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

  • Meadowlands Features Fast Ones; Overnights Overflowing

    POSTED Mar 5, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    This weekend hopes for weather less violent as March digs into its place for 2014. At the Meadowlands this Saturday, March 8, we will see the first wave of sophomore pacers in the William Gilmour Memorial Final for $60,500 and three- and four-year-old trotters in the Charles Singer for $53,200. That’s as high as it is getting so far in the features department.

    We continue to pick and choose a few specific races from common cards where we hope to keep up with our success of presenting some strongly priced winners. We love the Meadows and we are there again this Friday, March 7, to discuss a few races at length for optimum value wagering.


    More horses to watch (H2W) at the Meadows and for overnight events throughout the TwinSpires harness menu are presented exclusively below. This list provides wins, places, shows and exactas every week, featuring contenders that, for the most part, the public dismisses. We have added harness racing’s newest track, Miami Valley, in Ohio and have already resulted in successful plays. Saratoga opens again and is also added. 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.

    ’Gilmour’ presents

    Sophomore pacers that we may not see again down the stakes road are led by the obvious Dinner At The Met in the William Gilmour Memorial Final. Jimmy Takter trains three here, which could upset the betting configuration (program unavailable at press time) but we have to watch for value from National Debt. He is looking for his second win in as many tries and could be the speed of the speed, certainly if he commands his inside post and rates the quarters. Let the price be worth it by your judgment but he could be a strong third choice with “Met” and Capital Account leading the support bank.

    ’Singer’ On Stage

    With Time To Quit perfect with five wins in this Charles Singer series, coming into the final from the inside is going to make you think twice about playing at all. Just behind him, Perfect Alliance is four for four this year and then you have most of the horses they have beaten between them to fill out the field. So, a very light endorsement is handed to Clementine Dream, who is the most competitive past the top two and is bound to be a price from post 8. Trainer Mark Harder also has Ray Hall from post 4 and if they are coupled (no programs available at press time) you need not worry about making a decision.

    This week’s overnight offerings:

    Meadows
    March 7, Race 6

    A horse (Goggles Paisano) we chose second in a would-be giant exacta last week, in which we nabbed the 15-1 winner (Pop Cop), surfaces the morning-line (ML) choice stepping down into this conditioned pace. However, another horse, Brown Titan, is here with an unreasonable 12-1 ML and stands the best chance to blow this field away. Hanged for three calls dropping to this level last week, Brown Titan hails from Northfield, where he collected checks in Open company. Those foes were better than these, further strengthening our support for him here. For exotic plays, be sure to use Incredible Dragon, who has shown spark at this level and is sitting on a big mile in his fourth start after a brief rest.

    Meadows
    March 7, Race 11

    This conditioned trot is no conundrum, considering obvious choices are marked with short ML odds and have inside posts that fans love to count on when betting. But on the outside, post 9 (scored on the far outside at the Meadows), RT USS Chilton steps up a slight notch and may overcome a trip scorned by his post and win at a big price. As a legitimate contender, “Chilton” has won two of three, the middle loss of the trio due to breaking stride, mostly. He has a dual style, so if he manages to have to go with the outer flow due to his post, he should be flying in the stretch. Consider, also, that the ML choice is also a stepper-upper with two of three wins but Connie Keeper has post 2, so the inequality is based upon post as well as raw speed data, which is fine to ignore. Use her in exotics, though.

    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
    3/7/14, +My Roberto R7; +Fox Valley Dylan R7; +Pip’s Jenny G R12; Blessingfromabove R13

    Dover
    3/9/14, +Devvils Embrance N R9; JRs Midnight Cry R13

    Flamboro
    3/6/14,; +Northern Triumph R4; +Justabiteveil R9; Strong Hope R11
    3/8/14, +Justabiteveil R1; +Lightning Charger R5

    Fraser
    3/7/14, +Terra True R2; Jack Junior R6; +Last Luck R7; +Yanotherhos R11

    Freehold
    3/7/14, +Stand Guard R5; +All On My Own R10

    Meadows
    3/7/14, +Perfect Change R2; +Yosemite Camn R3; +Mccedes R6; D Mac R7; Dew N Doughnuts R10; +Bergerac R10; +Dojea Nodoze R13; +Four Starz Elder R14

    Miami Valley
    3/7/14, +TM Valley Storm R3
    3/8/14, +Woop D Do Bazzle—AE—R1 

    Monticello
    310/14, Garbarino R8

    Saratoga
    3/7/14, Real Yankee Fan R3; +Cash Poor R9; +The Northern Dude R10
    3/8/14, Sand Summerfield R9

    Yonkers
    3/7/14; Blacktuxwhitesox R7; Likeabatouttahell R8; Yo Cheyenne Rocky R9


    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Mar 2, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    It was quite a week for winners and take a look at some of the place-and-show prices, a few connected to exactas, in the horses-to-watch (H2W) list results below. Our successes in non-features continue to endorse the great across-the-board and exotic plays you can find through us for your TwinSpires harness bankroll.

    Also last week, we delivered half of the winning quartet in Buffalo Raceway’s TwinSpires bonus Pick 4 (Feb. 26). Once again we gave you the highest payer of the four races with Lucky Millionaire ($22.60, $5.40, $3.50) and week added the second-leg winner, My Future Ex ($6, $2.80, $2.80-ok).

    Every Wednesday night 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.

    Our featured overnight choices included a big winner at the Meadows in Pop Cop ($33.60, $12.20, $4.60). At Flamboro, one of our two choices was second (Justabitevil, $4.60, $3.30; Exacta with public-choice winner $12.10). Our second choice in the other Flamboro non-feature was second (Northern Triumph, $4.80, $3.30).

