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.      

There were three winter-series finals at the Meadowlands on Jan. 26 in the aftermath of a moderate snowfall that blanketed the tri-state area the day before. 

The Presidential Final went as predicted with a Golden Receiver win that swept the early season stake series. We looked for a Dial Or Nodial upset but that one could only finish third. 

Our Clyde Hirt Final choice was also third and he had to share it in a dead heat.  

The Super Bowl Final resulted in a winner, with Windsun Galiano, one of the two horses we suggested. He paid $9.20 while our other choice, No Less Than Magic, finished fourth. 

 

$30.00, My Tryin Ryan, Cal Expo
$20.40, Super Manning, Yonkers
$6.60, Forever Lucky , Northfield
$6.00, Scootin Jenna, Northfield
$5.80, Stings, Cal Expo
$5.20, Bullville Player, Freehold
$4.80, Cams Future, Freehold
$2.90, Flem N Em N, Yonkers

 

The following are the horses that finished second and third and from Thursday’s list along with their post-time odds. Special notes on their affects in those positions 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:
Special Strides (3-1), Pompano; Ashton Seelster (7-1), Buffalo; Map Of Hawaii (7-2), Freehold; Whatever Lolawants (9-1), Freehold; Friskie D (13-1), Northfield; Fire On Ice (7-1), Cal Expo 

Thirds
Colefederate (17-1), Maywood; Holly Hill Master (5-1), Yonkers; Full Circle Spirit (3-2), Buffalo; Best Tasting (7-1), Northfield; Best Life (7-2), Freehold; Hurrikane Anthony (7-2), Freehold 

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

Here’s a free ride for my column in Hoof Beats (the analog mag). My January, 2013 column offers a way to become an organized harness racing investor. Check it out my clicking here. It’s the featured article of the issue and the best advice you will get all year about your wagering campaign. 

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. Every weekend as part of that blog we 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.  

Of our choices to win, recorded here and in our “Countdown” blog, we went for outside contenders but for four entries that we saw no reason to bet against and instead offered them as exotic keys for the win spot. There were two strong outsiders winning over the two nights, but neither was from our catalog of choices. Let’s review where we wound up for each night.

Our two-year-old colt pace elims went one for two, although Captaintreacherous fooled no one and won, paying a paltry $2.30. With Vegas Vacation second the exacta came back $5.60.  

Next, frosh-filly pacers went in a single prep and here is one spot we lost while being correct in our scenario. Our choice, Love Canal, was second at 13-1 (she paid $10.30 to place), losing to a 10-1 shot. She was the other element in an exacta that paid $146.30.  

In the second colt pace we also went against the choice and were right but with the wrong colt. Our choice, Good Day Mate, was horrible, finishing sixth at 17-1 to a 13-1 shot.  

In the frosh-colt trot we wound up with 60-1 on Caveat Emptor, who finished fourth while not racing as we predicted (he showed zero early foot). The top choice won his eighth-straight race as the overwhelming public choice.  

On Saturday, the first of two elims for soph-filly pacers went to the top two favorites, with our choice, Ramalama, going off at 19-1, showing little against them.  

Another big favorite followed, as Little Brown Fox stormed the first of two glamour-boy trot elims, while our choice, Prestidigator, was second at a surprising 9-5. We thought he would be more but let us down nonetheless.  

A shocker was next, as Market Share (20 cents on the dollar) lost to the supplemented Intimidate, who was 11-1. We felt the winner should have been at least 20-1, coming off of two conditioned races where he defeated nothing, though easily.  

The Open Mare Trot prep offered 5-1 on Temla Celeber S, one of the two choices we presented (she finished fifth). The other, Beatgoeson Hanover, won paying only $4.20.  

The first glamour-boy pace elim featured a winner we mentioned in our live tweets, though we stayed with our win choice, Hillbilly Hanover, at 5-1. Bettor’s Edge somehow made a first-over trip into a win in a cavalry charge at the wire, paying $37.20.

In the other filly pace, Handsoffmycookie finished fifth at 10-1 against the dead-on favorite.

Lastly, Mel Mara finished second at 4-1 in the other soph-colt pace elim, losing to Heston Blue Chip, remarkably paying $8.30 against the likes of Sweet Lou and supplemented Michaels Power, who were third and fourth, respectively and the first and second choices. A Rocknroll Dance, surprisingly racing just after throat surgery, did not make the final, finishing seventh of seven.

Remember we will be studying all of the elimination and prep replays, looking for trips that may allow us to recommend some terrific overlays in the cavalcade of finals.

Our exclusive Breeders Crown Countdown blog will host extensive analysis for the Oct. 27 finals, again in league with this blog, Thursday night—Friday morning, Oct. 26. Follow us for the top wagering value contenders. 

Review all of the season’s great harness action at the archives we produce at Hambletonian Society’s page.

The upcoming Dover Downs 2012-2013 season will feature 15 races daily. The track’s 44^th season completes on April 11, 2013. Exceptions are: no racing on Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, an annual one-week Christmas break, Dec. 21 through Dec. 28, dark on New Year’s Eve, Jan. 31, Super Bowl Sunday, Feb.3 and Easter Sunday, March 31.

