Showing posts with label hambletonian society. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hambletonian society. Show all posts

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Aug 24, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    With all of the stakes action focused at Mohawk this weekend, we found some fair prices on some obvious contenders that won. Next Saturday’s Mohawk program will present the lucrative finals to the elim events of the past weekend as we see more racing than usual during the U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend.

    In the Casual Breeze splits on Aug. 22 at Mohawk we were in tune with everyone in one elim with Lifetime Pursuit ($2.90, $2.10, $2.10 ok) and off the board with My Inspiration at 7-1.

    Aug. 23’s winners were topped by Go Daddy Go ($6, $3.10, $2.50) who offered a generous win price as a second choice in one of two Metro Pace elim splits. We tried to beat the huge favorite, Artspeak, but could not.

    Sweet Lou ($2.30, $2.10 n/s) easily won his 10th-straight race in a Canadian Pacing Derby elim for all of us. In the second split, our choice scratched (see News and Notes below).

    Again, the best we could do in the She’s A Great Lady trio of elims was the obvious Jk Shesalady ($2.40, $2.10, $2.10 ok), with our other two choices at 8-1 and 61-1 quite out of the mixes.

    A fascinating note of cashing on our contenders appears in our horses-to-watch list (H2W). The highest paying winner of the week was at Yonkers; we were following Insane In Spain on Friday night. He went off at 23-1 and shared the win with a huge favorite in a dead heat. The win prices were obviously compromised by the dual victory and instead of paying $48 to win, Insane In Spain paid 9-2 to win and more to place. We did, of course, win both exactas (using the favorite, as we suggest with our H2W choices).

    We continue this year’s Breeders Crown Countdown blog in our weekly TwinSpires harness previews, linking to it for coverage of races through the rest of the season leading to the championship events in November. Don’t miss one episode and look for archived race reviews at the Hambletonian Society site.

    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 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.

    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). This week, there were 30 active horses on the H2W list.

    Winners

    Insane In Spain, $11, $17.20 ok, $4.30 (Dead-Heat Exactas, $42.60, $8.40)
    Art For Arts Sake, $6.60, $3.60, $2.80, Pocono
    Rules Little Man, $4.40, $3.40, $2.80, Ocean

    Seconds

    Bridges Beauty, $14.80, $9, Hoosier
    Spirit Of Desire, $8, $3 (Exacta $29), Pocono
    Whitesville Ted, $5.80, $3.80, Ocean

    Thirds

    Hobsons Choice, $6, Scarborough
    Scorpius, $3.90, Batavia
    Upfront Billy Boy, $3.40, Meadows
    Red Star Fiona, $2.80, Batavia
    Wilfully Scootereva, $2.80, Maywood

    News & Notes

    Captaintreacherous was scratched from a Canadian Pacing Derby elimination, according to trainer Tony Alagna, due to sickness. “We ran a scope down him because he was off his feed and he had a lot of mucus,” said Alagna. “He is fighting off an infection and we just didn’t think it was in his best interest to race him if he’s not a hundred per cent.” Alagna said it’s disappointing to have to pull out of the race, as the pacer is undefeated is six starts at Mohawk, “but we don’t want to compromise the rest of the year or the horse if he isn’t a hundred per cent.”

    Three Ontario-owned three-year-old pacing colts have paid $35,000 supplements to race in the Cane Pace at Tioga Downs on Sept. 1. With them there are only eight colts entered so eliminations will not be required. We will analyze the $437,325 final along with other Labor Day weekend features in our Thursday blog.

    Another great pacer has passed away. Life Sign, the 1993 Little Brown Jug winner and Hall of Fame member, died in Australia, on Aug.14, at the age of 24. A son of the incomparable Abercrombie and world champion filly Three Diamonds, Life Sign raced only at a two and three, amassing $1.9 million from 18 wins, 10 seconds and five thirds in 35 starts. Besides his record-breaking “Jug” success, most memorable for the outside trip on the half-mile in Ohio, he won the three-year-old Breeders Crown, Art Rooney, Governor’s Cup and others. At the stud Life Sign left the winners of more than $113 million in stakes in North America, placing him among the top-10 money-winning sires at his gait. While in Australia his stock earned $12.4 million and in New Zealand they amassed almost $2 million.

    There is still no word if Father Patrick will race in the “Zweig” at Tioga on Labor Day weekend. The once-immaculate gait of Father Patrick was compromised when he broke at the beginning of the Hambletonian and galloped all the way around. Then he showed up for a Tompkins-Geers and finished second to Datsyuk, just another in the division that could not get to “Patrick” all season. The race was reported as having an “uneventful” start, though Patrick went wide for a spell to take the lead. But he has never been “short,” and struggled to dismiss a challenge late even with difficult starts. All of his is leaving questions about his health and immediate racing plans and unless the Jimmy Takter team releases some information about a problem or Patrick is not scratched from the Zweig, we can only suspect something is amiss.

