Showing posts with label harness bettor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harness bettor. Show all posts

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED May 18, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    The Grand Circuit stakes results have been strewn with favorites but we managed to scrape together a number of exactas with suggested contenders that finished behind the public choices. We have also not denied some of the obvious dominators and, as in the A.J. Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands on May 17, our scenario with a public choice teamed perfectly with another choice to satisfy our prediction.

    The scenario involved Modern Family, a trotter in the “Cutler” field that took the lead and burrowed through the stretch to remain second ($7.20, $4.60) to the top pick, Sebastian KS ($4, $2.80, $2.60). We did not predict the second choice, Market Share, would step out of line and break stride but we did offer the possibility that he could finish behind Modern Family, even on stride. The other wonderful result here is that the exacta paid a whopping $38, huge considering the scope of talent in the field.

    Later that night, another top choice, Western Vintage ($4.40, $3, $2.80) made his sophomore debut in a New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) a winning introduction to a glamour-boy pacer we feel will be the main foe, if not the downfall, of He’s Watching, who is getting more buzz than a case of Tinnitus. Meanwhile, both of our filly NJSS choices in divisions finished off the board.

    We were creamed at Pocono Downs that same night in three glamour-girl pacing divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. Our best showing there was third-place Seventh Secret ($15.40). Our other four mentions in the two other divisions were off the board at humungous odds.

    High-5 Attack

    We were happy that TwinSpires choose to give players a shot at Woodbine's must-pay High-5 carryover on May 17 with a Players’ Pool capped at $25,000. We put together powerful tickets that covered the possible five finishers (in order, of course). Our analysis of the race included emphasis on the winner, Drain Daddy ($10.70, $6.20, $4) and the place horse Rock Me Amastreos ($7.70, $5.80), which formed an exactor worth $107.50).

    However, the second longest shot in the race, Junior K (22-1), took advantage of some bad trips by Keeping Optimistic (21-1) and Secretsoftheknight (2-1, the surprising race favorite), resulting in a third-place finish for Junior K, who was not anywhere in third on any of our tickets. Replace our 21-1 shot with the 22-1 shot and we nail the High-5 a number of times. This is not to present excuses for losing, this is to analyze the result and understand the loss at an objective level.

    The High-5 paid $8,000 plus per 20-cent wager.

    We thank all of the participants in the Players’ Pool and share in their disappointment that we were not as successful as we have been in other Players’ Pools for harness racing. Such is the plight of all wagering, as so many of you understand, but it is always sad to lose at such a close range, so to speak. We hope to involve you in future Players’ Pools through the season and do far better. Your loyalty to our organization of wagers in the efforts is humbling and appreciated, allowing us to do our best in your interests.

    Along the Hambletonian Trail (blog now active) in cooperation with TwinSpires, you can read the results of our soph-colt-and-filly stakes choices at the Hambletonian Society archives for 2014.

    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.

    Our horses-to-watch list (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

    Brew, $17.60, $10.80, $6.60, Saratoga
    Fun N Pleasure, $16.60, $7.40, $5, Meadows
    Major Way, $14.80, $6.30, $5.20, Saratoga
    BL Class Act, $10.60, $5.20, $5.20 ok, Pocono
    Flash’s Camilla, $8.80, $4.40, $3.60, Scarborough
    Prince Ponder, $7, $3.80, $2.40, Maywood
    Royal Heart, $5.20, $2.80, $2.40, Hoosier
    Wishful Desire, $4.20, $2.20, $2.10, Plainridge

    Seconds

    Hilarious Halo, $8.20, $6 (Exacta $20), Meadowlands
    Tiza Mojo, $4.60, $3.40, Maywood
    Word Power, $3.80, $3.40, Meadowlands
    Zumba, $2.80, $2.40, Maywood

    Thirds

    Geared To Win, $6.60, Hoosier
    Cheyenne Patti, $5.20, Freehold
    Big Better Best, $4.60, Hoosier
    Josting Jack, $3.20, Maywood
    Clementine Dream, $2.80, Meadowlands
    Makena Cat, $2.60, Maywood

    News And Notes

    Captaintreacherous returned with a scorching qualifier in preparation for his four-year-old debut. He, looked calm and poised and sprinted to finish in 1:51.3. He was followed by 2013 Adios winner Sunfire Blue Chip. Team Treacherous said that the June 13 Meadowlands Maturity Pace will be his first money start at four for Captaintreacherous.

    He’s Watching was an open-lengths winner in his qualifier over the weekend at Mohawk, rolling to an impressive 1:52.1 victory. He’s Watching is set to make his three-year-old pari-mutuel debut at Yonkers Raceway in the Art Rooney Pace. The 23rd “Rooney” has 34 eligible soph-pacing colts. Eliminations (if necessary) are scheduled for Saturday, May 24. The $300,000 final is set for Saturday, May 31. As far a 2014 schedule, after the Rooney, there’s the North America Cup, “but we’re going to let him dictate that to us,” said their connections. After the Rooney program on May 31, Yonkers will be dark until Friday, June 13. Until then, Yonkers’ five-night-per-week live schedule continues with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m.

    Harness racing's richest performer of all time, Foiled Again, will be making his sixth appearance at The Raceway at Western Fair District for the track's signature event, the Molson Pace. Slated once again as an invitational, the race, worth $150,000, will be on May 30. A prep race will be held the week before. Foiled Again won back to back in 2011 and 2012. He was a very close third in last year’s final. In his first appearance, in 2009, he won his elim but finished fifth in the final after a locked-in trip. The following year he was a close second in both his elimination and the final. Track officials promise a strong undercard for the Molson Pace program.

    The first sophomore crop of Well Said puts the pacer, as of this writing, third in the standings for three-year-old earnings. Though it is early in the season and many of the projected soph stars—frosh heroes of 2013—of hot sires have not hit the track yet, Well Said products have earned $544,550. Well Said follows Rocknroll Hanover, with Somebeachsomewhere still reigning.

    As for trotting sires this early in the season, Donato Hanover is the top earning sire of sophs, with Explosive Matter second, followed, in order by veterans Yankee Glide, Andover Hall, Cantab Hall, Broadway Hall and Muscles Yankee.

    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 Mar 23, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    The past week was stellar for winners and exactas, not just in raw number but in the prices. Plus, we were one short of nailing the Wednesday, March 19 TwinSpires bonus Pick 4 at Buffalo Raceway. That is where we will begin the parade of profits.

    The 50-cent bonus Pick 4, a weekly play offerint a 10-percent-bonus on winning the exotic, resulted in three of the four winners on March 19. In the first leg we singled Kisses N Kicks ($29.80, $18.80, $5.10); in the second we singled Stonetag ($10.60, $6, $3.30); in the fourth we had two contenders finishing fourth and eighth, respectively; and in the final leg we had two, winning with Good Luck Penny ($12.20, $4.90, $2.70).

