TwinSpires Blog: harness picks

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Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

POSTED Jul 27, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

The Hambletonian Trail reaches its destination next weekend, with the Cotolos on hand, live on site at the “new” Meadowlands. Our Thursday blog at TwinSpires and at the Hambletonian Trail page will cover all of the action on the strong stakes program for Saturday, Aug. 2. Remember you can read the archives of the “Trail” races for the colts and the fillies and enjoy other related features at the Hambletonian Society site.

There were no Hambletonian Oaks elims, just a prep that took place Saturday, July 26 at the Meadowlands and once again our choice won and delivered a fair price as the public dismissed her again (as the did in the Del Miller Memorial) for Designed To Be. Shake It Cerry ($6.80, $2.60, $2.60) won over the favorite for a $13.80 exacta.

Friday, July 25, we nailed the Peter Haughton Memorial elim with Centurion ATM ($8.40, $2.40, ns) with a $10.40 exacta. We were second in one Merrie Annabelle elim with Jolene Jolene ($11.60, $7) with a $25 exacta.

Back to Saturday, the “Cashman” elims found everyone on our side again, as Sebastian K ($2.20, $2.10, ns) won his split (we were fourth in the first elim).

It was Adios weekend at the Meadows and we were online live offering tweets during the stakes portion of the program and redirecting viewers to the blog analysis for the major Adios events. The Adios Final went to the dead-on favorite McWicked, with one of the three contenders we suggested could upset, Somewhere In LA ($4.40, $3.60) getting second for a $9.60 exacta. In the Adioo Volo, our choice Marathon Day ($6.60) was third. We failed to hit the board in the consolation. Our tweets for the Arden Downs resulted in only one second, Chaxiraxi Hanover ($3.40, $2.60), with an exacta worth $13.60. Those races were very chalky.

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

O’Sundland, $7.40, $4.60, $3.20 (Exacta $22), Hoosier
Request For Parole, $4.80, $3, $2.30, Mohawk

Seconds

Malak Uswaad N, $3.40, $2.40, Harrington
Bunkerhill Bill, $3, $2.80, Running Aces
Nefertiti Bluechip, $2.80, $2.50, Mohawk

Thirds

Oaklea Winfrey, $6, Georgian
Amigo Ranger, $5.20, Saratoga

News And Notes

Qualifiers at the Meadowlands on July 26 began with Hambletonian favorite Father Patrick, his mile the only prep before next week’s Hambletonian. His performance was as sterling as expected, with driver Yannick Gingras steering him around the two turns in 1:52.

The return of 2013’s champion three-year-old filly pacer, I Luv The Nitelife, was another feature of the Saturday qualifiers, winning after being nursed back from injury by trainer Chris Ryder with a smooth 1:53.2 mile.

A pair of Meadowlands Pace finalists also sparred and Lyonssomewhere got the best of JK Endofanera in a 1:51.1 mile. Trainer Jimmy Takter put the speedy colt on the lead and stayed there to rebuff JK Endofanera’s closing move.

The last of the season’s frosh divisions made up the rest of the events. Among the notables were Trond Smedshammer’s Yankee Glide colt Finish Line in 1:58.1 and his Andover Hall filly Chezando in 2:00.4. Jimmy Takter’s French Laundry, a Muscles Yankee colt, won in 2:00.1, holding off the impressive closing rush of the $175,000 Cantab Hall colt Colbert, making his very first start for Ake Svanstedt.

Pacers featured ASAP Hanover by Somebeachsomewhere, winning for the third time in morning trials, this one in 1:52.4. Linda Toscano trains the colt. Trainer Tony Alagna had a good day beginning with a pair of his pacing fillies that went to the wire together. They were Martinique and Cashaway in 1:54.1. New Jersey Sires Stakes champion Artspeak won in 1:53.2 for Alagna and A Plus completed an Alagna hat trick by winning in 1:54.1. She’s an American Ideal filly. Ed Hart’s Cam’s Card Shark colt Dealt A Winner won over Alegna’s Rock On The Hill in 1:54.2.

Last year’s Hambletonian champ, Royalty For Life, has been retired. While the four-year-old was getting ready to race in the “Cashman” he suffered a serious suspensory injury. Trainer George Duchame conferred with the owners and the decision was made that he should probably not race again. Since taking the Hambo crown, “Royalty” has had some problem or another.