    Our continuing look at drivers streaking on programs brings us this week to Aaron Byron, who races at Tioga Downs. On Aug. 22 he won five of his 10 drives and that 50-percent win rate for him translated into profits for those following him with win bets. Wagering solely on the fact that Aaron was driving, it cost a bettor $20 for the evening. Aaron’s winners returned $54.20, a profit of $34.20.

    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 ~ For more Thom Pye cartoon, informative harness history and products, click here ~

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Jul 6, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    The crowd was sharper than us over the weekend, for the most part, but our skim horses-to-watch list (H2W) broke through with a decent percentage of winners and a monstrous place list. Check out the seconds in the review below; many of those place prices are more generous than a lot of win tickets offered in features and overnights.

    Friday’s frosh events at the Meadowlands for New Jersey state-breds were no bargain for our choices. One colt scratched and the other two finished fifth (38-1) and seventh (16-1), respectively. Saturday, July 5, we stayed put at the Meadowlands for the highlighted events, looking over at Pocono in Pennsylvania for a few soph-colt trotters on the Hambletonian Trail.

    The industry focused upon the Hambletonian Maturity’s debut on Saturday at the Meadowlands for reasons obvious to any harness followers. The 1 1/8-mile event featuring only four-year-old trotters pitted Bee A Magician against male foes—a dozen of them—in a field of 14. The unusual double-tiered field featured a few well-known names, including last year’s Hambo winner, Royalty For Life and the Kentucky Futurity winner Creatine, our choice.

    All of the handicappers we know faced the same problem we faced with a field that large and extra real estate. Traffic was expected and could not be predicted. To truly appreciate the French-harness-like configuration of the race before we write about it here, we offer you a look at the replay by clicking here.

    Bee A Magician was the favorite, Royalty For Life was 4-1 and our choice was 9-1. The first two quarters were deciding points for some losers, as “Royalty” went to the top in :25.4 and Creatine was parked three wide for that call and the :55 second call. Creatine took the first-over spot in that whirlwind while Spider Blue Chip took over. Then, “Spider” broke, ending chances for Royalty beside him. Before a blistering 1:23.2 third call, Your So Vain flew three wide to pass them all and take command. Creatine found a second spot inside but was a victim of the fiery fractions to three-quarters and was passed past the 1:51.3 mile point established by “Vain,” who stayed easily to the finish in 2:05.3. “Bee” was all out to finish second, having saved a ton of ground during the speedy quarters and ultimately she passed tired horses to complete the exacta.

    Ake Svanstedt is the driver and trainer of Vain. He adds this win to his ever-growing stable of hot horses, including Sebastian K. The Swedish horseman is all the rage this season. Oddly enough, we liked Creatine for class reasons and his trip demoted all chances to win the “Maturity,” but it was Vain that was beaten by Creatine in their battle at three on The Red Mile in the “Futurity.” Creatine finished fifth in the Maturity.

    In the Meadowlands Pace elims we gave you two of three in the first split, with JK Endofanera, at 1-5 this week, won ($2.80, $2.20, $2.10) and Lyonssomewhere third ($3). Doo Wop Hanover (7-1) finished fourth but made the final field. In round two, we were fourth with Jet Airway (12-1) as He’s Watching won off of a pocket trip.

    We won the Mistletoe Shalee elim mile with Sandbetweenurtoes ($5, $3.20, $2.60), with our second choice, Gallie Bythe Beach third ($3.20).

    The week’s results from the Hambletonian Trail blog come from Pocono Downs, where the soph-colt trotters in the Pennsylvania All Stars splits produced Jett Star second ($5.40, $3.40), who with the favorite delivered an exacta worth $18.60.

    We share the results of our soph-trot analysis’ 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.

    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 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.

    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

    Rush Rules, $14.40, $8.90, $3, Buffalo
    Blissful Escape, $7.10, $4.40, $2.50, Buffalo

    Seconds

    Captain John Henry, $17.20, $8.60, Hoosier
    Best Risque, $13.40, $7.80
    Summertime Lea, $7.40, $3, Yonkers
    Rub N Tug, $6.80, $3.70, Mohawk
    Mary Rose Of Topaz, $5, $3.40, Scarborough
    Light N Shadow, $3.40, $2.80, Meadows
    Im A Lucky Man, $2.60, $2.20 (Exacta $4.60), Scarborough

    Thirds

    Nothinbutanallstar, $8.60, Hoosier
    Insane In Spane, $7.80, Yonkers

    News And Notes

    The $5 million Breeders Crown championships will return to Canada in 2015 after a two-year hiatus. Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has signed a letter of intent to host all 12 events in the fall of next year, announced WEG Executive Vice-President of Racing Jamie Martin and Tom Charters, president of the Hambletonian Society, which owns and administrates the series. Woodbine hosted all 12 races in 2011 and 2012, handling more than $8.5 million and luring international stars Rapide Lebel and Commander Crowe.

    Champion racehorse and stallion Matts Scooter, 29, was euthanized in New Jersey last week. He had been residing at Perretti Farms, where he had stood at stud virtually his entire career. During his three-year campaign as a racehorse for trainer Harry Poulton, Matts Scooter won 37 times in 61 trips behind the gate, with earnings of $2,944,591. He was voted Horse of the Year in the United States in 1989 and was Canada’s Horse of the Year in ‘88 and ‘89.

