Showing posts with label Dover Downs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dover Downs. Show all posts

  • Series In The Spotlight

    POSTED Mar 12, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    This weekend the Meadowlands kicks off a few more traditional late-winter series for three-year-old-and up trotters, the Horse & Groom, and three-and four-year-old pacers, the Clyde Hirt. The Winter Survior Claiming series for soph and older pacers is also featured.

    We once again highlight specific races from the Meadows on Friday, March 14 and we have added many names to our exclusive horses to watch (H2W) list presented exclusively below. Be aware of the members of this list since each week they provide more than wins, places and shows (and some of the place and show prices have been extremely profitable across-the-board investments) they participate in creating exactas every week. Please note that horses from our featured overnight events the week before appear on the H2W list as second-time members if they did not win when we highlighted their previous race.

    Meadowlands Episodes

    Friday, March 14, trotters and pacers battle in series divisions.

    The Horse & Groom Series for trotters three and up offers two divisions, each worth $20,000, with entries going for their first serious event of the season. There are no sophs in the first leg but four-year-old Crosbys Clam Bake could make enough noise here to upset as an outside contender. At Woodbine he raced with better fields and his first in the states, at the Meadows, was a loss at about this level but with an excuse being short.

    In the second division, Cajole Hanover should be one of the top three supported and needs respect after a bad break took him out of the “Singer” as a major overlay of 13-1. With Time To Quit, a fan favorite with a lot of success early this year, right behind him, it may be a good time for “Cajole” to beat him (he is always close when flat against that one).

    The Winter Survivor Series gives some older, workhorse pacers, a chance at some decent money, with $15,000 prizes for these divisions and a chance at the final for more. In division one Saturday, Subliminal Hanover could offer a surprise for two reasons. First, he raced far better than 80-1 last week and he has been competitive at the $15,000 claiming level. Secondly, Marcus Miller is listed to drive and that will not sit well with fans who place a premium on which driver steers which horse. We’ll trust Marcus far more than the public and thank him for upping the price.

    In the second division we trust Marcus Miller again as he aims to sweep the series divisions tonight with Highland Boreas. Up from Pompano, where he was popular as a claim and did well for his connections, he raced with two moves here last week to be second at 21-1. That was not a fluke, he is a contender and may be dismissed by the crowd for the morning-line choices.
    Saturday, March 15, the Meadowlands presents two legs of the Clyde Hirt Series for three- and four-year-old pacers, with $20,000 in the prize bag for each. In the first split, Nathaniel B continues to improve after competitive affairs at Dover and last week he pushed the outside too much and lost ground late. He should be racing more like he did before he got to New Jersey, winning two straight on the improve.

    In the second episode, Brees Creek returns from a hole-in-the-wind trip last week, finishing second and may not be overlooked by the crowd but still worth what they offer, considering a few others here that bettors may find impress them. Watch the board, there is always a chance this one gets away from them.

    This week’s overnight offerings:

    Meadows
    March 14, Race 5

    In a strange twist of events, local hero Dave Palone gets aboard the horse we feel will be the best outside contender—if the presence of Palone doesn’t affect the odds. The horse is Elian’s Ponda and we can only hope that the morning-line (ML) favorite, Allstar Survivor, will get a lot more action than Palone’s charge, even though “Allstar” will start from outside post 9. Actually, there is a chance that Allstar will go under the radar, leaving Depp Blue the crowd’s choice. That would be good for Elian’s Ponda because if the gelding goes smoothly, he is as good as any of this field’s participants.

    Toss out that tough March 7 affair, where he dueled early and broke late. Toss out the Feb. 21 mile, where he was well supported but trotted out of steam from a first-over trip. And dismiss the dead halt in the Valentine’s Day race, which may have been a result of the sloppy track. If he can race back to the Jan. 31 win, he wins, and this time not as the big favorite (we hope). Should Allstar be overlooked, get an exacta going with him.

    Meadows
    March 14, Race 11

    Hawaii And Sun steps up a tad but is a horse on the upswing and looks as if he may be an outside contender in the betting. His March 5 win was fabulous, using a giant brush to dominate the field halfway through and hold on though wide. The race before that can be forgiven, getting the 9 hole after taking a breather and delivering a competent qualifier at Northfield. Before that he had two excuses for losing and a just-miss win last year. And he was well supported along the way. Hopefully, the crowd will like the inside horses better and leave us to attempt a great cash on the ignored contender.

    Race 11 starts the Meadows’ 50-cent Pick 5. If you are looking for live horses that can bring the payoff up, add Hawaii And Sun; TSM Warhol T in the second leg; Nottin To Much in leg three; D Mac (a H2W member) in leg four; and Truth To Power in the last leg.

    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
    3/14/14, Lust R6; Mystically Mine R6; Jinn’s Fantasy R8; Missys Diamond R13

    Dover
    3/13/14, +Steady Pulse R4
    3/16/14, Snowball’s Keeper R3; Briteolive R8

    Freehold
    3/13/14, Lemon Drop Hall R6; Danishdujour R9
    3/15/14, Docdor Laughing R2; Pacific Escape R8; GW Gizmo R11

    Meadowlands
    3/13/14, Sturdy As A Hall R3; Blue Fin R8
    3/14/14, Stonebridge Classy R1
    3/15/14, Quinnman R6; Between Me And You R10

    Meadows
    3/14/14, +Incredible Dragon R4; +D Mac R14

    Miami Valley
    3/13/14, Alluring Art R6
    3/15/14, Ventura Highway R1; +Woop D Do Bazzle R2 

    Pompano
    3/15/14, Premier R1; Avantage R3; Skad’s Winner R6; Waldy Jimmy R8; Make You Famous R8

    Rosecroft
    3/15/14, Doomsday Hanover R7; Caviat Lindy R8; TN Starbuck R9; Nuclear Standoff R10; Wicked Persuasion R12

    Saratoga
    3/15/14, +Windy City Ron R4; +Real Yankee Fan R6 ; Muncie—AE—R6; +Sand Summerfield R9

    Yonkers
    3/13/14, Ladys Bag Man R3
    3/14/14; Canbec Fidolin R4; +Blacktuxwhitesox R11   
    3/15/14, Ethan Hanover R2

    Ray Cotolo contributed to each Thursday edition.      

  • In Like A Lion …

    POSTED Feb 26, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    The weekend ends the short month of February and starts the long month of March. It could feel far longer than its 31 days if the brutal winter continues. Still, March bridges winter with spring and that brings us closer to awaited stakes action and the launching of top-class divisional play.

    As well, many other tracks are poised to begin their seasons, some starting before the end of predicted winter weather through March. Our Harness Update blog that appears Monday mornings will keep you up to date on which track schedules could be added to your menu of TwinSpires harness-action possibilities. Don’t forget to read the News And Notes column in that blog, as we offer the exclusive players’ version of the industry news.

    But we are crossing that bridge as we come to it, continuing this week with specific overnight events and our highly successful horses-to-watch (H2W) list. Wins, places, shows and exactas abound. We have added harness racing’s newest track, Miami Valley, in Ohio. Please note that horses from our featured overnight events the week before appear on the H2W list as second-time members if they did not win when we highlighted their previous race.

    This week’s overnight offerings:

    Meadows
    Feb. 28, Race 3

    A horse has to be an extraordinary performer for the morning-line (ML) maker at this track to give it a good shot when leaving from post 8, which carries a stigma anyway. That just makes other viable contenders from the outside worth better win money and enables us to disregard the post (which by the way gets far more disregard than necessary). In the case of this race we totally endorse Bergerac, a contender that may suffer more in support than performance. His recent trio of attempts were all on “off” tracks and in each, from different posts, he excelled. There is little reason he will not be in this mix, where the favorite may be a horse stepping up. You may swing for a giant exacta using Mccedes, who will go untouched by the crowd from post 3 and could pick up a place spot based on his back class, which includes racing with better and winning at Philadelphia last December.

    Meadows
    Feb. 28, Race 5

    Pop Cop’s Feb. 21 raced should simply be excused, which leaves us with a gelding that was on the improve all of January. His Feb. 14 race included a brave trip with a sharp gain that cost him late. His last January race from post 8 was terrific at this level, stepping up from a lower level without winning. Before that he earned a rise by winning two levels down. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him go off less than his 10-1 ML but not so much as to under lay him. Plus, fan-favorite Dave Palone on Artist Night will suck in a lot of money that could be spread more evenly in this field if common players were less impressed by drivers. Using Goggles Paisano (what a great name) in the place spot would make for a monster exacta.

    Flamboro
    March 1, Race 2

    What looks like strong competition may just be a few strugglers if Justabitevil returns to how she performed two back. She stepped up far too high after that and was beaten by the obvious choice, Abs To Envy. She was second to that one by a mere length three back and deserves a far better chance than the ML maker has her at 6-1.

