New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) on June 28 at Yonkers produced obvious winners, Romantic Moment at $2.20 and Handsoffmycookie at $2.60. Our other choice, Brownsville Bomber, was second.  

NYSS at Yonkers on June 29 featured a $7.50 winner: Forever Just. Steelhead Hanover finished second and Breakin The Law was off the board.

At the Meadowlands on June 29 we lost the Titan Cup to the big favorite, Chapter Seven. Then, on Saturday, we scored in a division of the Reynolds stake with Verdad at $13.60. Our other two Reynolds picks completed a triple, with Gottaseeaboutagirl and Blackjack Princess coming in second and third, respectively.

Pocono Downs hosted the highlighted stakes of the weekend. We suggested a pass on American Jewel in the James Lynch because we figured she would pay little to nothing and that is what happened; she paid $2.10. 

In the Ben Franklin Final we were third with Aracache Hanover and Hurrikane Kingcole shocked the crowd when he was burned to a crisp going first over in a scorching three-quarters in the Max Hempt Final to finish off the board. A Rocknroll Dance won at an astounding 17-1.  

It’s the last month of our exclusive Hambletonian Trail blog. We offer previews of races through the week for both divisions with Hambo hopes, with reviews of those events at the Hambletonian Society site.  

Every weekend get Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page which includes suggested win bets. Last week we hit with Sand Starla at $10.80.  

Also, enjoy our latest harness racing musings and the archive of articles on a host of topics at my Hoof Beats blog, Vast Performances.  

At Twitter you can easily follow Frank and Ray Cotolo and get up-to-the-minute suggestions for wagers at many harness raceways. As you do, make your decisions and wager from TwinSpires.  

There is an easy way to get on our mailing list for exciting information to help you play for profit. By clicking here you will be added to the list and be secure as a member of that list (we do not share the emails with anyone).

Yonkers Raceway raises the guarantee for its Tuesday late Pick 4 to $25,000 beginning July 3. The late Pick 4 consists of races seven through 10 every racing night.   

Tioga Downs, in league with the United States Trotting Association’s strategic wagering program, will offer a $5,000 guaranteed Pick 4 each Sunday in July. The Pick 4 will be offered on the last four races of the day on each Sunday afternoon racing program. The post time 1:30 p.m. EST. Tioga Downs began its weekend of live racing action on June 29 at 6:50 p.m. 

At the most recent USTA annual meeting in February, President Phil Langley appointed a committee of horsemen and track operators to study drug testing and to investigate what the industry can do to improve testing procedures, including providing more financial support.  

The committee aims to identify and eliminate exotic and unknown drugs suspected as performance enhancers. A very positive development has been the financial support of the Pennsylvania horsemen, who have stepped forward and committed a portion of their revenue to working on processes that will identify strange substances.

“As this process moves on we will keep the industry up to date with timely reports,” said Langley. 

The racing schedule at both Tioga and Vernon will change for the upcoming ‘Fourth of July’ holiday week. Tioga picks up an extra live date on Wednesday, July 4.  

Vernon will race on Tuesday evening July 3 and have a matinee card at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4^t, then continue with Wednesday evening racing throughout July and August.  

We promised updates about Sweet Lou and here is the latest. Trainer Ron Burke said that for the July 7 Meadowlands Pace eliminations, “We’re going with aluminum shoes instead of steel shoes,” Burke said. “They may help him be more aggressive.” 

 Burke also let out the hopples for the sophomore colt pacer. “I tried an open bridle but he was too busy with it. He just wanted to play with me.”  

Burke said he plans to ship the colt to the Meadowlands this week to familiarize him with the track. “We’ll either qualify him there or train him — one or the other,” Burke said. “I want him to go over the track. I don’t think racing on a big track will be an issue. He won at Indiana Downs and the Red Mile at two. I think we’ll see multiple divisions in the Meadowlands Pace. There are some vicious three-year-olds out there. It’s amazing how many good ones … this will prove to be a strong crop.”

Also at The Red Mile are Bluegrass Stakes and Allerage Stakes for the young and the elders still standing in their divisions as October opens its jaws.  

