Showing posts with label P4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label P4. Show all posts

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review

    POSTED Feb 26, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    Saturday night was great for my Twitter followers as we tweeted choice contenders at Woodbine. Most of the horses were alive and that should have been great for those reaching for the bonus TSC Elite points. Although the blog choices in the Cam Fella both finished up the track, the rest of the card was plentiful for win bettors, along with two juicy place finishers.

    We had four winners: Wild Dragon, $16.90; Upfront Hoosierboy, $14.90; Selfish Princess, $11.70; and Ive Got It All, $6.30.

    Placing were Ramegame Bruiser and Lookinforafight. Incredable Frank finished third and the other five were off the board.

    At Woodbine on Friday we did well in the Damsel Series, though two of the three pacing mares wound up being favorites. Jolting Kate won the first round, paying $4.30.

    Oceans Motion took the nightcap, paying $5.40. Plus, we gave you the exactor combo there with Ole Miss second; that paid $13.50.

    The middle mile in the Damsel first-leg trio was won by the favorite and our gal, Rock For Glory, at 12-1, was second. If you used her with the public choice you collected a cool exactor worth $71. Our triactor hopes went south when Shine N Shimmer broke and was eliminated, while our other hope for the top three, DGs Tinkerbell, finished third.

    On Friday, Ray Cotolo’s tweets offered an $11 winner with Glam Cam, with the exacta chosen cold for $45.80, featuring Orphan Annie. Sunday, Ray tweeted winners from Fraser and Flamboro. From the former he won with Thrill My Gorilla ($15.90), Cody Cobraski ($11.40) and Pretty Promised ($17.80); from the latter he struck with LM Elika ($15.90) and Rosslyn Hall ($15.40).

    You can follow Ray’s choices at Twitter and watch for Pick-4 winners (spot plays) at Racing Inquirer. Also on Twiiter, you will find particular action not mentioned in my weekly harness-review blog @FrankCotolo. 

    The TSC Elite points are going for 10X with winning $10 tickets at Woodbine again next Saturday.

    The horses-to-watch list (H2W) was hot for one race at Lebanon on Saturday. In Race 2 we had three going. They finished as the top three. Jacksbrotherjoe won, paying $6.60; Life With The Duke was second, completing a $23.60 exacta; and Special Weefold was third, completing a $58.60 trifecta.

    At Buffalo, if you followed Redford Hall after a third and a second and took him on Feb. 25, you got a $20.20 win mutuel. Earlier in the card, Allamerican Improv returned from a win and a loss to win again, paying $15. Twotowin won his second time, paying $14.80. Rick’s Jackpot won second week after being on the H2W but only paid $3.50.

    From Cal Expo, the list found us with a repeat winner, Sun On The Rocks, paying $13.80, more than the win price he presented in our Pick 4 last week. Replays on winners from the H2W are encouraged as much as following a horse as many as three times in the win spot.

    At Cal Expo, the no-takeout Pick 4 paid over $1,000 but not for us. Two favorites with an 11-1 shot and a 9-2 shot toppled the grand mark. We had a scratch in the first leg and the other horse finished third. In the second leg we finished sixth and our other horse broke. In the third leg we were fifth and sixth and our last-leg single was second.

    On the H2W from this week’s group are High Maintenance, Dawnlikeslillies, KD Rowdy One, Ailene’s Prince, Roger J, Sterling Chris and Wicked Beach. Watch for them in races other than those that make up the no-takeou Pick 4.

    Harness News
    Put On A Show, with a new driver aboard, was the fastest of the qualifying winners at the Meadowlands recently. Also returning for the season to qualify were Social Network, Anndrovette and Rocklamation. For the second week Anndrovette and Put On A Show won their respective qualifiers.

    Tim Tetrick guided Put On A Show and Anndrovette last week and stayed with Anndrovette week two.
    Put On A Show’s trainer Chris Ryder, who told us last November about “Show” returning (TwinSpires harness blog had the story first) had Brian Sears on Show for the second qualifier. The pair went gate to wire and held off a game Chancey Lady in 1:52.2, the fastest qualifier of the day.

    A winner of $1.9 million in her career, Show missed the entire 2011 season due to surgery to remove a chip from her knee. 

    Anndrovette pulled Tim Tetrick to a 1:54 victory. 


    (Cartoon by Thom Pye)

  • Older Pacers Parade At Woodbine

    POSTED Feb 22, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    The big action this weekend is in Canada, as Woodbine harness presents four-and-five-year-old pacers of both sexes in leg 1 of two major series. For the mares, there is the Damsel, with a trio of miles on Friday, Feb. 24. For the males there is a double-header of divisions for leg 1 of the Cam Fella. 

    Saturday Woodbine followers playing on TwinSpires are once again eligible for bonus betting, collecting TSC Elite points to the tune of 10X with winning $10 tickets.   

    At Cal-Expo there is more action in the last few races of the Saturday card with the exclusive TwinSpires-Cal-Expo no-takeout Pick 4.  

    And more horses to watch are revealed from our personal (H2W) list.   

