Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

A particularly sparkling weekend of results from our suggested contenders began on Friday, June6 at Mohawk, when we defied the mega-favorite Bee A Magician in an elim for next week’s Armbro Flight Final. However, we did not expect our choice to be so ignored by the public—we certainly hope you did not ignore D’orsay in that race, because D’orsay won it and paid $111.30 to win, $10.10 to place (there was no show wagering). With the favorite, Bee A Magician, the exacta came back $294.70.

In the 22 weeks since the start of this season, between our feature picks and our horses-to-watch list (H2W), we have supported eight horses paying $40 and up, including D’orsay. This is just another reason we urge you to spread the word that the exclusive harness blog for bettors on the Internet is right here at TwinSpires.

As well as this blog, during the months of May through the first week in August, we are active discussing contenders in the weekend’s high-profile features for soph trotters, colts and fillies, on our Hambletonian Trail blog. We share the successes of those endeavors here with our weekly update. The Hambletonian Trail comes to you in cooperation with TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society. You can read the recap race stories and data on the history of the August classics at the society’s archives.

And now back to the big betting show from this past weekend.

We were sixth in the second Armbro Flight elim, as Ma Chere Hall (20-1) broke and was eliminated.

In the Fan Hanover elims we nailed the winner of the first of two, that being Uffizi Hanover ($14.50, $5.70, $2.50). In the second split, we were fifth with 39-1 Bahama Blue. However, those of you following Ray Cotolo @HarnessRaycer on Twitter were treated to the winner of the second elim, Table Talk ($77.80, $20.10, $10.40). Ray, of course, contributes to these blogs.

In the North America Cup elims, we had a presence and were correct about defeating Hes Watching, though in that split we had the show horse, Luck Be Withyou ($3.20). We faired better in elim two with Sometimes Said ($10.10, $5.50). Western Vintage, our choice in the first elim, finished fourth.

We won the better paying of the two Roses Are Red elims with Yagonnakissmeornot ($16.40, $4.50, $3.30). We were sixth in the first elim with Drop The Ball (6-1).

At Scioto Downs, in the Charlie Hill Memorial, we won but expected a far better return when we handicapped the event. Modern Family ($5.80, $4.20, $3.40) performed exactly as we predicted, going wire to wire strongly, but he was the second choice to Market Share.

In the three-year-old Indiana Sires Stakes at Hoosier on June 7 we were present with two seconds, both contributing to exactas due to being beat by dead-on favorites. Sling Shot Shooter ($5.20, $4.20) teamed for a $18.20 exacta in the colt-pacing final and Aleays Wearable ($6.80, $4.40) was the favorite’s partner in the filly-pacing final for an exacta worth $30.60.

TwinSpires and Hoosier continue a three-pronged power-packed program for harness players. Tuesdays, wager all you want and earn 10 TSC Elite Points per dollar bet. Click here for details. Every Thursday night, there is a 20-percent bonus on hitting the Pick 4 starting at Race 3. Click here for details. And the ongoing 10-percent Pick-4 bonus every racing night on Pick-4 hits continues through the meet. Click here for details.

In the soph-trotting ranks, from out Hambo blog, we scored with the two obvious filly winners at the Meadows on June 4 with Shake It Cerry ($2.20, $2.10, n.s.) and Broadway Socks ($3.40, $2.20, $2.10). Our other finished second to the favorite—Passing Jetta ($2.80, $2.40) completed the $6.80 exacta.

In the Goodtimes elims at Mohawk on June 6, we were second to the predicted public choice with Il Sogno Dream ($5.80, $5.90 ok) with the exacta worth $19.60. We won the second in a cold $7.80 exacta with Trixton ($2.10, $2.10, $2.10) and Harper Blue Chip ($3.20, $2.30).

On June 8 at Vernon, we won the filly Empires Breeders Classic with Crediama ($6.90, $3.70, $2.50) and were third in the colt final with Hallanet ($6).