    Flamboro
    March 1, Race

    Dewer Kash is our type of contender, hiding many of his assets, while checking in with an important angle that is to his favor in this simple claimer. Claimed for $5Gs in his first race here after a London campaign, Dewer Kash strolled from post 9 at 24-1, a tour no one will be happy about as a precursor to this race. But he was scratched at London while entered to return there next and he stays here to step up off the claim for the new connections. At London he was competitive and steered by four different drivers, each holding back for one big brush, which was only successful with a second in December. But the trainer/owner has a great post here to use the trotter and get the claiming money back, especially with the obvious two choices, First Notable Chip and Saulsbrook Fidget on his outside. That could be a great trifecta if you key Dewer Kash and try to take down this number (but don’t forget the win bet). Also looming to upset is Northern Triumph. If he is in the trifecta it becomes an even larger bag o’cash.


    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

    Buffalo
    2/26/14, +Infrontigo Hanover R7
    2/27/14, Bagel Man R5; +Gilla Dream R12; +Bluebird Corvette R12
    2/28/14, RA Shakenbake R2; +Eagle Yankee R5
    3/1/14, +Sand Savage R6


    Cal Expo
    2/28/14, Pips Jenny G R1; Northern Fling R1; +Poorlittlerichgirl R9; +Girls Lie Too R14
    3/1/14, Gold Device R1; +Only In Lodi R1; Fox Valley Dylan R10; +Indescribable R12

    Dover
    3/2/14, +Suits R8; +Occasionally Bad R12; RD Elegant Yankee—AE—R14; +The Quite Village R14

    Flamboro
    3/1/14, Lightning Charger R3; Mibestkeptsecret R4; Charmbo Willie R6; Massmanian Devil R7

    Fraser
    2/28/14, +Rollin Deep R2; +Nazko Tribute R3; +Real Vintage R5 
    3/2/14, Red Star Tyson R11

    Freehold
    2/27/14, +Look Siera R1

    Meadows
    2/28/14, Dojea Nodoze R4; Perfect Change R6; +Hickory Big Red R8; Four Starz Elder R9; Honeyinthepine R12; Yosemite Camn R13

    Miami Valley
    2/27/14, +Juntique R2; +Luna Hanover R2; +Pink E Bank R6; +Late For Work R11
    2/28/14, +B Good Lexi R2; Action-broadway R10; TM Valley Storm R11
    3/1/14, +Bad Angel R3

    Monticello
    3/3/14, Garbarino R6
    |
    Pompano
    3/1/14; +PC Moonshine R7; +Market Force R9

    Yonkers
    2/28/14; Likeabatouttahell R7; +Cash Poor—AE—R11


    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Feb 23, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    First there was too much snow and then there was too much water, which was the snow before it melted. Mother Nature is certainly more consistent than a lot of racehorses. So it was this week as higher temperatures dissolved mountains of snow and ice in many U.S. states, provoking bad conditions on the tracks that were, a week before, frozen.

    Cancellations before and during race programs nixed a few schedules. Buffalo Raceway’s TwinSpires bonus Pick 4 was cancelled on Feb. 19 when the surface became unsafe. Every Wednesday night, weather permitting of course, TwinSpires’ 10-percent-bonus Buffalo Raceway 50-cent Pick 4 wagers continue. We assist with suggestions for your ticket via Twitter -- @FrankCotolo, @TwinSpires and @BuffaloRaceway.

    Other schedules affected included the Meadows and Yonkers. All horses we are watching that were to participate in the various programs cancelled, will appear in next week’s watch (H2W) list. Check below for the wins, places and shows that did materialize last week.

    Our overnight features’ choices included two winners but not on top, as the huge favorite (our second betting choice) Keep The Dream ($3.10, $2.20, $2.10) won the Miss Valentine Final at Fraser over our upset choice, Yanotherhos. Our other Fraser choice, Red Star Tyson raced horribly, finishing ninth of nine at 11-1.

    Feb. 23 at Dover on Race 3 our second choice, Steady Pulse, won ($4, $2.40, $2.10), and our first choice, JR’s Midnight Cry, scratched, leaving us with the favorite. Our first choice in Race 2, Occasionally Bad, was never a threat, finishing eighth at 13-1. The second contender for us in that race finished second—RD Elegant Yankee ($3.60, $2.60).

    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 in the same race (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete the exacta). Failed choices from our previous week’s overnight features appear for the second time in the H2W list. 

    Winners

    That’s My Girl, $24.60, $6.40, $4.40 (Exacta $56.20), Miami Valley
    Ringside Winner, $13.20, $6.20, $4.80, Freehold
    Ideal In Vegas, $6.90, $4, $3.10, Yonkers
    Dora Des Rivieres, $5.80, $3.20, $2.60, Miami Valley
    Rare Beauty, $5, $4.20, $3, Cal Expo
    Itsabouttonight, $3.40, $2.80, $2.40, Cal Expo
    All Star Dragon, $3, $2.40, $2.10, Yonkers

    Seconds

    Late For Work, $11.80, $9.40, Miami Valley
    Screen Saver, $11.10, $6.60, Meadows
    Eddie Sweat, $7.80, $4, Meadows
    Bad Angel, $7.40, $4.30, Miami Valley
    Cash Poor, $7, $3.90 (Exacta $26.20)
    Last Luck, $6.90, $7.80 (ok), Fraser
    All On My Own, $6.80, $5.40, Freehold
    Luna Hanover, $3.60, $2.40, Miami Valley

    Thirds

    Stiletosilverheels, $4.80, Cal Expo
    Sparticus Jim, $4.60, Flamboro
    Juntique, $4.40, Miami Valley
    B Good Lexi, $3.60, Miami Valley
    Mr Salming, $3.20, Freehold
    TT Tucker, $2.60, Meadows

    News And Notes

    As we go to press, the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) held its annual awards dinner at Dover Downs. Most of the divisional winners have already been announced and a few categories were held for the evening’s ceremony. These were not, however, surprises. We congratulate the connections to all of the winners, including Horse of the Year, Bee A Magician, and our choice for the top horse in 2013, Captaintreacherous, who won Pacer of the Year. Both of these horses have a history with this blog that goes deeper than public opinion. Bee A Magician is a filly trotter we supported before anyone in the business or sport gave her the respect she deserved, going back to her frosh year. Captaintreacherous was heralded here early this year when he began his soph campaign and we stuck with him as many journalists knocked him regardless of his stunning performances.

    World Champion trotter Guccio, a winner of $1,021,809, has been retired to stud in Indiana. Trained by Jimmy Takter, Guccio became one of the top contenders of his generation as a three-year-old and missed winning the $1.5 million Hambletonian by a neck. At 4 he trotted to his personal best of 1:51.1f, a World Record for four-year-old trotters.

    Takter said, “It was our plan to race in Europe in 2014 had this opportunity for him to enter the stud not developed. Indiana clearly has one of the most attractive regional programs and we do plan to breed to Guccio as I believe he has every quality to become an outstanding trotting sire.”

    Horse racing in British Columbia has been saved for at least five years now that a new deal has been negotiated. “The major component of this for us is the five-year deal. We’ve been told we have government backing for five years. We have race dates for five years,” said Jackson Whittup of Harness Racing BC. The new deal assures racing at the two tracks in the province, Fraser Downs (harness) and Hastings Park (runners). Both tracks are owned by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, which also owns Flamboro and Georgian Downs in Ontario. The agreement will see 71 race dates at Fraser this year but that number will be reduced throughout the life of the deal. To read the full story in the Cloverdale Reporter, please click here.

    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

  • Signs Of The Season

    POSTED Feb 19, 2014 By Frank Cotolo


    Hopes across North America are similar—that the winter thaw is closer than spring, which begins in 30 days as of this writing. If hopes develop into meteorological realities, harness racing features are just around the calendar’s corner.

    Meanwhile, we have been thriving regardless of the frigid foes, with enough harness racing across the continent to keep our TwinSpires accounts locked and loaded. With the cancellation of the first feature series, the Presidential at the Meadowlands, we continue to focus on the most competitive overnight races at many tracks.

    One of our features, however, is the $25,000 Miss Valentine Final from Fraser, featuring British Columbia-bred four-year-old mare pacers, arguably the best in the provice.

    Again this week we analyze specific overnight events with great profit-producing probabilities and we swing at similar common events with less explanation in our highly successful horses-to-watch (H2W) list. Wins, places, shows and exactas abound. We have added harness racing’s newest track, Miama Valley, in Ohio. Please note that horses from our featured overnight events the week before appear on the H2W list as second-time members if they did not win when we highlighted their previous race.