    Lightly raced at two and ineligible for the Little Brown Jug and Cane Pace at three, Matts Scooter still managed to earn $1.78 million in 1988, winning 11 races and finishing out of the money only twice in 22 starts. He became the fastest pacer in the history of the sport that fall when he time-trialed in 1:48.2 at The Red Mile. Coming back to the races at four, Matts Scooter earned $1.14 million. His career stakes wins included the Meadowlands Pace, Messenger, Breeders Crown Open Pace, American-National, New Jersey Classic, Prix d’Ete, Nat Christie Memorial, Confederation Cup, Driscoll, Mohawk Gold Cup, Stewart Fraser Memorial, Cornell Memorial and U.S. Pacing Championship.

    During his 20 year career at stud Matts Scooter sons and daughters include numerous divisional and world champions. Mach Three ($2.17 million) was his richest performer and Royal Mattjesty (1:48.4) his fastest. His offspring earned $74.39 million and 210 were $100,000 winners. He also sired 358 1:55 performers and 792 with 2:00 marks. Matts Scooter was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Living Horse Hall of Fame in Goshen in 2006.

    Sid Alpert, a master innovator of raceway video and sound systems at a number of racetracks and a holder of a number of patents during the last half of the 20th century passed away at age 87. Alpert was a photographer at The Washington Times Herald with Jacqueline Bouvier (later wife of President Kennedy) as one of his protégés. Mr. Alpert became interested in harness racing and seeing a need for improved filming of races, formed his company, Electronic Race Patrol (ERP). Mr. Alpert began his career in racing by filming races in the 1950s at Maryland tracks. He teamed with the DuPont Chemical Company to develop a special film for use at night and was the first to film nighttime races.

    Alpert was the first to introduce live closed circuit race monitors at the tracks he serviced. He was first to show live races and replays on a split-screen. Next, he introduced color to showcase races on television. In the 1960s he was the first to bring live video broadcasting to racetracks in the Midwest. His company also made noted television broadcast advancements at the ill-fated Garden State Park. In 1977, with the track ablaze, Alpert was high atop the facility video-taping the disaster.

    Alpert fostered a remarkable project in 1989 that was ahead of its time. He visualized making full-card racing a staple on cable TV. His concept was to race entire programs at a track in Pennsylvania without anyone in attendance. The races would be shown on an all-racing channel offering wagering. Alpert envisioned having a daily early evening harness racing TV program in the fashion of the popular late night shows. Alpert’s concept included transmitting wagering information to fans at home via fax machine. Unfortunately, due to many reasons, he abandoned the project and then retired.

    The babies were at it again at the Meadowlands on July5. The star of the show wasn’t a two-year-old but a Hambletonain candidate at the very peak of his powers, Jimmy Takter’s Trixton. In a qualifier, Trixton waltzed around the oval in 1:53.3. He meets his stablemate Father Patrick in the Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 12. Perfect Alliance also got some work, touring the oval in 1:53.3 in preparation for the Miss Versatility leg next week.

    Baby trotters led off the card and a couple of fillies. Credit Winner-filly Crazy Beautiful and Lilu Hanover impressed with identical 1:58.1 miles. Takter drove the Cantab Hanover colt Walter White to a 1:59.4 win. Takter pacing pupil Bet You won his third straight non-betting race, this one in 1:57. He’s by Bettors Delight. Trond Smedshammer won a couple, taking the second race with Finish Line, a Yankee Glide gelding in 2:00. Trond also won with Crazshana in 2:01.4. This one is a Crazed gelding. Jonas Czernyson sent out a pair of winners, Alderbaran Eagle in 2:00.3 and a Muscle Hill filly Jolene Jolene in 2:01.

    Baby pacers started off with the speedy Sportswriter filly Yellow Mustang in 1:57. Joe Holloway trains. The cleverly named She’s A Hot Mess redeemed herself after last week’s miscue by beating a field of colts in 1:58. She’s an American Ideal homebred. The next group also contained some impressive colts. The winner was Major War, by American Ideal, in a 1:55.4 mile.

    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 ~ Find more fun Pye art at PYESITE

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Mar 9, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    We have no excuses for a poor weekend in the winners’ department. Our overnight features did not produce and neither did our attempts to beat favorites at the Meadowlands’ highlighted affairs. In fact, the winner we offered in the William Gilmour Final turned into a massive favorite.

    The horses-to-watch (H2W) list results are below, not looking as impressive as they have over the past few weeks for a major reason. Last Thursday’s offerings were slim. Many of the horses expected to thrive did not race, leaving the list rather limp. A few tracks, like Buffalo, Miami Valley and Monticello, presented slim-to-none H2W members. Still, the list presents some successes. Don’t let this discourage you, we endorse the great across-the-board and exotic plays you can find through the H2W exclusively for your TwinSpires harness bankroll. One poor week did not stain our season, which has already produced many top-prices horses.