    The Pick-4 is offered from the fifth to the eighth races every Wednesday evening. We assist with suggestions for your ticket via Twitter -- @FrankCotolo, @TwinSpires and @BuffaloRaceway and implore you not to pass the less-than-obvious contenders in your ticket and as win, place and show possibilities.

    Our contenders in the feature races this week (not our features, track events) included the first round of “Levy” and Matchmaker series at Yonkers and the Clyde Hirt and Horse & Groom legs at the Meadowlands.

    In the Horse & Groom we gave you Banker Volo ($4.80, $2.60, $2.20) in the second leg after finishing third with Crosbys Clam Bake ($2.20) at 5-1 in the first division, won by the public choice. In the Clyde Hirt we were third with Burkentine Hanover ($3.40) at 12-1 in division one. In the second division, Nathaniel B scratched.

    In the quartet of Matchmaker divisions on Friday at Yonkers we only had one third, Economy Terror ($2.60), finishing fourth, sixth and seventh with mares going off at 38-1, 12-1 and 94-1, respectively.

    Saturday’s Levy divisions were meant to aim at reasonable upsets, considering the five miles were strewn with stars. We came close with one, Malak Uswaad ($6.10, $9.30 ok), second to the public choice at 14-1 (Exacta $18). We picked up a meager win when Sweet Lou finished second ($2.60, $2.10—no show betting) with his entry mate, launching an exacta ($5.50) with our second choice, Pan From Nantucket ($2.10). Dancin Yankee, a second choice in another leg, finished third ($2.40). Our other choices, Word Power (5-1) finished fourth and Bet On The Law (26-1) finished sixth.

    The Levy story of the first round was the return of Foiled Again, who won the fifth division, his debut race of 2014. We will be covering the next five rounds and the finals of both series as spring settles in to a warmer state.

    The horses-to-watch (H2W) list results are below, once again featuring the win, place and show and exacta successes. There were five exactas scored, with one cold and the others combined with race favorites.

    We endorse across-the-board and the exotic plays you can find through the H2W, which is exclusively for your TwinSpires harness bankroll. Use your own judgment and handicapping but of course, consider the H2W horses, as they prove to be in league with good paying exotics and deliver healthy place and show cash when they don’t pick up the top spot.

    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

    Mystically Mine, $45.40, $34.40, $13.60, Cal Expo
    Doomsday Hanover, $17, $4.60, $3.20, (Exacta $26.60) Rosecroft
    Skad’s Winner, $14.40, $6.20, $4.20, Pompano
    Missys Diamond, $11, $4, $3.60, (*Exacta $23.40) Cal Expo
    Camilla The Terror, $10.40, $4.40, $4.40 ok, Miami Valley
    RA Shakenbake, $9.50, $3.60, $2.80, (Exacta $22,40) Buffalo
    Coraggioso, $2.90, $2.40, $2.50 ok, Yonkers

    Seconds

    Love Raider, $5.20, $4.20, Rosecroft
    Waldy Jimmy, $5.20, $3.40, Pompano
    Cordealia, $4.20, $3.60, (*Exacta $23.40) Cal Expo
    Wild About Eagle, $3.40, $3.20, (Exacta $5.50) Cal Expo
    Love Live Laugh, $3.20, $2.20, (Exacta $7.40) Cal Expo

     Thirds

    Gambler’s Vacation, $4.20, Rosecroft
    Lust, $4, Cal Expo
    Handsoffmycupcake, $2.80, Meadowlands


    News And Notes

    Despite our contacts in Hollywood, we have not been able to discover specific news about the harness racing movie, “Johnny Longshot.” The Emilio Estevez project began principal shooting in 2013 and even developed a trailer while filming in Ohio. However, its category in the trades was changed to “in development” and promotional activity ceased. Estevez is the director, writer and star, with co-producer credits going to Gil Netter (“Life of Pi”) and Lisa Niendenthal (“Mona Lisa Smile”). There are reports of a script re-write holding up production. Allegedly the story, where Estevez plays harness horseman John West, was being “updated” in October of last year.

    Miami Valley Raceway will race on Monday, April 7, to make up for a weather-related cancellation on Sunday, March 2. With the addition of the make-up program, Miami Valley will be racing six nights a week during the final four weeks of its inaugural season. Tuesday nights will be added beginning April 15. Miami Valley offers three consecutive nights next week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday March 27-29).

    A meeting is slated for March 25 to determine the 2014 race dates for Hiawatha Horse Park, Dresden and Leamington raceways. The three tracks are outside the eight-track standardbred alliance group which are already assured funding for the next five years, and are along with Ottawa and Fort Erie vying for the remaining $8 million from the province to conduct racing (that includes expenses as well as purses). The group is comprised of the two WEG tracks, Mohawk and Woodbine, the two Great Canadian Gaming tracks, Flamboro and Georgian Downs, Hanover, Clinton, Grand River Raceways and Western Fair, so a lot is at stake in the Ontario skirmish for racing dates.

    As spring allows Minnesota to thaw from a frigid winter, the opening of Running Aces nears. Running Aces will conduct a 54-night meet in 2014 with racing beginning Wednesday, May 28 and ending Saturday, Aug. 30. Racing will be conducted every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer with a 7 p.m. (CST) post time, except for Sundays when the action will begin an hour earlier.

    The 21st season of harness racing at Hoosier Park is set to begin Friday, March 28, with a new post time of 5:15 p.m. (EDT). Racing follows a Friday/Saturday schedule the opening week, a Thursday, Friday, Saturday schedule the second week and then resumes a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule for the remainder of the meet. With an extended stakes schedule offered for the first time, the racing season goes through Nov. 15.

    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 Jun 30, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    Captaintreacherous, again denied by many, this time due to his outside post position in the Max Hempt Final at Pocono on June 29, paid a remarkable $4.80 by winning the race with defiance toward every harness-handicapping notion available.  
     
    The ever-so-great sophomore pacer, with Tim Tetrick aboard again, left from post 9 and raced on the outside for all three turns of the mile, sometimes three wide, and got up by a neck to defeat Vegas Vacation in 1:49.2. And he did it on the surface that was pelted by rain an hour before the event, turning the condition of the surface to “sloppy.” 
     
    Raised eyebrows are yet to fall back into place; the “Captain” is going every bit as perfectly as we predicted from the start of his soph career. It could be that we have seen the last time he will win at anywhere near 7-5. Twice now we have urged readers to wager on him over even money and twice the Captain came through. This is indeed a special pacer, a racer of greatness, able to avert adversity for the sake of winning. 
     
    We were also correct about the Ben Franklin Final, as Bolt The Duer received the trip needed to win, paying $6.80. 
     
    Our speculation into the onslaught of freshman races over the weekend produced only one winner and it was very obvious to all. He’s Watching won at Saratoga Harness and paid a paltry $2.90. The remainder of our ventures into the frosh world were all failures from 8-5 to 51-1. 
     
    For result stories and our winners on soph-colt-and-filly trotters’ stakes, visit the Hambletonian Society’s special archive page for the Hambletonian Trail stories. 
     