In between published harness blogs, follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get tips on Hoosier contenders you can use in your tickets. Other possibilities appear in exclusive H2W list.

Our H2W was active again, with some bright winners and healthy prices in place and show, with some exacta hits (using public choices in tandem with our picks) as overnight action continues to be the focus of the list for TwinSpires harness players.

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).

Winners

Jacks Reef, $27.40, $7.70, $4.50, Saratoga
B Lo Zero, $10, $6.80, $4.90, Tioga
Time Stood Still, $5.90, $2.60, $2.30, Tioga
Comicbook Hero, $5.60, $3.20, $2.40, Meadows
Scarab Begonia, $2.80, $2.60, $2.20, Plainridge

Seconds

Dragon Ridge, $8.90, $4.20, Saratoga
Shoot First, $6, $3.80, Scarborough
Giant Sculpture, $5.80, $4.60, Pocono

Thirds

Summer Deo, $7.60, Scioto
Bessie, $4.60, Meadows
Oozies Bad Boy, $3.40, Vernon
PH Supercam, $2.60, Pocono

News And Notes

A note about our big upset winner, D’orsay …We have been very critical about Bee A Magician’s sophomore season, based on the fact that she raced only against the same fillies in her division, completing 2013 with no losses and being overwhelmingly voted Horse of the Year by industry journalists. We were not among her supporters for the top honor. Returning at four, Bee A Magician has yet to win in a few starts and for obvious reasons, one of which led us to D’orsay in the big hit. Bee A Magician is now a four-year-old and she has to compete with a division of aged mares that includes a large number of femmes older than four, such as D’orsay. These older gals bring more experience to the track and they are clearly the fresh, tough competitors Bee A Magician has never faced. We will be weighing that reality in future stakes for older trotting mares, though we don’t guarantee winners that reach the reward paid by D’orsay. Stay tuned.

The first baby races of the 2014 season were presented on Saturday morning. Along with the youngsters, Captaintreacherous prepped for his four-year-old debut in next Friday’s Meadowlands Maturity pace. In the day’s final race, the champ set all the fractions then drew well clear late in 1:50.1.

Trotting fillies opened the card and the prodigious Jimmy Takter freshman force picked right up where they left off last week, winning. The Donato Hanover daughter of Hambletonian Oaks-winner Southwind Allaire, named Sarcy, impressed with a powerful 1:58.3 win. Wild Honey cut the mile and won effortlessly for Takter in 1:59.4 / 28.2. Canepa Hanover is the Muscle Hill half brother to Glidemaster and he brushed to the front from third then opened a long lead before finishing in 2:01. He’s big, fast and pretty as well as being trained in the Takter barn. The Broadway Hall colt The Bakers Choice, in 2:01.2, won the fourth race. John Berger trains him. Takter returned to victory in the fifth with the Andover Hall filly Lilu Hanover. She sat in and split horses late to score in 2:02.3.

Pacers opened in the sixth and Western Pioneer popped from the pocket and streaked home to win for trainer Nancy Johansson. Divine Caroline impressed the crowd with her recovery from a final turn break and won easily in 1:56.4. She is from the first crop of Rock N Roll Heaven and is trained by Joe Holloway, who spun right back with a nice Bettors Delight filly who won in 1:57.2.

Takter pacers finished one-two in the final baby race with Bet You edging Franzo (Rockin Image) in 1:56.2. This one is a son of Bettors Delight from the stakes-winning Armbro Amoretto. The later qualifiers featured some stakes stars with two freshman world-champion trotting fillies hooking up in the 11th race as sophomores and Designed To Be out-kicked Cooler Schooner to the wire in 1:53.1. Older trotter Waiting On A Woman scorched the track in 1:53 for new connections, now residing in the Ron Burke barn.

Returning stars Mister Herbie, Sunshine Beach and Somethinincredible were open-length winners in their respective qualifying races over the weekend at Mohawk. There were 23 lengths between Sunshine Beach and the place finisher in the fifth and final qualifier of the morning. The four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere tripped the timer in 1:51.3.