    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

    Only In Lodi, $50.80, $12.80, $7.80, Cal Expo
    Honeyinthyepine, $21.80, $8.80, $7.20, Meadows
    Gold Deuce, $7.40, $4.40, $3, Cal Expo
    Luna Hanover, $5.20, $3.60, $2.40 (*Exacta $26.60), Miami Valley
    Look Siera, $3.60, $3, $3, Freehold
    Northern Fling, $3, $2.60, $2.10 (**Exacta $4.80), Cal Expo

    Seconds

    Rollin Deep, $8.50, $4.30 (Exacta $75.20), Fraser
    Charmbo Willie, $7, $4.20 (Exacta $32.90), Flamboro
    Pink E Bank, $7, $4.40 (Exacta $42.80), Miami Valley
    Juntique, $6, $4.20 (*Exacta $26.60), Miami Valley
    Suits, $6, $3.80, Dover
    PC Moonshine, $5.20, $3.80, Pompano
    Late For Work, $3.80, Miami Valley
    Pips Jenny G, $2.60, $2.40 (**Exacta $4.80), Cal Expo
    Sand Savage, $2.50, $2.10, Buffalo

    Thirds

    Perfect Change, $13.20, $5.80 (Exacta $49.60), Meadows
    Four Starz Elder, $10, $5.20, Meadows
    Bluebird Corvette, $5.50, Buffalo
    Yosemite Camn, $5.20, Meadows
    Dojea Nodoze, $3.20, Meadows

    News And Notes

    The Meadowlands released its 2014 winter book for the Meadowlands Pace. Top sophomore pacers include frosh-pacing champ Hes Watching and runner-up Luck Be With You. Several other colts are Some Major Beach, a half-brother to the great Somebeachsomewhere, the sire of last year’s Meadowlands Pace winner Captaintreacherous. Tony Alagna trains both.

    Beginning Monday, March 3, and continuing with just one exception through Oct. 31, all post times at Monticello Raceway will be at 12:50 p.m. The exception occurs on Friday, July 4 when post time will be 5:30 p.m.. Live racing during the month of March will continue four times weekly on the afternoons of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

    Flamboro Downs advises that their post times for Saturdays have been changed from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Still, the March 22 will remain at 1 p.m. due to a fund raiser being held at the facility.

    After joint consultation, Jim Simpson, President of Hanover Shoe Farms and majority owner Jeff Snyder have decided to retire Cams Card Shark from active stallion duty. Simpson said, “He has now reached the stage in life where it is both difficult and dangerous for him and those around him to mount the phantom mare or even to be collected using a live mare.” Cams Card Shark was syndicated at the end of 1994 and retired with career earnings of $2,498,204. His stallion accomplishments include 10 millionaires including five who have earned in excess of two million dollars. He is credited with three Little Brown Jug winners and two winners of The Meadowlands Pace. His most renowned performers have been Shark Gesture, Bettors Delight, Four Starzzz Shark, Royalflush Hanover, Holborn Hanover, Roll With Joe, Village Jolt and Million Dollar Cam. For serious followers of bloodlines come this remarkable fact: Cams Card Shark’s son, Bettors Delight, is the fifth great stallion from a paternal line that follows from Meadow Skipper through Most Happy Fella to Cam Fella to Cams Card Shark and now Bettors Delight. This is a feat unprecedented in standardbred and thoroughbred breeding. It’s quite possible that the line will be extended through his grandson Betterthancheddar.

    Rosecroft Raceway’s 65th anniversary race meet will kick off with a 27-date winter-spring meet beginning March 8 and going through June 7. Harness racing will be offered every Tuesday and Saturday evening with a 6:40 p.m. post time. A total overnight purse schedule of over $70,000 per day will be offered, including a 15-percent bonus on earnings for any Maryland owned, sired, trained or foaled horse that finishes first through fifth in an overnight race during the meet.

    In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Freehold Raceway will be the scene of a special race featuring drivers of Irish heritage on Saturday, March 15. The winner of the race receives a blanket and a trophy. The drivers scheduled to participate in the race are Jack Baggitt, Jr., George Brennan, Corey Callahan, John Sheehan, John McDermott, plus a trio of native Irish drivers Joe Hanney, Anthony Haughan, and Jonathan Dunne. They Irish trio is a reunion celebrating years of driving and training together throughout Ireland, England, Canada and the United States. Dunne holds the driving title in his country as well as in the UK. Haughan is a top driver in Canada. This will be the first time driving for Haughan and Dunne at Freehold .

    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

  • 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.      

  • 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.      

  • I Heart Betting Harness Racing

    POSTED Feb 12, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    Valentine’s Day weekend should not be a Valentine’s Day massacre of wagering. Our love for wagering on harness racing is obviously unconditional and rewarding, since we are able to weather the rugged winter that is ripping through our weekly track schedules and still find overlays and win. So, with our hearts in the right place, let’s look at this weekend with the love for playing (man the TwinSpires accounts, friends) and the fiery will to win—the kind that keeps us warm in the wrath of the Polar Vortex’s attacks.

    As we go to press, another fierce storm is trouncing its way through the south and northeast of the United States and many tracks have already announced canceling their Feb. 13 programs.

    But we have enough activity to keep the steam sizzling; we have specific overnight events with highly probable profit-producing choices, as well as our horses-to-watch (H2W) list includes entries poised to strike again with wins, places, shows and exactas across North America. 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. 14, Race 7

    Put a decent contender in the 9 hole here and watch the crowd ignore him for horses inside of him and one with local-hero-driver Dave Palone. A price is almost guaranteed for T T Tucker; he certainly won’t go off as lightly as he did in his last two, no less his last five. We wouldn’t expect him up front early even from a more inside post but we know he will be on the move and playing his own game by mid-mile and have one hell of a shot at probably the best price we have seen from him in over a month of rugged, productive racing.

    Meadows
    Feb. 14, Race 9

    Hickory Big Red was all out early in his first winners-of appearance, a spot he earned from two back after failing in a conditional Preferred Handicap (no excuse, just did not show up). He won’t be near his 5-2 odds from last week, where he dueled his way out of the top spot but still took a piece of the purse. Again, the crowd piles their dough on Palone, who takes a Hoosier horse for his first money-race spin. We will take the price against Palone any day and certainly with Hickory Big Red here.

    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
    2/13/14; +Schooner Or Later 9; Bagel Man R11
    2/14/14; +Ms Luck R9
    2/15/14; Sand Savage R8; +Literate Hanover R9


    Cal Expo
    2/14/14, +Rite After Disbeer R8; +Yank My Missle R14
    2/15/14, Diva Las Vegas R4; Curvacious R7; Stiletosilverheels R7; KD Nicol R9; Mobil Big John R11; Girls Lie Too R14

    Dover
    2/16/14, Rock My Life R3; +Cowboy Artist R7

    Flamboro
    2/16/14, Ardyne Phillis R2; Spartacus Jim R4; +Designer R9

    Freehold
    2/14/14, +Our Girls Chance N R4; +Stand Guard R7; +Ringside Winner—AE—R7; Look Siera R11; +Princess Mcardle N R11

    Meadows
    2/14/14, Eddie Sweat R1; Sweet Inspiration R2; Screen Saver R4; Cajon Hotshot R8; Yosemite Camn R12

    Pompano
    2/15/14; +Cheyenne Knight R1; +Avantage R7

    Yonkers
    2/14/14; +All Star Dragon R1; +Ideal In Vegas R6; +Cash Poor R11;
    2/15/14; +Lightning Strike R1

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.      

