice, I Luv The Nitelife and top the exacta with that one. You may want to add Love Canal for a trifecta. She was our choice in the elim and was a strong second at 13-1 with Somewherovrarainbow, who is bound to be sharp again but may have to settle for a smaller share with these.
     

    Three-Year-Old Filly Pace


    We are ready to support what could be a major upset in this mile with Apogee Hanover.

    This race could wind up with a shuffling speed duel that will give our choice a clear path to take advantage of a closing kick that impressed us greatly in last week’s elim, won by Romantic Moment. That won will have to contend with American Jewel and Economy Terror and the three could cancel each other out.

    In fact, using Shelliscape for the exacta with Apogee Hanover is a wise move that could produce great results if the speed we expect is not at a surplus. This is a wonderful scenario for an explosive wagering strike.

    Two-Year-Old Filly Trot


    We have been fans of frosh-fillies sired by Kadabra since we delivered readers Poof She’s Gone in the Mistletoe Shalee at 6-1. When Bee A Magician began the season we were all over her nine wins from 11 starts. She comes into this event poised to beat To Dream On (she is the only filly to defeat that one) and if she lives up to her 3-1 morning line she is a super overlay.

    Royal Assets could play a role in an exotic combo, having a propensity to follow winners. She is in a great spot to lay low and sneak into the picture late at a great price.

    Three-Year-Old Filly Trot


    Check Me Out can come close to being the first soph-filly trotter to get a bundle of votes for Horse of the Year since CR Kay Suzie earned that honor—but she has to win this event convincingly. We think she will do that and that only some strange misstep that gets her galloping will stop her. Toss out her loss at The Red Mile since she made two wide moves. From the rail here she should command this affair.

    What may make for a juicy exotic is the inclusion of Bluff. We thought Bluff would be the one to beat Check Me Out in the Kentucky Filly Futurity but she never got started in that mile. We will excuse her for that and bank on her getting a good spot early, possibly sucking along to Check Me Out and saving enough ground to get second or third while others fade from giving chase.

    Two-Year-Old Colt Pace


    Three words describe this race: Captaintreacherous, Captaintreacherous and Captaintreacherous (photo right). It has become hard to be anything but cute when talking about a race with this monstrous freshman. He will be 1-10 and there will be little you can do with him. He may race to another world record here as he faces the same types he has been beating regularly. No one knows if he has raced his best and as his third birthday looms we can only watch and try to muster more awe.

    Rockin Amadeus may be on his tail for second, though even at 20-1 the exacta will be slim.

    Two-Year-Old Colt Trot


    Pine Chip scratched from this final but that is hardly consequential since his chances of beating Wheeling N Dealin were slim to none. In fact, who among this group can hand “Wheeling” his first defeat? It is difficult to make as strong a case for any other colt here but Wheeling.

    Last week we took a 60-1 shot, Caveat Emptor, who finished fourth. He may sit in a good spot this time around, leaving as we thought he would in the final, and be up to making this a whopper of an exacta. For a trifecta with some price to it, put the probable second choice, Dontyouforgetit for third.
     
    Three-Year-Old Colt Pace

    This will be the first time all season that we support Sweet Lou. We beat him throughout the year and rightfully so—except at The Red Mile. That was an impressive race against the best of this mediocre crop. Along with Mel Mara, a perfect late-season star, Sweet Lou should handle the likes of the lesser talent involved.

    This rag-tag field is what is left of the crop: Michaels Power, Bettors Edge, Escape The News, Heston Blue Chip, Panther Hanover, Dapper Dude, Thinking Out Loud and Hillbilly Hanover were all second- and third-stringers in the division this year.

    The fact that Michaels Power will get money only helps our duo. Bettors Edge won his elim with everyone on top of him but he will attract money. Thinking Out Loud is a hometown favorite that has one big credit to his season and it was in Canada, Hillybilly Hanover is thriving late but was nowhere most of the season and Dapper Dan brings very little to the table with his resume.

    Sweet Lou stunned the crowd here last year as the frosh-colt pacing hero but at three he was disappointing, though productive by most measures. In class and condition, our pair of picks are the best.
     

    Three-Year-Old Colt Trot

     
    Supplement, shmupplement [sic], Market Share is the utter best of this division and how he lost last week to Intimidate qualifies as a freaky moment that should become an asterisk in the history books.

    It’s true that we backed Little Brown Fox through the year and thought he could have won the Hambletonian had he not jumped in his elim to be disqualified, that was then and this is now—and now, Market Share is undeniably the best. He won’t be worth much to win and the exotics promise to be puny, so we leave this one up to you 

    For the events with older divisions of this year’s Breeders Crown, click here.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Oct 21, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    As does happen at times, our wagering philosophy worked for us and against us during the two nights of Breeders Crown elims and preps at Woodbine.