    Delightful Damsels

    Friday, Feb. 24 delivers a great group in the Damsel pacing series opener.  

    In leg 1 for the mare pacers, nine tough gals, some of them in their first seasons racing as elders, go for $30,000 (as does each division). It is difficult to look beyond the morning-line favorite in this mile, as Jolting Kate takes that status even though she finished third at 17-1 last week. Perhaps the crowd will give Three Charms and Honey Do Jigtime enough play to keep “Kate” at a decent price.   

    In round two, Zeron once again gets our call with Rock For Glory. She won wire to wire last week and did it easily. With DGs Tinkerbell on the outside, we like Shine N Shimmer to be in the top two. We liked her last week and will excuse her for the loss, taking her here. That trio could make up the triactor.  

    The Damsel nightcap presents Oceans Motion, direct from the Meadowlands. She has been racing swiftly and with dead aim at better than this group and could topple the choice, which will probably be Ole Miss.   

    Forceful Fellas


    The series named after one of the sport’s stalwart pacers and certainly one of its great studs commences on Saturday, Feb. 25 with a pair of miles. The Cam Fella, leg 1, features nine of the big guys. Many of these will be performing in some of the top stakes for this division throughout the year, though in the richer events there will be the likes of those older than five.  

    The Cam Fella’s first of two events on the program offers two horses we have been following somewhat successfully in the early featured events of this season: Audreys Dream and C Major Hanover. At press time, Zeron had not decided upon which he would drive, though we feel it will be Audreys Dream. That one should get most of the play, leaving C Major Hanover once again in a position to display talent that has yet to shine against similar in 2012. Zeron or not, we feel both of these are the driving forces to this division. 

    Next, eight try to defeat the sparkling record of Itrustyou, also direct from the Meadowlands. An outside post may mean nothing to this on-a-roll monster that has devoured every field so far this year on the mile track. Even with questionable trips, Itrustyou has managed to be the best. 

    That doesn’t stop us from looking to take advantage of anything that can put a hamper in his streak, which is why we are going to put faith into the continuing improvement of the elder Lizard King.  

    Another reminder that it is a bonus Saturday where Woodbine players at TwinSpires will receive 10X TSC Elite Points for cashing $10-win tickets. Although we are just covering the features, the bonus is good for the entire program.  

    All Along The Watchtower


     Our Watch List (H2W) continues with some new to the list. In the event more than one of our choices goes in the same race, you must judge for yourself the individual value—if any—or if they qualify in exotics.  


    Lebanon Raceway
    Little Cam Cam, Feb. 24, Race 6
    Crusin For Cash, Feb. 25, Race 1
    Jacksbrotherjoe, Feb. 25, Race 2
    Life With The Duke, Feb. 25, Race 2
    Special Weefold, Feb. 25, Race 2
    No More Doubt, Feb. 25, Race 7
    Trackstar Flynn, Feb. 25, Race 7
    Blue Creek Bad Boy, Feb. 25, Race 10
    Northville Downs
    Tipton, Feb. 25, Race 4
    R Obsession, Feb. 25, Race 5
    Cowgirls Rock, Feb. 25, Race 6
    One More Yankee, Feb. 25, Race 8

    Cal Exotic

    The Feb. 25 no-takeout Pick 4 at Cal-Expo is one more giant step to profitland [sic] if we are right about the following contenders. Feel free to increase the size of your ticket by adding to our suggestions.

    Leg 1
    (6) High Maintenance was off and pacing solidly at 18-1, leading to three-quarters before caught. (8) Dawnlikeslillies put in a bad mile, finishing fifth but should do better here.

    Leg 2
    (4) KD Rowdy One had a sharp tank of speed early last week which is a good sign even though he tanked and finished sixth. He was 25-1. (5) Ailene’s Prince was on the attack from the outside and could not make up the lost ground at 7-1; a danger here.

    Leg 3
    (6) Roger J won outside of the Pick 4 where we had him and was powerful at 13-1. A repeat, though maybe at less the price, is in order (7) Sterling Chris should come back to form after being 10-1 and not able to handle the 10 hole.

    Leg 4
    (1) Wicked Beach made up a lot of ground to complete an exacta last week at 16-1 and although he has some competition in this mile he could utilize the inside to romp.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review

    POSTED Feb 19, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    In last week’s review we suggested you get in touch with Twitter for my tweets and for my son, Ray Cotolo’s tweets. A strong list of winners accompanied our suggestion, taken from Ray’s picks, on his own Twitter page and tweeting @TwinSpires. We can only hope you got on board because this past Friday Ray shocked fans as well as the staff at the Meadowlands with a monstrous strike. 

    On Feb. 17, as the social networking horse handicappers mulled over the Meadowlands early races, all of them strongly disagreed with a horse Ray suggested would win, as well as they disliked his choice for the horse that would complete the exacta. Egg was seed on everyone’s face when Bell On Wheels won the third race at the Big M and paid $63.40.  