Mister Herbie, who has earned in excess of $1.7 million in his career, also won easily, in 1:55.3; it was a 15 length romp for trainer Jeff Gillis. “Herbie” is now a six-year-old and this was his first appearance of any kind on the track since November of last year at the Meadowlands Somethinincredible, a winner of $212,000 in her debut season, made her first three-year-old appearance, winning by 11 lengths in 1:53.4. It was her first start since the Three Diamonds final in November.

After recovering from knee surgery and making it back into training, three-year-old sensation, pacer I Luv The Nitelife, has faced a second setback in her return to the races. Richard Young, who co-owns the pacing filly along with Joanne Young, told Trot Insider that the four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare suffered a spell of atrial fibrillation in training last week. “They made a few attempts to get her to convert back and it was successful. She should be fine,” said Young. “She will rest this week and go back in training next week.” Young said that the knee issue that originally had her sidelined is properly healed. Initially, the Youngs had hoped to have I Luv The Nitelife back for major stakes events in July. Those plans have been set aside.

I Luv The Nitelife was one of 2013’s Four Horses of the Apocalypse, as we coined the quartet that included her, Captaintreacherous, Father Patrick and Bee A Magician. These were two fillies (one on the pace and one on the trot) and two colts (one on the pace and one on the trot) which dominated those divisions.

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

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

Cartoons by Thom Pye

Meadowlands Pace tops miles of harness weekend action

Meadowlands hosts single ‘Pace’ elim atop full weekend menu

Captaintreacherous, the bravado glamour-boy pacer, won’t be in the Meadowlands Pace eliminations this Saturday, July 6. The Meadowlands will, however, be the highlight of the weekend in the standardbred world with elims for the major event’s final next week, as well as two for older pacers going for the William Haughton Memorial championship.

The soph-colt-and-filly trotting events (Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers, Reynolds Stakes at the Meadowlands and Pennsylvania All Stars) on the Hambletonian Trail are analyzed on the exclusive blog. 

Our exclusive harness horses to watch (H2W) list from tracks around North America is short but sweet, presenting horses you need to take seriously at tracks around North America.

TwinSpires offers special bonuses for Hoosier Park throughout the harness meet. Check out the Hoosier details here. 

Meadowlands Pace Elim Examination 

After a hard, well-earned, courageous win the Max C. Hempt Memorial last weekend at Pcono, Captaintreacherous will not have to earn his way into the final field of the Meadowlands Pace by racing in an elimination. He is one of three horses to receive a bye (he is exempt from qualifying for the July 13 final) based on seasonal earnings. 

When a total of 13 horses entered the race, a single 10-horse elimination was all that was needed and it will be held Saturday night, July 6 at the Meadowlands. The top seven finishers join Captaintreacherous, Wake Up Peter and Twilight Bonfire in the final. 

Here is the elimination field in post-position order:
Someplace Special, Johny Rock, Sir Cary’s Z Tam, Sir Richard Z Tam, Sunshine Beach, Resistance Futile, Lonewolf Currier, Rockin Amadeus, Beach Memories and Odds On Equuleus.

We have to endorse Johny Rock, who finds a shot here to become first-tier divisional material. His “Hempt” elim was a fine race but he could not handle, as most could not, the final field. The “Pace,” now a $600,000-and-change race, presents some horses that do not seem to be as sharp as he has been against some tougher groups.

Captaintreacherous’ trainer, Tony Alagna, said he was hoping for this scenario when he decided to skip the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes in Canada and focus on the North America Cup, Hempt and Meadowlands Pace. He won four races, elims and finals, of the first two and, undefeated in five starts at three, he has $808,293 in earnings. 

“When we decided to go to the Hempt,” Alagna told Ken Weingartner of the USTA, “we thought it was possible the Meadowlands Pace could have only the one elimination and we would get a bye. Everything has just been falling into place … I have all the faith in the world in him – I know what kind of horse he is. He even impressed me and I’m not easily impressed. But that was a monster trip [he used to win the Hempt] … He came out of the race super; excellent.” 