    Of our choices to win, recorded here and in our “Countdown” blog, we went for outside contenders but for four entries that we saw no reason to bet against and instead offered them as exotic keys for the win spot. There were two strong outsiders winning over the two nights, but neither was from our catalog of choices. Let’s review where we wound up for each night.

    Our two-year-old colt pace elims went one for two, although Captaintreacherous fooled no one and won, paying a paltry $2.30. With Vegas Vacation second the exacta came back $5.60.  

    Next, frosh-filly pacers went in a single prep and here is one spot we lost while being correct in our scenario. Our choice, Love Canal, was second at 13-1 (she paid $10.30 to place), losing to a 10-1 shot. She was the other element in an exacta that paid $146.30.  

    In the second colt pace we also went against the choice and were right but with the wrong colt. Our choice, Good Day Mate, was horrible, finishing sixth at 17-1 to a 13-1 shot.  

    In the frosh-colt trot we wound up with 60-1 on Caveat Emptor, who finished fourth while not racing as we predicted (he showed zero early foot). The top choice won his eighth-straight race as the overwhelming public choice.  

    On Saturday, the first of two elims for soph-filly pacers went to the top two favorites, with our choice, Ramalama, going off at 19-1, showing little against them.  

    Another big favorite followed, as Little Brown Fox stormed the first of two glamour-boy trot elims, while our choice, Prestidigator, was second at a surprising 9-5. We thought he would be more but let us down nonetheless.  

    A shocker was next, as Market Share (20 cents on the dollar) lost to the supplemented Intimidate, who was 11-1. We felt the winner should have been at least 20-1, coming off of two conditioned races where he defeated nothing, though easily.  

    The Open Mare Trot prep offered 5-1 on Temla Celeber S, one of the two choices we presented (she finished fifth). The other, Beatgoeson Hanover, won paying only $4.20.  

    The first glamour-boy pace elim featured a winner we mentioned in our live tweets, though we stayed with our win choice, Hillbilly Hanover, at 5-1. Bettor’s Edge somehow made a first-over trip into a win in a cavalry charge at the wire, paying $37.20.

    In the other filly pace, Handsoffmycookie finished fifth at 10-1 against the dead-on favorite.

    Lastly, Mel Mara finished second at 4-1 in the other soph-colt pace elim, losing to Heston Blue Chip, remarkably paying $8.30 against the likes of Sweet Lou and supplemented Michaels Power, who were third and fourth, respectively and the first and second choices. A Rocknroll Dance, surprisingly racing just after throat surgery, did not make the final, finishing seventh of seven.

    Remember we will be studying all of the elimination and prep replays, looking for trips that may allow us to recommend some terrific overlays in the cavalcade of finals.

    Our exclusive Breeders Crown Countdown blog will host extensive analysis for the Oct. 27 finals, again in league with this blog, Thursday night—Friday morning, Oct. 26. Follow us for the top wagering value contenders. 

    Review all of the season’s great harness action at the archives we produce at Hambletonian Society’s page.

    News And Notes

    One of the top soph-colt trotters of the season, ineligible to race in the big series due to having a pacing sire (Cam’s Rocket), won big at Rosecroft Raceway on Oct. 20. Googoo Gaagaa, whose birthplace is Maryland, won a prelim sires-stakes event for his division by 23 lengths. He will be uncontested in the program unless he breaks during a race and gallops more than a few feet. That’s how good this colt can race; he could jump and still beat everything that moves among the state-bred competition.
    While the overture races were presented at Woodbine, other Breeders Crown cast members were racing outside the venue. Arch Madness lost a $50,000 Open Trot at Pocono Downs to Anders Bluechip as the 8-5 second choice in the small field. “Anders” is not in the Breeders Crown Open Trot next week, while “Madness” takes on five others in the $600,000 event he has won before.

    Prepping at Woodbine on the program for two-year-old elims and preps on Friday, Rebeka Bayama sizzled to a 1:48.4 win. The five-year-old is one of three supplements this year and looks exceptionally fit for the Oct. 27 Breeders Crown Mare Pace. You might recall we supported her as her late-season binge began, helping her to become a threat at the “Big Noise” of 2012. There are 11 scheduled in that field.

    The proverbial Fat Lady refuses to sing to harness racing in California. The state racing board approved the license application by W&W LLC to conduct a meet at Cal Expo from Dec. 26, 2012 through May 25, 2013. The prospect of three nights a week of harness action is on the table for the new lessees, offering Thursday, Friday and Saturday programs. Watch this column for news on that meet .

    The upcoming Dover Downs 2012-2013 season will feature 15 races daily. The track’s 44th season completes on April 11, 2013. Exceptions are: no racing on Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, an annual one-week Christmas break, Dec. 21 through Dec. 28, dark on New Year’s Eve, Jan. 31, Super Bowl Sunday, Feb.3 and Easter Sunday, March 31.