He missed the Breeders Crown Final last year with a health issue, took his hiatus, turned four and came back in the Hambletonian Maturity a few weeks back, racing poorly during traffic in the crowded field. That excuse being noted, he came back to finish third in an overnight and was going into the Cashman looking for his first win of the season against some of the toughest competition he had yet to face in his short career.

With the passing of founder Bill Perretti this year, the future of one of harness racing’s most successful breeding farms is uncertain, according to USTA’s Ken Weingartner. Most of the farm’s mares and yearlings have been sold and 29-year-old Matt’s Scooter died in June. However, all farm properties are being maintained with the high standards set by Mr. Perretti and visitors are welcomed and expected during Hambletonian week to the Cream Ridge, N.J. spread.

You can stroll the grounds visit the stalls of Rocknroll Hanover, Muscles Yankee, Matt’s Scooter, Windsong’s Legacy and others. You may take a guided tour, get an update on our active stallions Lucky Chucky and Muscles Yankee, enjoy a snack and view a collection of Hambletonian and stakes race memorabilia recording the legacy of Perretti Farms. Visitors can take home a Perretti Farms hat as a memento of their visit. Visitors are welcome from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, Thursday, July 31 and Friday, Aug. 1. Please contact the farm to arrange a visit. You can call 609-259-7555 or email nicolaa@perretti.com.

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 cartoons and products, click here

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

POSTED Jun 29, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

The big news in the sport was not our repeat of a Sebastian K-to-Modern Family exacta ($7.20) but the fact that Sebastian K raced the fastest trotting mile in the history of the sport (1:49) on the Pocono five-eighths oval.

Veteran horseman and our official harness-blog cartoonist Thom Pye said, “I have lived to see the face of The Deliverer” and that is how many of us felt as we witnessed the monster mile. Amazingly enough, Sebastian K, appeared to record the trip easily and looked tremendous drawing away from Modern Family down the stretch.

The exacta did not match the one we had with the same two horses at the Meadowlands ($38) since Modern Family ($2.10, $2.10 ok) was only 6-1 and most other monies wagered across the board were on Sebastian K, who went off at 1-5 ($2.40, $2.10, $2.10 ok).

Since we are not proponents of the speed factor, the biggest news about our efforts on the Sun Stakes program were the prices for some of the winners we supported. Doo Wop Hanover’s “Hempt” consolation payoff was outrageous ($7, $4, $3). He was clearly an overlay, as was Dancin Yankee ($6.60, $4.40, $3) in the pace Invitational. As well, we watched a muscled Sweet Lou ($3.20, $2.20, $2.10) pay more than expected.

The freshman sires stakes at the Meadowlands on Friday, June 27, yielded two winners, one that was moved in a redraw for the frosh-colt pacing fields. Dealt A Winner ($8.20, $4.20, $3.20) won after being reassigned to division one. We scored, as did most bettors, in the first split for the filly pacers with Stacia Hanover ($3.20, $2.10, $2.10 ok). In the second division we were third with Smart Zone ($2.10). The single split for filly trotters gave us a hefty show price with Southwind Cartier ($9.20).

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.

The week’s results from the Hambletonian Trail blog covered the big soph-colt trot event on the Pocono program and here, too, was a surprise price for the magnificent Father Patrick ($3, $2.20, $2.10). On Sunday, June 29 at Pocono, we scored with the fillies Lifetime Pursuit ($4.80, $3.60, $3) and Shake It Cerry ($2.80, $2.20, $2.20 ok).

At Buffalo there were two splits for the colts and we only had one third with Flyhawk El Durado ($2.40).

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

Some Like It Hot, $24.20, $9.80, $5.90, Yonkers
What About Brian, $9.20, $5, $4.40, Tioga
Milliondollardad, $6.50, $2.50, $2.60 ok (Exacta $17.80), Buffalo
Geronimo Fame, $3.40, $3, $2.70, Tioga
Sling Shot Shooter, $3, $2.20, $2.20 ok, Hoosier

Seconds

Rocky Regal, $7.70, $5.40 (Exacta $21.80), Saratoga
Sassy Sarah, $2.80, $2.80 ok, Scarborough

Thirds

Insane In Spane, $7.80, Yonkers
Fresh Dream, $5.60, Pocono
Diamond Gambler, $4.60, Ocean
Lex Lugar, $3.60, Saratoga
Light N Shadow, $2.20, Meadows
Eagle Now, $2.10, Yonkers