Captaintreacherous is the defending Pacer of the Year, winning that title as a two-year-old. He has won 13 of 15 races and earned $1.72 million for the ownership group known as Captaintreacherous Racing. 

Alagna, who also trains bye-taking Wake Up Peter, winless in six races this year but still having earned $156,225 thanks to third-place finishes in the North America Cup and New Jersey Sire Stakes championship. Wake Up Peter will qualify on July 6 at the Meadowlands to prep for the Meadowlands Pace final while Captaintreacherous will relax. 

Twilight Bonfire, the other bye-earner, has a win in four starts this year and finished second in the North America Cup. He has earned $304,336 this season for trainer Danny Collins, and was the striking longshot to finish second to the “Captain” in the “Cup.” He will race in a $30,000 Invitational at Scioto on July 6 (see H2W below). 

Big Pacers 

The older pacers are at it again, this time in two elimination divisions to get into the field of the William R. Haughton Memorial (WHM). The top five finishers from each elim will advance to the July 13 final.  

The first division presents the return of hot-and-rich Foiled Again, who woke up two races ago after a few disturbing performances. Last week Foiled Again won the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace at Pocono over his usual foes and became the first pacer in harness racing history to reach the $5-million earning mark.  

Also in this split is Golden Receiver, who has been terrible lately with no excuses from his connections or performances. Though some are saying he is a “cold-weather horse,” the claim is unfounded in his history. He returns to his favorite oval and still deserves attention. 

Warrawee Needy, A Rocknroll Dance, Sapphire City, Hugadragon, Heston Blue Chip, Razzle Dazzle and Our Lucky Chip round out the elim field. Heston Blue Chip has come back at four stronger and able to match the veterans of the division. In this group he may be a strong overlay.  

The second WHM elim features Aracache Hanover, Bettor’s Edge, Fred And Ginger, Bolt The Duer, Up The Credit, Pet Rock, Hurrikane Kingcole, Dynamic Youth and Sweet Lou. Last week we handed you Bolt The Duer, who won in 1:47.4, equaling the fastest mile ever for a pacer on a five-eighths-mile track. We supported Bolt The Duer because we thought he could win the way he usually wins—taking advantage of a suck-a-long trip behind a speedy pacesetter. That is exactly how he won. This time the pacesetter was Heston Blue Chip, cutting fractions of 1:21 to three-quarters. 

On the two-turn Meadowlands oval in this combination of pacers, Bolt The Duer won’t get the convenience that affords him victories. Although Hurrikane Kingcole is capable of cutting deadly quarters and coming up short, most of the other foes here are superior pacers to “Bolt” and could take advantage of a fiery three panels. We like Sweet Lou to be tactically placed for a big mile at a very good price. 

Eliminations for the July 13 Mistletoe Shalee were scheduled for the same program but are unnecessary, since only enough three-year-old female pacers entered. The field for the final is Acquavella, Charisma Hanover, I Luv The Nitelife, Jerseylicious, Nikki Beach, Novascotia Hanover and Shebestingin.  

Frosh State-breds 

The second leg of the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) for freshman pacers is on the Saturday agenda at the Meadowlands also. In the first colt pacing split take a hard look at Doo Wop Hanover, who had the toughest trip against the likes of these youngsters and will be a good price here. 

Then, in split two, Rockeyed Optimist is a perfect longshot play. His qualifier presented a big brush that must be respected as he comes into his first pari-mutuel start. He is a well-bred Rocknroll Hanover colt from a mare by the great Artsplace. 

The fillies’ initial split offers a sharp chance with Danielles All Aces. She showed her first signs of good speed in a NJSS leg against Ideal Helen, who will be the drop-dead public choice in the next split. “Danielle” could be ready for her first powerful mile and not as the favorite. 