    This week’s overnight offerings:

    Fraser
    Feb. 21, Race 6

    While Stonebridge Lyric tries for his third straight and an entry of Keith Clark pacers return from scrathes, Red Star Tyson sits cold and perhaps able to allow the aforementioned to beat themselves and finally get a winning trip. “Red” draws the inside and has shown his speed at this level two back, though he was hampered by an early duel. Here he can find a ground-saving spot and use a single brush to wreak some havoc as the undisputed outside contender.

    Fraser
    Feb. 21, Race 

    Keep The Dream is the morning-line (ML) choice of mares in the Miss Valentine Final, armed with top Canadian breeding (Mach Three) and local favorite trainer-driver Bill Davis. But does she deserve the status, coming off of two Open losses and unable to topple Call Me Up in this and better company? There is no doubt a challenge will be presented from Yanotherhos, who, in contrast to Call Me Up, has done near as well as Keep The Dream. Her race coming into this affair is a very sharp show finish at an under-rated 11-1; she dueled to the lead before getting caught late by two tough gals. As a key she will work in exactas with the top choice and a trifecta could explode by adding Nazko Tribute, who can be forgiven for last week’s failure and be as hot as she raced the pair before that—at quite a price.


    Dover
    Feb. 23, Race 2

    Occasionally Bad can be a spoiler in this group, meeting each of these foes for the first time. The elder Badlands Hanover mare has finished well in two of her last three and will be dismissed by the crowd for the obvious trio with shorter MLs. One of them, RD Elegant Yankee, may also be an overlay here and stands a chance of robbing the pace from Shaving Mug, the one that may be bet to smithereens.

    Dover
    Feb. 23, Race 3

    JR’s Midnight Cry screams for support after a bum trip from post 8. His Feb. 9 mile was strong and challenging as he finished second while wide for two calls. Just before the year turned over, the pacer was strong at this level and being bet far more than we expect the crowd to support him here. Certainly Suits from the inside is going to be hammered in the win pool but the sophomore may be facing too much experience to be trusted at low odds, while the other ML choice, Steady Pulse, has excuses but remains vulnerable enough to go against.


    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

    Buffalo
    2/21/14, RA Shakenbake R4
    2/22/14, +Sand Savage R5; +Windy City Ron R10


    Cal Expo
    2/21/14, Rare Beauty R4
    2/22/14, +Stiletosilverheels R1; Poorlittlerichgirl R5; +Curvacious R7; Itsabouttonight R7; Only In Lodi R8; +KD Nicol R8; My Roberto R10; Indescribable R13 

    Dover
    2/20/14, +Big Valley R1
    2/23/14, +Rock My Life R1

    Flamboro
    2/20/14, +Nothing But Trouble R6;
    2/23/14, +Designer R7; +Spartacus Jim R8

    Fraser
    2/21/14, Real Vintage R1; Rollin Deep R2; Terra True R4; Jack Junior R10; Last Luck R12

    Freehold
    2/20/14, +Our Girls Chance N R4; +Mr Salming R7, All On My Own R10; Look Siera R11
    2/21/14, +Ringside Winner R8; +Princess Mcardle N R11

    Meadows
    2/21/14, +Eddie Sweat R1; +TT Tucker R9; Screen Saver R15

    Miami Valley
    2/20/14, Juntique R3; Pink E Bank R3; Luna Hanover R3; B Quite Marvelous R5; Dora Des Rivieres R7; That’s My Girl R10; Late For Work R11
    2/21/14, B Good Lexi R1 
    2/22/14, Woop D Do Bazzle R1; Bad Angel R3
    |
    Pompano
    2/22/14; Market Force R6

    Yonkers
    2/21/14; +All Star Dragon R1; +Ideal In Vegas R6; +Handsoffmycookie—AE—R10; Cash Poor R11
    2/22/14; Safe Harbor R4

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Jan 26, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    Next weekend we cover the end of January and the beginning of February as the claws of winter continue to scratch regions beyond the Polar Vortex. The rough-and-tough standardbreds will be racing as the month turns over.

    The weekend that just passed offered some decent winners at decent prices on our horses-to-watch list (H2W). Make sure you check out the across-the-board prices and the exactas included because next week you may decide to back some of your horses to win, to win and place or across the board. After Monday, Jan. 27 all H2W horses from last week’s list will be updated below.

    We chose two races from Charottetown Drivers Park for the first time while offering promising plays in overnights and we scored with one of the pair on Jan. 25. Scotian Lass was our first choice in Race 6 and he won, paying $9.90, $5.30 and $2.80. Our other first choice, Honeymoonisover finished third (2.60) at 6-1.

    We engaged Dover on Jan. 26, offering Kenzie’s Beach Boy in one event. He finished sixth at a price we could never have predicted, 56-1. Our second Dover event resulted in Stubbs Hanover finishing third ($4.40) at 10-1 and our third choice, Polaris, finished second ($2.60, $2.20), while our second choice was sixth.

    Every Wednesday night, TwinSpires’ 10-percent-bonus Buffalo Raceway 50-cent Pick 4 wagers continue. We assist with suggestions for your ticket. For Jan. 22’s exotic, via Twitter -- @FrankCotolo, @TwinSpires and @BuffaloRaceway – we had the highest paying horse of the winning quartet for the second week in a row. We singled Artsy Princess ($13, $7.80, $3.20).

    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

    Tiger Bait, $15.40, $7.40, $4.80, Cal Expo
    Runaway Disirae, $14.10, $5.30, $3.20, Fraser
    Traers Hall, $10.80, $5.60, $4.60, Freehold
    Trend Spotter, $9, $3.80, $4.20 (ok), Meadows
    Bootswiththefur, $6.40, $3.80, $3, Meadows
    Lord Terror, $2.60, $2.20, $2.10, Dover

    Seconds

    Devil’s Embrace N, $8.60, $5, Dover
    Red Hot Yankee, $5.80, $3, Pompano
    One Last Shot, $3.10, $3, Fraser
    Cinderella Smiles, $3, $2.30 (Exacta $12.70), Northlands
    Kaya’s Sweetheart, $3, $2.60, Freehold

    Thirds

    Cyclone Cully, $7.60, Freehold
    Branding Party, $4.30, Fraser
    Melboy, $3.80, Cal Expo
    Tulfra, $3.80, Freehold
    PL Dragon, $3.60, Meadows
    Too Young Man, $3.50, Northlands
    Jolt Of Whiskey, $3, Fraser
    Ala Carte Bill, $2.80, Freehold
    Arpeggio Hanover, $2.60, Dover


    News And Notes

    Illinois harness is still under Mother Nature’s spell, with arctic temperatures taking their toll on the young 2014 racing season. Balmoral Park announced delaying two qualifying days, originally scheduled for Jan. 28 to, Jan. 29 as more extreme cold is expected next week. Downstate, Maywood Park will conduct qualifiers on Jan. 30. The first draw for a Feb. 5 start date at Balmoral Park will be held Jan. 31.

    Don’t go looking for harness racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia until some serious negotiations are complete. At a meeting of the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission this week, the commission suspend harness racing at the racino due to issues with the condition of the racetrack. According to several reports, the commission took the action following complaints about the condition of the track’s surface, ignited after a terrible spill in November that severely injured driver Anthony Coletto. The track was scheduled to resume racing in early March.

    A monumental agreement between United States and French standardbred industries has been signed. USA representatives Joe Faraldo, Alex Dadoyan, Tim Rooney, Sr. and his son, Tim, Jr., were in France to negotiate details of a breeding, wagering and simulcasting agreement between the countries’ racing officials. The agreement was signed on Jan. 25.

    In addition to a breeding agreement, the two sides will work toward establishing a calendar of simulcasting of and wagering on Yonkers Raceway races in France and French races into the U.S. by the end of 2014. Faraldo called the deal’s completion “an historic, monumental agreement … the predicate for international simulcasting into Europe and a move forward to more global simulcasting of U.S. harness racing.” There is little history of cooperation between France (the country that created pari-mutuel racing) and the U.S. beyond the institution of a few celebrated races.

    The French breeding book has been closed to American stock for more than a century. Things have certainly changed. The French have also made agreements with Slovenia and Ireland. After the agreement was settled, Dominique de Bellaigue, the French representative, said, “These agreements will help our respective countries build upon a foundation to the expansion of international simulcasting.”

    All of the countries involved, of course, are suffering from a poor business atmosphere. Racing is in a global depression compared to its state prior to the digital revolution. Although the new technology has been embraced by the industry all over the world, rebuilding has been necessary to attain a new generation of supporters.

    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 

  • Opus Overnight

    POSTED Jan 22, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    News reports about sagging jet streams and frigid weather ensue as we head for the penultimate weekend in January. Even if the climate was tepid, however, there would still be the seasonal lack of feature races in the standardbred community. However, from coast to coast raceways are brewing up a slew of overnight events to keep us harness bettors investing.