All the “money” horses that are Breeders Crown-eligibles want to thrive in Lexington before their connections decide on dropping them in the box for the “Crown” elims. We are covering all the division activity here and in our exclusive blog, Breeders Crown Countdown. The results about eligibles for the season-ending championships will be available regularly at the Hambletonian Society website’s area for the Crown.  

You can read some exclusive Red Mile handicapping analysis at the Countdown page, too. Scroll to read stories on Crown activity, including races, picks and plays.  

Bluegrass Stakes for freshmen highlight the Friday, Sept. 30 program at the Red Mile.  

There are four miles including fields of frosh-colt trotters. The first presents the dynamo Delano and calls for a pass. The second looks like a shot for Ray Schnittker’s Muscolo, who could be a wire-to-wire winner here at a decent price over One In A Million and Big Chocolate. Next, Greg Peck, the brains behind Muscle Hill, has a 2012 hopeful in From Above and he looks like he has what it takes to go fast, with a two-of-three win column so far. Then we will take another shot with Melt In Your Mouth, who was dull in Canada though handed a tough trip.  

As for the filly pacers, these green gals have two splits and one invites American Jewel to win her eighth straight, so call it a pass since she can do it. However, in the other split, the outside Destiny’s Chance will possibly be ignored at the windows and that would be too tempting to pass. Ron Burke has her tight now.  

Saturday, Oct. 2’s Bluegrasses are for frosh-colt pacers and soph-filly pacers and the Allerage Stakes present older trotters and pacers.  

The frosh pacers’ first Bluegrass division could be a fine theater for Hillbilly Hanover. After winning a Keystone Classics at the Meadows, he is the “now” horse and a price could accompany his 8-hole start considering the popularity of the 4, 5 and 6 horses. The same situation surfaces in the second division. Dick Mctracy also scored big in Pennsylvania and also gets post 8 and has to face some heavy favorites. In the third round, Special Blend could show some sizzling speed against these, while in the fourth chapter, Verdad could be overlooked by the general public.  

The single mile for Bluegrass filly pacers could be quite a shuffle show. There is speed all over this field and that could hand the race over to Ace Of Pace. The lightly raced gal should be all out here, strategically placed and quite the price.  

The Allerage pacers event is a star-studded field of 10. The crowd, however, will most likely pour the money on We Will See, fresh off his record race—the fastest ever at Pocono Downs. Any number of scenarios can be expected here but we kind of like the speed-burning drama that finds the winner the last pacer standing. That could mean Bettor Sweet or a late splash from Foiled Again, who is versatile enough to catch speed as well as command it.  

The Allerage trotters are the best around, with San Pail versus Arch Madness the expected dangers. Could Lucky Jim control the fractions? He has been flat lately and offering some fine prices. I would not dismiss an upset on this oval by a great horse that has been his own worst enemy.  

At press time the Oct. 2 Kentucky Futurity fields have not been drawn. This event is the only one for glamour-boy trotters that is executed in heats on the same program. There will probably by two elim-heats of at least seven if we are lucky, since a lot of trainers don’t want to put their horses through the stress of two and possibly three miles of racing on one day.

Check the Countdown blog for a special “Futurity” report before Sunday, Oct. 2.   

Oct. 1’s no-takeout late Pick 4 at Cal Expo is a target again this week.  

Leg 1
Awesome Deal N (9) dueled for the lead early and kept afloat well to finish third. He is a good single in this poor group.  

Leg 2
Long Last Look (6) was beaten soundly from post 9 last out. This guy has a history of winning like he can read the toteboard, coming off of poor trips and scoring at decent prices. Big Guy Two Win (9) was hung for three calls and well bet but he couldn’t sustain the trip.  

Leg 3
Whoop And Shout (1) was the beaten favorite last week, coming in second. You Go Shirl (8) managed to weave a trip and pick up third money at 51-1.  

Leg 4
Mow Em Down (1) is fresh and should prosper from the inside start. The Future (7) likes this track and could be sharp in his return to the big mile.  

The ticket: 9/6,9/1,8/1,7  

Remember to play any of the above to win, also, if you feel the win price offered is an overlay.