  • The Wise And The Wicked

    POSTED Feb 5, 2014 By Frank Cotolo


    Midway through winter no one sees an end, not even that groundhog in Pennsylvania. As we got to press one storm is sweeping through the Midwest and the East while another is poised to do its own sweeping en route to the Atlantic Ocean. It is becoming tiresome opening each of these blogs with notifications of track closings just after a weather report. But there is racing out there and we have it for you as the wicked season ensues. Good track, sloppy track or just frozen-to-the-bone track, we are on top of whatever racing is in store with wise betting moves.

    In lieu of features, we once again choose specific overnight events with highly probable profit-producing choices. And, of course, there is our horses-to-watch (H2W) list. 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:

    Charlottetown
    Feb. 7, Race 4

    Caliban Hanover made up the most ground last week in the Open while the same two horses, Abundaspin and Zip The Lip, dueled for reign. The former won the battle and the latter was second. That means this week the third possible choice in this top group, who has beaten that duo before, will go off the best odds. Perhaps he commands the fractions or perhaps he takes better advantage of the two foes’ stressful battle that this week can wear them out entirely.

    Charlottetown
    Feb. 7, Race 8

    Isleofpalms was poised to knock a similar group out last week but was hanged and left to dry. Before that she broke and three back she was out-gunned. This is a perfect spot for her to show the bit of class she has over this dull bunch (most appear to be one-dimensional and the morning-line (ML) favorite seems quite soft, having failed with a lesser trip than “Isle” last week in this company.

    Meadows
    Feb. 7, Race 7

    In this 10-horse trot you are perfectly safe taking a shot with a clear outsider. Coming out of the 8 hole is just one reason the gelding Broadway Speed will go off double digits. Another is that most handicappers won’t give him enough credit for a style change in his last race that failed but nonetheless shot a flare up that should be a warning to the two horses in this field that beat him last race. Hanging while trying to get the lead and improving from the first to second call is enough for us to make him a contender. Consider the 10 horse in exotics if you want to try to cold-cock a big number.

    Meadows
    Feb. 7, Race 7

    Here’s an odd condition that allows for some speculative handicapping, which may lead to a strong win price. With only six horses in the field, non of them ever experiencing the light of a winner’s circle flash, the crowd will take strongly to Dave Palone’s ride on Stirling Cyclone. But back class may not be the key here, at least it isn’t the factor we will rely upon. The five-year-old mare, NF Jessica, may be ignored enough to play at a price. Two back she almost walloped a notch higher group and she was 26-1. Her speed may hold firmly here and her horrible streak of 46 losses should come to an end.

    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
    2/6/14; +Diditagain Hanover R2; Mr Terror R10; Schooner Or Later R11.
    2/7/14; +Green Olives R2; +Elite R3; Ms Luck R6; +Ricky O Bay R6; +Upfrontoutthedoor R11; Windy City Ron R11; +Literate Hanover—AE—R11.
    2/8/14; +Trojan Seelster R5; +Naked News R7.

    Cal Expo
    2/7/14, +Castle Oaks R4; Rite After Disbeer R6; +Yank My Missle R11
    2/8/14, +Tour Guide R4; + Hot Cowboy R10;

    Charlottetown
    2/7/14, Otello R3; Leaveittome R5; River Paradise R6; Honor Roll R10

    Dover
    2/9/14, +Kenzie’s Beach Boy R3; Big Valley R6; +DVC Jazzy Jolt R10; +Stubbs Hanover R13; The Quiet Village R15

    Flamboro
    2/6/14, Nothin But Trouble R9
    2/8/14, NJs Trick Pistol R7; +Sullys Guide R9; +Anahar Chase R9; +Stonebridge Adore R10; +Tiagra Seelster R10

    Freehold
    1/30/14, +No Tears Here
    2/1/14, +Tulfra R2; +Cyclone Cully R11; +Youth Uprising R11

    Meadows
    2/7/14, +Four Starz Kyle R2; +Amazing Quest R4; +Forever Just R4; +Double Dribble R4; +SJ’s Hottie Won R5; +Eddie Sweat R6; +Dellie’s Jewel R9

    Monticello
    2/8/14, See You Smile R1; +Flower Girl Charis R2

    Pompano
    2/8/14; PC Moonshine R5; Avantage R6; Cheyenne Knight R8

    Western Fair
    2/7/14, +Arnies Kick Start R8

    Yonkers
    2/6/14; Eagle Artesian R6.
    2/7/14; Mm’s Lucky Boy R2; Ideal In Vegas R6; Likeabatoutahell R8; Cash Poor R11; Handsoffmycupcake R12.
    2/8/14; +Lightning Strike—AE—R1; Track Master D R5; +Dinner Guest R11.


    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Feb 2, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

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

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

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

    H2W RESULTS

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

    Winners

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

    Seconds

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

    Thirds

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


    News And Notes

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

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



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

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

    Extraordinary Extras

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

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • 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 Jan 5, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    Mother Nature continues to stifle action in the East, affecting some of our focused events for wagering. Last Thursday’s Super Bowl series did not launch at the Meadowlands due to inclement weather causing the program’s cancellation (we will cover it in our Thursday blog). Also, on Friday, Monticello closed due to severe winter conditions in upstate New York, nixing one of our overnight choices. We will keep that horse on the watch list and include new overnight features on Thursday.
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    The one overnight feature race highlighted and raced, this one at the Meadows, provided the two exacta elements. Though we chose them in the wrong spots, they finished first and second. Object Of Art won Race 7, paying $8.80, $4.20 and $3.60, while Looking For Adventure was second, paying $2.60 and $2.60 (ok). That exacta came back $18, still a profit if you boxed the selections and lost a win bet on “Adventure.”