    H2W 
     
    $9.40 Cheyenne Cam, Buffalo
    $6.80 Columbia Art, Northfield
    $3.60 Hillbilly, Pompano
    $2.40 Vodka Is Terror, Saratoga 
     
    The following are the horses that finished second or third along with their post-time odds. Special notes on those finishes follow. 
     
    Seconds:
    The Riddler (8-5), Maywood 
     
    Thirds:
    Guts N Glory (2-1), Maywood; Misty’s Dignity (6-1), Northfield; MJ’s Victory (3-1), Northfield; Lislea Bonita (7-1), Scarborough; Parthenon (3-1), Running Aces; Twentyone Guns (5-1), Running Aces 
     
    All adjustments for returnees to the list and additions will be in the Thursday blog. 
     
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    News And Notes

    Also at Pocono on June 29, Foiled Again’s win in the Ben Franklin Final put the stalwart pacer’s earnings over the $5-million mark, putting him third to Varenne and Moni Maker on the list of standardbred’s highest earners. Much like Captaintreacherous did in his win on the same program, Foiled Again took an overland journey to win, catching Pet Rock and Razzle Dazzle at the wire. Now a nine-year-old, Foiled Again joined the Ron Burke stable in 2008. 
     
    With Arch Madness cutting the fractions in Pocono’s opening race on June 29, Uncle Peter got the perfect trip right behind him to come out in the stretch and win in 1:50.3. That is the fastest mile won by a trotter on a five-eighths track. Arch Madness fired major fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:22.1 to allow Uncle Peter the speed badge. 
     
    Though we offered an alternative to the mighty I Luv The Nitelife in the June 29 James Lynch Final at Pocono, we also warned of this filly’s dominance over her soph division. When she won the “Lynch” she became the sport’s newest millionaire. This is rare so early in the season but she could be as special for her sex as the Captain is for his division. It was her fourth-straight win this year, having taken the Fan Hanover in Canada and winning her Lynch elim last week. 
     
    More baby races at the Meadowlands over the weekend offered some tips on youngsters looking in fine fettle to battle as the frosh season ensues. Trotting colts Flacco and Trixton, both trained by Jimmy Takter were impressive in wins. Trixton was the most expensive trotting yearling sold at auction last year, bringing a final bid of $360,000. He won for the second time in baby events.
     
    Dottie Major won at first asking for trainer Nick Surick; Put On A Display, a $175,000 Somebeachsomewhere filly led all way to win; colt pacers Murder He Wrote and Winds Of Change looked strong in victory. Two-year-old colts Stay Up Late and Avalanche Hanover also made good impressions.
     
    Extraordinary Extras
     
    Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. 
     
    Every weekend as part of that blog we offer Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page which includes suggested win bets. 
     
    Recent Balmoral winners in tickets include:
     
    TE's Zenyatta, $32.40; Bring It All, $20.00; Galactic Star, $8.40; Shiswell's Delight, $8.40; Dontbeachatme, $8.00; Make Me Fly, $4.60; Mister Virgin, $4.00; Justlivinthedream, $2.80, $2.20.
     
    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.  
     
    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.
     

     

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Mar 10, 2013 By Frank Cotolo



    The exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list needs a two-week overhaul due to the absence of the blog so in this review we are going to include the results for all of March so far. We hope to add more to next week’s list and continue as planned, as well as begin to cover the stakes season (see news below about upcoming features).  

    We were spot-on with our biggest paying winner of the season so far, a 53-1 shot on March 8 at Lebanon, a track we added shortly before we went off the air, so to speak. Let’s catch up with the results of all the wins, places and shows from this extraordinary list. 

    H2W


    Here they are from the highest paying to the lowest paying winners from the H2W for March to date: 

    $109.40 Do You Wanna Rumba, Lebanon
    $56.00 Pureform Athena, Fraser
    $25.60 Blue Boy Yankee, Cal Expo
    $21.60 Grin-n-scoot, Meadows
    $17.60 Degas Protégé, Fraser
    $14.40 Roger And Sam, Lebanon
    $13.00 Smiling Major, Cal Expo
    $11.70 Jans Rich Girl, Fraser
    $11.20 Desperate Crowds, Meadows
    $9.00 Fox Valley Yukon, Balmoral

    $8.70 Mighty Looker, Buffalo
    $8.50 Beach Boy Toy, Fraser
    $7.80 Schemes, Cal Expo
    $7.80 She’sa Town Girl, Northfield
    $7.60 Camgrandest (dh), Balmoral
    $7.00 Look Ma No Hands, Balmoral
    $6.40 Super Dream, Lebanon
    $6.00 Umygeorgia Hanover, Northfield
    $4.00 Jarnac, Freehold
    $3.40 Shoe In, Buffalo
    $3.10 Brave Call, Buffalo
    $3.00 Donegal Jim, Buffalo
    $2.80 Rhianne, Northfield
    $2.60 Rockratese, Northfield

    The following are the horses that finished second or third along with their post-time odds. Special notes on their affects in those positions follow (where two sets of odds appear it reflects two races in as many weeks). 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:
    Panna Nicole (5-2), Northfield; Sharp Lady (8-1), Buffalo; Pick Up Point (3-1), Buffalo; Hayden Abbe N (9-2) (2-1), Meadows; Tahuya Clem C (23-1), Fraser; Limit The Risk (18-1), Fraser; Whistle Pig (5-1), Balmoral; Sleigh Bell (9-2) (2-1), Cal Expo; Coal Younger (7-2), Cal Expo); Forever My Love (15-1), Cal Expo; Southwind Rah Rah (16-1); Vantage (8-5), Cal Expo; Zall Good (7-2), Balmoral 

    Thirds
    Bets Dragon Fly (4-5), Freehold; Cruise To Fame (12-1), Lebanon; Avantage (5-2), Pompano; Mr Terror (21-1), Buffalo; Auditorial (7-2), Buffalo; Answet The Bell (8-5), Buffalo; Allamerican Dice (3-1); Palmers Z Tam (7-1), Buffalo; Daves Bid (2-1), Balmoral; Mighty Fine Hi Ho (6-1), Cal Expo; Andynical Tomridge (50-1), Cal Expo 

    Beach Boy Toy’s win featured our other horse in that race, Limit The Risk, to combine in an exacta worth $73.20. Forever My Love finished second to the race favorite for an exacta worth $13.50. Southwind Rah Rah’s place finish with the favorite resulted in a $34.20 exacta.

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

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

    News And Notes

    An enormous number of top pacers and trotters will return for another season in 2013. Many familiar names have opted for another racing campaign as opposed to going to stud or retiring as a broodmare. Evidence of this is in the increased number of nominations for the American-National stakes at Balmoral Park.  

    Noms for the aged pace are up to 47 and feature stars Golden Receiver, Foiled Again, Sweet Lou, Betterthancheddar and Michael’s Power.   

    The aged trot noms total 53 with Hambletonian-champ Market Share returning at four after a $2-million season. Other noms include Arch Madness, Uncle Peter and Wishing Stone while the mares are represented by standouts Check Me Out and Maven.   