My Lady Day deserves a shorter morning line than 10-1 and has a big advantage over Ideal Heaven with an inside post so we should take her at the overblown price and see if she can turn the tables on the obvious. 

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track to decide how you will use the information. The list has shortened as the stakes season ensues but still offers the best 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 that horse 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 (so it might not get into the race). Multi-horses may be listed in the same race.  Horses from previous lists that are not racing this week will no longer appear until they are confirmed in a race.

Wagering on any of the H2W listed horses is based on your own judgment. Your handicapping skills should include decisions to wager to win, place, show or in exotics. If you have any questions about the H2W list, send them to us through the TwinSpires blog channel.

H2W 

Bangor
7/4/13, +Fiorenza R10

Buffalo
7/5/13, Billy Mccool N R5; +Destinationunknown R11
7/6/13, +Creating A Dream R3; +Win A New Day R4; Spender Hanover R5

Maywood
7/5/13, +Five Cougars A R1; +Too Tall Tamarac R2; +Innovation R5; Bluebird Muffler R9; +Guts N Glory R11

Northfield
7/6/13, +Casimir Luckynutz R2; A Bay Bay R12

Pompano
7/6/13, +Diamond Amber R9; Scoot Diablo R11

Running Aces
7/6/13, Lo Hot Pancakes R8; +Twentyone Guns R9

Saratoga
7/6/13, +Hazel Nut R2; +Jds Memory R2; Fly High R5; +Mighty Art R7; Pop Z Pop R7; Prince Argental R12

Scarborough
7/6/13, +Mr Sigle’s Dream R3; +Fourth Page R5

Scioto
7/4/13, Ee Bay R6
7/6/13, Twilight Bonfire R7

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

Extraordinary Extras


Cartoons by Thom Pye

Marvelous Menagerie At Mohawk And More

It’s one of the biggest programs of the season, headlined by the Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday, June 15. There is so much material to accompany analysis of the races on the Mohawk Raceway program that night that we have split the difference with the usual two blogs—here and our Hambletonian Trail blog—and added a special North America Cup blog that will appear at this site on June 14.

The Elegant Image and Goodtimes finals are both at the Hambletonian Trail while here we will deal with the Armbro Flight, Fan Hanover, Mohawk Gold Cup and races 4 through 7 on the program where there is a $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 that includes a 20-percent bonus for all TwinSpires players hitting the combo.

And there is a $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 covering races four through seven at Mohawk on Cup night. TwinSpires players hitting it get a 20-percent bonus. See our H2W list under Mohawk for our suggestions.

Let’s not forget June 14 at Harrah’s Philadelphia where more glamour-boy pacers roll for big dount in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes action.

Our exclusive harness horses to watch (H2W) list from tracks around North America isn’t quite as bountiful as it was during the winter but those on the list need be taken seriously in their various outings.

TwinSpires offers special bonuses for Hoosier Park throughout the harness meet. Check out the Hoosier details here. 

Armbro Flight Femmes

This field should be the same bunch of gals fighting for a few big purses all season. The division has four-and-up mares and so far the youngest have been best. Take Maven, who was a major soph winner and one of this event’s elim winners. She looked smooth and strong coming down the stretch last week and will be ready for a shot at the $271,470 on this line here.

Both elims were won with closers and the best staying speed came from 10-1 Intense America. Maven got to her but she was tough holding on for second as Bax Of Life came from out of the clouds late. “America” gets the rail and should be on top in this slow-to-start bunch. At odds that could be as high as last week she could upset with a front-trotting, fraction-controlling engine drive as long as she keeps from dueling with China Pearls.

Fan Hanover Heroines

Here are three-year-old fillies pacing for $391,882 in Canadian coin, a lot of them carrying over their jousts with gals they met as freshmen. The single elim’s ending last week may be repeated this event, as I Luv The Nitelife returned to her frosh self and was all out in a wire to wire effort. It is hard to say who can match her in this field, since Belle Boyd is certainly the second best and all results point to those two at the finish line. In fact, Belle Boyd raced a tougher mile, so if you care to box those two it would not be out of the question to see “Nitelife” cuffed late or even somewhere down the stretch. Other than those two, only Love Canal showed anything, with a closing kick that got her third but that move may just repeat the trifecta here.