    The jaws kept dropping as his exacta was completed when Bragn Dragon came in second at 13-1. This exacta paid $692.20 for $2. That was the start of a night where Ray also produced Dragon Princess, paying $26 and Jaime Sue, paying $7.20.  

    You can follow Ray’s choices at Twitter and watch for Pick-4 winners (spot plays) at Racing Inquirer. Mine are floating out there, too, a spinoff of my weekly harness-review blog @FrankCotolo. Between these sources you may find yourself with some choices for exotics and win bets that you make on TwinSpires and some of them may not be on our published blog, as they are the result of late action. It doesn’t cost you anything to be included in our Twitter picks and Horses-to-watch (H2W) lists, as TwinSpires supports our campaign to give you the best information for betting that is available anywhere.  

    From our blog, our not-so-enthusiastic suggestions at the Meadowlands were unproductive and at Woodbine nothing panned out. The TSC Elite points are going for 10X with winning $10 tickets at Woodbine again next Saturday. 

    Next week we will update the Watch List (H2W) for a few tracks. 

    At Cal Expo, the no-takeout Pick 4 presented two scratches in our six-contender combo. Our two choices in the first leg won and finished second. Sun On The Rocks paid $6.40 and with Sonic Wave second the exacta came back $11.80.  

    In the second leg our single scratched. If you went to the favorite you had a winner in Mystically Mine (also from the H2W list at the track), which paid $4.20.  

    In leg three our 12-1 single finished sixth and in the final leg one of two of our choices scratched and the other broke at the start and finished seventh. 

    On the same program, our H2W list produced Dreaming Of Amy ($3.80) and Franky Provolone ($2.20). Friday night offered Roger J ($28.40) and Komoda’s Fantasy ($7.20).  

    We keep our Pick-4 suggestions on our H2W for future win bet, which you can see from the list above can result in decent win bets and exacta keys. 

    Harness News

    If you have a Facebook account you should know you can be connected to TwinSpires there as well as Twitter but did you know that a great number of people in the harness business also have Facebook pages? Although Facebook tends to discourage trying to make friends of people one doesn’t know, a simple email explaining you are a fan along with a request to be added as a friend could get you a social-networking connection to someone in the standardbred industry. You could go to my Facebook page and peruse my friends to find some of the high-profile harness folks that you may approach. Most of them are great ambassadors for the sport and more than willing to accommodate fans as Facebook friends.

    More good news for Illinois: The business figures at Maywood Park have been more than encouraging, especially on Friday nights. Maywood, the Chicago half-miler that alternates harness programs with upstate Balmoral Park, has seen an increase in handle of 16.9 percent compared to the same dates in 2011.

    Through Feb. 11, the track reports, Fridays at Maywood are averaging $1,027,864 compared to $879,561 in 2011. Business has been helped, some feel, by an increase of almost one horse per race in the fields. Fridays in 2012 have averaged 8.27 horses/race compared to 7.39 horses/race in 2011.

    Gaining in popularity, also, is the Maywood Pick 4 wager. The average 2012 Friday Pick 4 pool is $13,289 compared to $6,537 for the same dates in 2011, resulting in an increase of over 103 per cent.

    Maywood offers a guaranteed Pick 4 every racing with a low take out of 15 percent. 

    At 23, Matt Kakaley became the youngest driver in harness history to win 2,000 races. He did it at Dover Downs, where Kakaley was handling We The People. Kid Kakaley can be seen racing in Delaware and shooting down to the Meadowlands as well these days. He broke the record held by Tim Tetrick, who was 24 when he totaled 2,000 wins.

    (Cartoon by Thom Pye)

  • Series Action Ensues North And South

    POSTED Feb 8, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    Winter series legs continue next weekend at the Meadowlands as the Cape & Cutter, Exit 16W and Aquarius move into their next rounds.  

    At Woodbine, bonus betting continues for harness fans on Saturday as TwinSpires players shoot for TSC Elite point, 10X with winning $10 tickets. The WEGZ series continues with another legs that offer three events on that card, along with top-of-the-class overnights. On Feb. 10, the Horseplayer Interactive series is featured with a trio of miles. 

    At Cal-Expo no stone is left unturned with a $16 ticket aimed at the entire pool of the exclusive TwinSpires-Cal-Expo no-takeout Pick 4 ensues.    

    As well, we have repeats from our Watch List (H2W) along with another winner for your inspection.  

    Maturity Miles

    Friday at the Meadowlands features two legs of the Cape & Cutter and three legs of the Exit 16W. On Saturday, Feb. 11, another Aquarius leg is the main attraction. It is round two of the February series.  

    In the first Cape & Cutter, Higher And Higher looks to defeat this bunch once more. Last week, Oceans Motion came close to beating her and should be able to successfully do so tonight. After a huge close last week, she should sit closer to the pace and will be able to defeat this super mare. Also watch On The Glass. After leaving the Burke barn, trainer Ross Croghan has restored this mare’s prowess. She qualified very well and looks fresh coming into this race.  

    In the second Cape & Cutter, Ginger And Fred and Royal Cee Cee N will be major betting interests. Go On Bb raced well last week, providing a challenge for Ginger And Fred and being able to sustain a third-place finish. This mare has endurance and will need a better trip, which she just may get, to defeat her stable mate.  