News And Notes

Baby races at the Meadowlands on June 28 presented some fine progeny to watch as the frosh season ensues. The program began with a Cantab Hall colt, Musical Rhythm, heading to the front for a gate to wire 1:59.1 win for trainer Tony Alagna. Buzzy Sholty scored a double on the day with a nice pair of Donato Hanover fillies he trains—Donatos Babe, a 2:00.1 winner, and HS Carry On in 2:00.3

Explosive Matter-filly Shafina Hanover was a winner for Noel Daley in 2:01.1. Ake Svanstedt won the next couple. He brought a Yankee Glide filly named Thats So Ironic in 1:59.3. Lima Pride impressed for Svanstedt in 2:01.2. He’s from the first crop of Muscle Massive. Trond Smedshammer. had a winner in Buen Camino in 1:59. This is a good sized home-bred by Cash Hall

Shes Heavenly opened the pacing races with a handy 1:55.4 score. She’s another winner from the first crop of Rock N Roll Heaven. Casie Coleman sent out Oneisalonelynumber to win the tenth in 1:57. He is a Bettors Delight colt. Bedroomconfessions got a perfect trip to win convincingly in 1:55.2. She is by American Ideal and goes for trainer Tony Alagna. The day’s final race was the fastest with the Well Said colt Paparazzi Hanover winning.

After working in the breeding shed, seven-year-old trotter Wishing Stone made his 2014 racing debut in a conditioned handicap at the Meadowlands, winning at 9-1. Wishing Stone stood as a stallion at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey. He fulfilled breeding contracts for 331 doses of frozen semen overseas and bred to 30 mares in North America. He follows the racing-stallion-racing pattern as have some successes abroad, including Ready Cash, France’s richest trotter and a popular sire, Coktail Jet and Mack Lobell, who both won the prestigious Elitloppet after stud duties. Wishing Stone is well known in Europe, having competed there at four and five. In 2011 he won the French trotting race Grand Prix du Sud Ouest at 1-5/16 mile and also the King’s Trophy in Sweden. He was second in the Gran Premio Continentale in Italy. A year later he won the Copenhagen Cup in Denmark. He returned to the U.S. in August 2012 to continue his career in North America.

Dresden Raceway opens the 2014 season on July 1. After the 10-race opening card, racing will be conducted at Dresden on Sunday afternoons through Labor Day, the exception being the two holiday weekends. Dresden will race on the Aug. 4 Canadian holiday Monday and on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 1. Post time for all 11 cards of racing will be 1 p.m.

To honor one of the greatest driver careers in the history of harness racing, the Meadowlands will present an evening that will celebrate the career of Cat Manzi. On Friday, July 25, the “Cat-Man” will return to the Meadowlands, not to drive but to take part in an evening that will pay tribute to his storied career. Manzi, a winner of 14,812 races, currently third all time among North American drivers, spent many of his best years driving in the tri-state area and came to the Meadowlands during the track’s opening seasons where he finished in the top five in the driver’s standings 12 times. Manzi’s greatest win at the New Jersey oval was undoubtedly the 2006 Meadowlands Pace with Artistic Fella. After two unprecedented race accidents that came in untimely succession, Manzi decided to end his career.

Running Aces is running programs and in this week’s blog we will be adding entries to our H2W list. Again this season, we warn you to keep your eyes on horses trained by California veterans Tim Maier and Gerald Longo. The stalwart horsemen from the heydays of the West Coast harness circuit handle competitive stock at the Minnesota raceway; these pacers and trotters are often ignored by bettors on site and through the simulcast network.

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
Learn more about Pye harness art and cartoons, click here

Stakes shine in the mountains

POSTED Jun 25, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

Once again we head to the Pocono Mountains this Saturday for the sport’s features. On the chromatic dirt surface of the five-eighths mile spread of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will ride the best of last week’s elim performers for the Max Hempt, James Lynch, Earl Beal, Jr. and Ben Franklin. Covering five divisions, there will also be a a $75,000 “Hempt” Consolation and a $50,000 “Lynch” Consolation, as well as a pair of $100,000 Invitationals.

The Earl Beal, Jr. Final soph stakes are handled on our sister blog, the Hambletonian Trail. Don’t miss our exclusive coverage; click the link after you read this blog and check out the extensive analysis on that page.

On Friday, the Meadowlands presents a cavalcade of New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) freshmen, elaborating the stakes season with the youngest divisions of fillies and pacers on both gaits.

Weekdays are harness plentiful, too, check out the TwinSpires-Hoosier perks for 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.

Follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get any and all late-breaking information on racing events and betting challenges that transpire between the publications of the two TwinSpires harness racing blogs.