    In November and December, Dover will race five days a week, Sundays through Thursdays, with dark days on Fridays and Saturdays. The January-February schedule including March 2 will add a sixth day of racing each week on Saturdays. Weekend racing on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.  Five-days-a-week racing returns in March and April. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. Sunday racing in November begins at 5:30 p.m.

    Extraordinary Extras

    Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. Every weekend as part of that blog we 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 and for live coverage of the Breeders Crown elims and finals. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts.
     
    Get onto our mailing list and receive a free copy of a classic horseracing fiction book by clicking here.

    Check out special podcasts available for beginners and veterans of harness betting, a new series available free so you can learn more to bet more and win more at TwinSpires. Click here.

     

    Cartoon by Thom Pye

  • Stakes Weekend Winds Up Red Mile Meet

    POSTED Oct 3, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    The Grand Circuit rolls through the first weekend of October with gusto and ends at The Red Mile for another autumn with the Kentucky Futurity on Sunday, Oct. 7. We will be covering that event, and the filly version, at the Breeders Crown Countdown blog. For glamour-boy trotters it presents itself as quite a contest. For one, it is a race with heats and a final on the same day. For two, Market Share, king of the division thus far, is not eligible (see below for his Saturday appearance in Kentucky).  

    Friday and Saturday at The Red Mile will be covered in this blog, as will two main frosh features at Maywood Park on Oct. 5.  

    Return Of The Freshmen

    Friday, the International Stallion Stakes (INSS) offer nearly $600,000 in purses for freshmen, most coming back from last week’s Bluegrass Stakes.  

    The INSS events begin featuring two sharp fillies off of wins at Lexington. Nikki Beach scored for trainer Tony Alagna. Homer Hochstetler’s Ritascape had a tougher trip to win her division. But we will go again with Miss Madi M. She was very sharp getting third last week at 26-1 and any improvement puts her in upset mode. 

    I Luv The Nitelife returns in the second filly pace and it will take some guts to support an upset this week. Trainer Chris Ryder has her sharp right now and all we can do is lightly support Want Answers again, putting mild trust in her finishing third last week against similar at 11-1.  

    What some think could be most competitive division filly split pits Novascotia Hanover against Wherethegirlsare, South Pacific and Canary Island, a quartet of Somebeachsomewhere products. Going against these leaves only Hit The Curb, whose earnings are in the trio’s ballpark.

    Trotting colts go their second week in Lexington in four divisions. In the first split, Caveat Emptor may be overlooked. Last week’s choice in this group had a tough, wide start and was short. With post 8 and some foes on his inside that beat him, this could be the best moment to get value on a winning performance.

    Fashion Blizzard has the same type of trip that tripped up “Emptor” and will be gunning for a wire-to-wire win here. With the public going to him and Punxsutawney, the third-choice bargain could turn out to be Broadway Prince.

    Pine Credit is the morning-line favorite but we like the chances of outsider Lauderdale, the Jonas Czernyson student that has greatly improved since breaking in the Kindergarten. He may change his maiden status here by getting the top and staying there.

    Finally, don’t be afraid of the big price probably offered by San Donato in the nightcap for colt trotters. His jump last out may turn a lot of players off but a clean-gaited race with John Campbell up wins this as he did the Kindergarten on Sept. 13.

    Maywood Mahem


    Frosh-filly pacers battle on the Chicago front in The Violet Final and young colts are featured in The Cardinal Final on Oct. 5.

    Last week’s arrival to the half-mile Maywood from the mile Balmoral produced a win in a Violet elim for Special Rose and in the final she needs to be considered against the obvious giant favorites on her inside. One of those, Thank You Doc, was beaten by “Rose” and there is no reason to feel tonight will alter that result, especially since Rose should again be greater odds than her chances against the aforementioned.

    The Cardinal Final’s frosh colts also come off some sharp elims and here we need to take a shot with the outside horse, Fancy Creek Elusiv. A decent price is guaranteed because so many players will go for Fox Valley Action, who was second last week even after breaking at the start. However, “Elusiv” beat him the time before when conditions were equal. So, price plus performance can equal a good overlay play.

    Power-Pacing

     
    Saturday, Oct. 6’s Grand Circuit card at The Red Mile finds soph pacers vying for over $1.1 million, including the $510,300 Tattersalls Pace, which drew a dozen of the sharpest from the tough colt division.

    Last week’s winner,Thinking Out Loud, who found a race he could win after so many disappointing appearances after winning The North America Cap, is back with John Campbell to negotiate post 11 in the second tier of the thick Tattersalls field. In a better spot, the 12 hole, is A Rocknroll Dance, who can gain instant position from the second tier and make one bold move, as in the Meadowlands Pace, and win this at a price his followers have earned over the last few events.