    In the first Exit 16W, Special T Rocks and Sonic Dancer will be heavily bet. Fall Bliss will be ignored. He closed very well in the first leg and finished fourth. If he can provide a move like that again, he may defeat the two powerhouse horses.  

    The next division is wide open. Bettor’s Reward almost provided an upset in the first leg as John Campbell came three wide and charged after Fearless Diablo. He came up short and finished second. Since Fearless Diablo is not in this race, Bettor’s Reward should be able to get started earlier and successfully defeat this field.  

    In the last division, Itrustyou is the one to beat. China King may be able to be second in the exotics. He made an early move, but faltered after being shuffled back. If he gets started a little later, he should be able to easily finish second.    

    The Aquarius finds its stronger participant, Westwardho Hanover, on the outside. In his Canadian battles this year that position was no bargain for the speedster. This opens up great expectations for the Remmens’ I’m Feelin Good. Red-hot Ron Pierce will do the driving in what could be a strong overlay, since the public is not about to dismiss “Westwardho.”  

    Interactivity And WEGZ Legs


    Woodbine’s Horseplayer Interactive series returns to Friday for its second leg on Feb. 10. The WEGZ series ensues on Saturday.  

    Once again this Saturday, Woodbine players at TwinSpires will receive 10X TSC Elite Points for cashing $10-win tickets. This bonus awards winning players by putting precious points along with profits in their accounts.  

    The first Horseplayer Interactive split, featuring a field of conditioned four-year-old-and-up mares, features a gal we were writing about before she hit the marquee. DGs Tinkerbell could be worth another few bucks, though she is the 3-1 morning-line choice. It is not a bold move but it may be a wonderful overlay considering money that will go to Do Me Honor and Mach Dismissal on the outside. 

    Next, we see Autumn Seelster in a fine position to wrap up this mile. At 8-1 in the first leg she made the favorite work for the win and finished second in front of the rest of the field. She may not stop for any mare from post 1.  

    You have to love Bunny Mach in the third division. She gets post 1 tonight after a gallant mile in the first leg where, at 18-1, she went first up and drilled home to get the lead only to lose it to the favorite that got the better trip. Betterluvnexttime could be the key to a big exactor. She didn’t fire as she should have last week and may be a lot better with no cause. 

    Saturday the WEGZ series holds another three contests in leg two. A return trip to the winners’ circle would be no surprise for Anderlecht, who is in the first split. He may be overlooked a bit for another win. 

    Is there a chance to beat Bay Of Sharks in the second split? A reasonably confident call could be a bet on C Major Hanover, who used most of his energy late to close a bunch from post 9. From the inside in this fray, he could sit cold and jump the “Sharks” with success. 

    In leg three, Topcornerterror, who was not as good as expected last week, deserves another shot here. 

    All Along The Watchtower


    Our Watch List (H2W) continues with some double-digit winners. In between blogs, we hit with Say It Best at Pompano with a $10 win price. Here are a few entries worth another look after either a win or a loss last week.  

    Buffalo Raceway
    Mudriggin, Feb. 10, Race 9
    Allamerican Improv, Feb. 11, Race 5

    Pompano Harness
    Yankees In Six, Feb. 11, Race 4 
    Rudy Valentino, Feb. 11, Race 8
    Bob Lee, Feb. 11, Race 10

    Cal Exotic

    The Feb. 11 no-takeout Pick 4 at Cal-Expo once again challenges us in an effort to take down the pool. Here are our suggested contenders with comments:

    Leg 1
    (2) Franky Provolone got off to a quick start but had to settle for first on the outside while dueling. This is always a good move to follow on the California mile. (4) My Tryin Ryan certainly deserves another nod after a monstrous mile that left the rest of the field spinning.

    Leg 2
    (2) Bullet Tooth Tony was burned to a crisp using his speed on the outside and tanked but gets respect this week having done that at 16-1. (4) Total Up was not going to let the 10 hole or odds of 26-1 stop him from getting the place spot last week, making him quite a danger tonight.

    Leg 3
    (4) Acapulco Gold flashed early speed and the surprised public that made him 18-1 watched him go on to complete the exacta. (6) Dreaming Of Amy broke and lost all chance of performing how we thought he could based on the week before. Give him another chance and certainly at high odds.

    Leg 4
    (4) Sterling Chris was beaten by the same move we applaud in some of the choices above, where an early duel done him in, so to speak. This is a terrible field and he could go right out there an mow them all down with a decent trip.

    Our ticket is $16 but you can add or subtract to these choices if you care to invest in more contenders.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this article

  • Conditioned Affairs Dominate Weekend

    POSTED Feb 1, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    The next wave of Meadowlands winter series has come, even with a breath of spring in the air. The Cape & Cutter, Exit 16W and Aquarius series have been staples of this time of year at the New Jersey plant for a long time and continue under the umbrella of the track’s first private owners.  