Pacers To The ‘Max’

Mcwicked is the standout in the $500,000 Max Hempt Final off of a 1:48 victory as the 1-5 public choice in his elimination. This race features two horses who proved they can race according to the opportunist bias present at Pocono: Cammikey and At Press Time.

There is no way this race will be given to Mcwicked like what happened in his elimination. With All Bets Off, who loves to stalk the pace, drawing post 8, this will be an all-out war on the front. Cammikey came into contention from third at the pylons and managed to finish second. At Press Time won his elim after sitting a pocket trip. These two will have a scolding pace set in front of them and are equal when it comes to their chances of winning. However, which is higher in value will be out of our hands. At this point, it seems Cammikey will be higher in price.

Lynch Ladies

The $300,000 James Lynch Final will be Uffizi Hanover’s race to win or lose, as she draws the rail off a brutal trip in the elimination. When it comes to these finals she has always been patient, from her victory in the Breeders Crown at two to a pocket trip in the Fan Hanover two weeks ago. Yet, one filly showed tremendous improvement in her elimination despite finishing second, Gallie Bythe Beach.

Pocono is known to have a bias for opportunists, it was seen nearly all night in the eliminations. Gallie Bythe Beach cut the mile in her elimination, a drastic improvement from her two other efforts of 2014. This will be a race where strategy will prevail and if John Campbell tries to stalk the leader rather than be the leader, she’ll have a chance to defeat Uffizi Hanover.

Consolations And Invitationals

The $75,000 Hempt consolation offers a cast of second-tier colts from the division, with one exception: Doo Wop Hanover. How this guy didn’t make the final remains to be explained, since he is yet to show us he is a chump. All around him in this field are plodders compared to those in the Hempt final, so launching from the 8 hole should not be a problem. It is difficult to predict a favorite here except to say that “Doo Wop” won’t be on top, giving the bettor an edge on a price because he appears to be that good.

Nine fillies that didn’t make the Lynch final have a shot at some major bucks in the Lynch consolation, worth $50,000. At 61-1 we never had a chance to witness an attempt by Katie Said, who was our second choice in her Lynch elim. Interference and a break ruined chances of seeing the final field up close. Here, the three-for-eight sophomore will be a good price because last week’s miscue may help. All in all, this is a poor group that can spawn an upset considering it may overbet a few into favoritism.

The $100,000 USTA Invitational for older pacers is wide open unless you focus upon Dancin Yankee. It is difficult to believe an 8-1-morning line on this guy, who recently won a mile on this surface in 1:47.2. He is in his best shape, though that record mile was four races back, and he is simple the best of this group and may prove it with a sweeping early move and another boiling finish but this time at a better price (he was odds on when he won his speed badge).

The Sun Invitation for trotters, also worth $100,000, will once again anoint Sebastian K and the Swedish stallion deserves it, dominating this division in three-straight wins against its toughest foes. In the “Cutler” final, we gave you the exacta with Sebastian K winning and Modern Family completing the couple. At $38 it was a steal. This could be the same situation, with Modern Family soaring to the top and cutting the quarters until Sebastian K pours on the speed inside or outside. Still, we would take “Family” to win because a nose or a whisker at Pocono can mean the difference between a whole bunch of dollars in a cashing experience. Box the exacta, though, especially if Family is, as we expect, displaying a large price to win.

Big ‘Ben’

Top, classy elders in the pacing ranks will be featured in the Ben Franklin Final. Here is an event that has soared to the top of the division’s big events with a purse of a half-million dollars. The cast this year is a compendium of talent that spans many seasons and leaves many race scenarios in play. Though these guys change crowns through the season, right now Sweet Lou is the ruler of the herd. His most recent three races have been scorching trounces of the likes of these, with the exception of Captaintreacherous.

The only pacer not on Lasix, Captaintreacherous will not race as the favorite here, as he did when he was nosed out of a win in the elim by Domethatagain (here in post 5). That one, in fact, is the least of his problems in this mile. In fact, Captaintreacherous has little to worry about when it comes to the four-year-olds in this group; his main target is Sweet Lou.

Getting a good price on Captaintreacherous will be a wonderful site but it may not be a spot for a large wager but a good spot for an exotic or two with his main nemesis. Burke is the conditioner of the first four lining up and aside from “Lou” the others can provide some traffic problems (thank goodness they are not coupled). Foiled Again, whose on-again-off-again form has no pattern, could present a lot of trouble anywhere during the mile.