    We continue to offer prime plays from overnight races as the season ensues. Remember to keep your TwinSpires account healthy and try not to miss some great wagers in the overnights we feature.

    Our exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list again produced some strong plays and across-the-board returns. Results from Monticello on last week’s list will be included in our next H2W results grid, as all of the horse are set to race on the day after our deadline here.

    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

    Rays Edge, $38.40, $10.90, $7.60, Fraser
    Highland Bogart, $23.40, $7.60, $4.20 (Exacta $67.80), Pompano
    Metajka Road, $16.60, $5, $2.20, Northlands
    Burn The House, $7, $3.80, $2.80, Northlands
    Theregoesmyheart, $4.50, $2.40, $2.20, Fraser
    Leather Betty, $4.20, $2.40, $2.20, Sports Creek

    Seconds

    Cyndralianne DVC, $12.60, $6.50, Flamboro
    Garden Gate Storm, $8.90, $6.50, Fraser
    Va Va Varoom, $7.40, $3.10, Northlands
    Watch And Pray, $5.50, $3.70, Northlands
    Thieving Magpie, $4.80, $3.70, Fraser
    In Mint Condition, $4.40, $3.80, Pompano
    Dudes Bonnie, $4, $4.30 (ok), Northlands
    High Bet Hanover, $3.40, $2.20
    Bar’s Gold Medal, $3.20, $3, Pompano
    Dontmakemebeg, $2.50, $2.40, Fraser
    Modern Image, $2.50, $2.20, Flamboro
    Theta Blue Chip, $2.80, $2.10, Northfield

    Thirds

    Frilly Throng, $4.70, Flamboro
    Northern Fling, $3.20, Northfield
    KG Explorer, $3, Northlands
    Hammers Wild Rose, $2.30, Fraser
    Sealedwithapromise, $2.30, Northlands
    Future Life, $2.20, Flamboro

    News And Notes

    The Canadian Sportsman, a century-old publication which was dedicated to features on harness racing throughout the Great White North, published its final issue in December of 2013. The depressed standardbred atmosphere, especially in the Ontario breeding area, was sited as the main reason for the magazine’s demise. Standardbred breeders’ advertisements supported the slick pages of the bi-weekly until their coffers weakened. This is just another “little death” in the history of harness racing in the east of the country, where casino gaming appropriations were cut dramatically, affecting the many Ontario raceways sprinkled across the vast province.

    Meanwhile, Friday, Jan. 3, Ontario’s Western Fair remained open while some other tracks closed due to weather. The program produced a handle of $536,725 – the highest single night total in more than a decade. It was a big start to the 2014 season for the oval and marks the fourth time in the last five programs it topped the $400,000 mark in handle. Western Fair has become one of this blog’s H2W tracks.

    The Meadows is another track in the east rearranging its schedule due to predicted frigid temperatures. The Meadows has cancelled its card for Tuesday, Jan. 7. Live racing will be added on Thursday, Jan. 9, originally a dark day. The modified schedule for next week is as follows: Monday, July 6 — Live racing, first post 12:55 p.m.; Tuesday, July 7 — Live racing canceled; Wednesday, July 8 — Live racing, first post 12:55 p.m. The card will be the program originally drawn for Tuesday. Also: Thursday, July 9 — Live racing, first post 12:55 p.m.; Monday; and  Friday, July 10 — Live racing, first post 12:55 p.m.

    On a bitter-cold day at Freehold’s fresh meet, 80-year-old James Porter drove the winner of the third race with a horse owned by 80-year-old Eugene Landy. It was the first win for five-year-old Buenos Aires Lady, who paid $17 to win. Porter, who turned 80 on Nov. 12, reportedly drove the mare himself because he never had problems with her breaking stride during training sessions. In their first start together, they finished second. Jan. 2’s victory was their second race together.

     Western New York’s rugged Buffalo Raceway opens amid the iced atmosphere Wednesday, Jan. 8 for a 99-day racing season. Buffalo has reaped the benefits of early-season racing in recent years. COO Jim Mango said the track needs to take advantage of an early season opening, despite the weather due to “success the past few seasons racing in January, February and March. We are one of the few tracks still willing to race then; it gives us great exposure and brings in some good drivers and horses.” Buffalo will race on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights in January. Post time is 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:40 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. In February and March, Thursdays will be added with 5 p.m. start time.

    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 

  • Year Of The Harness Horse Launches

    POSTED Jan 1, 2014 By Frank Cotolo


    This year’s Chinese New Year offers the Year of the Horse and includes all breeds. But here we are in the TwinSpires exclusive harness horse department, so we celebrate the year of the standardbred and look forward to working with all of our readers to surpass the great season we had in 2013.

    And, of course, happy birthday to all equines as they move into their new divisions.

    The first winter series coverage begins this blog, as the Meadowlands presents its Super Bowl series for trotters. We will also feature some overnight events that we feel could be profitable, as they have been so far (last week we crushed a race at Balmoral).

    Our horses-to-watch (H2W) list rolls on with hot contenders, all candidates for win, place, show and exotics.

    ’Super’ Men

    The Super Bowl series at the Meadowlands is a small overture to the 2014 stakes season. The conditioned trotting event has three divisions set to go in its first preliminary on Thursday, Jan. 2. 

    Team (Ron) Burke’s new acquisition of Time To Quit will have the bettor’s support in division one, showing massive improvement after moving to the barn from Illinois. With the public caught in a trance of speed, it may ignore classy Deacons Valley. Shipping in from Dover, he has been competing against the company of non-winners of five races lifetime. He has won four of his last six starts and should get a nice trip to upset the favorite.

    Division two highlights the Burke’s other acquisition, Cocotier, attained from Illinois-based Homer Hochstetler. Cocotier is dropping in class after racing against non-winners of three, where he faltered against that group last week. Just because it is a new starter from the Burke barn, we will not be fooled by a lack of alue. This is a mile where we can see a monumental upset, as well as the right preliminary.

    Making his first start on a mile track, as well as for trainer Scott DiDomenico, The Manipulator has an opportunity to stun the crowd. He has raced a majority of his life on a half-mile oval, being a victim of the draw as well as going an extra 16th of a mile at Yonkers. The gelding is adding Lasix for the first time and should be positioned well in the mile to pull off a perfect-storm toteboard explosion.
     