    At Woodbine, it’s another week of bonus betting on Saturday when TwinSpires players get the big 10X TSC Elite Points with winning $10 win bets. Featured on the “points program” is an event for four-year-old pacers. 

    At Cal-Expo the campaign to strike big with the exclusive TwinSpires-Cal-Expo no-takeout Pick 4 ensues.   

    As well, we have new members of our Watch List (H2W) and we make you privy to them for profit’s sake.  

    Meadowlands Miles

    The Meadowlands features the first leg of the Exit 16W and Cape & Cutter on Friday, Feb. 3 and on Saturday, Feb. 4 features one leg of the Aquarius.  

    In the first Exit 16W, Bolero Andrew looks like he’ll take some play. Flowmaster looks good coming out of the Clyde Hirt series. He did not do well in the final but was a major presence in the event’s two legs. He should improve among the four-year-old horse pacers in this group.  

    In the second Exit 16W division, there is no clear favorite. Rhombus comes in here with a nice performance in the Clyde Hirt Final. He also did well in the legs.  

    In the third Exit 16W division, Mickey Hanover will take some action. Most likely not taking a lot of wagers is Hi Sir, but he has a good shot coming in to this race. He was sharp his last time out, closing to finish a close fourth. He has a chance to upset.  

    In the nightcap Exit 16W division, Special T Rocks and Itrustyou will be heavily bet, as they are coming off of big wins in winter finals. We are following the progress of Joe De Fino, who should get lighter play than in his previous efforts. He raced well coming into his four-year-old campaign but did worse in the next start. If he sits off the pace he should pace another great race and maybe a win at a big price.  

    In the first Cape & Cutter split (for three-year-old-and-up filly-and-mare pacers), Higher And Higher will get most of the public’s attention. To her outside is Ocean Motion, a horse who came from the lower ranks. She has done much damage in Opens at Yonkers. She could sit close to Higher And Higher and pull off the upset.  

    In the second and only other Cape & Cutter split, Ginger And Fred should get favorite status. Omen Hanover, however, has a good shot after a terrible race. In the stretch, she was rolling well then checked and lost ground. She can’t be behind a wall of horses if she’s closing tonight. Also watch Royal Cee Cee N. She shipped to America last year and has not done too well with the free-for-all ranks. She looks good coming into this conditioned affair and may be able to defy that record tonight.  

    On Saturday in the Aquarius leg (four-year-old pacers), Westwardho Hanover is the one to beat. He comes south after a big win at Woodbine, where he has been gunning on the engine when possible. But we won’t overlook Townslight Hanover. He raced well against older last week, closing hard to finish second at 20-1 in “non-winners of $22,750L5.” He should do well tonight. Also watch Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam. With a mid-pack positioning he could close better than he has from farther back. He should do well in the exotics. 

    WEGZ Legs


    Woodbine’s WEGZ series launches three divisions in its first leg on Saturday. This conditioned event, with $20,000 for each split, is for four-year-old-and-up pacers that are non-winners of $50,000 ($75,000 for sophs of 2011). 

    In the first leg, Topcornerterror returns after finishing best of the rest last week, 10 lengths behind the winner and at 65-1. He draws the rail and if he steers clear of being stuffed he could dominate the nine others with a late rush. 

    In the second WEGZ leg, Prana comes back after a well-needed mile last week where he was short at 5-1 due to a tiresome outside rush to the seven-eighths. A careful drive brings him home at a price. 

    Finally, Gunpowder exploded in his recent win, with a strong outside brush for the lead late and a good last quarter, returing 12-1 for the effort, which buried the 8-5 choice. Take him right back in this affair. 

    Once again this Saturday, Woodbine players at TwinSpires will receive 10X TSC Elite Points for cashing $10-win tickets. This bonus continues until forbid, giving players more for their money by putting precious points along with profits in their accounts.

    All Along The Watchtower


    Our Watch List (H2W) has been producing some fine double-digit winners along with its share of public choices. Here are a few new entries to our personal H2W for TwinSpires players.  

    Buffalo Raceway
    Mudriggin, Feb. 3, Race 8
    Redford Hall, Feb. 4, Race 5
    Twotowin, Feb. 4, Race 6
    Allamerican Improv, Feb. 4, Race 10

    Pompano Harness
    Joey Hackett, Blue Boy, Feb. 4, Race 4
    Rudy Valentino, Feb. 4, Race 7
    Bob Lee, Feb. 4, Race 9
    Big Bam Ray, Yankees In Six, Feb. 4, Race 10 

    Cal Exotic

    The Feb. 4 no-takeout Pick 4 at Cal-Expo once again challenges us in an effort to take down the pool. Here are our suggested contenders with comments:

    Leg 1
    (4) Jet Tet Tet closed well for third last week, likes this track and is due to pick up some bigger checks. (6) Roger J won at 7-1 last week but did it like he should have been 4-5 with a huge brush at the half. (7) Hanover DGN was well backed and placed.

    Leg 2
    (1) Irish Whiskey had early foot but hung as the choice and still took second. (5) Dreaming Of Amy is a rank outsider but must be respected off of a 21-1 race where he dueled early to be the leader, a move that used him up but warned of better miles ahead.