    Last week the supplemented Mel Mara was a longshot winner in one group of Bluegrass colts. There is still pointless buzz for Bolt The Duer and Sweet Lou has his followers but A Rocknroll Dance can be played here as an overlay while colts he has beaten for the best money get too much attention.

    The soph-pacing fillies compete in two $111,000 divisions of the Glen Garnsey Memorial, seven in each.

    Romantic Moment will dominate the wagering in the first split, though she lost to ended Shelliscape last week (that one is in split two). She can be beaten again, this time by Big Mcdeal, who was stoutly on the move last week and looks to be able to turn over a bigger mile here.

    Shelliscape will again have something to pace after in the second division, as she tries to close on speedy fractions. However, American Jewel loves the Red Mile and returned to top form here last week and could be worth it if the wagers will be spread out between the aforementioned, Darena Hanover (who won the Jugette) and always dangerous Economy Terror.

    The INSS for freshman colt pacers offers four full divisions for a total purse of nearly $350,000.

    Former Bluegrass winners, Rockin Amadeus, Fool Me Once and Twilight Bomber, line up to kick things off in round one. Fool Me Once should come right back and win.

    Odds On Equuleus was disqualified last week and is out for revenge but Our Dragon King is in a good spot to beat him without the luck of a dismissal.

    Captaintreacherous is back for trainer Tony Alagna and who wants to wager against him as he borrows his way to the Breeders Crown against the types he has beaten six of seven times in his initial season on the track.
     
    The crowd will look strongly at Apprentice Hanover but we will go again with Sir Richard Z Tam because he may be the best bargain between the aforementioned and the rugged but usually over-wagered Johny Rock.
     
    Post for Satuday is 1:00 p.m. 

    More race analysis’s from The Red Mile will appear at the Breeders Crown Countdown as soon as Sunday’s races are drawn. Always check the exclusive blog that, along with the Hambletonian Society and TwinSpires, covers major activity in that could affect the 2012 series of champion-making events, again this year on a single card at Woodbine. Keep up to date on great betting opportunities that don’t appear in the regular TwinSpires blog.

     

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Sep 15, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    This week is odd so we will treat it differently. Firstly, we will review our weekend performances and send you to the Breeders Crown Countdown for storied reviews of major events (the Hambletonian archive area is devoted to the “countdown” stories).

    Next, due to the fact that the big features of the upcoming week are on weekdays at Delaware, Ohio, concluding Thursday, Sept. 20 with the Little Brown Jug, we will offer coverage at different times than usual.  

    During the “Jug” meet we will tweet and post on the TwinSpires Facebook page various updates, that is, all things about wagering with a sprinkling of news, et al. This live-on-line coverage will increase on Wednesday when the Jugette is the feature and for the big Thursday Jug heats program. Our contacts are industry-deep, making whatever we report exclusive. No other wagering site offers the data and information concerning this event (or any major harness event) like TwinSpires.  

    Our usual Thursday night blog will cover Jugette and Jug material. The Sept. 15 weekend’s post-Jug events will be analyzed at the Breeders Crown Countdown blog on or before Friday.  

    As for this recent week, we struck early on in the Peaceful Way at Mohawk with a decent upset against a 1-5 shot as Bee A Magician won and paid $7.70. With the super choice second the exacta came back $11.40.  

    Not much to brag about in the Indiana quartet. The only hit was one that nobody needed to be told about, as Nikki Beach won and paid $2.80. The other “Kentuckiana” stakes was a heartbreaker; our choice, Exotic Beach, went off at 18-1 but finished second.  

    Super Night at Balmoral developed into only two winners, Riccolo at $2.60 and Thank You Doc at $6. And on Sept. 14 we made a bad call thinking that Muscolo would be the favorite in the Charles Smith at Freehold. It turned out our choice, World Cup, was the favorite and he was stuck in a wide trip and finished third while Muscolo won with an easy trip and paid at 11-1.  

    In the million-dollar trot, our choice, Gym Tan Laundry, broke and had no chance of getting into the mix. As it turned out the big choice, Market Share, won at 3-5 with the second choice filling the exacta combo. No big deal. Keep an eye on “Gym” because he will return soon with a vengeance.  

    News And Notes

    Wednesday’s Jugette for soph-filly pacers has attracted a stellar field, the top two being American Jewel and Economy Terror. They will be the heavy co-choices in their elims, with the former in elim heat one and the latter in elim heat two. Both have the unfortunate circumstance of leaving from outside posts on the course that is usually unkind to any and all leaving from post 6 to post 8.  

    All in all there are 15 fillies involved in the two $59,210 elim heats, where the top four from each field return for the second heat. The winner of heat two will be the event winner.  

    The main attraction, The Little Brown Jug, will present a far more compelling pair of heats than last year, as the top glamour-boy pacers have decided to partake in the classic.  