Another Cup

Don’t expect State Treasurer to repeat the Molson Pace mile because on the two-turns at Mohawk on Cup night, the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup should belong to Fred And Ginger. Followers of our blog know that we gave the elder pacer a great report at the beginning of the season and nailed that big exacta with him at 10-1 beating Hurrikane Kingcole on May 11. Since then “Fred” came off a hot pace and won in a sizzler but has not been able to bring home a price near 10-1.

Here is the perfect spot for Fred to hide up close while State Treasurer, Ok Commander and Up The Credit shuffle for position and burn out from the efforts. And while Warrawee Needy has to once again be hurled wide to brush into contention, Fred will be full of himself with energy to spare coming to the wire. “Warrawee” may make for a good exacta with Fred since he must negotiate his moves from post 9.

Philly Pacers

Three PASS miles for soph-colt pacers, each worth more than $79,000, go to post on June 14 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. In episode one we are sticking with Bigrisk, as he improves on the circuit and could be ready to fire big soon. Then, in PASS round two, Lonewolf Currier should adore getting onto this track after four-turns misery struck him with post and trip. In the nightcap, Our Dragon King could repeat but not at 15-1. We always seem to go with him when he is a huge overlay. Perhaps in this field he will be an overlay at 2-1, since it is not a powerhouse bunch.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track to decide how you will use the information. The list has shortened as the stakes season ensues but still offers the best 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 that horse 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 (so it might not get into the race). Multi-horses may be listed in the same race.  Horses from previous lists that are not racing this week will no longer appear until they are confirmed in a race. 

Wagering on any of the H2W listed horses is based on your own judgment. Your handicapping skills should include decisions to wager to win, place, show or in exotics. If you have any questions about the H2W list, send them to us through the TwinSpires blog channel.

H2W 

Buffalo
6/14/13, +Ja’s Charmer R2; Destinationunknown R9
6/15/13, +Rock N Bliss R6; +Coastal Highway R9; Debsgirloffortune ae R11

Meadows
6/15/13, +Redwhitenbluestone R11

Mohawk
6/15/13,Bare Necessity R4; The Ladies Man R4; I Luv The Nightlife R5; Belle Boyd R5; Love Canal R5; Mystician R6; Simply Business R6; Captaintreacherous R7; Odds On Equuleus R7

Northfield
6/14/13, +Eradikate R5; +Don’t Need A Gun R7

Pompano
6/12/13, Appeal A lot R8; Phyleon R11
6/15/13, Bolero Topgun R4; Camp Counselor R4; +Young American R6; +Future Plans R6; +Mach Made Her R10

Running Aces
6/15/13, +Math Major R2; +Racing Raff R4; +Purple N Gold R5; Dolly Howard R5; +Ileana Steele R6; +Persuade Me R8

Scarborough
6/14/13, Keystone Howie R5;
6/15/13, Fiorenza R1; Summer Weight R1; Mr Sigle’s Dream R3; +Zindelight ae R7; +Scootin Keefe ae R8; +Prince Of Desire ae R11

Scioto
6/15/13, Stand Tall R1; Show Topper R2; +Yakkity Yak Jack R3; Lucky Lime R3; Sammy Storm R7

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

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News And Notes

Two-year-olds are revving up and youngsters from the Jimmy Takter stable are showing their stuff in baby races at the Meadowlands. Lifetime Pursuit trotted to a 5-length, 1:57.2 effort to start. Takter drove the next winner, Shake It Cerry, in 2:01.3 to win by 2 lengths. “Cerry” is a daughter of Donato Hanover from Solveig, making her a full sister to $300,000 winner Solvato and half-sister to $378,000 winner Dontyouforgetit. Takter’s next winner was Father Patrick, who rolled to a 4-length win in 2:01. Then, Instant Respect was 3 lengths the best in 1:58.1.