    Leg 3
    (5) Devilish Donnie is a good single in this crew. He shared a dead heat for fourth last week but got that far with an overland journey. He loves this track and seems to dominate this lacking-in-class field.

    Leg 4
    (3) Desired Result could not close the deal last week while respected at 3-1. Finishing third was not embarrassing, though, and another chance to do well has surfaced. (4) Preciosita made a strong move that was moot but cannot be dismissed if a better trip is in the works here.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this article

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review

    POSTED Jan 29, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    At the Meadowlands this past Saturday we cautiously approached a few winter finals and managed to nail just one. 

    A minor success among the swarm of favorites in the trio of events was our exacta choice in the Clyde Hirt Final. There, we suggested two horses, Special T Rocks and Thebestofjoel. Those two finished first and second, respectively, with a $4.60 win price and a generout $26.20 exacta included. 

    The Presidential and Complex finals were taken by the obvious horses and our suggested upsets were both dead last in each.  

    Our suggestions as we tweeted for all races at Woodbine on Jan. 28 in an attempt to help TwinSpires players to pick up 10X points on successful $10-win bets was a parade of bad breaks.   

    We tweeted only one winner, Quarter Bayama, and he was disqualified and placed second for galloping at the wire. The closest any other pick came was an honest second, per se, as Harnessnitencanada took the place in the seventh race.  

    A few other of our horses never got started, breaking at the gate, and a bad trip or two burned out another few along the way to a disastrous dozen races mostly dominated by public choices.  

    Those of you following the winter series at Woodbine may have picked up DGs Tinkerbell, the filly pacer we liked a few weeks back to win the Blizzard Series Final. She did just that, though only paying $6.20.  

    From the Watch List (H2W) at Pompano, Fox Ridge Banker won, paying $35.60, and Running Ron won, bringing in a poor $4.60. 

    At Cal Expo, the no-takeout Pick 4, a single 10-1 shot managed to combine with three favorites for a $393 payoff.  

    Two of the winners were on our ticket, which cost $8 based on a $2 wager. When handicapping the races (on our Thursday TwinSpires blog also available through espn, we had no idea they would be so heavily bet. We had the first leg with Freedom’s Art ($6.80) and the final leg with Jane The Brain ($5.20).  

    Our second leg participants included two horses: Hollywood Lenny at 22-1 and Asgoodasioncewas at 32-1.  

    The longshot that won the third leg beat our horse that turned out to be the favorite, Komodas Fantasy. So, even with some of our choices going to the public, our Pick 4 with either of our second-leg picks winning would have come in a higher price.

    Harness News

    Northfield Park will increase its Pick-4 guaranteed pools to $15,000 starting Feb. 1. The track’s Pick 3s, 4s and 5s offer a reduced takeout rate of 14 percent. That is the lowest takeout for such exotics in the sport. It is part of the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program which has been a resounding success across America and which includes this writer as a handicapper.

    The famous Prix d’Amerique took place in Paris on Jan. 29 at Vincennes.

    The seven-year-old French trotter Ready Cash, driven by Franck Nivard, won Europe’s biggest trotting race for the second-consecutive year. Ready Cash went to post as even-money favorite.

    Roxanne Grif was second and The Best Madrick was third. Ready Cash goes again in two weeks in the Prix de France as the European Grand Circuit ensues.

    The Miss Versatility series has become a highlight in the thin menu of major events for trotting mares. The good news is the light becomes brighter in 2012 as the event will be bigger and richer. The purses for the series legs have been raised from $25,000 to $40,000 ($30,000 div.) and the number of legs has been increased from three to four.

    For the first time, Woodbine and Mohawk will participate, hosting the first two legs at Mohawk on May 20 and Woodbine on July 1. The Meadowlands will present leg three on Aug. 17 with Tioga Downs has the fourth leg on Aug. 26. The $100,000 (est.) final will again be raced on Little Brown Jug day, Thursday, Sept. 20) at the Delaware County fairgrounds.

    (Cartoon by Thom Pye)

  • Complex Presidential Races Continue

    POSTED Jan 18, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    Speed and class will again be featured at Meadowlands, this weekend with the Presidential and Complex series highlighting the program on Saturday, Jan. 21. 

    Woodbine becomes a TwinSpires player’s dream with all of its trotters and pacers, including features that include the Willowdale and Snowshoe series’ finals. Read below about the features and the players’ bonus for Saturdays in winter.   

    At Cal-Expo, we go at it again, trying to take the biggest chunk out of the no-takeout Pick- 4 pool.   

    Hail To The Chiefs


     It’s Presidential season in a big way again on Jan. 21. As Republican stalwarts duke it out in South Carolina, the Meadowlands sends out fiery older pacers in a pair of divisions of the Presidential’s second leg for 2012. 