    Once again, then, we concentrate on overnight events with a few specially chosen races (this week we venture to different tracks than the last few weeks because value is present throughout the pari-mutuel world) and our horses-to-watch (H2W) list, both which have been productive as 2014 heads for its second month.

    This week’s overnight offerings:

    Charlottetown
    Jan. 25, Race 3

    Honeymoonisover returns to this conditioned trot after two failed Open appearances. She has faired well at this level and once was the dead-on choice. The program choice, the mare leaving to her right, has won at this level but may be sorely over-bet, giving Honeymoonisover a clear shot at winning as an overlay. Incredible Her Bee has every right to race well from the inside and should play a big role in the exotics’ results.

    Charlottetown
    Jan. 25, Race 6

    The crowd may be mistaken if they buy into the morning-line (ML) chances of Scotian Lass in this conditioned pace. Two excuses accompany her recent efforts at a higher level while three back and four back she was competitive after winning as a big choice while dropping into a lower class. She hovers at this range, though, and could very well present an outsider’s victory if she can out-step Hornswoggle, the second ML choice that drops after disappointing with big chances to win. Lexis Mandy could be the element that inflates exotic prices.

    Dover
    Jan. 26, Race 6

    You can go out on a limb for this one with a possible longshot contender for a few reasons. First, the ML choices, all three, are not glowing prospects for a win. Next, they are spread out from the inside to the outside and third, they all look like they will battle for control of the pace. This leaves us with Kenzie’s Beach Boy. We have no doubt he will offer a price, considering his 59-1 failure after qualifying upon his arrival from Philadelphia. But while there, he raced some good miles, even if they ended poorly. He also steps down into this condition and has nothing to do but improve. These are the kinds of big-priced horses we adore because they are poised to wake up and when we get them in a situation where few to none address them as contenders, they are super scores.

    Dover
    Jan. 26, Race 11

    Stubbs Hanover has a fine shot at the two horses inside of him that should get all the win money. He was in a crowd, only 4 lengths off of the winner in this company last week, leaving slowly from the outside. Before that he was on the move big time when he was bothered enough to break and lose all chance of competing past three-quarters. He won a $20G claimer as the 2-1 choice three back and that group was arguably as good, if not better, than this one. As a key overlay, also, a trifecta with SB Mikes Hot Beach and Polaris N could come back big balloons, as they used to say.


    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
    1/24/14, +Twentyone Guns R4; +Plum Crazy Baby R10; +Dragons Wall R11
    1/25/14, Hi Ho Hi Ho R6; Tiger Bait R7; +All Is Lost R10; Melboy R11; Big Guy Two Win R11; +Energy Angle R13

    Charlottetown
    1/25/14, Trustmeonemoretime R1; Flag Of Honor R2; McMaverick R7; Artners In Crime R8; Capitalism R10; Bakardi Arti R13

    Dover
    1/26/14, DVC Jazzy Jolt R5; Arpeggio Hanover R7; Lord Terror R10; Devils Embrace N R12

    Flamboro
    1/26/14, +Modern Image R10

    Frasier
    1/24/14; +Runaway Disirae R4; +Pureform Sydthekid R4
    1/26/14, +I Hear Voices R4; +Branding Party R5; +Mmmmmh R7; Jolt Of Whiskey R9; +One Last Shot R11;

    Freehold
    1/23/14, Mr Salming R4; +Hagi R4; +Ala Carte Bill R8; +Kaya’s Sweetheart R9
    1/25/14, Tulfra R1; Travvers Hall R2; Cyclone Cully R2; +No Tears Here—AE—R3; +Major Bet R4; Youth Uprising R11

    Northlands
    1/24/14; +Too Young Man R7; Cinderella Smiles R8
    1/26/14; +Smooth Criminal R10; +Man Alive R11; Little Bit Faster R11

     Meadows
    1/24/14, +PL Dragon R3; +Bootswiththefur R4; +Mattachardle R6; +Trend Spotter R6; Hall Of Memories R12

    Monticello
    1/23/14, Flower Girl Charis R4
    1/27/14, +Day To Fay R2; Eng-amer Davanti R2; +Lightning Madison R4

    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

    Western Fair
    1/24/14, +Flip Top R8 

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Dec 1, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    There were not many surprises on the last big stakes program for harness racing this year, held on the Meadowlands’ second week of the current meet, which was also week two of its grand opening with a new facility and reversed racetrack. But we were on top of the only true outsider win, which took place in the Final Four fall finals.

    Our choice in the Valley Victory, Muscles Network, won and paid $17. That wasn’t all we offered in the stakes race, since we nailed the exacta with Nuncio at $42.20 and the triple with Southwind Spirit third, paying $107.60.

    Though she won the Goldsmith Maid and we did not attempt to beat her, Shake It Cerry paid only $2.10, $2.10, no show betting).

    Three other events found us second, with Arthur Blue Chip ($3.20, $3.20) in the Governor’s Cup, Act Now ($6.40, $3.40) in the Three Diamonds, and Ma Chere Hall ($2.80, no show betting) in the Moni Maker.

    Captaintreacherous did not fare well against the older pacers, finishing sixth to Foiled Again (pictured above from Meadowlands). Modern Legend, our other outsider possibility, ended his bid one spot in front of the great sophomore. Arch Madness was fourth in the FFA trot, won by the top choice, Market Share, who we chose behind him (no credit for us), paying $4.60 .

    Sunshine Beach, the huge choice at Dover on Dec. 1, won the Progress Pace ahead of a 78-1 shot, with our choice, Dedi’s Dragon, third.

    The horses-to-watch (H2W) list last week was abbreviated due to the Thanksgiving holiday and a large number of horses that were poised to take their second shot on the list unavailable to race. This left us without horses at our usually covered tracks, including the Meadows, Batavia, Freehold and Pompano. Also, Pocono closed, leaving many of the Pennsylvania stock heading for Philadelphia in the coming weeks.

    With the stakes season over, our year-ending blogs will consist of more tracks covered on the H2W list, as well as some feature races around North America at various raceways. In other words, there is plenty of action left in 2013, so keep those TwinSpires accounts ready to take advantage of the overnight parade of potential winners we will concentrate on presenting.

    H2W RESULTS
    The H2W results list across-the-board prices.

    Seconds

    Power Everywhere, $5.60, $3.60, Northfield
    Bette Davis Eyes, $3, $2.40, Cal Expo
    Van Donk, $2.20, $2.10, Cal Expo

    Thirds

    King Cat Anvil N, $6.20, Saratoga
    Racketeer, $4.70, Saratoga

    News And Notes

    Dover Downs’ defending driver champion, Corey Callahan, came up with his biggest night of the meet driving seven winners on Nov.26. He also had six losers on the night, two of them favorites, one at 5-2 and the others promising double digits. The flat-bet profit on Corey for the program was $14. However, that was due to one horse winning that paid $16.20. The other six winners for Corey paid $2.80 to $6.80. Once again, a leading driver at a track only makes a profit due to an anomaly.

    Further evidence of a lack in importance of specific driver participation in betting took place at the new Meadowlands on Nov. 29. John Campbell won four of 10 mounts with a high price of $18.80. He was a flat-bet investment of $20. His other winners’ prices helped produce a profit of  $18.80, the anomaly of the quartet.

    As well, Billy Dobson had six wins at Saratoga on Nov. 27 for a flat-bet profit of $16.60 with a $22 investment. Dobson had to have two winners at $10 each to accomplish less than Campbell earned with one less mount.

    Great drivers’ news is that Cat Manzi returned to the bike after recuperating from a bad accident at Freehold in September. He won his fifth drive back at Freehold and donated the day’s earnings to a fund for Anthony Coletta, who is still in a coma from an accident at Philadelphia.

    Foiled Again’s victory on Nov. 30 gave his lifetime earnings a lift. The nine-year-old stalwart has won $6,030,968. He maintains his status as the richest pacer of all time. Trainer Ron Burke said his pacer will be “shut down until the middle of January and then start coming back [as a 10-year-old]. He doesn’t get long rests. He races a lot. So basically it will be the same path as the last couple of years.”

    After the win, the buzz for Foiled Again’s final 2013 achievement, which would be to win the Horse of the Year ballot, was loud and clear. Even though Bee A Magician won her 17th-straight race as a sophomore and because Captaintreacherous’ loss against Foiled Again will not help him get any more votes, Foiled Again went right to the top as the favorite to win the coveted title.

    We will report on the voting (in which we participate) but as we have done at this corner for years we will be reporting on our own horse of the year, based on the prices winners have been treated to through our blogs over the past 12 months. Don’t miss one edition of our twice-weekly TwinSpires harness blog, the exclusive and only blog for harness racing bettors.