    The final division features a possible contender for the Hambletonian Oaks, Donatella Hanover, a Jimmy Takter trainee that hadn’t seen the races until November of last year. She is coming off of an eye-catching 1:53.3 second-place effort to Time To Quit, so she’ll take the money of the speed lovers.

    Meanwhile, coming from post four is Kentucky-bred Clementine Dream. Two starts back she went her first mile after a two-month absence and finished third from post 10. In her second outing a week later she had no opportunity to get into the race, being interfered and going off-stride as the public choice. She deserves another opportunity and may be the only threat in this mile to Donatella Hanover.

    This week’s overnight offerings:

    Monticello
    Jan. 3, Race 8

    Three sets of conditions bring together this group, none of which display recently successful campaigns. Among them, however, is Hold Her Tight, whose first race at Monticello after competing regularly at Saratoga can be tossed out due to an early misstep that eliminated her. This Kadabra mare can be considered the class of the class here, coming from “winners-of” affairs, and wreaks of excuses racing against better trotters. She was a sold dead-heated fourth at 26-1 before coming to Monticello; she was buried the race before that at 16-1; and the two before that include a poor showing from post 8 and a break at the start from post 8. On Nov. 17, in a class better than this race, she was sterling, dueling from the outside, taking the lead and just missing at 4-1. She should be a fine price today and if she trots smoothly to her best she should find victory a cinch.

    Meadows
    Jan. 3, Race 7

    A former stakes contender—we had him at decent prices three seasons back—Looking For Adventure finds a spot to topple his incessant place finishes. Finding decent employment at the Meadows, “Adventure” comes off of four fine races in which bettors withheld respect. Racing better than his odds, he should offer a solid win price here as the morning-line (ML) choice, Flying Instructor, seems the traditional public choice and track-hero driver Dave Palone gets a good mount but must have to deal with a step up and the 8 hole. Aaron Merriman’s mount, Object Of Art, should be more trouble than the two aforementioned and need be included in exotics.

    H2W Legend

    Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

    H2W
    Cal Expo
    1/3/14, High Bet Hanover R5; +Pips Jenny G R15
    1/4/14, Shax R6; Indesribable R7; Ohnoyoudidnt R10; +Dancing Barry R15

    Flamboro
    1/4/14, New York Colossus R3; +Cyndalianne DVC R8; Frilly Throng R7; Shiny Mach R9; Future Life R10; Modern Image R10 

    Frasier
    1/3/14, +Garden State Storm R1; +Nazko Tribute R3; Rays Edge R8; Lo Tengo R9

    Northfield
    1/2/14, +Milano Grande R5; Theta Blue Chip R14; Caribbean Girl R14; +Northern Fling R15

    Northlands
    1/3/14, +Sunny Bee R3; +American Passion R8.
    1/4/14, +Sealedwithapromise R2; +Outlaw Star Maker R2; Kg Explorer R4; Watch And Pray R4; Wish I Was R5; +Western Chrome R9

    Monticello
    1/3/14, Flower Girl Charis R4
    1/6/14; Cardine Hanover R4; Rocknroll Princess R5; Chop Chop Suey R6; Bathing Beauty R7; Artemis Blue Chip R11; Lightning Madison R13; Diaz Blue Chip R13

    Pompano
    1/4/14, Bar’s Gold Medal R2; In Mint Condition R8; + Highland Bogart R10

    Western Fair
    1/3/14, Hesurbuddy R2

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.     

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Dec 29, 2013 By Frank Cotolo



    We open with a score at an overnight that endorses our plays on non-stakes events during the waning of the year and we present our Players’ Horse of the Year, as promised, below.
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    Our two overnight feature races were highlighted by a win at Balmoral in which also resulted a mighty exacta. On Saturday, Dec. 28, our blog’s second of two overnight features for the week took place in Race 9 at Balmoral Park. Our top choice, Firstclassallthway won and paid $15.40, $8.20 and $6.20. We offered a second choice, Justa Cowboy. He went off at 23-1 and finished second, paying $22.20 and $10.40. The cold exacta came back $262.60.

    Saturday’s feature for the TwinSpires harness blog was at Cal Expo, where Articulate went off a 3-2 choice and finished second, paying $3.80 and $2.40.

    We will continue to offer prime plays from overnight races into early 2014, so keep your account in shape and follow these hot choices in which we focus. Speaking of hot choices, our horses-to-watch (H2W) list offered some strong wins and across-the-board returns even though some tracks were still under the duress of weather. Sports Creek cancelled for the second-straight weekend and Flamboro could not complete one of its cards which included some H2W horses.

    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

    Alcars Britefriday, $23.70, $8.20, $5.10, Northlands
    Iza Bin Freezin, $15.60, $6.50, $5.10, Fraser (Exacta, $60.10)
    Hi Ho Disguise, $7.80, $2.80, $2.40, Cal Expo
    Classic Sakuri, $4.80, $2.60, $2.40, Northfield
    American Fly, $4.40, $2.60, $2.20, Flamboro
    Libertys Best Star, $4.10, $2.70, $2.30, Flamboro
    Strawberry On Top, $3.60, $2.60, $2.40 (*Exacta, $19.80), Northfield

    Seconds

    Friskie Pants, $9, $5.40, Northfield
    KG Explorer, $7, $4.60, (Exacta, $16.10), Northlands
    Milano Grande, $5.80, $3.20 (*Exacta, $19.80), Northfield
    Cyndalianne, $5.50, $3.50, Flamboro
    Our Miss Kristi, $5.20, $4, Maywood
    Hammers Wild Rose, $5, $2.90
    Thieving Magpie, $4.80, $3.70
    Careless Love, $3.80, $3.20 (Exacta, $16.80), Northfield

    Thirds

    Beach Hero, $13.60, Western Fair
    Pippi, $10.80, Maywood
    Watch And Pray, $7, Northlands
    American Passion, $4.40, Northlands
    Dancing Barry, $4.20, Cal Expo
    Giant Sculpture, $3.60, Cal Expo
    Sunny Bee, $2.70, Northlands
    Metajka Road, $2.60, Northlands


    Players’ Horse of the Year, 2013
    For harness bettors everywhere that are not involved in the day-to-day industry of standardbreds and wager on all classes of harness racing throughout the year, we are proud to announce the TwinSpires Players’ Horse of the Year.