    Also last week, did not rise to the occasion of Buffalo Raceway’s TwinSpires bonus Pick 4. For the first time in over a month we went winless, offering only one third and two seconds in six suggested contenders.

    Remember that every Wednesday night TwinSpires’ 10-percent-bonus Buffalo Raceway 50-cent Pick 4 wagers continue. We assist with suggestions for your ticket via Twitter -- @FrankCotolo, @TwinSpires and @BuffaloRaceway and have delivered some major contributions to the winning combinations.

    The surprise favorite in the “Gilmour” final was National Debt. We underestimated the public’s eye on this unbeaten colt. He won and paid $2.80, $2.10, $2.10 (ok). In the Charles Singer Final we ran out of the money with Clementine Dream at 43-1.

    In our overnight features at the Meadows, our second choice, another overwhelming public choice, Connie Keeper, won ($2.20, $2.20 [ok], $2.10) while our first choice, RT USS Chilton finished seventh at 15-1. In the second chosen overnight Brown Titan finished sixth at 8-1 and second-choice Incredible Dragon was fourth at 17-1. Failed choices from our previous week’s overnight features appear for the second time in the H2W list. 

    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

    Blessingfromabove, $8.60, $4.40, $2.80, Cal Expo
    Dew N Doughnuts, $7.80, $5.80, $3.80, Meadows
    Yo Cheyenne Rocky, $4.40, $3.10, $3.40 ok, Yonkers
    Strong Hope, $4, $3.10, $2.30, Flamboro

    Seconds

    Cash Poor, $5.10, $3.90 (Exacta $14), Saratoga
    Stand Guard, $4.40, $2.80 (Exacta, $13.40), Freehold
    Four Starz Elder, $4, $2.80, Meadows
     All On My Own, $3.60, $2.20, Freehold
    Garbarino, $3.30, $3.80 ok, Monticello
    Mccedes, $3, $2.60, Meadows
    Real Yankee Fan, $2.30, $2.30 ok, Saratoga

    Thirds

    D Mac, $5.20, Meadows
    The Northern Dude, $2.30, Saratoga
    Lightning Charger, $2.10, Flamboro

    News And Notes

    A 16-month contract with the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association allows Maywood and Balmoral parks to hold racing again. The opening of the 2014 racing season will take place on March 14 at Maywood. Balmoral’s opening weekend starts March 15. Post time at both tracks will be 7:10 p.m. (CDT). In a slight departure from its usual racing schedule, Balmoral will be dark on two Wednesdays, March 19 and March 26 before continuing with its usual Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday racing schedule. Maywood will race on Thursdays and Fridays as usual.

    The rugged Foiled Again made his 2014 bow for the Ron Burke barn in a qualifier at the Meadowlands and showed no ware for the worn as he defeated Bettor’s Edge in 1:53. Also returning with a sharp prep for Team Burke was Charisma Hanover in a 1:53.2 romp over 2013 Breeders Crown-winner Shelliscape. Summertime Lea is another four-year-old mare making her 2014 debut for Burke and she finished strongly to win in 1:52.3. And Burke’s Sweet Lou is back for a five-year-old campaign and qualified with a win in 1:52.1 mile with a 26.4 final panel under no Matt Kakaley urging.

    Buffalo Raceway has added Thursday, March 27 to its racing schedule. The race card gets underway at 5 p.m. Racing at Buffalo continues throughout March on Wednesday and Thursday with a 5 p.m. post and Saturda,y which starts at 6:40 p.m. Racing in April will take place Wednesdays at 5 p.m. and 6:40 on Fridays and Saturdays at 6:40 p.m.

    The winter rehabilitation for Hambletonian-winner Royalty For Life is reportedly older. The four-year-old trotter will work out of the Massachusetts stable of George Ducharme after recuperating from surgery. “He is supposed come April 1 when I'll be moving the stable to Vernon Downs,” said Ducharme. “Royalty” underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from a knee last fall. Surgeons said the operation went perfectly and the horse’s prospects to race again are great. Royalty was scratched from the Breeders Crown Final after finishing fourth in his elim on Oct. 12, which turned out to be his final start of the year.

    At Dover, reports track publicist Marv Bachrad, horses with long winning streaks dot the daily track race programs. Among them is Manhattan Rusty N, who currently, is king of the claimers, winning five straight. He was claimed for the third time in four races, this time for $30,000. Ideal American stretched his win streak to four, Fire In The Belly also is on a four-win skein and Spinfiniti has a three win-streak. The TwinSpires harness blog suggestion is to for these horses and wager against them with legitimate contenders because the streaking winners will be hugely over bet.