    On the three-year-old side pacing colt noms total 70. Captaintreacherous is on the docket, as are Odds On Equuleus and Rockin Amadeus.  

    The other three-year-old divisions include the popular I Luv The Nitelife and L Dees Lioness. In the three-year-old colt trotting division freshman standouts Royalty For Life and Major Athens have been nominated while the soph-filly trot has attracted Handover Belle and local sensation Trot Fudge Sundae.  

    For a complete list of all Balmoral Park stake nominations including American National’s, Hanover Stakes and Super Night stakes please visit www.balmoralpark.com  

    Yonkers’ 2013 stakes season begins next week, with the opening round of two popular series for three- and four-year-olds. Monday night it’s the Petticoat Pacing Series for the fillies and mares. Four, $12,500 divisions (races 1,2,6 and 7) highlight the 12-race card.   

    Tuesday night the colts take the stage in the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series. Six divisions (races 4 and 6 through 10) lead the dozen-race program.

    Both series feature entrants who are/were non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1. There are three preliminary rounds leading to a pair of $50,000 (est.) finals, scheduled for Monday, Apr. 1 (Petticoat) and Tuesday, Apr. 2 (Sagamore Hill), respectively.

    Yonkers continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m.
     
    Extraordinary Extras

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

    Every weekend as part of that blog 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. 

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.


     Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Profit Targets

    POSTED Feb 6, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    Some minor stakes-series action continues at the New Meadowlands this weekend. Other than that, we are scouting the overnights around North America for value plays.

    Also, this weekend, TwinSpires once again offers 10-percent bonuses on Pick-4 hits, this week adding Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday nights to Saturday night’s early exotic at Woodbine.

    Check out the details for Woodbine here.

    Checkout the details for Buffalo here.

    Our exclusive horses-to-watch list (H2W) added Buffalo entries a few weeks back and it would worth your time to look for some of those horses listed on this blog in case they find a spot in the Wednesday, Feb. 13 Pick 4. Be aware that there is a blizzard warning in the Buffalo, New York area for this weekend and that could require racing to cancel. The same storm may affect northwest Pennsylvania, so the warning for closure spreads to the Meadows, also on the H2W list below.

    We have added the Woodine Pick-4 events to the H2W below (our top two choices for each of the Woodbine Pick-4 events) so you can be aware of some of our suggested contenders, all of which we hope will help you cash a larger exotic than would result from dead-on public choices.

    Last week our H2W list was on fire. We continue this week aiming for huge profits, which is nothing new for us—profit-making choices are our targets, always.

    Minor Leagues

    The Junior Trendsetter is a conditioned series for soph-colt pacers, giving us a glimpse of the division for the first time this season. Leg one features three divisions ($12,500 a field) on Friday, Feb. 8 at The New Meadowlands.

    In the first split Wilco is a 4-5 morning-line choice, leaving some contenders around him with upset shots. Beachfront was beaten by Wilco twice but had excuses with each mile that may not be in play this week. The Somebeachsomewhere gelding may be good at three and if he begins to show it now this could be the best price you will get on him.

    Next, our attention is drawn to Rock Icon, who was unraced at two and is coming from a grand local debut against similar stock as here. This is a son of Rocknroll Hanover, making him an instant contender regardless of his lack of credentials. The colt deserves a big shot here, especially at the probable price against already proven losers.

    In the nightcap, Fiftyshadesdarker may be a legitimate favorite and still over-priced at that. His thermo-brush last week left him parked but that might not be his position this time around the two turns. The probable favorite, Terror High, who just beat Rock Icon last week, went a similar trip and may be over-bet compared to the former.

    Saturday, Feb. 9’s Exit 16W series starts the card with a trio of $18,000 divisions. This is a series for four-year-old male pacers that will go on to challenge tougher elders as the season ensues. Here against their own age we might see some worthwhile betting action.

    Division one may be a showcase for Papa Ray since he began the season armed. But the outside spot for Yo Cheyenne Rocky may help his odds to be higher than his chances. He’s fast enough to overcome the post and has been tough in four starts.

    Next, Holdingallthecards attempts to stay perfect after dominating four events, three a sweep of a series. Mr Dennis gets another shot at him, though, and may be able to turn the tables here.

    Completing the triptych, seven closely matched males will pace and shuffle for a winner. We like Cee Pee Panic, who we won with a few weeks back. He’s in a great spot to win another for trainer Ron Burke.

    Legend


    Always review the H2W legend, published weekly, to authenticate the choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track to decide how you will use the information.

    Before the horses’ names is the track, followed on the next paragraph by a date it (or they) will be racing, with the race in which they are entered (R and race number). 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” means the horse is on the also-eligible list and needs a scratch to get into the race. Sometimes up to three horses are listed in the same race; it is up to you how to deal with the situation (note that in the past this situation has resulted in exacta and triples).  

    If a horse that has appeared on the list but was scratched or is not racing its second week consecutively, you will see a N/R after its name and will appear on a separate line from dated entries. And if a horse shows up at another track in its second week of being listed, it will display the plus sign as indicated above.  

    There is a margin of error, of course, so we encourage you to keep your own list along with our list to be sure our H2W is free of mistakes.

    All members of the list need to be considered serious contenders in the races noted. Wagering on any of them is based on your own judgment of value, as well as if you 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
    2/8/13, Quiet Judy R2; Sharp Lady R5; +Hidden Dragon R10
    Dudley Doright N/R; Fourstarzconfusion N/R; Grayland Becky N/R    

    Cal Expo
    2/8/13, Matty Rose R5; +Girls Lie Too R5; Smiling Major R6; Mister Fra R7; Wildcats Major R7; Windy City Paige R9; +Forever My Love R10; Barona Destiny R15
    2/9/13, Gliding Boheme R1; Lucky Asset R5; Paul The Powerful R5; L S Orchardwinner R7; Skyway Major R8; +Viking Mia R9; Hillcrest Romeo R9; Dukeofhazards R9; Connie’s Lady R10; Bewareofthisaffair R12; +Mighty Kicker R13; Heartland Express R15
    Cat Call N/R; Blue Boy Yankee N/R

    Fraser
    2/8/13, Red Star Bogart R1; Come Around Back R1; Anasazzi Road R1; Fancy Ideal R3; Red Star Vickers R4; +Millbanks Ariel R7; +Cody Cobraski R8; Thieving Magpie R8; +Bobbysslackystar R9; Promise To Lynette R9; +Kg Mattattack R11
    Procrastinationatinpeat N/R; Latino Hall N/R; Rich As Promised N/R 

    Freehold
    2/8/13, +Hello Linda R3; +Sammy L R6
    2/9/13, +Pocketfullapower R4; Move On R5; +GW Gizmo R12; Major Domo R12
    Devine Filly N/R; The Midnight Owl N/R  