    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

  • Season’s Superstars Storm Through Meadowlands, Dover

    POSTED Nov 27, 2013 By Frank Cotolo


    The new Meadowlands opened amid the season’s first wintry mix. For a few of the first races of the refurbished racetrack, pacers wallowed through snow and rain. As the track’s second weekend of the landmark meet approaches, a gargantuan storm travels up the East Coast but hopefully will have no affect on the Nov. 30 program. The snow, ice and rain may be history by the time Captaintreacherous and Bee A Magician attempt to make their own marks. The former takes on older pacers and the later goes for a perfect season of 17 wins.

    On Sunday, glamour-boy pacers are the highlight at Dover Downs in the Progress Pace, which wraps up the stakes season on the first day of the last month of the year.

    Generational Conflict

    The contest of which every harness bettor and fan dreamed will be a center point of the Meadowlands’ $3.4-million program Saturday night as Captaintreacherous, the champion soph-colt pacer, faces stalwart older horses in the three-year-old-and-up Free For All worth $512,000.

    Captaintreacherous will start from post 8 against nine of the best free-for-all pacers in the country, including Foiled Again and Pet Rock, who have set up their own rivalry all season.  The stakes are high for the 10 pacers, so aggressive driving with horses taking no mercy on one another is likely. That said, there are two scenarios possible, one where the youngster prevails and one where older wins.

    Starting with the youngster scenario, the only way Captaintreacherous can win the race is with a pocket ride. Whether it is directly behind the leader or racing close early, a great amount of speed in the first quarters will surely benefit a winning journey.

    This speed scenario will likely be set by Golden Receiver, who always works for the front, Bolt The Duer, who takes no prisoners when gunning for the front, and Sweet Lou, who has recently found a forte racing on top. What makes this speed scenario more extreme is that “Bolt” drew post 10, where speed is necessary early to be put into the race. A lead-killing first quarter will set the fire for anyone in close proximity to the lead, which if Captaintreacherous wants to win, he’ll need to be placed.

    The other scenario too involves dying speed, but will not go to Foiled Again or Pet Rock. All year, Modern Legend has come close to winning, but with this being the final major race of the season, it will be all-things go for everyone. Since Modern Legend races off the pace, as well as draws well, a fast pace would just benefit his closing talent and give him the win he deserves against this group.

    In the $500,000 Free For All with the older trotters, Wishing Stone will look to repeat his outsider victory in the prep. But Market Share will be bet heavily again and will have more to say about which horse tries to steal the race on top. We liked how Arch Madness stayed close to the leader last week and finished second effortlessly. He may be a bit more aggressive late this time and be able to save ground for the big push, edging out Market Share at a price.

    Final Four For Froshes

    A quartet of stakes for two-year-olds of both sexes and both gaits, are also on the Meadowlands program. In no particular order, here is our analysis of each.

    Frosh-colt trotters, some of them next year’s Hambletonian hopefuls, line up for the $494,750 Valley Victory. The top hopeful, Father Patrick, has already tossed in his horseshoes for this season, which may be judged as charity considering how he dominated all of the members of this mile.
    Nuncio, who finally satisfied our status appointment as second best in the late season (we endorsed him in both Breeders Crown races with “Patrick” after supporting his talent most of the year), comes off a sweep of the division in Matrons and faces most of those he has already defeated. He will be the top choice—that bet is a lock. But can he be beaten here?

    Muscle Network may go undetected as a decent contender, hiking his odds to overlay status. He is back after a difficult “Crown,” breaking in the prep and going a rough trip in the final. But he was on his game before that for trainer Jonas Czernyson, a productive conditioner. With Southwind Spirit probably settling as the second choice, “Network” could be a high third or fourth choice, a worthy wager at those levels.

    The frosh-filly trotters untie for the $456,150 Goldsmith Maid. The short field may be hopelessly struggling for a way to defeat Shake It Cerry. Other than a major misstep by “Cerry,” the quintet against her needs divine intervention to win. Though the obvious exacta partner would be Scream And Shout, you could look for a better price with the chances of Sweetie Hearts, who comes with a good resume from a strong fall series in Canada.

    First-season filly pacers make up the $394,950 Three Diamonds. What is left of this scruffy division produces a competitive field. Act Now is the one that gets our attention. Her Crown efforts were strong, with a bad trip in the arguably tight final (finishing ninth) and a third in the elim. She won a Kentuckiana stake at Hoosier among stiff rivals, one of three she won in eight starts. She is fresh and probably will offer a decent price against the probable choice, Ali Blue

    The richest of the finals is the $534,500 Governor’s Cup, showcasing the sport’s top young boy pacers. The final has become an open betting affair, due to the scratch of Somestarsomewhere early this week, provoked when the Ron Burke trainee pulled a curb while training. Burke reported this injury as “minor” and that it will not affect his colt’s three-year-old season.

    With the public’s choice currently on the fence, the 2013 Governor’s Cup has become a true bettors’ event. Many freshmen are coming into it in top form, such as So Surreal, Jk Endofanera and Stevensville. The division’s favorite early this season, Arthur Blue Chip–we had him before he caught on, when he paid well (Metro elim), seeks redemption off of a bad trip in the Crown. We like his chances.

    Improving with two qualifiers at the Meadowlands, the speedy son of Shadow Play is making the first major appearance of his career, having scratched out of the Metro Final and not making the Crown final. Looking back to the Crown, he was parked the mile, setting fractions of :53.4 and 1:22.2 in a battle against Luck Be Withyou. The colt showed that he doesn’t need to race on the lead in his most recent qualifier, which will likely be a winning position with the tremendous amount of speed these guys offer.

    Soph Fillies On Fire

    Bad news came early this week as I Luv The Nitelife was scratched from another Nov. 30 feature, the $167,500 Nadia Lobell. Suffering an undisclosed injury that demands surgery and threatens to end her career, the super filly and domineering damsel of this division won’t be the main problem of the stake’s field. However, what was one big problem becomes, in its absence, a myriad of problems, as chances to win spread out among the cast.

    That opinion is not shared by many, as the three obvious choices, Charisma Hanover, Shebestingin and Somwhereovrarainbow will contest the favorite’s spot, according to all handicappers. But this is not a match race between those three. In fact, the presence of all three could conspire into the perfect storm for an upset. For instance, Jerseylicious has competed against the top of the line sophs all season but has not had a chance to pace late at a lot of speed. That speed should be present as the top three may shuffle the fractions before the final turn. That may give Jerseylicious the opportunity she needs. One thing is certain, she will be a high-priced fourth choice at best, an overlay no matter how you cut the mile or evaluate the field.

    Bee A Magician hopes to race similarly to all of her 16 starts this year and win as easily in the $253,000 Moni Maker for glamour-girl trotters. This, above all of those 16 races, however, could be the one that allows us to bet against the queen of ’13.

    Which scenario could manufacture the filly’s first loss of the season? The possibilities exclude a break; only a severe trip problem could make the difference of a nose at the finish line. That is the fun bet—not the heavy one—to make, which has some potential to turn a virtual exhibition race into a contest.

    Parking “Bee” is possible from four gals: Ma Chere Hall, Andie Sophia, Little Bitty Lies, Time To Kill and Mistery Woman. The only chances this quartet has center around major speed challenges or building a wall that forces Bee wide more than once in the mile. Time To Kill may fire for control, as will “Lies,” the cheapest of the lot, and Andie Sophia could try to take over or thicken the outer flow along with Mistery Woman by the half. If Bee is not in command by the half there may be hope for an upset from “Chere,” who could get the best ground-saving trip from the outside scenario.

    Progress Report

    Dover’s signature race, the $284,160 Progress Pace, is set for this Sunday, Dec. 1. Morning-line favorite Sunshine Beach will seek redemption in the sophomore final after losing to last year’s two-year-old colt pace Matron winner Twilight Bonfire in the elim.
    The other scenario also involves fading speed but may not go to Foiled Again or Pet Rock if they attack one another dearly. All year, Modern Legend has come close to winning but with this being the final major race of the season it will be all-things go for everyone. Since Modern Legend races off the pace, as well as draws well, a fast pace would just benefit his closing talent and give him the win he deserves against this group.
     
    Dedi’s Dragon’s main accomplishment this season was defeating Captaintreacherous, a near impossible feat by a colt with his record. In the Progress preview he got away 13 lengths off the lead, entered the two wide flow by being placed third over and closed to finish third through moderate fractions. He will start from the rail this week, which should allow him to be placed a bit closer to the lead. With faster fractions likely in the final, the race should set up for the Burke trainee. 