    A list of 77 sophomore pacing colts have been nominated to the 31st edition of the Pepsi North America Cup. Headlining this year's group of nominees is the Dan Patch Award winner and undefeated Hes Watching, who set two world records last season along with six track records for trainer and co-owner David Menary. Though the colt had a frosh mark of 1:50 and $291,722 in earnings, he didn’t defeat any top 2013 frosh-colt pacers as his top performance in stakes races were in New York Sires Stakes. Arthur Blue Chip, on the other hand, banked $400,120 last season (and we supported him here when he paid the most for his frosh winning efforts) for trainer Dr. Ian Moore. Luck Be Withyou, the 2013 Breeders Crown champion, is on the list. He won five of 11 tries last year for trainer Bill Cass and won $363,000. Last year's Metro Pace winner Boomboom Ballykeel (a TwinSpires harness blog selection paying $23) and the undefeated National Debt are also on the list.

    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

    POSTED Jan 19, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    Our horses-to-watch list (H2W) was the source of the week’s most successes. Make sure you check out the across-the-board prices and the exactas included because next week you may decide to back some of your horses to win, to win and place or across the board. Certainly some of the place and show prices have been exceptional and offer a profit from support beyond playing to win.

    After Monday, Jan. 20’s Monticello program, any H2W horses from last week’s list will be updated below.

    We had a winner in one of the two Super Bowl Series affairs at the Meadowlands on Jan. 16. Clementine Dream won her way into the final, paying $9, $5 and $3.80. In the first leg, we expected Connie Keeper to be a certified longshot but did not imagine the public letter her go at 213-1. The favorite won the division but Connie Keeper’s fourth-place finish, though in no way profitable, was a very good finish considering her odds.

    She raced better than our first overnight choice from the Meadows on Jan. 17. Four Starz Kyle was seventh at 7-1. The second suggested race found our contender, PL Dragon, go off at 2-1 and finish third while our second choice in that race, Hall Of Memories finished sixth at 34-1.

    TwinSpires’ 10-percent-bonus Buffalo Raceway 50-cent Pick 4 wagers continue on Wednesdays and we hope once again to assist in suggestions you may add to your Jan. 22 ticket. For Jan. 15’s exotic, via Twitter -- @FrankCotolo, @TwinSpires and @BuffaloRaceway – we came through with the highest paying horse of the winning quartet, Carlina Hanover ($10.80, $4.80, $3.70). The other three finishers were strong public choices, resulting in a Pick-4 payoff of $178.50.


    H2W RESULTS

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

    Winners

    Knuckles, $28.10, $5.80, $3.90, Western Fair
    Hillcrest Romeo, $17.20, $6.40, $3.80, Cal Expo
    Beach Hero, $15.40, $5.20, $4.20, Western Fair
    Nazko Tribute, $14, $5.70, $4.50, Fraser
    (entry) Panic At The Disco, $11.20, $4.40, $2.80, Fraser
    KG Cody, $10.40, $4.30, $3.20, Northlands
    Poorlittlerichgirl, $7.80, $3.20, $2.60, Cal Expo
    Lookinforadventure, $5.40, $2.60, $2.10, Meadows
    Latino Hall, $4.80, $3.80, $3, Fraser
    Wattafine Rythem, $4.80, $2.90, $2.40, Western Fair
    Smooth Criminal, $4.40, $2.90 (no show wagering), Northlands
    Live A Little, $4.20, $3, $2.20, Cal Expo

    Seconds

    Sunny Bee, $12.60, $5, Northlands
    Karets, $10.20, $5.80 (Exacta, $38.20), Meadows
    Shiny Mach, $9.50, $7.90, Flamboro
    Kayla's Dream, $8.20, $3.80 (Exacta, $37.80), Pompano
    One Last Shot, $3.30, $2.90 (Exacta, $11.80), Fraser
    Just Fred, $3.20, $2.10, Pompano
    Plum Crazy Baby, $2.80, $2.40, Cal Expo

    Thirds

    Pureform Dreamer, $12.20, Fraser
    Twentyone Guns, $6.40, Cal Expo
    Westridge Warrior, $6.30, Fraser
    Somethinsgoinon, $5.80, Fraser
    Rock Allstar, $4.10, Fraser
    Mmmmmh, $3.50, Fraser
    Stilleto Hall, $3.50, Fraser
    Cheytenne Ford, $2.70, Western Fair
    Mattacardle, $2.60, Meadows
    Real Pretty, $2.40, Northlands
    Red Hot Yankee, $2.40, Pompano
    Dragons Wall, $2.10, Cal Expo
    Flight Exec, $2.10, Pompano


    News And Notes

    At age 72, driver Walter Layfield, Jr. has been driving harness horses or more than five decades. He has not been active for several years and then he has hooked up with trainer Richard Lewis at Dover Downs and the team is proving to be successful. Layfield has driven more than a dozen Lewis-trained horses at Dover’s current meet and has posted four winners.

    Meanwhile at Dover, youthful Tyler Davis is winning races at age 21. His dad is Allan Davis, second in the current driver standings, and his grandfather is Eddie Davis, the all-time leading race winning driver in the Middle Atlantic region. The third generation driver, Davis, won his third race of the season on Jan. 8, piloting a 32-1 shot.