Freshmen Fire At Meadowlands

First, we will evaluate the field of NJSS frosh-colt trotters in the only mile for this division; it’s worth $39,000. There are only two sires represented, as so many stallions in the state have moved and some farms have closed. Muscles Yankee is still producing Ihe has moved to New York) and now his champion son, Muscle Hill is, too (now in Pennsylvania). Five represents “Yankee” and three are from “Hill.”

Other than some baby races, these are the first frosh products to hit the track this season from either sire. There are only qualifiers and baby races to use for past-performances, which is the case for all of the frosh events on the program.

Jimmy Takter has his band of freshmen raring to go, including French Laundry in this group. The colt is coming off of two Meadowlands baby-race wins and will attract a scad of money based on that and his trainer’s brand.

Off of a single appearance, Guess Whos Back showed a wonderful attempt to finish second but that won’t get by bettors, especially with Brian Sears up for the drive. It’s Muscle Blues that captures our attention, with a marked improvement in his third baby race. Debuting with a break and coming back from it with a smooth fourth against “Laundry,” Muscle Blues showed speed and leadership next out, just nipped at the wire after leading the mile. He could be bargain even if he is the third public choice here.

The NJSS filly trot is a $38,500 affair with all seven gals by Muscle Hill. None of these come from team Takter, so the wagering may be scattered between a few, including Ron Burke’s Mission Brief and Joe Holloway’s Saturday Mornings. Still, we are going to take the outside gal, Southwind Cartier for a few reasons.

This Muscle Hill is by a Chocolatier mare and that is a combination we want to follow closely as the frosh season ensues. Both of the filly’s baby races were at Pocono and trainer D.R. Ackerman will be at the helm. Trouble on a Pocono “good” surface was solved too late in the mile to win, settling for fourth. But her debut was a very strong wire-to-wire win. It is doubtful the public handicappers or the crowd will be investing in this gal, leaving us with a fine price for a strong contender.

An octet comprise the first pacing colt split, which features a half-brother to Western Vintage, who won this race last year, Western Pioneer. Managing to drop four seconds off of his qualifier times, he’ll likely take a majority of the wagering. Yet, a few posts down from him resides Original Zin, who ships in from Philadelphia. He raced twice in qualifiers there, with his first an unappealing 2:02 effort. Returning from two weeks of rest, he paced a 1:55.2 mile, riding the pocket the whole way. His unknown connections should only inflate his price greater.

The latter split is headlined by Bruce’s Magic, who paced a 1:55.4 qualifier in wire-to-wire fashion off of a break in his first outing. Coming in off of 13 days off is Sid Rock. He’s an unusual colt in this field, since he displayed two different racing styles in his qualifiers. In his first, he came first over at three-quarters and was less than a length from victory. In his second, he came from the middle of the pack and closed to be a length off the winner. Coming back rested, he should be ready to go. Dealt A Winner should also not be discounted, since he possesses a fierce closing kick as he begins his career.

The premier division for the fillies consists of six, with one being a full sister to world-champion Put On A Show: The Show Returns. She comes off of a three-second improvement in a qualifier where she tried to go gate to wire but faltered to second. Residing at the rail is Stacia Hanover, who ships in after two strong qualifiers at Gaitway, both in wire-to-wire fashion; her most recent a 1:57 mile with a :26.4 kicker. With a filly whose pedigree has already shone in the spotlight contesting in this division, it will hopefully influence the odds to make our contender a slightly higher price.

Our eyes in the other division are on Smart Zone, who will start on the outside of her foes from post 6. She has three qualifiers under her belt, two at Pocono, and has improved in every one. Her most recent was at the Meadowlands, a 1:57.1 time with a :26.2 kicker off of a pocket trip. She is a stalking type who can keep up with the leader and then leave them in her dust. She’s dangerous and can only get better with each start.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W

Buffalo
6/28/14, +Zampano R1; +Milliondollardad R12

Hoosier
6/28/14, +Slingshot Shooter R8

Maywood
6/27/14, So Reserved R6; +Pretty Place R12; +Colefederate R13

Meadows
6/27/14,+Little Mans Magic R4; Percevt Change R8; Light N Shadow R12 +Hedges Lane R13

Ocean
6/26/14, Yacht Party R3
6/27/14, +Whitesville Ted R2
6/29/14, +Diamond Gambler R1; Starlets Toy R4; +CJ Crystal R10

Plainridge
6/28/14, Vanyar Hanover R2; +Miss Defiance R4

Pocono
6/22/14, +Petty Hanover R7; Joltin Colt R8; Fresh Dream R12; Chrome Cruiser R12