    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
    11/29/13, +Skyway King R6; +Bette Davis Eyes R12  
    11/30/13, +Van Donk R7
     
    Freehold
    11/22/13, +Makemywishcometrue R10  
    11/23/13, +Bettorific R7

    Maywood
    11/29/13, +Speed Minister R2 

    Northfield
    11/29/13, Hot Mandy R1; +Sporty Callie R2; +Gee Up R2; +Carmelita’s Girl R3; +Power Everywhere R8; +REO Speeddragon R10; +Truffle Shuffle R11
    11/30/13, +Lost Photo R1; +Basilio Blue Chip R7; +Point Standing R13
     
    Philadelphia
    11/29/13, Carlena Hanover R10
     
    Saratoga
    11/29/13, +Hi Edith R2; +Delightfuldanielle R4  
    11/30/13, +Racketeer R3; King Cat Anvil N R4; +Spencer B R13
     
    Cartoon by Thom Pye
     
     
    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.


  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Nov 24, 2013 By Frank Cotolo


    We weren’t left with much in the features department when the Meadowlands could not present elims for the frosh Fall Finals. That quartet will be covered in our Thursday blog, the fields already set for the single-dash contests. The new Meadowlands opened, however, and the feature on the program No. 23, were FFA preps for next week’s super events, which are for three-year-olds and up. That condition, of course, is emphasized for one simple reason: Captaintreacherous.

    In the News And Notes section below, you can read about the top-soph-pacing colt’s debut on the new Meadowlands surface. As we go to press we await the word from his connections if he will take on the older set in the FFA Pace.

    In our attempt to find some value in the two preps on opening night we were far less concerned than most about how the new track would play. The only work done to the oval was some smoothening of banks on the turns but drivers and trainers had questions that may or may not have affected their performance. Certainly the horses were all right with it; there were no reported issues that confirmed any of the human’s concerns and little seemed to be any different when reviewing the races.

    The mathematics of pari-mutuels kicked in without a stitch. In 13 races the choices faired well: four first choices won; two second choices won; two co-second choices won; one third choice won; one co-fourth choice won. There were three longshots, with one of those races presenting the first and second choice having breaks and being eliminated. Those results are nothing more than normal.

    Our search for value in the two major Meadowlands events and the single Dover event on Nov. 24, resulted in three fifth-place finishers.

    Again, on a slow features weekend and being off the board in the trio of events we addressed, we were saved by the horses-to-watch list (H2W), which below reports on the successes we had at most of the tracks we promoted.

    H2W RESULTS

    The H2W results list across-the-board prices.

    Winners

    Petraeus, $27.80, $8.70, $3.20, Saratoga
    Shine N Shimmer, $15.60, $5, $3.20, Meadows
    Allamerican Dora, $10.80, $5.80, $2.60, Northfield
    Irish Elitist, $7.90, $3.50, $2.30, Saratoga
    All Powerful, $7.20, $3.30, $2.40, Saratoga
    Vegas Strip Three, $5.80, $4.40, $3.40, Northfield
    Matts Wolfey, $5.50, $2.70, $2.10, Saratoga
    Mr Web Page, $4.80, $5, $5.60 (ok)

    Seconds

    Power Everywhere, $5.80, $5, Northfield
    Boy Stuff, $5.40, $4.60, Meadows
    Basilio Blue Chip, $4.60, $3.60, Northfield
    Bettorific, $4.20, $2.80, Freehold
    REO Speeddragon, $3.80, $3.20, Northfield
    Smoken Cambest, $3.80, $2.80, Maywood
    Bette Davis Eyes, $3.60, $3.20, Cal Expo
    B Blissfull, $3.40, $2.80, Saratoga
    Subliminal Hanover, $2.70, $2.30, Saratoga

    Thirds

    Delightfuldannielle, $7.30, Saratoga
    Ramblin Rick, $5.50, Batavia
    Miss Chip, $4, Meadows
    Mynah Hanover, $3.60, Meadows
    Sea Cruise Hanoer, $3.60, Pocono
    Sunny New Day, $3.20, Northfield
    Fine Fine Fine, $2.80, Pompano
    Point Standing, $2.60, Northfield

    News And Notes

    Captaintreacherous, Pet Rock and I Luv The Nitelife, qualified at the Meadowlands and a few of the season’s fastest frosh-pacing colts went q-miles for next Saturday’s $534,500 Governor’s Cup final.

    A pair of Ron Burke trainees hit the wire together with Somestarsomewhere winning a short nose over JK Endofanera. The winner is a son of Somebeachsomewhere; he set the frosh record of 1:49.2 at The Red Mile this fall and won his Breeders Crown elim in a world-record 1:49.4 at Pocono.

    Soph-pacing fillies prepped for the Nadia Lobell, including I Luv The Nitelife going against Somewherovrarainbow, making her first start out of the Joe Holloway barn. “Nitelife” won for trainer Chris Ryder.

    Soph-pacing sensation Captaintreacherous will face older horses in the $500,000 FFA Final on Nov. 30, a feat that hasn’t been attempted in decades. His qualifier win was in 1:49.3 for trainer Tony Alagna and his team. 

    Pet Rock won his q-mile in 1:50.4. Trainer Virgil Morgan sends Pet Rock into the FFA final against Captaintreacherous and other aged pacers next week.It will be Pet Rock’s last start of his career before he heads to Ohio to embark on his new career.

    Ohio’s Lebanon Raceway has had its 2014 harness dates approved by the state racing commission. The track is moving and will be known as Miami Valley Gaming and Racing. It was awarded 66 live dates beginning in February. Northfield Park received 213 harness programs, beginning Jan. 1. Raceway Park, being replaced by Hollywood Gaming at Dayton, is also set to begin a 56-date meet in October.

    Balmoral Park in Illinois received a year-round schedule again, sharing the week with downstate Maywood. Balmoral goes from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 again next year with 275 dates. Maywood received 90 programs.

    Market Share has been invited to take a trip to Sweden and go against Europe’s best trotters in the classic Elitlopp. Trainer Linda Toscano said if the Hambletonian champ begins a five-year-old campaign with promise, connections may send him overseas for the major event and other European Grand Circuit miles.

     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

  • Winter Stakes Waning On Dawn Of New Meadowlands

    POSTED Nov 20, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    There was trouble in paradise when the grand opening of the new Meadowlands was threatened by a shortage of horses in the draw for the first program on Nov. 23. Access to the entry box was allowed an extra day and the picture reportedly looked “less grim” in an effort to line the program with 13 races.

    Adding to the malaise was a lack of freshman pacers and trotters to support elims for the final four stakes of the season. So, the Governor’s Cup, the Three Diamonds, the Goldsmith Maid and the Valley Victory events will be presented on Nov. 30 sans eliminations.

    With late support from horsemen, the shipping plans were set and the Meadowlands will open on Nov. 23 with a 13-race program. Featured on the car are $50,000 Free For Alls for three-year-old-and-up pacers and trotters prepping for next week’s huge six-digit events, historic in that they may have sophomores facing the best older horses.

    Also prepping with a single elim are glamour-boy pacers at Dover Downs. And, the H2W (horses to watch) list pours out more contenders for your win, place, show and exotic pleasure.

    Progress Pace Preps

    There is a single Progress Pace elim, which is more like a prep as only one soph-colt pacer will not make it into the Dec. 1 final. This is Dover Downs’ premier event and the $35,000 prelude only drew nine. Some glamour-boy pacers not involved are done for the season and Captaintreacherous’s management is still pondering if the champ will race against older at the new Meadowlands.

    Other recent headliners in the division are missing. Word Power, who won the Windy City Pace (we gave him to you) and the huge favorite he toppled, Lucan Hanover, are not here. Messenger-winner Ronny Bugatti, Matron-“Jug”-winner Vegas Vacation, Sunshine Beach and the still winless Wake Up Peter will do battle. A few newcomers to this level of the division are included in the nine.

    The big two, of course, are Vegas Vacation and Sunshine Beach, but they will eat a lot of bets, leaving some room for possible upsets. Among those scenarios are Tony Alagna’s duo, Emeritus Maximus and Wake Up Peter. The problem with the latter is he refuses to wake up enough to win. Seventeen starts, most in the top tier of the division, and he cannot get into the winner’s circle.

    Emeritus Maximus has five wins and is showing some late-season spunk, enough to win with the right trip or while taking advantage of the top two’s rigorous schedule through the Breeders Crown. He should be a strong third choice at the least. No doubt Alagna would love to see “Peter” win over either of the top two, considering the verbal beating his Captaintreacherous has taken even when defeating them.


    Meadowlands Anew

    The first program at the New Jersey plant that starts and ends where the backstretch used to be features two $50,000 Free For Alls.

    There are six trotters in the first affair, all of them familiar names to this year’s campaign, led by top male Market Share. In the small field, the Linda Toscano-trained Market Share has gone on a winning streak after having some issues with the same bunch of horses mid-season. Don’t expect a price here but take a look at the prices for Uncle Peter, who could turn the tables.