    The single qualification to earn our title is not speed nor class nor money earned, it’s the one element that is the primary concern of bettors—what did the horse pay? Over the past dozen months, through stakes and overnights, from coast to coast in North America, this blog has supported many winners but the ones paying the highest win mutuels have been the stars, those we will always remember, those that pump our TwinSpires accounts up and provide us with profitable overall play. That is why the highest paying horse given by this blog throughout the year becomes our champ.

    The Players Horse of the Year for 2013:
    DO YOU WANNA RUMBA
    In our H2W list for March 8, 2013, Do You Wanna Rumba was the horse to watch in a conditioned pace (non-winners of $250 per start, fillies and mares, purse $1,800)) at Lebanon Raceway. Do You Wanna Rumba followed the outer flow and won by ½ length.

    She paid $109.40 to win.

    The bay six-year-old mare is a daughter of George Scooter (Matt’s Scooter)-Tyler’s Melody (Tyler’s Mark) and was bred in Ohio by her owner Kevin S. MCQuinn of Lebanon, Ohio.
    Thanks to USTA Pathway for the data and details on the 2013 Players Horse of the Year.

    During the year, other winners we presented on this blog paid a gamut of prices to win. Here is a list of the runners-up for Players Horse of the Year, that is, winners other than Do You Wanna Rumba that we encouraged you to play, which paid $20 or more to win (in descending order).

    Puretown Athena, $56; Diditagain Hanover, $52.50; Bubba McGee, $51; Rocknroll Band, $50;
    Loco For Cocoa, $45.80;
    Southwind Sydney, $39.20; Catmando, $37.20; Sign Of The Moment, $36.80; D’orsay, $36.60; JJ’s Current, $34.20; TE’s Zenyatta, $32.40; Red Star Cashflow, $31.70; Our Dragon King, $31; My Tryin Ryan, $30;
    Dukeofhazard, $27.60; Fancy Foxy, $26.40; Casimir Jitterbug, $26; Blue Boy Yankee, $25.60; Super Railee, $25.60; Incredible Gambler, $25; Lindy’s Tru Grit, $25; CCs Lover N, $24.20; Native Roots, $23.20; Ballykeel, $23; Pro Perfect, $22.80; She Shell Cruise, $22.80; Indian Creek Kate, $22.20; Sun On The Rocks, $22.20; Bagel Man, $22; Martini Hanover, $22; Ms Heather M, $22; Economy Terror, $21.80; Gee Up, $21.60; Grin-n-scoot, $21.60; Rocknroll Band, $21.60; Servuga, $21.60; Candy’s Pool, $21.20; Garland Becky, $21; Dabestleaderever, $20.60; Super Manning, $20.40; Wizkey Road, $20.20; Bring It All, $20

    There were 44 others that paid $10 up to $20 and many more up to $10. The winners came from an array of raceways across North America over 12 months.

    Some of you involved with the Hambletonian-TwinSpires Winners Pool in August of 2013 will recognize horses above as winners from that highly successful day, certainly the most successful for harness in the history of TwinSpires.
     
    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


  • Bread-And-Butter Racing Spread Thick

    POSTED Dec 18, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    All the great harness horses have been sidelined for the season. They await the grand birthday party on Jan. 1 that hurls them into new divisions and hopefully new fortunes or finds them tending stud or maternal duties. Their divisional awards fate rests in the hands of the voters.

    As far as awards go, we will lead you to the best texts that explain how the industry decided its best by category and overall. However, we will be giving out our own awards in our penultimate blog for 2013. Those awards will be announcements that claim our Player’s Horse of the Year. He or she may not have qualities of greatness other than having the one qualification to be crowned among the best: pari-mutuel win price.

    As is our own tradition in this blog, we will list the top money horses that this blog presented during the season. In descending order, every horse we supported, as documented in this blog, will be listed by the amount they paid to win, starting with 10-1 shots. The horse at the top of the list, that one paying more than all the others, will be our Player’s Horse of the Year.

    Don’t expect a performer you may have only heard of once this season and certainly don’t expect many if any of the 10-1 and up shots to be included in the industry’s list of champions. As players we need our own heroes based on our role in keeping the industry afloat and thanks to TwinSpires the harness industry—and during Grand Circuit season the Hambletonian Society—focus on playing the game, making pari-mutuel profits our first and foremost concern.

    Meanwhile, with all of the stakes completed from coast to coast, the focus on the bread-and-butter races during the winter months may produce more unknown names that may assist in great profits. This is a reason why the horses-to-watch (H2W) list has been pumped, adding some different tracks and more possibilities for play throughout the week.

    Due to the volume of H2W horses, of course, we do not give specific commentary on the participants. What we will be doing until there are more high-profile races about the circuits is feature a single race with the kind of analysis we give to major affairs during the regular season. These may not be the program’s best-on-the-grounds race, mind you. They will be a race we feel strongly about wagering regardless of class or gait.

    This week’s offerings:  

    Meadows
    Dec. 20, Race 6

    This conditioned-claimer offers a strong outside contender, Theshipscrusinin. The mare returns to the track after being scratched sick (whatever that means considering we are never given an explanation when such a reason is posted) after losing in this class as the dead-on public choice. She was the choice there because the five races before it saw her in deep contention, once being ignored at 11-1. She could be tons the best here as less experienced foes join the class. With her for exotics, you are forced to use My American Girl, the most likely public choice and rightfully so. If you wish to dig heavier into exotics, use Babyshesanoptimist, who has some back class with tough trips (check odds because it would not be a shock if she took it all).

    Yonkers
    Dec. 21, Race 6

    The Open Pace for the night will take some guts on your part, as we are focusing on the 8 horse and that is never a popular place to start at the New York half-mile track. But not being popular is what makes Dallenbach Hanover irresistible. The crowd will lay off of the gelding first due to post and second due to driver Larry Stalbaum, who replaces the beloved Brian Sears in the bike. But that doesn’t bother us, we have had confidence and success with Larry before and never put the kind of emphasis on a top driver that is common with the betting public. A plus for this pacer is the fact that he has won from post 8 at Yonkers before, albeit in a lower class but  easily won at this level two back when well placed early. The morning line is 8-1 and we will be thankful getting that or near it.