Saratoga
6/28/14, +Forty Carrots R4; +Lex Lugar R10; +Rocky Regal R12

Scarborough
6/26/14, +Im A Lucky Man ae R2
6/27/14, +Dr Prescription R3; +Sassy Sarah R6; Winbak Wildfire R8
6/28/14, Mary Rose Of Topaz R9; Heaven Touched R10

Scioto
6/26/14, Rokingcastle as R13
6/28/14, Winchester R12

Tioga
6/27/14, +Geronimo Fame R4
6/28/14, +What About Brian R1; Heidi Falls R1

Vernon
6/27/14, Choke Hold ae R4
6/28/14, +Big City Jewel R4; +Team Edward R7; +Stormin Rustler R7

Lindys Real Deal R4;; +Printing A Place R8; Caidens Colt R9

Yonkers
6/26/14, Eagle Now R4; Greystone Cash R6; Insane In Spain R9
6/27/14, Some Like It Hot R5; +Babes I Scoot R10

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.

Eliminations rock harness schedule again

POSTED Jun 18, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

Plenty of harness action ensues when a batch of eliminations are on the docket and top horses are battling for berths in the more lucrative finals the following week. This time around we have a giant program at Pocono, with elims for glamour-boy pacers and trotters, soph filly pacers and the four-and-up crew, featuring Captaintreacherous against older-than-four-year-olds.

A few of the soph stakes are handled on our sister blog, the Hambletonian Trail. Don’t miss important coverage, click the link after you read this blog and check out the action on that page.

Weekdays are harness plentiful, too, check out the TwinSpires-Hoosier perks for 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.

Follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get any and all late-breaking information on racing events and betting challenges that transpire between the publications of the two TwinSpires harness racing blogs.

Pacing Boys Review

Here come three elimination fields for the Max Hempt Memorial, each worth $25,000 and a berth in next week’s final. However, the crème de crème has skipped the trip to the Pocono Mountains after the crop went Canadian for last week’s million at Mohawk. Few North America Cup cast members take to the five-eighths oval for the “Hempt” elims, including the winner, JK Endofanera.

Consider this band of glamour-boy pacers the second tier at this point in the season. None of the “Cup” crew adorns the post positions in round one. However, a Cup elim member that did not make it to the final but demands respect is here. That’s Always B Miki, who made an uncharacteristic jump in a Cup elim and was eliminated from the final. He is quite a pacer and if that break was simply a glitch he will be a major player in this, if not the public choice. “Miki” is a good exotic key with other than At Press Time, the Ron Burke trainee that may be a sound second public choice. Limelight Beach could add value in the second spot, as may Allstar Partner, both on the brink of some major stakes attention.

In Hempt two, Western Vintage returns. Like Miki, this guy didn’t make the Cup final, finishing fourth in his elim after a wide trip and then losing the draw as a random choice for the Cup field to a far less talented one. Also missing from the Cup due to a poor start is the talented Doo Wop Hanover. It’s amazing to think that the Cup final’s favorite was Tellitlikeitis, who won the elim “Doo Wop” lost, considering Doo Wop seems far more talented. That loss should not eliminate Doo Wop from major contention here and when he makes the Hempt final. Doo Wop and “Vintage” still loom at JK Endofanera’s major foes in the division this season, so don’t count either of them out, especially if the wagering is skewed in this eight-horse field.

All Bets Off is here and although he won the “Rooney” he is yet to prove he is better than the aforementioned pair. It’s be great, however, if he winds up making them overlays by attracting too much money.

As well, Sometimes Said is back and although his Cup performance was dull, don’t toss him out in any of these contests just quite yet. When he strikes, at least the first time, he will pay a bundle. Can he do it here? Certainly, if he is fourth public choice or more.

The third Hempt split is the truly third-tier bunch. Seven of them line up, six which will bow in the betting to Mcwicked, leaving us with some great prices. This is our view because Mcwicked was such a buzz horse before he won his elim and before the final field got rolling. He is Casie Coleman’s ball of speed that can burn up during any mile, as he did in the Cup final. The crowd will cover Mcwicked with bets while we look elsewhere.

What happened to Stevensville after he decimated Hes Watching at Yonkers? That speed was made for Pocono, if it is isn’t heavily challenged. More interesting is Joe Holloway’s Stratos Hanover, who we want to catch as he is ignored among a field like this so as to pick up a great price. The chance may be in this mile, with a slightly tactical ride against speed that falters as the third turn approaches.