    Among the usual suspects this year are Michael’s Power, Time To Roll, Sweet Lou, Simply Business, Dapper Dude, Thinking Out Loud and A Rocknroll Dance. The latter has to deal with post 7 in his elim against Sweet Lou from the coveted rail. These elims are each worth $78,008.  

    The top four horses in each of the elim advance to the $234,024 second heat. If an elim winner scores in the second heat, he will be the Jug winner. Otherwise, the three heat-winners will return for a $97,510 race-off.
     
    Super-soph filly trotter Check Me Out won an $18,000 open trot over a “good” track, beating older male trotters at Tioga Downs. Granted, the elders were not a classy group but nonetheless bigger and more experienced than Ray Schnittker’s champion gal. However, she is faster than the average aged trotter of either sex and on a good day she is much the best against any division.

    Glamour-boy trotter Archangel continues to do best in his home state and last week he put in a blazing mile at Batavia Downs for a win in a $65,475 division of the New York Sires Stakes (NYSS). The Yonkers Trot winner and the fourth-place finisher in the Hambletonian will no doubt go at Yonkers in the NYSS final on Sept. 22.

    Yannick Gingras is having the most successful season of his driving career. The 33-year-old Quebec native has banked over $8.8 million in purse earnings so far this season. With plenty of stakes purses left he will look to surpass his personal best of $11.9 million, set last year.

    The Breeders Crown is the next target for all the top horses in their divisions. Click here to get to  the exclusive Breeders Crown Countdown blog.

    Extraordinary Extras

    We invite you to enjoy our musings on other standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. Every weekend as part of that blog we 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.

    Get onto our mailing list and receive a free copy of a classic horseracing fiction book by clicking here. And listen to the podcast now available for beginners and veterans of harness betting, a new series available free so you can learn more to bet more and win more at TwinSpires. Click here.

  • Meadowlands Pace Headlines High-Stakes Weekend

    POSTED Jul 11, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    The first million-dollar race in harness history is now worth $600,000 but it loses none of its stature as one of the three primary events of the season for soph-colt pacers. All eyes are on the field of 10 in this Saturday night, July 14’s Meadowlands Pace. They are evenly matched, most think, even though the obvious Sweet Lou is the strong morning-line favorite. 


    Also this weekend, the Meadowlands presents frosh colt-and-filly pacers in New Jersey Sires Stakes action on Friday, July 13 and soph-filly pacers battle in the Mistletoe Shalee final on the “Pace” program. The Pace is part of a $100,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool that spans races 10-13. 

    Also on July 14 at the Meadowlands, Hambo-hopefuls clash in the Stanley Dancer and Hambo-Oaks eligibles go in the Del Miller. Along with Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for colt trotters at Pocono, the square-gaiters are exercising for the big dance on Aug. 4. For an analysis of those events, go to our exclusive Hambletonian Trail. The result stories (and archived reports of all the eligibles performances in stakes since May) are at the Hambletonian Society.  

    In addition, there is some hot Midwest action afoot. Hoosier Park offers Indiana Sires Stakes finals, Hazel Park presents the William Connors Memorial Final and the Grand Circuit Hanover events adorn the cards at Balmoral Park.  

    Pace Makes The Race


    The full field will line up as follows:

    1. A Rocknroll Dance - Yannick Gingras
    2. Pet Rock - Brian Sears
    3. Heston Blue Chip - Tim Tetrick
    4. Sweet Lou - Dave Palone
    5. Bolt The Duer - Mark MacDonald
    6. Simply Business - Ron Pierce
    7. Thinking Out Loud - Randy Waples
    8. State Treasurer - Dave Miller
    9. Time To Roll - Andy Miller
    10. Allstar Legend - Jim Morrill Jr.

    The Pace is part of a $100,000 guaranteed Pick Four pool that spans races 10-13. 

    Although the Meadowlands Pace is worth $400,000 less than usual, it does not take away from its prestige. It, yet again, drew a field of the best three-year-old pacers in the world. But, the 2012 Pace has one detail that separates it from any other—the caliber and talent of these pacers make them inseparable.  

    All eyes are still on Sweet Lou, who gets a tepid 5-2 morning-line-favorite status. But this race seems to be developing like the North America Cup. Sweet Lou has proven he is a one-dimensional horse that will likely perform the same move he made in the North America Cup and his Pace elimination (he made the same one-brush move to win the Breeders Crown at two). If this is truly the case and Sweet Lou, new shoes or old, has only a single move in him, then a different sophomore will get his time to shine.  

    A Rocknroll Dance is coming out of his elimination mile looking fantastic. Although he was a narrow second, he fought hard as soon as he found room to almost catch a wearying Sweet Lou. The only fault this colt has is that he always stays at the cones for too long and sometimes cannot find room to use his saved energy. He got lucky in the “Hempt,” which he won, when the pocket opened at the right time for him to swing around and catch the early speed. Chances are, Yannick Gingras, who has been in the bike since “Dance” secured the number-two spot as a frosh against Sweet Lou,  is going to get him a second-over trip and fly by Sweet Lou.