    The pacing FFA has eight elders, each with his own story of victory on the oval when it went the other way. The bulk of the win money will once again tip the scales for Foiled Again but all things being equal, this division has been tough on one another all year. Prices may be offered in fairness to Golden Receiver and Fred And Ginger, since the wagering could be too much in favor of Foiled Again.

    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

    Batavia
    11/22/13, Ramblin Rick R3

    Cal Expo
    11/22/13, +Bette Davis Eyes R1; Portfolio R7; Skyway King R9; Curvacious R14
     
    Freehold
    11/22/13, +Makemywishcometrue R10  
    11/23/13, +Bettorific R7

    Maywood
    11/22/13, +Smoken Cambest R1; Cinnamon Spider R13 

    Meadows
    11/22/13, Jedi Hanover R3; Boy Stuff R3; Woodside Warrior R4; Florida Vortex R6; Fantasy’s Chipchip R7; Rio Sweet R10; +Do Me Honor R11; Shine N Shimmer R11; Sweetheart Dance R11; Miss Chip K R12; Dream Of Winning R13; Mynah Hanover R14; +Eradikate R15.

    Northfield
    11/22/13, Hot Mandy ae R1; Icanfeelyoubreath R2; Townline Kriss R2; Scratch R3; Carmelita’s Girl R6; Campside Angel ae R7; Power Everywhere R10; R E O Speeddragon R11; Truffle Shuffle R12; Vegas Strip Three R14; I Love My Yankee R14
    11/23/13, Carolina Nan R1; Allamerican Dora R2; Lost Photo R3; Sunny New Day R8; Basilio Blue Chip R10; Point Standing R12; Sporty Callie R13; Gee Up R13

    Pocono
    11/22/13, +Jerjens Dragon R5; +Magnum Kosmos R6; Sea Cruise Hanover R14
    11/23/13, Lauderdale R2; +Hold Your Hat R5

    Pompano
    11/23/13, Fine Fine Fine R10

    Saratoga
    11/22/13, Delightfuldanielle R1; +Petraeus R5; Mr Web Page R9
    11/23/13, +B Blissful R1; +Upfront Ellijay Ed ae R3; King Cat Anvil N R3; +All Powerful R4; Matt’s Wolfey R5; +Irish Elitist R7; +Red Star Tomahawk R7; Subliminal Hanover R7; +Spencer B ae R13

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Nov 17, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    After Odds On Rhodonite turned became the favorite after the probable favorite scratched, our first of four Maywood stakes on Nov. 15 resulted in a third ($2.10). But then all hell broke loose as the trio of top events left were struck hard by our choices, making us the only Internet source that handed out three winners of considerable value, along with two exactas from those events.

    In the Galt we had it dead on, cold, as Rossini won ($8, $5, $4) and Dewycolorintheline finished second ($8.60, $3.80). Our tandem was an exacta worth $59.20.

    In the Cinderella we backed Pertty Music and she was the winner ($19.40, $5.80, $4.80).

    And our major upset in the Windy City Pace shook the standardbred world as Word Power won ($15.80, $2.80, $2.80) defeated the so-called lock, Lucan Hanover ($2.10, $2.10) and the other horse we mentioned to be in the mix, Apprentice Hanover finished third ($3.60), resulting in an exacta worth $39.80 and a trifecta worth $130.80. It was another dead on, cold result and the conclusion of a great night for TwinSpires harness blogs.

    Dover Downs’ Matron Finals on Nov. 17 were nowhere near as productive, basically because there were all public choices in the winners’ circle. We did mention that Shake It Cerry was our only choice in one and that Ma Chere Hall (both paying $2.10) and Nuncio ($2.20) were most probably winners but we only caught Stevensille for second ($3.40, no show betting) and Emeritus Maximus (no show betting)

    H2W RESULTS
    The H2W results list across-the-board prices.

    Winners

    Screenplay, $33.60, $14, $15.80 (ok), Saratoga
    All Heart Gal, $22.20, $6.80, $5.20, Meadows
    I’m An Eyre NZ, $11, $5.20, $3, Cal Expo
    Prismatica, $8.40, $3.40, $3, Meadows
    Pop I, $5.50, $3.70, $2.40, Saratoga
    Duc Freewaytofreedom, $4.80, $3, $2.80, Meadows
    Nf Independence, $2.40, $2.10, $2.10, Freehold

    Seconds

    All About Justice, $9.60, $3.20, Pocono
    All Powerful Day, $8.40, $4.40, Saratoga


    Thirds

    Irish Elitist, $6.40, Saratoga
    Bettorific, $4.60, Freehold
    Bo Tox Hanover, $3.60, Meadows
    Matts Smokin Lil, $3, Freehold
    Upfront Ellijay Ed, $2.60, Saratoga
    Van Donk, $2.10, Cal Expo


    News And Notes

    The opening of the New Meadowlands is making a lot of fans and gamblers excited. With the track turned around a new grandstand structure, horsemen are ready to understand if and how the racing is affected. For one, the sun will set more dramatically watching from what used to be the backstretch. The new grandstand is located where the barns once stood. From now on there will only be shipping to the Meadowlands to race.

    The opening of the new facility is set for Nov. 23. Racing will take place on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 28. In 2014 the winter meet will go from January through March with a Thursday-through-Saturday program schedule. We will have a full report of the opening but before that, in our next blog, we will cover what we can of the first weekend. 

    Over the past decade, standardbred stallion fees have declined even for the most popular studs. So it is almost landmark in the new millennium to see a stud fee raised. But the overwhelming success of Somebeachsomewhere has prompted the horse’s management team and Hanover Shoe Farms, where he stands, to make his 2014 fee $30,000. It wasn’t just the tremendous success of Captaintreacherous. Somebeachsomewhere is the leading earning sire in the sport and has done especially well this season with frosh fillies.

    Pet Rock, a favorite of these blogs and a winner for us more than once at fair odds, will retire after this season. The older pacer is set to race in a new $500,000 pace at the Meadowlands on Nov. 30. He will perform stud duty in Ohio, standing for a fee of $6,000. He is a winner of over $1 million and the owner of the fastest mile ever won on a half-mile track, coming at the Delaware fair when he won in 1:48.1. Also, he won at the Meadowlands in 1:47.

    Trainer Ron Burke recently became the first harness racing conditioner to surpass the $20-million earnings plateau. He has also won 981 so far this year and that too is a record. Burke has led all North American trainers in wins and earnings for four-straight years and should make it five when 2013 ends.

     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

  • Maywood, Dover Share Weekend Spotlights

    POSTED Nov 13, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    Once again this weekend we focus on the Midwest and East, this time at Maywood on Friday, Nov. 15, and back to Dover on Sunday, Nov. 17.

    Four of Maywood Park’s biggest stakes are on the same program this season. The Windy City for soph-colt pacers, the Abe Lincoln for frosh-colt pacer, the Galt for soph-colt trotters and the Cinderella for Soph-filly pacers are the highlights on the Chicago-area half-mile.

    Dover’s Novemberfest of stakes ensues with eight Matron Finals for two- and three-year-olds on both gaits, leaving some soph-colt pacers out for the upcoming Progress Pace before November ends.

    Our horses-to-watch (H2W) list continues to post hot prospects for win, place, show and exotics uses at many of the tracks TwinSpires carries loyally.

    The Maywood Quartet
     
    The $87,000 Abe Lincoln starts the stakes’ portion of the Maywood card, with seven frosh-colt pacers unevenly spread out. That judgment is based upon the caliber of this field, where one is still a maiden and three have only won once. The maiden, however, is the second highest earner of the group and could graduate here after seven seconds in 17 starts. Topping the money wagon is Kingofthejungle, bound to be the public choice. But considering the imbalance of talent, perhaps a price could accompany Odds On Rhodonite? The third-place money-earner of the group this season is hard to knock against these and may pay off.

    The $110,00 Galt Stakes collected eight for the mile. After last week’s win (we gave him to you at $25), Lindy’s Tru Grit will be bet heavily here and have a big shot. However, King Mufasa will take some money, leaving Rossini and Dewycolorintheline aching or bets. The latter may not be supported as strongly as Rossini but seems to be back in shape after some miscues, which could be the key to a big price. We like Rossini best and “Dewy” with an asterisk to win but definitely in the exotics.

    The $73,000 Cinderella Stake has seven soph-filly pacers, including a gal we liked in the Am-Nat last week but failed. Auniqueaquisition failed in the I Luv The Nitelife upset mile but looks good again here, with probable co-choice Always About Katey. Third choice could be Pertty Music and she would be a fair price if she were to follow them. She is the outside contender and our choice here with Auniqueaquisition next.