    Nationally, Dave Palone, was named HTA Driver of the Year. It’s the seventh time Palone has won or shared the honor based on raw number of wins, money won from them and Universal Driver Ratings (similar to a battling average) percentage. On the point tabulation, Palone had a rating of 85.5. Yannick Gingras is runner-up at 83.5. Next in order were Tim Tetrick, Brian Sears and George Napolitano. The award has nothing to do with bettors profiting from bets connected to the driver.

    The 2014 Breeders Crown is scheduled to take place at The Meadowlands and will be raced over two nights in November. The events will be divided into a four-race block of distaff races on Friday, Nov. 21 and the remaining eight on Saturday, Nov. 22. The $500,000 Breeders Crown Trot and Pace for three-year-old fillies and a pair of $250,000 “Crowns” for Mare pacers and trotters go on Friday night. All four $500,000 Two-Year-Old events, the $500,000 sophomore colt pace and trot and the $400,000 Pace and $500,000 Trot will be raced on Saturday night.

    Tom Charters, president of The Hambletonian Society, which owns and administrates the Breeders Crown series, said, “The Breeders Crown has been conducted in just about every format, single races, blocks of races, all twelve races on one night, and we try always to be sensitive to host track parameters while still getting the most bang out of the event in regard to publicity, TV and promotions. The Meadowlands has been home to many of harness racing's most important events over the past 30 years. We look forward to the return of the Breeders Crown under Jeff Gural's management and especially look forward to the new facility. The one-mile oval in East Rutherford, New Jersey, has hosted 67 Breeders Crown races, more than any other racetrack and in 2014 will celebrate 30 years of Breeders Crown history. TwinSpires hopes to be reporting live both nights with special attractions for account-holders.

    Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) announced the dates for their 2014 stakes season, which includes a new twist where all of the finalists in the stakes events will receive a percentage of the purse. In addition there will no longer be byes issued for stake events. The 31st edition of the Pepsi North America Cup will offer a guaranteed purse of $1 million on Saturday, June 14 at Mohawk. The continent’s finest three year-old pacers will line up behind the gate, with eliminations scheduled the week prior on June 7.

    The lucrative June 14 card offers a showcase for the continent’s best horses across several divisions, including the $400,000 Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies, the $325,000 Roses Are Red for older pacing mares, the $270,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares, the $225,000 Goodtimes for sophomore trotting colts and the $100,000 Gold Cup for older pacing horses.
    Mohawk will once again play host to some of North America’s most prestigious Grand Circuit events. On July 19, the $550,000 Maple Leaf Trot, for older trotters, will be offered for a 62nd time. The $685,000 Metro Pace for two year-old pacing colts is set for Saturday, Aug. 30. Co-featured on the rich Labor Day weekend card are the $650,000 Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers and the $450,000 Shes A Great Lady Stakes for juvenile pacing fillies. The Canadian Trotting Classic, for three year-old colt trotters, will go on Saturday, Sept. 13 for a purse of $685,000.  The $375,000 Peaceful Way final for two year-old trotting fillies, the $365,000 William Wellwood Memorial for two-year-old trotting colts and the $365,000 Elegantimage, for three-year-old filly trotters, are also featured on the mid-September weekend.

    The Grand Circuit stakes return to Woodbine for its Fall meet in October. The $1.9-million Fall Four (Goldsmith Maid, Three Diamonds, Valley Victory and Governor’s Cup), will be contested on Saturday, Oct. 25.

    Also in 2014, all finishers in the stakes finals will earn purse money. The winner will continue to receive the traditional 50 percent of the total purse, while those sixth through last receive 1 percent each. Those finishing second through fifth will receive 24-16-10 percent, respectively, of the remaining purse after first and sixth through 10th are paid. Plus, if 11 horses or fewer declare to start in a stakes series, there will be no eliminations and all declared horses advance directly to the final. Byes will no longer be issued in stakes events.

    News And Notes

    At age 72, driver Walter Layfield, Jr. has been driving harness horses or more than five decades. He has not been active for several years and then he has hooked up with trainer Richard Lewis at Dover Downs and the team is proving to be successful. Layfield has driven more than a dozen Lewis-trained horses at Dover’s current meet and has posted four winners.

    Meanwhile at Dover, youthful Tyler Davis is winning races at age 21. His dad is Allan Davis, second in the current driver standings, and his grandfather is Eddie Davis, the all-time leading race winning driver in the Middle Atlantic region. The third generation driver, Davis, won his third race of the season on Jan. 8, piloting a 32-1 shot.

    Nationally, Dave Palone, was named HTA Driver of the Year. It’s the seventh time Palone has won or shared the honor based on raw number of wins, money won from them and Universal Driver Ratings (similar to a battling average) percentage. On the point tabulation, Palone had a rating of 85.5. Yannick Gingras is runner-up at 83.5. Next in order were Tim Tetrick, Brian Sears and George Napolitano. The award has nothing to do with bettors profiting from bets connected to the driver.