    There is a strange angle you may explore in the second of the two divisions. Last week’s pair of winners, Golden Receiver and River Shark, both soaring to wins in 1:48 and 1:48.4, respectively are in this division. So is a horse named Artist’s View. We picked this guy in the Breeders Crown when he was a sophomore colt. He won and paid over $80 (watch that race by clicking here). He won because he was able to sit cold as two of the fastest colts of the season fired at one another and burned each other out. Where? At the Meadowlands.  

    Golden Receiver’s trainer, Mark Harder, said, “Anything can happen. River Shark was good, but it looks like [Golden Receiver] is the horse to beat.”  

    So we know that the speedy duo will be going at one another. That is only good news for Artist’s View and a chance at an upset worth a few bucks. 

    In the first division there might be no money to make on Annieswesterncard, who just lost as the choice last week to one of the speedsters mentioned above. Along with two-for-two Silent Spring, there may be a worthy exacta but you will have to be the judge of the value.  

    Complexities


    Another two divisions for five-year-old-and-under pacers with conditions make up the Complex this week. In division one, as the program begins, we’ll take a shot with Mark Ford’s Nathan Feelsgood. Ford may have this one primed for a good second mile of the year after getting one under his belt. This one’s sire liked the Meadowlands as an older pacer as an added factor. 

    The second Complex mile is a baffling event with about a thousand possible scenarios. I would be happy passing this one, where the favorite, Itrustyou, looks for an obvious second win in two outings this year.  

    Tens By Tens At Woodbine 


    Saturday, Jan. 21, Woodbine offers another look at some recently turned four-year-olds in the $100,000 Willowdale Final for pacers and the $50,000 Snowshoe Final for three- and four-year-old pacers. 

    The 12-race card, however, will launch a Saturday series of specials for TwinSpires bettors at the Ontario oval. TwinSpires and Woodbine offer 10X Club Points every Saturday. Cash a $10-win ticket on any race in the program and start earning points. For details, click here. And watch our Twitter account for late possible contenders at great prices on the bonus-point evening. 

    In the Willowdale, our two-time winner Mystician may not offer the prices he has in legs one and two. Also, with Westwardho Hanover getting a better post, we can expect heavy wagering going his way. Thus, the one great contender that could get away from the crowd is Audreys Dream.  

    Although he drew the 9 hole, Warrawee Nonsuch may surprise in the Snowshoe. He raced far better than 8-1 to get into this field and is on target to improve. It’s something he can do in this minor event where a good trip by an outsider can turn the tables on any of the favorites.

    Cal Exotic

    Jan. 21’s no-takeout Pick 4 gets out attention to the tune of a $16 ticket. Here are our suggested contenders with comments:

    Leg 1
    (4) Take No Prisoners was second off of a strenuous trip and may find an easier one the route to the winners’ circle. (6) Gutsy Winds Ahead was a beaten favorite last week and can rebound to win it late.

    Leg 2
    (3) Franco Smoothie N continues to flirt with a longshot win. Last week he showed speed and was short at 10-1. He may go all the way here. (4) Muzhik Hanover is hitting his best stride and picked up the place at 11-1 in his recent outing, a mile warning that he is getting back into winning shape.

    Leg 3
    (3) KD Rowdy One had an easy trip at 7-2 but was not filled with pace late. We cannot let that deter us from using only him in leg three, arguably the weakest of the quartet.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review

    POSTED Jan 15, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    Our allegiance to Mystician, who we touted as a horse to follow going into his four-year-old season, paid off even more on Jan. 14 than the week before. At Woodbine in the Willowdale Series he had won two-straight legs. This week he paid $10.50, far more than we expected (last week he won and paid $7.50.  

    Our Zeron double in the Lifetime Dream series did not materialize, even with the crowd’s support, as Miss Dangles and Lively both went off at a moderate 4-1 but were no factors in either of the series’ second leg divisions. We are keeping them on our Watch List (H2W). 

    On the left is the award-winning photo by Geri Schwartz.

    Schwarz won in the race category for a photo taken in a torrential downpour at Monticello Raceway. The picture appeared in the Middletown Times Herald-Record on Oct. 8, 2011.
    “Extreme weather provides the backdrop for this photo depicting the spirit of driver and horse under harsh conditions of driving rain and water and mud being kicked up during the race,” judge Jerry Millevoi said. “The outside driver’s expression portrays the skill and resolve to control his horse in difficult conditions while driving hard to the finish line.
    “To his inside, the danger of the situation can be seen as a driver tries to regain control of his horse on a break as they splash through the water.”

    At the Meadowlands, favorites were strong but our Presidential favorite, the crowd’s second choice, Annieswesterncard, could only manage finishing second and to a blistering mile. Golden Retriever won in 1:48.  

    That time would not open eyes were the mile not negotiated wire to wire. Pure harness speed is determined by commanding fractions and this pacer conquered each panel. He raced in :25.3, :54, 1:21.3 and finished in 1:48. That last quarter was performed in :26.2, not far from the first quarter’s time. Phew. 

    The second Presidential debate went to River Shark, the obvious choice. Our 16-1 shot, Western Shore, finished sixth.  