    Also with a shot is Bolt The Duer. He was expected to race great in his elimination but could not find racing room to make a better impression. But he got to the final and that makes him dangerous. As long as he gets an opportunity, he should be super sharp.

    In the trifecta, include Thinking Out Loud. He always finds a way to get the right trip. Likely, he will again, but may not have enough to beat Bolt The Duer or A Rocknroll Dance.  

    Want to play a superfecta? Add Pet Rock. He showed a great deal of stamina in his elimination but clipped wheels with Thinking Out Loud, which made him and the North America Cup winner lose ground. Before that, he hit the gate and broke in the North America Cup. He needs to get a good trip to finish in the top four but that is the quartet that can shake up the prices, all combos leaving Sweet Lou out of the picture. 

    Briefly looking at the other contestants: 

    Heston Blue Chip won his elim but did so with a perfectly smooth trip. This king of the current New York-bred sophomores is fast and can be furious but we are yet to see him against adversity. This mile will be more provoking than he may be able to handle.

    Simply Business was a horse we hammered last year as our choice in the Metro and he delivered at 20-1. At three he has not had the chance to take advantage of his late surging, which is his best quality. That talent might not equal the prowess of this division, however, and we doubt if he can pull off a stand-up win against the likes of this group when battling together.

    State Treasurer is another good pacer who should always be a contender but has not fully demonstrated a threatening quality against the others in the Pace field. Perhaps he is the perfect Little Brown Jug horse? He will be one to contend with in other stakes if he continues to keep up with these and certainly can slam lesser talent in the division.

    Time To Roll could be the best outside contender in the field. At one point we considered putting him in the top-choice seat but had to be realistic, projecting an unpredictable performance was not an option. Though we would not be surprised if he unleashed a new style that shook up the competition. He may be that good.

    Allstar Legend has his work cut out for him but he is certainly welcomed in this field, though he will find the 10 post a burden under any circumstances, certainly with the likes of the sustainable speed already proven by the foes inside of him. 

    The $190,850 Mistletoe Shalee Final presents the fantastic American Jewel on Pace night and she towers over the field, as she has all in her soph-filly pacing division. We offer a probable longshot for second, doubting if she will overcome the prohibitive choice. That gal is the 10 horse, Destiny’s Chance. She has a lot of talent and may be launched to a great spot by Gingras early enough to make it into the picture, certainly at high odds.

    Grand Circuit Contests

    The “Circuit” hits Illinois this week, bringing the traditional Hanover Stakes for two- and three-year-olds to be tested in splits worth $28,000-plus-to-$50,000 plus. Our interest in value for wagers focuses upon the July 14 freshman splits.

    Among the colt divisions, beware of All Fired Up. This one is a son of The Panderosa and should display some wicked speed. In another division, we like Our Dragon King, a son of Dragon Again. Among the competition in his split, he is showing the most promise with the best bloodline. The other colt to watch is Agood Time To Rock. His sire is the productive Rocknroll Hanover, who has been responsible for some mighty fine two- and three-year-olds and continues to impress the early divisions with his latest crop. 

    Among the fillies, we offer Dune In Red. Though we doubt this gal will escape the eyes of the public, she certainly seems to be the best of the group.

    Hoosier Heroes


    Hoosier Park presents a quartet of $200,000 sires stakes finals. Our eyes are focused on the following participants: 

    In the soph-colt pace, Race 10, we like Jammin Joshua. The inside post should find him in a great spot to win his fourth of seven races. He has not been out of the money at three.

    In the soph-colt trot, Race 5, the Ron Burke-trained A Royal Peck appears primed to take the big check, looking for his fourth win in eight starts.

    In the soph-filly pace, Race 12, Soaring Honey, trained by Erv Miller, has been sharp, finishing first or second in seven starts and making it into this classy realm with a gritty style.

    In the soph-filly trot, Race 11, Angel Band is simply the fastest of this lot and as long as she can get away cleanly and command the fractions she may draw off and leave them all hoping for better days ahead.

    Play the Hoosier Mega 10X Pick 4 every Thursday!

    Harness racing at Hoosier Park ensues and playing the Thursday night programs at TwinSpires earns you 10 TSC Elite Points for all wagers on those program. Also, the Pick 4 features a guaranteed $5,000 pool (races four through seven). Post is 5:30 p.m. EST.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Looking For Champions

    POSTED Jun 27, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    It’s the time of the season where everyone in the standardbred business watches closely for the cream of the crops. Insiders know the vigil is good business, while smart bettors know they can identify the horses that the public will be following with every cent, leaving overlays upon which to sensationalize.

    Giant races are ahead, including the Meadowlands Pace and, of course, the Hambletonian and all the stakes orbiting that race’s program on the first Saturday in August.