    The 2014 Breeders Crown is scheduled to take place at The Meadowlands and will be raced over two nights in November. The events will be divided into a four-race block of distaff races on Friday, Nov. 21 and the remaining eight on Saturday, Nov. 22. The $500,000 Breeders Crown Trot and Pace for three-year-old fillies and a pair of $250,000 “Crowns” for Mare pacers and trotters go on Friday night. All four $500,000 Two-Year-Old events, the $500,000 sophomore colt pace and trot and the $400,000 Pace and $500,000 Trot will be raced on Saturday night.

    Tom Charters, president of The Hambletonian Society, which owns and administrates the Breeders Crown series, said, “The Breeders Crown has been conducted in just about every format, single races, blocks of races, all twelve races on one night, and we try always to be sensitive to host track parameters while still getting the most bang out of the event in regard to publicity, TV and promotions. The Meadowlands has been home to many of harness racing's most important events over the past 30 years. We look forward to the return of the Breeders Crown under Jeff Gural's management and especially look forward to the new facility. The one-mile oval in East Rutherford, New Jersey, has hosted 67 Breeders Crown races, more than any other racetrack and in 2014 will celebrate 30 years of Breeders Crown history. TwinSpires hopes to be reporting live both nights with special attractions for account-holders.

    Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) announced the dates for their 2014 stakes season, which includes a new twist where all of the finalists in the stakes events will receive a percentage of the purse. In addition there will no longer be byes issued for stake events. The 31st edition of the Pepsi North America Cup will offer a guaranteed purse of $1 million on Saturday, June 14 at Mohawk. The continent’s finest three year-old pacers will line up behind the gate, with eliminations scheduled the week prior on June 7.

    The lucrative June 14 card offers a showcase for the continent’s best horses across several divisions, including the $400,000 Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies, the $325,000 Roses Are Red for older pacing mares, the $270,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares, the $225,000 Goodtimes for sophomore trotting colts and the $100,000 Gold Cup for older pacing horses.
    Mohawk will once again play host to some of North America’s most prestigious Grand Circuit events. On July 19, the $550,000 Maple Leaf Trot, for older trotters, will be offered for a 62nd time. The $685,000 Metro Pace for two year-old pacing colts is set for Saturday, Aug. 30. Co-featured on the rich Labor Day weekend card are the $650,000 Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers and the $450,000 Shes A Great Lady Stakes for juvenile pacing fillies. The Canadian Trotting Classic, for three year-old colt trotters, will go on Saturday, Sept. 13 for a purse of $685,000.  The $375,000 Peaceful Way final for two year-old trotting fillies, the $365,000 William Wellwood Memorial for two-year-old trotting colts and the $365,000 Elegantimage, for three-year-old filly trotters, are also featured on the mid-September weekend.

    The Grand Circuit stakes return to Woodbine for its Fall meet in October. The $1.9-million Fall Four (Goldsmith Maid, Three Diamonds, Valley Victory and Governor’s Cup), will be contested on Saturday, Oct. 25.

    Also in 2014, all finishers in the stakes finals will earn purse money. The winner will continue to receive the traditional 50 percent of the total purse, while those sixth through last receive 1 percent each. Those finishing second through fifth will receive 24-16-10 percent, respectively, of the remaining purse after first and sixth through 10th are paid. Plus, if 11 horses or fewer declare to start in a stakes series, there will be no eliminations and all declared horses advance directly to the final. Byes will no longer be issued in stakes events.

    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

    POSTED Oct 13, 2013 By Frank Cotolo


    Friday night, Oct. 11 and Saturday night, Oct. 12, we huddled in the press box at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, shuttling from the intimate area to the winner’s circle during two programs laden with Breeders Crown activity, the eliminations for the Oct. 19 finals.

    This was the first of our two weeks in the gloriously beautiful Pocono Mountains, at the five-eighths-mile oval with the fast, deeply rich-reddened surface and smooth turns, sharing with a global audience the talents of the sport’s human and equine stars and finest journalists. We return next weekend to cover the program at Pocono that hosts the dozen finals on Oct. 19. Our Thursday blog and the spin-off blog, our Breeders Crown Countdown will preview the races. As well, @FrankCotolo and @HarnessRaycer on Twitter will be presenting tips, info and photos through the card.

    Our thanks, of course, to the Hambletonian Society –Tom Charters, Moira Fanning and the Board of Directors—for the accommodations and the opportunity to rejoin our cohorts and the sport’s insiders to further the great wagering benefits of harness racing through TwinSpires and assist the industry with racing reports. Along with Moira Fanning, Jay Bergman, Ken Winegartner and Ray Cotolo, complete recaps of all the elims were produced and are accessible by clicking the races’ appropriate links in our wagering recap below.

    We are going to recap our betting activity thoroughly, including the blogs’ suggested contenders and the on-site tweets through the Twitter accounts above (as well, many tweets are retweeted through accounts such as Pocono Downs, @MSPDRacing, so check your Twitter coverage so you don’t miss one instant update or change from the source of the action. 
    Friday Frosh Elims

    In the first of two frosh-filly trot elims , we were third with Goddess. Off at 45-1, she paid $11.20 to show, beaten by two favorites, Shake It Cerry and Lifetime Pursuit.