    Soph-colt pacers conclude the stakes portion of the program with the $177,000 Windy City Pace. The public will strongly endorse Lucan Hanover after that one challenged Captaintreacherous uneventfully last week. Not living up to some hype late in the season is Word Power but he could be trouble for “Lucan” here and will definitely be the price to support. Lucan will be all out (he is a half-mile world-record holder) but will most likely offer nothing for the wager. This event is rife with outsiders winning since it became a lesser stakes on the calendar for the glamour boys.

    Magnificent Matrons

    Let’s look at some possibly profitable offerings in the Matron finals in the order of the program at Dover, Sunday, Nov. 17.

    Three-year-old filly trot
    Ma Chere Hall comes to this with all engines firing, shed free of Bee A Magician and a number of other top division gals. We need an outside contender, however, and we will take Thistle Dhu again, forgiving her poor prep last week.

    Two-year-old colt pace
    The Burke contingent will be hunting Mcwicked and prices will be low for any of them to win. Stevensville, another productive Someheachsomewhere colt, could steamroll them all at a price.

    Two-year-old colt trot
    Nuncio holds all the cards and attention of the bettors in this one. Well Built, though, is peaking late and this may be her season’s best if she stays flat and trots her bloodline speed. We would not be surprised to see her try the top and keep it. The Muscle Hill daughter is getting better each race and could be a fair price here.

    Two-year-old filly pace
    The public will spread bets out between a few in this one, so it is difficult to call which—Tyra, Beach Body, Instant Respect or Ali Blue—may be the true overlay. If Somethinincredible is behind them in the betting, she gets our call because that will definitely be an overlay; she has every right to be a contender in this one.

    Two-year-old filly trot
    There isn’t too much to prevent Shake It Cerry from taking it all, so you judge her value and either pass or look for a strong exacta with some of the longer shots.

    Three-year-old colt pace
    Those not attending the Progress Pace are here, mostly second stringers from the division and a lot may happen during this mile considering the lot of them. Certainly Vegas Vacation will be a public choice and go flying to try to get them from beginning to end but don’t count out Emeritus Maximus, who last week, as we predicted, woke up against Sunshine Beach. That one has some work to do to get the better of “Vegas” and Twilight Bonfire, who may show some speed as his tactic here. “Maximus” will be worth it for sure.

    Three-year-old filly pace
    Your giant favorite here, Shebestingin, can be beat. A morning line of 3-5 is not truly deserved. A threat with a good price will be delivered by Cheyenne Miriam. It looks like the public will ignore all she has earned this year and the fact that her sire has been very productive. She may shine here against fillies that her talent equals, though she has not had a chance to prove it until now. 

    Three-year-old colt trot
    Smilin Eli is in the good with the crowd again and after winning the elim last week the public should invest heavily. But All Laid Out may not be done with his season and he could show up strong as he did when he made noise the first time with this squeaky division, and maybe at a decent price, too. Neither should Bluto or Tirade Hanover dismissed; they could be in for a piece of it and truly inflate the 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

    Batavia
    11/16/13, +Air Current R4 R10

    Cal Expo
    11/15/13, +Bams Hottie R9
    11/16/13, +Giles LS Hanover R5; +I’m An Eyre NZ R 11; Van Donk R12

    Freehold
    11/15/13, +Makemywishcometrue ae R1; +Matts Smokin Lil R6 
    11/16/13, Bettorific R7; +Nf Independence R12

    Lebanon
    11/15/13, +Dazzling Diana ae R7

    Maywood
    11/14/13, Speed Minister R4; Smoken Cambest R8
    11/15/13, +Hurricane Finale R1; +Repertoire ae R3; 

    Meadows
    11/15/13, Tea N Tea Go R3; Bo Tox Hanover R4; Jedi Hanover ae R5; Prismatica R6; Eradikate R7; Do Me Honor R10; +All Heart Gal R10; +Aj Niko D’oro R11; Jungle Of Terror R12; Dvc Freewaytofreedom R13; +Winning Double R14

    Pocono
    11/15/13, +All About Justice R8; +Il Mago R10; +Flashbacks R12
    11/16/13, Hold Your Hat R5

    Pompano
    11/16/13, Fine Fine Fine R5

    Saratoga
    11/15/13, Skeeter R2; Real Yankee Fan R2; Petraeus R5; Hi Edith R5; I’m Max R6; Baby Boy Grin R8; Pop I R8; Need Help Here R8; Jump The Shark R11
    11/16/13, B Blissful R1; Racketeer R2; Upfront Ellijay Ed R3; All Powerful R4; Pedro’s Dream R6; Irish Elitist R8; Red Star Tomahawk R8; Screenplay R10; Spencer B R12

     Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.


  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Nov 10, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    Captaintreacherous’ latest adventure dismissed world-record holder Lucan Hanover. In a similar scenario, where Captaintreacherous is dueling in the stretch with one or two other late challengers, Lucan Hanover made steps that appeared he would catch his opponent by a nose or hair, and Captaintreacherous did what he always does—he looks at his foe from the side and takes the few extra steps needed for victory.

    The remarkable thing, then, about the American-National for soph-colt pacers at Balmoral on Nov. 9, was that Captaintreacherous paid $2.80 ($2.10, $2.10).

    Bee A Magician kept her win record spotless for the season, paying $2.10 ($2.10, no show wagering).

    But I Luv The Nitelife (the third of the Four Horses of the Apocalypse) went down in defeat after a long, grueling outside trip. Still, in harness racing’s longest stretch, “Luv” only allowed Charisma Hanover to beat her by the slightest of margins. She finished second and paid $2.40, $2.10.

    Our grand achievement of the Am-Nats turned out to be Lindy’s Tru Grit (photo left from Balmoral Park) beating his glamour-boy trotting mates and paying $25.00 ($6.80, $4.80).

    Trotting mare Maven was second ($3.80, $3.20) and Mister Herbie third ($3.20) in the Am-Nat older Open trot, won by favorite Market Share. Frosh-colt pacer Wicked Business finished third at 24-1 ($8.80), while Southwind Silence and Sweet Lou, our other two Am-Nat choices, finished fourth respectively.

    Three obvious winners at Dover on Sunday, Nov. 10, were led by Sunshine Beach, paying $3 ($2.60, $2.20). We gave you the exacta using Emeritus Maximus ($4.80, $3.40), which paid $13.60.

    Then, most of the favorites won their Matron events. We had Nuncio, who paid $2.10 ($2.10, no show wagering) and Shake It Cerry won and paid $2.10 ($2.10, no show wagering).

    Second for us were Ms Caila J Fra ($3, no show wagering) and third was Summertime Lea ($2.10). Two of our offerings, So Surreal and Lyonssomewhere, scratched.

    H2W RESULTS

    The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Odds off to win appear only for place and show finishers.

    Winners

    Lady Ashlyn, $9.20, $4.80, $3.40, Meadows
    Bo Knows Power, $5.40, $4.60, $3, Cal Expo
    Sad Story, $2.40, $2.10, $2.10, Freehold

    Seconds

    Baritone, $11.60, $5, Meadows
    Stand Guard, $2.60, $2.10, Freehold

    Thirds

    Magnum Kosmos, $10, Pocono
    Massasauga, $10, Lebanon
    The Awful Truth, $9, Batavia

    News And Notes

    The annual Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was reported a huge success, with yearling sales averages up. The optimism for the sport was riding high; we witnessed this in person on the first day of sales. A filly pacer, Bodacious, for instance, sold for $355,000. On day one of the yearling roster, 18 percent of the stock sold went for $100,000 or over. That included Way Bay Hanover at $270,000. He is a son of Somebeachsomewhere, a pacing sire whose yearlings were in great demand, and Katnss, by productive trotting sire Winning Credit, who went for $260,000.

    Of the notable racehorses sold, trotting mare Beatgoeson Hanover was the overall sales-topper, demanding $410,000. She was going to begin broodmare duties before being sold but sources tell us her new connections will bring her back to the track next season.

    Trotting stallion Knows Nothing went to the same connections, this one for $240,000. A frosh-pacing colt, McWicked got enough interest to be purchased for $210,000. One thousand one hundred and sixty-two horses sold for an average of $28,889.

    Congratulations to driver Pat Berry for winning the race number 3,000     of his career. Berry is
    certainly a bettor’s friend, having delivered many a longshot while racing in the shadows of high-profile drivers. He is 37 and has driven the winners of more than $27 million.

    Plainridge Racecourse requested its current season end Thursday, Nov. 14. According to new legislation, a racetrack is allowed to reduce racing programs. Massachusetts is teetering on the brink of passing expanded gaming laws, which should have a positive affect on Plainridge, which has suffered greatly in business over the past few years and is the only harness track in the state.

    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