    Maywood
    Racing returns Feb. 14

    Meadowlands
    2/8/13, Mystical Victress R1; +Celebrity Bombay R5; Live Jazz R6; +Lucky Roll R8; +Dragon Princess R9
    2/9/13, Astor R4; Oscar Oscar R6; Fiveknuckleshuffle R9; Odin Blue Chip R12
    Delightful Diva N/R; April Sunshine N/R;;

    The Meadows
    2/8/13, Thisoneandonemore R3; They Call Me Moon ae R3; +Bloomington R4; +Ram Jam R4; +Grin-n-scoot R5; Hillcrest Bigdaddy ae R5; +Campo Basso R6; +Haverford Hanover R7; Polo Johnny R7; Striking Lauren R10; +Aj Niko D’oro R10; Just Pretend A R11; Touch Of Steel R11; Pembroke Snapshot R12;
    TK Diva N/R; Charles Ray N/R

    Northfield
    2/6/13, +Hatitha R13
    2/8/13, Billys Joni R13; +Jessies Band R14
    Arts Shadow N/R; Katies Dreamboat N/R; Dawn Of New Money N/R; Beforethenightstarts N/R; Iknowwhatboyslike N/R
     
    Pompano
    2/9/13, KM Sweet Dreams R2; +Peaceful Prince R2; Allamerican Major R4; Competition Cam R4; Premier R4; Artistic Topaz R5; Victory Commection R7; +Ricks Sign R8
    Whiteland Will N/R

    Yonkers
    2/8/13, +Chang Dynasty R5
    Mobile N/R; Macho Lindy N/R; Summer Snow N/R; Hulas Z Tam N/R

    Woodbine Pick 4
    Race 4, In A Craze; PL Earl
    Race 5, Wine Photo; Mr Joe Sixpack
    Race 6, Reibercrombie; Odysseus Bluechip
    Race 7; Anderlecht; Upfront Hoosierboy

     
    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Feb 3, 2013 By Frank Cotolo
    A banner weekend for our horses to watch list (H2W) includes carpet-bombing cashing at the Meadows and a more-than-usual list of double-digit winners from other tracks that also contributed to some mighty exotic prices.

    The weather agreed with the tracks involved as February 2013 debuted but regardless of ill climates and upcoming stakes schedules we are continuing our H2W for use by our TwinSpires blog readers.
     

    H2W


    Here they are from the highest paying to the lowest paying winners from the H2W on our blog last Thursday:

     

    $45.80, Loco For Cocoa, Cal Expo
    $20.20, Wizkey Road, Meadows
    $19.00, Bs Surgin Dan, Meadows
    $18.00, Western Dakota, Yonkers
    $17.60, Aks Living Large, Meadows
    $14.20, Taylor C, Pompano
    $10.00, Townline Debbie, Buffalo
    $9.60, Abundasas, Meadows
    $7.80, Rocknroll Jewel, Meadowlands
    $6.90, Live Jazz, Yonkers
    $5.60, Wardog Hall, Meadows
    $5.40, A Fool For Mark, Pompano
    $5.00, Sweetie Sue Cam, Northfield
    $4.60, It’s A Sham, Northfield
    $4.20, Hf Thanks Will, Fraser
    $3.60, Chesca Girl, Freehold
    $3.60, Redmeansgo, Northfield
    $3.40, Morwyn Hanover, Cal Expo
    $3.40, One Lucky Dragon, Pompano

    The following are the horses that finished second or third 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:
    Dontgetbyme (3-2), Maywood; Coupon Lady (9-1), Northfield; Chang Dynasty (4-5), Yonkers; Hello Linda (4-1), Freehold; Ashton Seelster (4-5), Buffalo); Paisley (2-1), Meadowlands; Mighty Kicker (29-1), Cal Expo

    Thirds
    Wands Tumbleweed (12-1), Maywood; Stoney Interlude (4-1), Maywood; Macho Lindy (11-1), Yonkers; Sammy L (4-1), Freehold; Straight Jack (4-1), Pompano; Hidden Dragon (10-1), Buffalo; Grayland Becky (5-1), Buffalo; Charles Ray (6-1), Meadows; All Day Pass (8-1), Meadows; Bloomington (3-1), Meadows; I Hear Voices (5-2), Fraser; Cody Cobraski (3-1), Fraser; Anasazzi Road (70-1), Fraser; Mystical Victress (6-5), Meadowlands; Barona Destiny (15-1), Cal Expo; Boot Scootin Bow (16-1), Cal Expo

    Though he left the list last week after two failures and we cannot take credit for him in our format, Looking For Jack won at Maywood, paying $48.20, with our choice in that race, Dontgetbyme (see seconds) completing a $217.80 exacta. Again, you can follow our horses after they leave our list; it is not uncommon for them to win the third or even fourth time since appearing on the H2W.

    At the Meadows, our winner Bs Surging Dan (see list above) beat the favorite, which got second (exacta paid $110.20) and our other choice, Bloomington, was third, presenting a trifecta of $465.40. 

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

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

    News And Notes

    Driver Ron Pierce (right) is closing in on several major career milestones, according to Dover Downs’ master PR man Marv Bachrad. Pierce recently surpassed the 8,500-win plateau, and is now closing in on a major earnings event. Pierce is approximately $5 million away from becoming a member of the $200-million club. Horses driven by Pierce have won more than $5 million in earnings in each of the last 16 seasons. Two weeks ago, Pierce came within two wins of the track all-time record for wins on one program with seven winners on Jan. 17 (we reported on this situation, which was more profitable for Pierce than for bettors). Tim Tetrick set the record of nine wins in February, 2011, with Tim also leaving bettors with little to brag about. As always, we congratulate the drivers for their accomplishments while we try not to let their success get in the way of our success wagering.

    Nick Salvi at the New Meadowlands reports that Brice Cote will “lead the effort to detect and deter the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs [PEDs] and any other unscrupulous practices that affect the racing product.” Cote will do the same at Jeff Gural’s New York harness facilities, Tioga and Vernon Downs.

    Mr. Cote said, “We will follow the facts in our efforts to protect the integrity of racing. The goal is to provide the customer a legitimate, dependable product upon which to wager and the horsemen a fair chance to compete within the rules.” 

    Gural has been committed to the anti-drug campaign throughout his tenure at these tracks and as a breeder and owner. He said that “I want the good guys racing at my tracks so that our customers can handicap the races without having to guess who is using what. I think one of the reasons that our handle has increased this year is the fact that we make a major effort to keep the bad guys out.”

    PEDs have been a concern in horse racing, especially harness racing, long before the Lance Armstrong scandal or the controversy over baseball players. In fact, we uncovered the trend in the early 1990s through sources that confirmed the use of EPO (the chemical associated with the Armstrong case) in horses. In a series called “Better Racing Through Chemistry,” published in a major industry periodical, it was revealed that the idea of using EPO came from the sport of cross-country biking.

    The follow up article, the award-winning “Bloodbath,” brought professional sources to the argument years before the subject became popular. Though the topic has simmered in the context of horse racing, Gural is smart to continue monitoring the PED climate.

    Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced their 2013 stakes schedule with significant reductions in purses. The 30th renewal of the Pepsi North America Cup will go for $1 million, down $500,000 from last season.

    The Metro Pace for two-year-old pacing colts and the Canadian Trotting Classic for three-year-old trotting colts, which in past years offered a one million dollar prize, will be contested for $700,000 this year.

    Woodbine Entertainment Group’s (WEG) signature harness race, the North America Cup will guarantee a purse of $1 million on Saturday, June 15 (eliminations scheduled the week prior on June 8) regardless of the recent problems within the province concerning casino money support. 

    The huge program on June 15 will also boast the $400,000 Fan Hanover Stakes for soph-pacing fillies, the $380,000 Elegantimage Stakes for soph-trotting fillies, the $250,000 Goodtimes for soph-trotting colts and the $265,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares.

    “Although there are inevitable reductions to purses as a result of operating in a changed environment, [WEG] remains committed to offering the premier stakes program with the best value for owners in North America,” said Bruce Murray, WEG’s VP of Standardbred Racing.

    WEG’s Mohawk will play host to several other major events during the campaign. On July 20, the 61st edition of the $550,000 Maple Leaf Trot will take place and to complement the event will be the $340,000 Roses Are Red Stakes for pacing mares. Eliminations are scheduled for July 13.

    The annual Labour Day weekend extravaganza returns on Saturday, Aug. 31 headlined by the $700,000 Metro Pace for frosh-pacing colts. Co-featured on the card is the $600,000 Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers, along with the $430,000 Shes A Great Lady for juvenile pacing fillies.

    The Canadian Trotting Classic, for the sport’s best three year-old colt trotters, will take their positions behind the starting gate on Saturday, Sept. 14 for an estimated purse of $700,000. Also that evening, the $365,000 Peaceful Way final for two year-old trotting fillies and the $385,000 William Wellwood Memorial for rookie trotting colts will be a part of the card.

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

    Extraordinary Extras

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

    Every weekend as part of that blog 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.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.

     

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Blustery Winds For Winter Winners

    POSTED Jan 23, 2013 By Frank Cotolo
    It’s great to have a TwinSpires account and play harness racing across the continent in the comfort of your own home but this weekend lake-effect snow showers in the Northeast and Midwest could cause some track cancellations. It takes a whole lot of frost and snow to stop standardbreds from beating their way around the limestone but some forecasts are predicting severe weather that makes it dangerous for horsemen, patrons and track staff to keep the show going.

    TwinSpires will keep you updated on any track closings over the weekend. Meanwhile, we are going to present our product as if the races will go on because ill winds can blow away as quickly as they arrive and we want bettors to be on top of the action as long as the track doors are opened for business.

    At the Meadowlands some winter-series finals will adorn the Saturday night program, including the Presidential Final for the early season’s fastest group, the stalwart older pacing males.

    And we are looking forward to another big weekend of success from our exclusive horses-to-watch list (H2W).

    Magnificent Meadowlands Finales


    The stakes features this Saturday are all located at the Meadowlands. The track showcases the finals of the Super Bowl Trot, Clyde Hirt Pace and Presidential Pace on Jan. 26.  

    First up on the card is the Super Bowl Final. The likely favorite in this condition-trot stake is Helios, the Miller-trained trotter. We’ll take a shot with two others, No Less Than Magic and Windsun Galiano.  

    No Less Than Magic finished on the board in both of his “Super” preliminaries within the last two weeks. He closed from far off the pace in both miles to receive minor honors. This week he should be closer to the front, where a possible speed battle could develop between Joyeux Dream, Where To Hanover and Wisenheimer. If that happens, No Less Than Magic will be in the perfect stalking position to close strongly for the win.

    Windsun Galiano may be the strongest horse in this field. The trotter has two tough first-over miles in his last three starts, both victories. He made a break in the opening round of the Super but was able to rebound with a tough first-over duel to win. Although he drew post 10, he should get a good spot and a good second-over trip to pull off a minor shocker.

    The Clyde Hirt Final could offer value, although heavy-choice Holdingallthecards drew the rail. In a race likr the Super, where a speed duel could develop, Mr Dennis should be close to the top. He sometimes takes the lead or tries to stalk the speed and here he should leave the gate fast and attempt to get a pocket spot and ride it through the mile until it is time to fan out and charge after the leader.

    Golden Receiver headlines the Presidential final as he eyes a repeat in the first free-for-all pace stakes event of the year. He drew post 7 this week and is the likely favorite but our eyes are elsewhere, in search of an upset.

    Dial Or Nodial has been Golden Receiver’s main rival in this series. In last week’s preliminary, “Dial” sat far off the pace and tried to close on “Golden,”who flew away from the field in the stretch. Dial should be forwardly placed and may get a good trip, one where it will be easy for him to close to a likely sub-:26 final quarter that will be set by Golden Receiver.

    Winners On Our Watch


    Our horse-to-watch list (H2W) is the exclusive “hot-horse” vigil released to TwinSpires harness players through this blog. To review, here is how you read the H2W list below:

    Before the horses’ names is the track, followed on the next paragraph by a date it (or they) will be racing, with the race in which they are entered (R and race number). 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” means the horse is on the also-eligible list and needs a scratch to get into the race. Sometimes up to three horses are listed in the same race; it is up to you how to deal with the situation (note that in the past this situation has resulted in exacta and triples).

    If a horse that has appeared on the list but was scratched or is not racing its second week consecutively, you will see a N/R after its name and will appear on a separate line from dated entries. And if a horse shows up at another track in its second week of being listed, it will display the plus sign as indicated above.

    All members of the list need to be considered serious contenders in the races noted. Wagering on any of them is based on your own judgment of value, as well as if you 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
    1/25/13, +Keystone Fling R2; Northmedo Esther R2; Full Circle Spring R10
    +Freds Dream N/R; +Little Gus N/R; + Pro Kid N/R; +ML Jackhammer N/R; +PW Tootsie N/R; Marians Man N/R; The Grey Bullet N/R

    Cal Expo
    1/25/13, Blue Boy Yankee R7; My Tryin Ryan R8; +Cherry Tree Nicole R8: +Stretch Artist; Boot Scootin Bow R13
    1/26/13, Loco For Cocoa R5; A Little Looney R7; Strings R9; Forever My Love R 11; Fire On Ice R11; Charmer R12
    Wildcats Major N/R; Smiling Major N/R; Cat Call N/R; Viking Mia N/R
    Fraser
    1/25/13, Comearoundback R2; +Red Star Bogart R2; Millbanks Ariel R3; Anasazzi Road R6; Rich As Promised R7; Hf Thanks Will R7; I Hear Voices R8; Cody Cobraski R9; Kg Mattattack R10; +Midnight Destroyer R10; Procrastinatinpeat R11; +Thunder Noise R11; Bobbysslackystar R11
    +Tap Out N/R; +Workfortheman N/R