In November and December, Dover will race five days a week, Sundays through Thursdays, with dark days on Fridays and Saturdays. The January-February schedule including March 2 will add a sixth day of racing each week on Saturdays. Weekend racing on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.  Five-days-a-week racing returns in March and April. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. Sunday racing in November begins at 5:30 p.m.

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. Every weekend as part of that blog we 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 and for live coverage of the Breeders Crown elims and finals. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts.

 

Get onto our mailing list and receive a free copy of a classic horseracing fiction book by clicking here.

Check out special podcasts available for beginners and veterans of harness betting, a new series available free so you can learn more to bet more and win more at TwinSpires. Click here.

Harness drivers will have their “pedal to the metal” this weekend, no doubt, as they gun for big purses and prestige over profit.

TwinSpires carries the DuQuoin State Fair from Illinois and even with reduced status and purses, there is plenty there to bet about, so to speak, and we cover what may be the best races to bet in this edition.

On the regular circuit, Mohawk delivers elims for major freshmen affairs in the Metro Pace and She’s A Great Lady, the latter for only filly pacers. Also on the program, elims for the Canadian Pacing Derby (see Breeders Crown blog, info below).

Due to deadline restraints, we have updates for the Zweig Memorial at Vernon and soph pacers in the Cane Pace elim at Tioga. SEE UPDATES BELOW.

The Hambletonian Society and TwinSpires have activated the Breeders Crown Countdown, following prospective entries from all eight divisions in the classic events, scheduled to be presented again this year on a single card at Woodbine. Check the blog often for updates on great betting opportunities that don’t appear in the regular TwinSpires blog.

The biggest two-year-old colt and gelding affair develops its field with elims on the Mohawk Aug. 25 program. Let’s look at the elims.

The first split has two from hot trainer Tony Alagna and a pair from Casie Coleman. But Virgil Morgan, Jr.’s Bigrisk is here and he is very serious about being a contender in the division this year. His odds will be juicy, especially if driver Brian Sears opts to take the other colt he is listed to guide for Coleman.

The middle split offers what could be a flashy mile, considering the presence of Captaintreacherous, who will be launching his usual assault, though this time he must deal with Johny Rock. Those two could burn one another out but it is hard just now to try to beat the “Captain,” who is at the top of his game. Johny Rock could be second if he doesn’t challenge the Captain along the way, making for very cheap exotics.

The nightcap elim is the most contested of the three, making for a chance to see what Teresas Beach can deliver. This Somebeachsomewhere guy is being trained for the big money, so expect a big mile and maybe a big price.

The frosh-filly pacers meet in the She’s A Great Lady elims on this card. In the first split we see three of the gals we have been following through the Grand Circuit stakes. We expect all of them to make the final. This could mean a triple in some order, including Miss Lauren, Jerseylicious and Cult Status. The latter will, no doubt be the highest odds and the better key horse.

In split two we will go with Parlee Beach again. Last week she was the favorite but couldn’t get up. Tonight we think she may be co-favored, punching her odds up a bit, and race a big mile.

It’s the former home of the Hambletonian and World Trotting Derby and although those major events are gone, the sheer speed of this track will astound you. On the hottest days it becomes faster but it even smokes, so to speak, when wet.

Here is a rundown of the races, with a focus on some horses to watch in various events.

Friday, Aug. 24, with a 7 p.m. Central post time.

In Race 1 for frosh trotters, you might take a chance on Emotional Force. Just how fast he can go when not running will be tested here. Coming from the fair in Springfield and seeing his early foot previous to that, he is worthy of improving on this oval.

In Race 2, Crysta Belle comes out of a strong attempt to wire a similar bunch of frosh-filly trotters on the fair circuit and may find her way around and be slightly ignored for a mistaken class hike.

In Race 5, Lane’s Game has speed to spare and no doubt will be firing early to get in front of her inside foe, Fox Valley Sienna. But that one may be over-bet, leaving a price for this speedy mare.

In Race 7, Tinkers Damn will rightfully be the choice but maybe not by much in this short field that appears to hold challenges for her. So a price (you judge the value) may be at hand. She was second to Boi at Springfield and that one would clobber this field.

In Race 9, outsider BC’s Bully could upset and pay a good price. No one will like him from post 9 but considering his style of racing he may be able to defy some cheap speed here and make the kind of swooping late move that almost got him a Springfield win while well supported.

Saturday and Sunday, DuQuoin offers ICF (Illinois-conceived-and-foaled stakes) that were not drawn at press time. In the event that some good betting possibilities arise, check my Twitter account for them [ @FrankCotolo ].

The Hambo crews and more go at it in the reloaded-with-cash Zweig Memorial finals for colts, fillies, including consolations. Those fields will draw after press time so check updates here, at Twitter and at the Breeders Crown Countdown blog. The same holds true for any elims created for the Cane Pace at Tioga, Sunday, Aug. 26.

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Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

Giant races are ahead, including the Meadowlands Pace and, of course, the Hambletonian and all the stakes orbiting that race’s program on the first Saturday in August.