    Elim two for the filly trotters found our choice, Demanding Sam finishing third, paying $4 to show. She went off at 14-1 and was beaten by two of the three top choices.

    The first of two elims for frosh-filly pacers was won by a second choice, while our blog’s contender, Ali Blue, finished fourth at 6-1. The @HarnessRaycer tweet supported Southwind Silence (12-1), who finished second and paid $6.40 to place and $15.60 to show.

    The second division for the filly pacers featured a mild upset from Allstar Rating. We backed the top choice, Precocious Beauty, who finished second and paid $2.10 and $2.10.

    We backed Father Patrick, the stunning frosh-colt trotter, in the frosh-colt trot elim (a single mile where the top seven qualified for the final) and we offered a sharp second-place choice in Nuncio (15-1). Father Patrick won, paying $2.80, $2.80 and $2.10. Nuncio finished second, paying $8.20 and $8.40. The exacta came back $26.80.

    Saturday’s Stakes Storm

    We must lead with another great tale of Captaintreacherous (photo above) because once again he defied all odds of winning with a trip that any other pacer would surely call treacherous. For this champion pacer, though, being hanged and dueling are not problems, even when they come in tandem. Read the story of his victory in the second soph-colt-pace elim. His victory, which we supported, was worth $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10.

    You could get only $2.10 across the board on our other obvious choice, Bee A Magician, in the second division for soph-filly trotters. But you cannot get the definition of a “lock” any closer than this gorgeous gal.Luck Be With You was our winner in the third division of frosh-colt pacers. He paid $6.80. $3.40 and $2.80.

    Though we blogged liking Bluto in the first division of soph-colt trotters, @HarnessRaycer tweeted on site about All Laid Out and he won, paying $7.80, $3.40 and $2.60.

    We liked Apprentice Hanover (11-1) in the first soph-colt pace but we also mentioned the winner, Lucan Hanover ($7.80, $3.60 and $2.80). “Apprentice” finished fourth.

    When Coffeecake Hanover won the first soph-filly-trot elim, following the on-site tweets paid off again. Our blog choice, Bouncing Bax (5-1) finished fifth to the @HarnessRaycer tweeted choice, Coffeecake Hanover, paying $23, $4.80 and $3.

    The third choice for @HarnessRaycer, Doo Wop Hanover, lighted up the toteboard in the second split for frosh-colt pacers. When three top choices broke early in the race and were eliminated, “Doo Wop” went on to race smoothly to a win, paying $64 to win, ahead of a 10-1 shot and a 35-1 shot. Our choice, Beat The Drum (45-1), finished sixth.

    The first division of three frosh-colt pacers was a loss with Let’s Drink On It (13-1), who finished sixth. We had D’orsay (2-1) in round one for mare trotters; she paid $3.80 and $3.20, beaten by the public choice. We lost with Swinging Beauty (15-1) in the single elim for mare pacers; we were fourth with Royalty For Life in round two of the soph-colt trot battle; Win Missy B (16-1) tried to take the older mare trotters wire to wire with three fiery panels but tanked in the second round for mare trotters, won by top choice Maven.

    In the older pace, just about everyone was shocked at the lackluster performance of A Rocknroll Dance. Foiled Again won the race with verve and muscle but the favorite, our choice, too, “Dance,” never got into the race, finishing last in the field of nine. We will report anything we hear about the condition of the fine pacer.

    H2W RESULTS

    $4.50 Romeo Star, Batavia

    The following are the horses that finished second or third along with their post-time odds. Special notes on those finishes follow.

    Seconds:
    Twin B Shasta (6-5), Northfield; Broadwood (5-2), Vernon

    Thirds:
    There were no third-place finishers from the list.

    The entire H2W list from Thursday provided only seven horses. Upcoming lists, especially after the Breeders Crown events, guarantee more possible plays.

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

    News And Notes

    Draws for the sophomore colt pace and the sophomore colt trot will be pulled at a special press conference at Pocono on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

    Wagering on the 2013 Breeders Crown finals at Pocono Downs on Oct. 19 will include the following exotics in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association. There will be three Pick-4 wagers, starting with the first Breeders Crown race on the card, which will be Race 3. The three Pick-4 wagers will be offered up to the final Breeders Crown race, which is Race 14. There will be a guaranteed pool for each Pick 4 of $25,000 and all will have a takeout rate of 15 per cent. In addition, there will be an Early Daily Double for Races 1 and 2, which will be $75,000 Pocono Invitational races, and a Late Daily Double for the last two races on the card. The     Pick 3 will be offered for Races 1, 2, and 3, and the takeout will be 15 per cent. Post time for the 2013 Breeders Crown is 5 p.m.

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

    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.

    Thirteen Breeders Crown events kept our staff busy every minute of the program at Pocono on Oct. 12. This card’s recap is not in the order of the races’ presented.

    You could get only $2.10 across the board on our other obvious choice, Bee A Magician, in
     


    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.  

    Cartoons by Thom Pye