    Freehold
    1/25/13, +Map Of Hawaii R5; +Whatever Lolawants R7
    1/26/13, +Cams Future R3; +Hurrikane Anthony R6; +Bullville Player R6; +Best Life R8; The Life Boat R8; Move On ae R9; +Whipper Snapper R12
    + Rockinrollin Now N/R; GW Gizmo N/R; +Milliondollar Art N/R; +J’omama N/R; +Country Fresh NR; +Cool Ashlee NR

    Maywood
    1/25/13, +Colefederate R5; +Sign The Prenup R12; +Looking For Jack R12;
    +Nine Innings M/R; Dick McTracy N/R

    Meadowlands
    1/25/13, Celebrity Bombay R3
    + Rocknroll Jewel N/R; +Time To Roll N/R; +Corky Baran N/R; +Paisley N/R

    The Meadows
    1/25/13, +Wardog Hall R1; Aks Livin Large R3; Tk Diva R8; Abundasass R8; +Aj Niko D’oro R8; Wizkey Road R9; +All Day Pass R11; +Bourbon St Hanover R12; Bloomington R13; Ram Jam R15; +Bs Surgin Dan; R15
     Haverford Hanover N/R; Campo Basso NR; Grin-n-scoot N/R

    Northfield
    1/25/13, +Scootin Jenna R6; +Rhianne R8; +Best Tasting R9; +Forever Lucky R10; Blue Time Ice Lady R11; +Friskie D R15
    +Fast Attack N/R; +Coupon Lady N/R; +Arts Shadow N/R; +Lucky Express N/R

    Pompano
    1/26/13, +Stonebridge Bonus R1; +Special Strides R3; Muscles To Spare R5; +Desert Hanover R6; +Straight Jack ae R6; +Mai Tai Guy R7; +Diamond Star R8; +Card Hustler R8; +Legal Dream R9; +Future Plans R10; +Wellthereyougo R10
    +Whiteland Will N/R; +Rick’s Sign N/R  

    Yonkers
    1/24/13, +Whatever Lolawants ae R2; +On The Tab R6
    1/25/13, +Holly Hill Master R3; Live Jazz R5; Summer Snow R9; Super Manning R10;
    1/26/13, Flem N Em N R1; +Talktomecourage R10
    +Hula’s Z Tam N/R; +Western Dakota N/R

     
    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Jan 19, 2013 By Frank Cotolo
    Expanded coverage of the horses to watch list (H2W) provided more winners and great prices for most, as well as we faired better with our choices in the early stakes season action at the Meadowlands.  

    We scored in the best paying of three Clyde Hirt leg winners with Cee Pee Panic at $15.40. And we scored with the lowest price, the prohibitive choice Holdingallthecards at $2.40. We offered a triple combo but went two out of three as Ethan Hanover finished second for a $7.40 exacta (Who Dat Love, our other exotic choice, was fifth). 

    The other “Hirt” chapter saw us finish second with Mr Dennis at 8-1.  

    There was no beating the choice in the Presidential leg, as we expected, so Golden Receiver presented a $3.00 win mutuel. We could not catch the exotics with him, as Dial Or No Dial finished fourth and Mr Hasani N was fifth.  

    It was the best week the H2W presented thus far, not just in the raw number of winners but in prices. Four horses that won at 10-1 or better were listed.   

    H2W


    Here they are from the highest paying to the lowest paying winners from the list on our blog last Thursday:


    $26.40, Fancy Foxy, Buffalo
    $25.60, Super Railee, Pompano
    $25.00, Incredible Gambler, Cal Expo
    $22.80, She Shell Cruise, Northfield
    $13.80, Red Star Cashflow, Fraser
    $8.30, Fuel Cell, Yonkers
    $8.20, Yukon Luck, Buffalo
    $5.80, Iknowwhatboyslike, Northfield
    $4.80, Coupon Lady, Northfield
    $4.80, This American Life, Fraser
    $4.60, Guts N Glory, Maywood
    $3.40, Fool To Cry, Meadows

    Here are the horses that finished second and third that will return to the H2W list next week and how they finished, along with their post-time odds. Special notes on their affects in those positions follow.

    Seconds:
    Cams Future (6-1), Freehold; Best Life (1-1), Freehold; Paisley (6-5), Meadowlands; Latino Hall (7-2), Fraser; Straight Jack (2-1), Pompano; Ml Jackhammer (9-1), Buffalo; The Grey Bullet (2-1), Buffalo; Fast Attack (9-1), Northfield; Cat Call (7-2), Cal Expo; Dani California (4-5), Cal Expo; Nowerland Collins (42-1), Cal Expo; Wardog Hall (16-1), Meadows; Aj Niko D’oro (6-1), Meadows    

    Thirds
    Five Cougars A (3-1), Maywood; Sign The Prenup (5-1), Maywood; Lazy Lizard (10-1), Maywood; Map Of Hawaii (4-1), Freehold; Rocknroll Jewel (19-1), Meadowlands; Mighty Young Joe (4-1), Meadowlands; Red Star Bogart (6-5), Fraser; Tahya Clem C (9-1), Fraser; Future Plans (3-1), Pompano; Scootin Jetta (2-1), Northfield; Friskie D (6-5), Northfield; Herzon (20-1), Cal Expo   

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

    News And Notes

    On Jan. 17, driver Ron Pierce won seven races in the Dover Downs program. However, with only one price in the double digits, and that only at 4-1, Pierce fans won only a few dollars from his spree. Pierce lost on the horses he drove with the longer odds that day and although he was a modest flat-bet profit, wagering on him solely due to his presence is not a smart idea.

    Speaking of drivers, Matt Kakaley began the 2013 season at Yonkers with a blast. Working for trainer Ron Burke, Kakaley, formerly a mainstay in Ohio, Matt won 10 of his first 39 drives, taking the lead in the standings over Brian Sears, who recently made his headquarters at the New York oval over regular appearances at the new Meadowlands.

    Kakaley has not made Yonkers his home; he is a top regular at Pocono Downs, which doesn’t open until March 23. Matt says he will return to Pennsylvania unless Burke makes him an offer worthy of staying in New York. Burke has been quoted saying, “I want to try to assign Matt some of the younger horses this year … He will be their regular driver … Yannick [Gingras] has other commitments in stakes races. I am going to try to give Matt the opportunity to drive better horses because I think he has earned it.”

    Kakaley is the youngest driver ever to reach the 2,000-win plateau. He is 23.

    The 2013 stake schedules for Illinois harness tracks Balmoral and Maywood have been released by racing secretary Doc Narotsky.

    Upstate mile Balmoral begins its high-profile affairs on March 30 with the Taurus Bomber Stake for Illinois conceived and foaled (ICF) three-year-old pacing colts. Maywood’s stake season starts April 12 with soph-pacing colts in the Sportsmaster Stake.

    The first major state-bred stake of the season is May 19’s race for three-year-old pacing fillies, the $45,000 Violet Stake at Balmoral. There will also be Violet and Cardinal stakes for ICF pacers and trotters on May 26, May 29 and June 1 at Balmoral.