Hambo-hopefuls continue to battle, colts and fillies, and the classic Yonkers Trot is the next big test. On July 7 (no elims), the $445, 594 event is complemented by the Hudson Filly Trot, worth $185,194. For the analysis of each event, go to our exclusive Hambletonian Trail next week and follow through with result stories (and the archived stories of all the eligibles performances in stakes since May) at the Hambletonian Society.

At Pocono Downs the $500,000 Ben Franklin Final brings together some of the best older pacers, including last year’s late-blossoming Betterthancheddar and the fiery We Will See. These two will likely take most of the wagers.

Our elim winner from last week, Aracache Hanover, and multiple-stakes-series champ Foiled Again will be looking to pour spoils over the half-million dollar event and at good prices.

Aracache Hanover did exactly what we thought last week, going first over at the right moment to win. He has yet to reach his peak and looks to continue his winning ways this week.

Foiled Again was a game third to the likely favorites in the second elimination. He went first over early and cleared the top only to lose it in the stretch. He should get a better trip this week and could blow right by this group.

Hurrikane Kingcole is much the best in the Max Hempt Final at Pocono on June 30. We will try the same exacta we had in last week’s elimination with I Like Dreamin for second. He will likely get a second- or third-over trip and fan out late to close.

There is little doubt American Jewel will lose the James Lynch Final. This filly is towering over her division after settling her late-season health problems. This is a good race to pass.

New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) headline Thursday and Friday at Yonkers Raceway, with events for three-year-old pacers of both genders. The sophomore fillies go in the first three races on June 28.

The opening filly split, worth $111,268, finds recent state-bred winner at Vernon, Brownsville Bomber, headlining and looking tons the best.

The second $111,268 field presents a battle between NYSS winners New York Kitty, JK Fine Art and Romantic Moment. The latter is the one we will back.

Handsoffmycookie returns to Yonkers after winning the Lismore earlier in the month. She will be hard to beat in the third division, worth $113,268.

Friday night features the NYSS colts at three miles worth $113,413 each.

The opening event features NYSS-proven Breakin’ the Law, sharp though obvious to bettors. And in the second division Forever Just also a local NYSS winner, seems to be the best.

The nightcap features New York-star pacer Heston Blue Chip, three for three this season, facing Coral Snake, a soph unraced at two, with four soph wins in as many tries. And the good outsider is Steelhead Hanover, who could upset and will probably be the bargain of the three.

The Meadowlands features the best free for all trotters in the Titan Cup Final this Friday, June 29.

Chapter Seven, who set a world record in the prep last week, which was his first performance at four, will be vying for the prestigious event’s crown, won last year by Arch Madness, who set the all-age world record in that performance and is here to defend that title.

Winning Mister, who was a game second in the Cutler as well as in the Titan Cup prep, is on board in this field. He may receive some strong betting, but has a great chance.

Winning Mister usually sets the tempo, so if he goes soft fractions and saves himself for the final half, Chapter Seven will have no shot to catch him.

Grand Circuit Contests

Three-year-old colt and filly pacers will contest in the W.N. Reynolds on Saturday at the Meadowlands. This is the first year these Grand Circuit stakes are presented at the Meadowlands; they were once a regular part of the circuit at Pocono Downs.

In the only division of the filly Reynolds, it is pretty wide open. Blackjack Princess and Gottaseeaboutagirl have the best shots but the worst posts. Blackjack Princess was a game second at 34-1 in the Historic Ladyship at Tioga. Before that, she was third against older mares in an Open at Saratoga. She is improving and may hit her peak this week.  

Also in contention is Gottaseeaboutagirl. The Meadowlands is the track where she prevailed, not only the most, but at her best. She closed to win the Night Styles against older horses and beat Air Guitar Hanover, along with Blackjack Princess, in the John Simpson Stakes. She should offer a good price.  

In the first division of the colt Reynolds, E Z Noah is the likely favorite. Delaware-native Flying Instructor will be seeking his first Open stakes win. Racing primarily in the Delaware Owners and Breeders Fund Stakes (DSBF), his best race came in the final on April 9, romping by 8 lengths in 1:51.4 as the 1-9 favorite. He returned in fine style to win two legs of the DSBF at Harrington. He normally sets the pace and he may get a pocket trip as E Z Noah takes the top.  

In the second division, All Steinam is the likely favorite after recovering from two breaks to finish third to a 184-1 shot at Pocono. Mcerlean and Verdad will likely be ignored in this division. Mcerlean was the pace setter in the second Hempt elimination against Hurrikane Kingcole. He faded to fifth. This speedy three-year-old may get little play and should be game this start.  

Verdad, our selection in the first Hempt elimination last week, looks for redemption after breaking in the stretch and finishing fourth. Before that, he won against older in non-winners of $13,000 last five. As long as he stays flat, he should show what we expected him to last week.  

Play the Hoosier Mega 10X Pick 4 every Thursday!

Harness at Hoosier Park is going great guns and so can you when you play the Thursday night programs. TwinSpires players earn 10 TSC Elite Points for all wagers they make on those programs. Also, the Pick 4 features a guaranteed $5,000 pool (races four throuth seven). Post is 5:30 EST.