’Lynch’ Mob

Sophomore filly pacers are also a part of the cavalcade of eliminations set to contest on Saturday, June 21 at Pocono, with three elims for the James Lynch Memorial.

Frosh Breeders Crown elim winner Gallie Bythe Beach appears to be the one to beat in the opening elim because she has tactical speed in a race with a lot of early speed. The other filly that possesses tactical speed here is Someislandsomwhere, who displayed her foot on “sloppy” going in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) at Harrah’s Philadelphia; a winning effort. She might provide greater value in this mile but Gallie Bythe Beach will be her main foe.

The second elimination is also one which consists of speedy fillies, one being Southwind Silence, starting from post 9. This could create a faster pace that would also benefit tactical gals, one being Allstar Rating. She has been sharp all year but has yet to defeat a caliber of fillies of equivalent talent as these. Another strategic filly, one who will likely be ignored in the betting, is Katie Said. She has shown issues with her gait but has a victory in Grand Circuit competition (the Ladyship). While she is an outsider, she could perhaps be a key in the exotics.

Capping the filly events will be a match up between two sharp gals, current division-leader Uffizi Hanover and Lismore-winner Tyra. Coming off a sweep of the Fan Hanover, “Uffizi” will be the shorter price but if, after all, the better horse. She is too sharp to go against, especially when she has no definite racing style.

Underneath her, there could lay value. One contender that could provide a good exotic is Also Encouraging, who comes off of a second-place effort in the PASS. She has speed and tends to travel uncovered in pursuit of command but the ultimate goal this evening will be to make the final, something that this filly should accomplish. For a bomb, Palm Beach is also worth including. Exempting her bad draw in the Lismore final, she is a strong closer. Add on her inside draw and she could possibly provide a nice payoff underneath the one to beat.

’Captain’ Courageous

The elders of the pacing ranks will be featured in two elims for the Ben Franklin on the same night at Pocono Downs.

The opening split renews a rivalry that premiered at the end of 2014 in the Free For All Championship in November at the Meadowlands: Captaintreacherous versus Foiled Again. This race seems more like Captaintreacherous versus everyone else, since the other five horses are coming into this race sharp against older than four-year-olds (“Captain” is yet to be other than four-year-olds at three or four). Yet, Captain has braced every storm that struck him and, off of a tremendous score in the Meadowlands Maturity from post 10, nothing says he can’t navigate his way through another.

The other elim highlights the return of Sweet Lou, a champion as a freshman who has recently hit his best stride in the older division. Coming into the mile on a three-race win streak, expect him to be the overwhelming choice. Yet, that does not necessarily mean you shouldn’t bet against him. His main foe appears to be Allstar Legend, a five-year-old who has not yet faced Sweet Lou. He has speed that would fit the Pocono surface, especially if he can be given a patient drive. His speed is what killed him in his last outing at Poconon, battling to three-quarters in a :25.4 clip. Patience will be the key for Ron Burke’s other entrant.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W

Buffalo
6/20/14, +Clearly Possessed R3
6/21/14, Sand Savage R3; Zampano R7; Milliondollardad R9; The Maniac R9

Hoosier
6/20/14, +Always Wearable R8; Sand Tilly Lace R11

Maywood
6/20/14, Colefederate R2; Pretty Place R6; Big Turn On R7; Dune Dude R7;

Meadowlands
6/21/14, Rock Out R12; The X Horse R13

Meadows
6/20/14, Little Mans Magic R7; Hardwood Hanover R11; Hedges Lane R12

Ocean
6/20/14, Diamond Gambler R1; CJ Crystal R3; Whitesville Ted R9; Yacht Party ae R10

Plainridge
6/21/14, Vanyar Hanover R2; H-andharleythejet R7; Miss Defiance R7

Pocono
6/22/14, +Petty Hanover R7; Joltin Colt R8; Fresh Dream R12; Chrome Cruiser R12

Saratoga
6/21/14, Forty Carrots R4; Milliondollartouch R9; Lex Lugar R12

Scarborough
6/20/14, Winbak Wildfire R3; Dr Prescription R4; Sassy Sarah R9
6/21/14, +Signthepaige R1; JJs Jet R1; Vintage Art R6; Im A Lucky Man R7; LCBS Season R8

Scioto
6/21/14, That Friske Feeling R1; Nutmegs Gigalo R2

Tioga
6/22/14, Geronimo Fame R1; Professorsdapapers R2; McKelvie R5; Muscles To Spare R5; +It’s Bush Time R12; What About Brian R12; Heidi Falls ae R12

Vernon
6/14/14, Team Edward R4; Lindys Real Deal R4; Stormin Rustler R7; +Printing A Place R8; Caidens Colt R9

Yonkers
6/19/14, Big City Jewel R3
6/20/14, Rossini R6
6/21/14, +In A Craze R1; The Real One R2

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.