    Maywood’s first big event will be the $100,000 Filly Maywood Pace for ICF three-year-old fillies on June 14. The $100,000 Maywood Pace for ICF soph-pacing colts will be held June 21.

    The first Hanover Stakes of the season at Balmoral will feature a trio of events for three-year-old trotters and three-year-old filly pacers on July 13.

    The Southland Festival of Racing will provide plenty of state-bred action at Balmoral on July 27, July 28 and July 31 with pacers and trotters in $50,000 battles like the Mini Me Stake, Loyal Opposition Stake, Incredible Finale Stake, Ann Vonian Stake, Kadabra Stake, Fox Valley Evita Stake, Fox Valley Flan Stake and Plesac Stake.

    A pair of $50,000 Hanovers for two-year-old colt and filly pacers are scheduled for Aug. 3 at the upstate oval. Balmoral will also play host to Illinois’ biggest night of racing, Super Night, on Sept. 14 for more than $1 million in purses. The American Nationals kick off on Sept. 18 with a pair of $90,000 trotting stakes for two-year-olds.

    October promises to be a busy month for youngsters as the $100,000 Lady Lincoln Stake for two-year-old trotting fillies takes place on Oct. 2 while their male counterparts battle in the $100,000 Lincoln Land Stake on Oct. 6 at Balmoral. Maywood will also host the $60,000 Cardinal and Violet Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly pacers on Oct. 4. A pair of $60,000 Hanovers for two-year-old trotters are also slated for Oct. 13 at Balmoral.

    Saturday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Nov. 15 the Grand Circuit action comes to town. Balmoral will play host to the $250,000 three-year-old colt pace, $225,00 American National three-year-old colt trot, $200,000 American National Aged Pace, $180,000 aged trot, $175,000 American National three-year-old filly pace, $150,000 three-year-old filly trot, $125,000 two-year-old colt pace and $125,000 two-year-old filly pace on Nov. 9.

    Maywood’s biggest card of the season is Nov. 15 with the $225,000 Windy City Pace for three-year-old pacing colts, the $130,000 Abe Lincoln Stake for two-year-old pacing colts, the $120,00 Galt Trot for three-year-old trotting colts and the $100,000 Cinderella Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies sharing the spotlight. The $30,000 Associates-McKeever Stake for ICF pacers is also scheduled for that same night.   

    Extraordinary Extras

    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. On Saturday, our first-leg single, Allamerican Solo, won and paid $16.80.  

    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.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.
     
     

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Additions To Divisions; Winter Watch Ensues

    POSTED Jan 2, 2013 By Frank Cotolo
    We wish a happy birthday to racehorses of all breeds.

    Jan. 1 of each year marks the universal birthday for racehorses. Whether born in January or June, all horses are a year older now. New divisions will form as the months ensue. Don’t hold your breath, we won’t see the youngsters for months. The older groups will begin the stakes season in the bitter cold and the stalwart veterans will meet new foes as last year’s sophomores join their ranks.

    Meanwhile, we are watching the overnighters closely in our horse-to-watch list (H2W), scoring from east to west with hot entries that have already returned a gamut of prices. Remember that this is an exclusive list, it is released to TwinSpires harness players through this blog and there is no other list like it anywhere. It is our personal playing information and we are sharing it with you to benefit from the great track action available at TwinSpires through the cold months when the sport’s stars narrow down to those winners we play.

    Again, about using the H2W list:

    All members of the list need to be considered serious contenders in the races noted. Wagering on any of them is based on your own judgment of value, as well as if you wager to win, place, show or in an exotic. If you have any questions about the H2W list, send them to us through the TwinSpires blog channel.

    H2W Keys


    Are you new to this blog? Here is a primer on how to read the H2W list.  

    Before the horses’ names is the track, followed on the next paragraph by a date it (or they) will be racing, with the race in which they are entered (R and race number). 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” means the horse is on the also-eligible list and needs a scratch to get into the race. Sometimes up to three horses are listed in the same race; it is up to you how to deal with the situation (note that in the past this situation has resulted in exacta and triples).  

    If a horse that has appeared on the list but was scratched or is not racing its second week consecutively, you will see a N/R after its name and will appear on a separate line from dated entries. And if a horse shows up at another track in its second week of being listed, it will display the plus sign as indicated above. Freehold has closed, as has Philly. 
     

    Balmoral
    1/5/13, +Sporty Gypsy R10; Bring It On Kaajay R11
    **+Whirlwinddiplomacy; **+Gilly Ho; **+Casino Comp R10
    **Check Balmoral entries for 1/6, which are unavailable at press time, so see if ** are entered or if they are N/Rs
     

    Cal Expo
    1/4/13, +Little Box Out R1; +Chevie Balboa, R3; +Scootin Higher R4; +Cherry Tree Nicole R6;
    1/5/13, Marlene's Angel R3; Cruisin Inmybeamer R3; Majestic Lass R4; +Ajs Little One R6; Mousseline Hanover R8; +Ogs Si Bon R10; +Racetrack Diva R11; +Laugh Away R12; +Persuade Me R15
    +Rd Lou N/R; +Cherry Tree Luke N/R8; +Komodas Fantasy N/R; +Moody Miss N/R
     

    Fraser
    1/6/13, +Red Star Brooklyn R2; +Succulent R5; +Another Opinion R7; +Cam On Mink R10; +Millbanks Ariel R11; +Pureform Goodtogo R11
    +Tap Out N/R; +Workfortheman N/R
     

    Freehold
    1/4/13, Lady Bess N R4; Cannes R5; Lily Langtree R8; +Superstar Dream R8; That’s A No No R9; +Tourific R9
    +J’omama N/R; +Fandango Dancer N/R; +Country Fresh N/R; +Allthatnthensome N/R; +Milliondollar Art N/R; +Cool Ashlee N/R

    Maywood
    1/4/13 Bring The Rain R1; Dan Lowe R3; Tes Zenyatta R8; Lady Lizard R12
    +Rejoiceandbehappy N/R; +Cams Princess Wave N/R; +Georges Ztam N/R
     

    Meadowlands
    1/4/13 + Likeabatoutahell R7; Don’t Point At R8
    1/5/13 +Three New Dawns R5; +Armbro Billow R10
    +Arctic Fire N/R
     

    Northfield
    1/4/13, +Macjurcoharry R2; Lucky Express R3; +Passionate Gold R3; +Triple G R3; +Cien R4; +Perfekjehlmnkalfas R5; +Custers Last Stand R13; +Harmony Oaks Rebel R14
    +Rd Rustler N/R; +She Shell Cruise N/R; +Kinnick N/R; +Arts Shadow N/R; +Lee A Bryant N/R; +Sand Latte N/R
     

    Pompano
    1/5/13, Lucky Sniper R1; Lee Wind R2 ae; Dragons Blood R3; Muscles To Spare R5; Jazz Band R6; Kennairnmachmagic R6; +Max Q R9; +Major Najor R10 
    +Desert Hanover N/A
     
     
    Cartoon by Thom Pye

     
    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.