    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
    12/20/13, +Tarver Hanover R3; Rich Dessert R4; Blissful Kassie R5; Pips Jenny G R12
    12/21/13, +Emery Vern R4; +Portfolio R6; Giant Sculpture R10; +Lebo Jones R12; Hi Ho Disguise R12; Republic Of Panama R12

    Flamboro
    12/21/13, Future Life R1; New York Colossus R3; American Fly R6; Maxabillion R8; Libertys Best Star R8

    Maywood
    12/19/13, Itzalassi R6; I’m A Sally Sue4 R9; Our Miss Kristi R10; +Desiree Bellabella R12; Pippi R12   
    12/20/13, Winordietrying R7

    Meadows
    12/20/13, Tremor Hanover R8; Sand Piper R12; Case Solved R13; Blueridge Abigail R15
     
    Northfield
    12/20/13, Classic Sakuri R10
    12/21/13, +Game Emma R2; The Classic Z Tam R8; +Point Standing R9; +How Forever Feels R10; +Rembrandt Van Ryn R10; Thomas John N R11

    Pompano
    12/21/13, +Goldstar Thumper R3; +Cartoonist R3; Market Force—ae—R4; Oh My Joepa R8

    Sports Creek
    12/20/13, Dreamy Amanda R3; Mystery Ringer R7; Illini Jack R11;Jay Dean Dew R12
    12/21/13, Macho Quattro R3; Allamerican Comet R4; Grand Review R7
     
    Western Fair
    12/20/13, Victoryrun Killean R1; Hesurbuddy R6; Rambling Gambler R10;Kerrona R11; Change The Future R12

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Apr 6, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    The Levy legs at Yonkers on Saturday did not disappoint the public, as only one outsider at 5-1 was victorious. As predicted, the biggest choice, Something For Doc, was the only winner we delivered, ashamed with the win price of $2.10.   

    On Friday, at Yonkers, our Matchmaker choices delivered one in four, Feeling You at $3.90.   

    Our horses-to-watch (H2W) list, however, was afire out west, as Cal Expo winners dominated.
     
    Here are the results of all the wins, places and shows from this extraordinary list.

    H2W


    Here are, from the highest paying to the lowest paying, the winners from the H2W for the past week:

    $39.20 Southwind Sydney , Cal Expo
    $21.20 Candy’s Pool, Cal Expo
    $17.70 Spoons, Fraser
    $15.40 Hope To Reign A, Buffalo
    $9.40 Cams Princess Wave, Maywood
    $9.00 Loddi Donan Blues, Cal Expo
    $8.60 Highland Terrific, Freehold

    $8.10 Such A Night, Fraser
    $6.20 Adelia’s Prince, Buffalo
    $6.20 Cigarchompin Mona, Cal Expo
    $5.40 Inside Broadway, Cal Expo
    $4.00 Bee Gee, Cal Expo
    $4.00 Ginnysdoodledandy, Cal Expo
    $3.40 Doowrah Double, Northfield

    The following are the horses that finished second or third along with their post-time odds. Special notes on those finishes follow. Be aware that some of them were second-timers on the list and will not return next week (you may continue following them on your own, using them as you see fit). 

    Seconds:
    Passing The Girls (2-1), Fraser; Mmmmh (10-1), Fraser; Apple And Strawberry (8-5), Northfield; Fox Valley Touche (4-5), Maywood; Whotooksam (1-1), Meadows; Ak’s Living Large (4-1), Meadows; Brother Nick (4-1), Buffalo; DD’s Tiger (3-1), Cal Expo; Incredible Gambler (6-5), Cal Expo; Aj’s Little One (7-1), Cal Expo; Dani California (9-1), Cal Expo; Dynamite Express (4-1), Cal Expo  

    Thirds:
    Ronny Woo Woo (10-1), Fraser; Garden Gate L1 (23-1), Fraser; Barona Ferrara (20-1), Fraser; Cooby N (16-1), Northfield; Stinky Sham (18-1), Lebanon; Ms Memphis Bird (4-1), Lebanon; Jenny The Genie (5-1), Lebanon; Anescape N (4-5), Maywood; Sand Jake (10-1), Maywood; NJs Big Deal (6-5), Maywood; Lucky Cadet (5-1), Freehold; Pacey Deucey (2-1), Freehold; Beach Crisi (7-2), Cal Expo; Devin Hall (8-5), Cal Expo; KD’s Rowdy One (7-1), Cal Expo

    Aj’s Little One finished second to Southwind Sydney to complete an exacta worth $331.60.

    All adjustments for returnees to the list and additions will be in the Thursday blog.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    News And Notes

    Flamboro Downs is feeling the crunch from the recent Canada-casino-racetrack crisis and will go from about 1,400 races last year to just over 800 this year. The Dundas, Ontario racetrack will offer about 100 race dates, down from 188 last year, and will be dark June, July, August and September. There is no word if the track’s signature event, the Confederation Cup, which is usually conducted in August, will be a part of the agenda.

    Fifty-nine soph-pacing colts, including the dynamic Captaintreacherous, have been nominated to the 30th edition of the Pepsi North America Cup, Canada’s richest harness race. The purse in 2013 will be $1 million, down from $1.5 million when on the program at Mohawk on June 15. The eliminations, worth $50,000 each, are set for Saturday, June 8. Some other names you may recall from their frosh campaigns that are on the nomination list include Apprentice Hanover, Duel In The Sun, Johny Rock, Mach Pride, Odds On Equuleus, Rockin Amadeus and Twilight Bonfire.

    Trainer Jim Mulinix tells reporters he is looking forward to a more relaxed year with A Rocknroll Dance, who was one of the top three-year-old colt pacers in 2012. Last year, A Rocknroll Dance ranked fourth in earnings in his division and won the Meadowlands Pace (as predicted in this blog), Battle of the Brandywine and Max Hempt Memorial. He won seven of 11 at two, including a victory in the Governor’s Cup and a second in the Breeders Crown.

    However, his racing success stalled and he was winless in his final 11 starts following his victory in the Battle of the Brandywine at Harrah’s Philadelphia in mid-August.

    “You can always look back and find something you could do differently,” Mulinex said, “but at the time you’re doing the best you know how to do. If I had to do over again, I’d have trained him a little stiffer and shod him a little sharper … There was pressure on him last year … This year there is not as much pressure.” Mulinex said the four-year-old is training well and should qualify in three weeks to be ready for the Meadowlands Maturity on May 18 at the Meadowlands.