Mohawk held baby races and trainer Dave Menary’s barn took three. Somebaysomewhere hit the wire first in her test in 2:02 over the track rated “good.”

Menary next scored with Hes Watching, who also came from behind to take his test in 1:56.4, the fastest mile of the program. Menary’s colt, King Royalty, wore down the leader in the lane to narrowly win in 2:03.3. 

Trainer and owner Eddie Green had a pair of winners starting with the trotter Century Amadeus who was home in 2:05. Green’s second winner was Valorscross in 2:04.1. The other winner on the card was Boomboom Ballykeel who gave trainer Cm McKnight a 2:00.4 ride to win by 4 lengths.

Last year’s Hambletonian winner, Market Share, returned at four to the races on May 31 at the Meadowlands. He was rated off the lead and wound up in a perfect stalking position as Harbor Point set an honest pace of 27.1, 55.1, 1:24.1 and Ice Machine provided cover. Driver Tim Tetrick guided his charge in the last turn and finished off foes in 1:51.1. The colt is conditioned by Linda Toscano.

June 1 was opening night at Running Aces Harness Park. It was the first of 53 programs that will go every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through June, July and August. It’s the sixth season of racing at Minnesota’s only commercial harness track. Trainer-driver Jason Ryan, who has brought a nine-horse stable to Minnesota, is new to the horseman community. He is a promising young 24 year-old. Also new to the ares is Luke Plano, whose father is Vernon’s top reinster, Rick. Luke was the leading driver in California over the past two years, earning over $8.5 million with his mounts to date. Trainers making their initial Running Aces starts are Don Sherman from Michigan, Bob Johnson from California, Paul Ruhl from Ontario and Brett Ballinger of Illinois.

As of this writing, 35 three-year-old colts and geldings remain eligible to Canada’s richest harness race, the $1-million North America Cup, which has eliminations on June 8 at Mohawk. The majority of them tuned up this past weekend. Rockin Amadeus is set to match strides again with Captaintreacherous if the two wind up in the same elim and/or in the final. “Amadeus” won on June 1 over Johny Rock, another “Cup” eligible, by a nose. Also winning over the weekend were eligibles Vegas Vacation and Beach Memories. We’ll cover all the elim fields in next Thursday’s blog.

Extraordinary Extras


 

Cartoons by Thom Pye

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

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

News And Notes

A reminder about Yonkers Raceway: After the Art Rooney Pace/Lismore stakes program on June 1, the track will be dark for live racing until Friday, June 14.

Racing returned to Mohawk on May 25 for its 50th season of harness racing. The 84-card meet will host live programs on Thursday through Saturday nights, plus Monday nights, until Oct. 14. Post time is 7:25 p.m. EDT The most anticipated event on the stakes calendar is the 30th edition of the Pepsi North America Cup, featuring the finest three-year-old pacers on Saturday, June 15. A special 7:05 p.m. post time is scheduled for that program, topped by the $1-million race. Other major race dates this summer include the Maple Leaf Trot on Saturday, July 20; the Metro Pace and Canadian Pacing Derby on Saturday, Aug. 31 and the Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Buffalo Raceway Sunday afternoon racing will begin on June 2 and continue until the end of meeting – eight Sundays in all. The track will be continuing a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday schedule through July 21.

In the first start of her four-year-old campaign, Maven set a Woodbine track record and equaled the Canadian record for older trotting mares in her $30,000 division of the Miss Versatility Series. Maven, who captured the Breeders Crown last October at Woodbine and was one of Check Me Out’s top foes in their soph season, got under the wire first in 1:52 for regular pilot Yannick Gingras. Trained by Jonas Czernyson, Maven lifted her career bankroll to $929,680. The daughter of Glidemaster had an 8-5-0 record last season from 15 starts.

Extraordinary Extras


Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.

 

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