    Hambo-hopefuls continue to battle, colts and fillies, and the classic Yonkers Trot is the next big test. On July 7 (no elims), the $445, 594 event is complemented by the Hudson Filly Trot, worth $185,194. For the analysis of each event, go to our exclusive Hambletonian Trail next week and follow through with result stories (and the archived stories of all the eligibles performances in stakes since May) at the Hambletonian Society.

    Ben Franklin Final


    At Pocono Downs the $500,000 Ben Franklin Final brings together some of the best older pacers, including last year’s late-blossoming Betterthancheddar and the fiery We Will See. These two will likely take most of the wagers.

    Our elim winner from last week, Aracache Hanover, and multiple-stakes-series champ Foiled Again will be looking to pour spoils over the half-million dollar event and at good prices.

    Aracache Hanover did exactly what we thought last week, going first over at the right moment to win. He has yet to reach his peak and looks to continue his winning ways this week.

    Foiled Again was a game third to the likely favorites in the second elimination. He went first over early and cleared the top only to lose it in the stretch. He should get a better trip this week and could blow right by this group.

    Max And James Finals


    Hurrikane Kingcole is much the best in the Max Hempt Final at Pocono on June 30. We will try the same exacta we had in last week’s elimination with I Like Dreamin for second. He will likely get a second- or third-over trip and fan out late to close.

    There is little doubt American Jewel will lose the James Lynch Final. This filly is towering over her division after settling her late-season health problems. This is a good race to pass.



    Soph Fields


    New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) headline Thursday and Friday at Yonkers Raceway, with events for three-year-old pacers of both genders. The sophomore fillies go in the first three races on June 28.

    The opening filly split, worth $111,268, finds recent state-bred winner at Vernon, Brownsville Bomber, headlining and looking tons the best.

    The second $111,268 field presents a battle between NYSS winners New York Kitty, JK Fine Art and Romantic Moment. The latter is the one we will back.

    Handsoffmycookie returns to Yonkers after winning the Lismore earlier in the month. She will be hard to beat in the third division, worth $113,268.

    Friday night features the NYSS colts at three miles worth $113,413 each.

    The opening event features NYSS-proven Breakin’ the Law, sharp though obvious to bettors. And in the second division Forever Just also a local NYSS winner, seems to be the best.

    The nightcap features New York-star pacer Heston Blue Chip, three for three this season, facing Coral Snake, a soph unraced at two, with four soph wins in as many tries. And the good outsider is Steelhead Hanover, who could upset and will probably be the bargain of the three.

    Titans Clash


    The Meadowlands features the best free for all trotters in the Titan Cup Final this Friday, June 29.

    Chapter Seven, who set a world record in the prep last week, which was his first performance at four, will be vying for the prestigious event’s crown, won last year by Arch Madness, who set the all-age world record in that performance and is here to defend that title.

    Winning Mister, who was a game second in the Cutler as well as in the Titan Cup prep, is on board in this field. He may receive some strong betting, but has a great chance.

    Winning Mister usually sets the tempo, so if he goes soft fractions and saves himself for the final half, Chapter Seven will have no shot to catch him.

    Grand Circuit Contests

    Three-year-old colt and filly pacers will contest in the W.N. Reynolds on Saturday at the Meadowlands. This is the first year these Grand Circuit stakes are presented at the Meadowlands; they were once a regular part of the circuit at Pocono Downs.

    In the only division of the filly Reynolds, it is pretty wide open. Blackjack Princess and Gottaseeaboutagirl have the best shots but the worst posts. Blackjack Princess was a game second at 34-1 in the Historic Ladyship at Tioga. Before that, she was third against older mares in an Open at Saratoga. She is improving and may hit her peak this week.  

    Also in contention is Gottaseeaboutagirl. The Meadowlands is the track where she prevailed, not only the most, but at her best. She closed to win the Night Styles against older horses and beat Air Guitar Hanover, along with Blackjack Princess, in the John Simpson Stakes. She should offer a good price.  

    In the first division of the colt Reynolds, E Z Noah is the likely favorite. Delaware-native Flying Instructor will be seeking his first Open stakes win. Racing primarily in the Delaware Owners and Breeders Fund Stakes (DSBF), his best race came in the final on April 9, romping by 8 lengths in 1:51.4 as the 1-9 favorite. He returned in fine style to win two legs of the DSBF at Harrington. He normally sets the pace and he may get a pocket trip as E Z Noah takes the top.  

    In the second division, All Steinam is the likely favorite after recovering from two breaks to finish third to a 184-1 shot at Pocono. Mcerlean and Verdad will likely be ignored in this division. Mcerlean was the pace setter in the second Hempt elimination against Hurrikane Kingcole. He faded to fifth. This speedy three-year-old may get little play and should be game this start.  