    A Rocknroll Dance will have his work cut out for him as an older pacer, since many of the top older pacers returning to action this season include many of the top 15 money-winning three-year-old male pacers of 2012.

    Extraordinary Extras

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

    Every weekend as part of that blog 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.  

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.

     

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Poised For The Big Noise

    POSTED Oct 10, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    It’s that weekend between early autumn stakes and the explosive eliminations for the Breeders Crown. The shipping has begun, the top members of all divisions are headed across the border into Canada, where they will take up residence at Woodbine Racetrack for two weeks of the sport’s coveted competitions. 

    What happens this weekend around North American harness tracks is much ado about nothing but only in the matter of stake races. With the major stars parading to the Great White North, all of the usual racing takes place and what stakes are around will be void of big stars.  

    As for the big stars, complete coverage of all the Breeders Crown elims, two nights of them on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, a week before the finals (all on the same evening) will take place here and at our exclusive Breeders Crown Countdown blog. Shuffle your attention to catch all of the coverage, available exclusively at TwinSpires in cooperation with the Hambletonian Society.  

    We will go over some action on this side of the border and then cover some “Crown” territory, with more reporting linked to the “Countdown” blog. 

    ‘Power’ Play


    At Flamboro Downs this Friday, Michael’s Power, winner of the Little Brown Jug and one of the top glamour-boy pacing earners of the season, will once again hit the half-mile oval, this time to contest province-breds in the Ontario Sires Stakes (ONSS) Gold Final.

    Michael’s Power is flawless in ONSS action and is assured a berth in the Nov. 10 Super Final, worth twice the purse of the Gold final. What about the Breeders Crown? Michael’s Power is not eligible. For more about that, see the countdown blog.

    If you want to key Michael’s Power in the ONSS at Flamboro, then find a few very longshots and hope they complement an exacta or triple because barring any difficulties, the colt wins this race and that will not assure any large exotic pay off. Sans handicapping, take the longest shots if you want to play exotics and hope for a two-digit payoff that isn’t the equivalent of your ticket. A better key for an exotic, on this night at least, is impossible to find.

    Frosh Friday

     
    On Friday, Oct. 12, Indiana Downs hosts a trio of $30,000 events for state-bred frosh- trotters. The first two miles are for the fillies and there is a single division for the colts.

    In the first filly field, the well-bred Justice Drive (she is by Justice Hall, whose sophomore colt, Canadian Justice, is headed for the Breeders Crown) will probably be dismissed based on a recent break after a qualifier that returned her to the sires stakes program after a month. Last week’s mis-step ruined the race for her after a fine qualifier. You should toss that one out and give her a shot here from post 1. She has had some tough trips since winning in July, so if she is ready and steady on gait here, there will be a good price.

    The second filly trot should offer another recent jumper a shot at coming back at a price. Cincinnati Tilly comes back to the top state-bred class where she has been productive. She was second at 15-1 two back against these kinds and has a strong brush that could work best in this field.

    The colt field includes a number of guys that have beaten one another on various occasions, making for an even group as long as no one goes galloping. Boy Meets Girl K would be the one to watch here. No one was going to beat Sand Royal Blu last week and “Boy” was third in tight quarters against Sweet Justice, who will have to deal with the 8 hole here. The race before that, Boy had a long trip on the outside as an excuse. He could be ready for a big mile here at a decent price. 

    Fair Value


    At The Meadows on Saturday, Oct. 13, frosh and soph pacers and trotters that won’t be a part of the Big Noise in Canada battle in competitive fields worth $20,000 each—the Pennsylvania Fair Finals.

    The Keystone State is adorned with fair meets through the summer and that season produces horses that excel at that level. Those fair champs for 2012 are all present in these finals. None of the fair races, incidentally, offer pari-mutuel wagering. The affairs have purses for competitors but only the finals offer wagering. Thus, bettors are assured the finest of the lower-class ilk carry their wagers to The Meadows.

    The parade begins with soph-filly pacers with an unfortunate array of horses that equal only five betting entries. A coupled quintet of fillies trained by Roger Hammer bloat this field. Hammer has long been the “king of the fairs” in the state. You may remember him as the driver/trainer of 2005 Hambletonian champion Vivid Photo. With such a munificent herd, we suggest you pass this and move on to the frosh-filly trot.

    Defeating the top filly trotter in this field, Lady Broadway, is the task of seven others. Classical Love has come close enough during the season to qualify as a threat and will certainly offer a decent price as a probable third choice.

    Frosh-colt pacers offer a decent performance and price from Coffee Vendor. He has a strong brush, if only one, and he made it too top heavy last time at the Bloomberg Fair. That was a certain wake-up call for improving form and puts him in the thick of it here.

    Soph-filly pacers may find the 8 horse aggressive early. Hammer’s Life’sarealbeach is all front-style and will be gunning right from the start. The post insures some value on the toteboard. However, she has to contend with DVC Jaded Attitude, who might save enough ground to fly away from what goes on in the first half.

    Soph-colt trotters line up for the next final. Whatever happened to Boytown in his last race must be forgiven because he appears to have faced far better than anything here. The good news is that he won’t be the favorite, as Mulligan Bi attempts a hat trick of wins, bound to catch the eye of those bettors not versed in the art of the trip.  

    The soph-filly trotters may be victims to Erin Kristen, who has lost her last three with aplomb. Big moves and long journeys have made her the bridesmaid too many times that should have rewarded her with a winner’s circle photo and perhaps with the biggest money of her career on the line she will find a route to get there. 

    The green guys of trotting come next. We offer an outsider, Albany House, to this mix of thoroughly fair trotters. Hammer’s colt may get action due to his profile but we will take that on the chin in lieu of recent performances where the colt has been relentless, especially while dealing with “off” tracks. This could be a shot at getting a great price on a Hammer participant.

    The glamour-boy pacers of the fair lot close the stakes fiesta with a full field of warriors. Certainly a threat, if not a great price to offer, is Anotherbugga. With a probable choice on the outside (Dalton Hanover), Anotherbugga could be a strong second choice on the board; maybe even the third. He may fire early, control the fractions and make everyone work futilely to catch him.
     
    If you go to the Breeders Crown Countdown you will find various news concerning the horses in transit, staying quiet and waiting for the Big Noise.

    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.