    In the Complex Series’ legs, we picked up the win finishing second in an entry as the crowd-choice, Risk Management, was beaten by stablemate Itrustyou, paying $3. The other split saw our choice, Lizard King, get decent action around 5-2 but finish off the board.  

    At Cal Expo, we did not hit the no-takeout Pick 4, though we began with a strike, Funny Guy, paying $7.20. The winning combo paid only $175.20. Though a bit more than last week’s pale payout of $36.20, we are not daunted, since a winning ticket with our choices will always be expected to pay far more than the average Pick 4. Last season, one Pick-4 hit, worth nearly $800, covered all of the plays that season and left us with a profit. We continue to aim at a similar outcome, hoping to take down a lot more of the pool next time.

    Harness News

    Harness racing is booming in Crete, Illinois, as Balmoral Park reports its handle soaring this year. The reasons are being listed as 10-horse fields, guaranteed pools, low takeout, good weather and generally large payouts.

    Speaking of large payouts, a harness bettor in Sweden struck the country’s popular V75 wager and scored for $8 million at the Aby Racetrack. After the sixth leg of the exotic, there were 15 tickets alive but only one had the remaining winner, a 22-1 shot driven by Jimmy Takter’s brother Johnny. That winning ticket had 800 combinations in it, costing $60. It was only the penultimate payoff for the wager, which handed out $9.6 million in 2010.

    Nick Salvi, harness insider, reports that the “Zweig” Memorial for soph trotters has undergone changes for the 2012 edition. The conditions for the race have been revised from split divisions to a format that puts the top nine earners for 2012 into the main event with a consolation for the next nine that enter. The same formula will be used for the Zweig filly trot.

    “This allows the purse for the main open event to be estimated at $400,000 and the main filly race at $170,000,” Salvi says. The consolation purses are (est.) $80,000 for the open and (est.) $40,000 for the fillies.

    The 2012 Zweigs have been moved to Vernon Downs, to be featured on a special Sunday, Aug. 26 matinee card that will include the $50,000 annual Driver’s Challenge. The scheduling of the race will allow the top trotters in the division, coming off of the Hambletonian and Colonial, to come to Vernon a week before the Canadian Trotting Classic elims.  

    In the case of trainer Lou Pena getting his horses back on the Meadowlands menu since being banned by the new owners, a judge denied Pena’s request for a preliminary injunction against the track. 

    The judge termed the banning a “business decision” that Pena did not defy with any evidence to support his challenge. Pena, sources, say, may continue to fight the ban.

    (Cartoon by Thom Pye)



  • The Mo-illion dollar question

    POSTED Aug 25, 2011 By Unknown
    The New York Racing Association is guaranteeing that its all-stakes pick four pool on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course generates at least $1,000,000 in handle, meaning at least $740,000 will be available for those who successfully navigate the tricky sequence that begins in race 9 with the Victory Ride Stakes for three-year-old filly sprinters and concludes in race 12 with the Travers Stakes for three-year-old male classic types.

    And while that latter race is not only the main event of a blockbuster 13-race card worth $2,236,000 but also the entire Saratoga meeting, much attention will be on the preceding 11th race, the King's Bishop Stakes for three-year-old male sprinters/middle distance types featuring the return of undefeated two-year-old champion Uncle Mo.

    The Indian Charlie colt, off since suffering his first career defeat on April 9 when third to Toby's Corner and Arthur's Tale in the Wood Memorial Stakes, is the 9-to-5 morning line favorite in the King's Bishop with the multiple graded stakes-winning Flashpoint installed as the 5-to-2 second choice on Eric Donovan's line. The other six horses in the field are between 9-to-2 and 20-to-1.

    To me, it's an either-or race. Either you think Uncle Mo will win and he's the only horse you should use, or you think he won't win and you shouldn't use him at all. His price just leaves no wiggle room to hedge with other horses.

    For the pick fours (there's also a pick four on the last four races of the day) and grand slam purposes, I'm in the Uncle-Mo's-a-winner camp. Using BRIS pace figures, any repeat of any of his first three races, including his career debut when winning a six-furlong maiden special weight race by 14 lengths on Travers day last year, wins this easily. His early pace numbers are right there with Flashpoint, and his late pace numbers are the fastest in the race.

    Think about that.

    At his best, Uncle Mo can duel with Flashpoint going as fast as Flashpoint has gone when winning graded stakes gate-to-wire and still be faster than all of the other "closers" late in the race.

    Going any deeper than Uncle Mo doubles, triples, quadruples, etc. the size of any pick four ticket. If I didn't like him I wouldn't use him at all. Too often people use overbet favorites they don't like as insurance or because they don't want to get beat by a horse like Uncle Mo. My experience is that such strategy certainly costs you value in the long run. A) you're not betting your opinion--a deadly sin of horseplaying; B) you're playing not to lose instead of to win--it's scared money.

    Oddly enough, I'm certainly not looking to talk anyone on Uncle Mo. He'll probably be an underlay in the win pool, but I do think enough people will want to spread around him in the pick fours to create some value in that wager. Overall, I'd rather be deep in the other races and take my chances with the only champion in the sequence.