    Verdad, our selection in the first Hempt elimination last week, looks for redemption after breaking in the stretch and finishing fourth. Before that, he won against older in non-winners of $13,000 last five. As long as he stays flat, he should show what we expected him to last week.  

    Play the Hoosier Mega 10X Pick 4 every Thursday!

    Harness at Hoosier Park is going great guns and so can you when you play the Thursday night programs. TwinSpires players earn 10 TSC Elite Points for all wagers they make on those programs. Also, the Pick 4 features a guaranteed $5,000 pool (races four throuth seven). Post is 5:30 EST.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Jun 16, 2012 By Frank Cotolo

    The buzz about Sweet Lou’s loss in the North America Cup began even before a row of colts began to eat up the late stretch after a sizzling three panels. As it turned out, the three sweeping closers taking advantage of the fiery fractions were none of the outsiders we suggested could beat Sweet Lou.

    Thinking Out Loud won at 8-1 with Time To Roll second at 9-1 and Dapper Dude completing the trifecta at 15-1. Sweet Lou dragged home fourth.

    One horseman source we talked to shortly after the race said that Sweet Lou “looked sluggish in the stretch. Sluggish in one-forty-seven and four? The way he has dominated [so far] he should have drawn off and not been in a five-horse photo.”

    In our preview blog we mentioned that trainer Ron Burke had said Sweet Lou had gotten over a virus and we made note that there could be remnants of the bug to the colt. Burke had also shown concern in the elim victory, as we quoted him, because Sweet Lou did not draw off to win the race.

    Our source said, “Time to run blood counts, etcetera.”

    At press time Ron Burke made no comments about how Sweet Lou raced or came out of the race. We will follow up on the condition of the pacer in our blogs and tweets this following week.

    The Mohawk undercard didn’t result in any pacing winners based on our suggestions but we scored well with the sophomore trotters, scoring a big win in the Goodtimes with the colt Beer Summit. The trotter paid $19.20.

    The night before, at Pocono, we also scored with a Hambletonian hopeful when Stormin Normand won a Earl Beal, Jr. elim and paid $16.40. He defeated last year’s Breeders Crown winner Uncle Peter and our other choice, My Mvp, came in third. Our choices along with the big favorite Uncle Peter, resulted in a $121 triple.

    At Cal Expo we scored with two of the four winners that helped result in a $221.10 no-takeout Pick 4. Total Up won the first leg but only at $7. We were two for two when a better contribution to the so-far-a-winning combo, Cherry Tree Nicole, won and paid $15.40. We were second and fifth in leg three and third and seventh in the last leg, beaten by lesser odds. Our projected ticket was at least four times the price of the wining combo.

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

    Our Hambletonian Trail blog previews Trail races on weekdays as well as weekends for both divisions and reviews those events at the Hambletonian Society site.

    Every weekend we offer Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page and we invite you to enjoy our musings on other standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.

    Get onto our mailing list now because shortly we will be making available some exciting information to help you play for profit. By clicking here you will be added to the list and be secure as a member of that list (we do not share the emails with anyone).

    News And Notes

    On June 16 trainer Mark Ford tallied his 3,000th victory as a trainer, making him the third youngest trainer to reach that plateau. It happened at Saratoga Raceway with My Gal Mykenna in a conditioned pace. Virgil Morgan, Jr. is the youngest trainer to reach the mark, followed by Bob Belcher.

    At Maywood Park on June 15, two elims were held to cast the field for next week’s $124,000 Maywood Pace. Uncle Smoothie won the first split, going wire to wire easily. He was the dead-on favorite and paid $3.20. NJ’s Big Deal, also the favorite, won the second split, paying $4.20.

    Rockincam, one of the older pacing division stalwarts, didn’t finish in last week’s Bettor’s Delight event at Tioga. Owner Steve Farrell said the five-year-old was a victim of atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat. You might recall that this condition is what put See You At Peelers on the road to retirement.

    Earlier in the season we gave you Rockincam when he upset in the Dan Patch at Hoosier. Richard Norman trains Rockincam, a son of the speedy Cambest.

    Cal Expo’s season ended on June 16 and there is still speculation as to when and if the meet will start again. Ownership of the Sacramento harness meet is still in question. We will keep you posted from sources within about the state of the harness community as reports come in.

    The Meadowlands and Pocono Downs and Harrah’s Philadelphia have agreed to alternate dates for their older division events to keep fields full. Each track will host an Open race valued at $50,000 for the best of the divisions to keep the events competitive and loaded with the finest talent.

    The Open pace schedule includes a race at Pocono on July 7, Meadowlands on July 14 and Philadelphia on July 22. The Open mare paces go at Pocono on July17, Meadowlands on Aug. 10 and on Aug. 31 at Philadelphia. The Open trots are at Pocono on July 8, Meadowlands on July 27 and Philadelphia on Aug. 10.

    Cartoon by Thom Pye