The Harness Season Heats Up

POSTED May 28, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

May bows to an extraordinary menu of harness racing features that takes us across the borders of states and countries. The older pacing hombres duke it out in Canada. State-breds battle in divisions in New York and they finalize champs in New Jersey. The glamour-boy pacers hold sway at Yonkers in the race no one expected would not include He’s Watching. More colt pacers battle in a trio of divisional stakes at Mohawk and there are more aged pacers in the Empire State on Sunday at Tioga, trotters, too.

Soph-colt-and-filly trotter’ events for the week are the contents of our seasonal blog, the Hambletonian Trail. Follow our analysis of the races featuring the eligibles to this year’s August trotting classics at The Meadowlands. For this weekend’s events, go to the “Trail” blog and peruse our analysis. Check weekdays where there are not TwinSpires blogs for other events not covered within the blog deadlines.

Also on weekdays, check out the TwinSpires-Hoosier team’s perks 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.

Follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get tips on Hoosier contenders you can use in your tickets during the promo program days. Other possibilities appear in exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list.

Molson Lava

The Molson Pace is a sizzling field of fiery and flashy pacers. A staple of the Western Fair season in Ontario is a visit from the continent’s top FFA male pacers for shares in the six-digit purse (this year it is $150,000 Canadian). This division, of course, allows for annual participation among the aged side-steppers. Defending champion State Treasurer is back, drawing the half-mile’s coveted rail position in this Friday, May 30 event.

State Treasurer is amid a great start this season, winning his most recent three, including a 1:48.3 at Mohawk. Two-time event-winner Foiled Again drew post 7 in the eight-horse field. Dancin Yankee, who set a 1:47.2 world record recently at Pocono, drew post while Bettors Edge (post 2), Bandolito (post 3), Apprentice Hanover (post 4), P H Supercam (post 6) and Captive Audience (post 8) complete the cast.

This race is all about position, speed and even endurance, since a strong early move to the outside could win it without a fierce duel. There is a case to be made for each of these, as the talent of the field goes deep, but you will have to pick a scenario for each to earn being first at the wire after four turns.

The obvious plays include last year’s winner and the fan-favorite Foiled Again but there could be a decent price on P H Supercam. He is no stranger to the format or the four turns, having won the “Levy” final against some of these, including Foiled Again, who had dominated the legs of that long series. We don’t see speed as a main ingredient for a winner and we like post 6 for a strategic moving pacer like “PH.”

On the wagering side for the evening at Western Fair, the Early Pick-4 will feature a $7,500 guaranteed pool with a $10,000 guarantee on the Late Pick-4. There’s a Super Hi-5 in Race 7, will also feature a $10,000 guaranteed pool.

The ‘Art’ Of Pacing

Standout state-bred All Bets Off drew post 4 in May 30’s $300,000 Art Rooney Pace Final at Yonkers Raceway. The absence of He’s Watching was not even predicted by this sharp blog, even though we had last week’s elim winner that soundly defeated him. He’s Watching was terrible and didn’t make the final. He is scheduled to go to Mohawk, as explained in the story on the Somebeachsomewhere elims (below).

All Bets Off, the other “Rooney” elim winner, is trained and co-owned by Ron Burke, and is a top choice in the final. Stevensville, our wire-to-wire winner against He’s Watching, goes for co-owner/trainer Ray Schnittker and should go off a lot less than he did when he won at 9-1.

Thereisapaceforus was scratched after the draw (he got post 1). That moved Maxi Bon from the “also eligible” list into the race and inside his seven rivals. That also made Maxi Bon and Gold Rocks, both trained by Tony Alagna, a coupled entry. Alagna’s third horse, Bondi Hanover, is a separate wagering interest (having separate ownership than the other pair). The field in post order: 1-Maxi Bon, 2-Bondi Hanover, 3-Gold Rocks, 4-All Bets Off, 5-Some Playa, 6-Stevensville, 7-Unlocked and 8-Ideal Fashion.

There is truly no reason that Stevensville cannot repeat his performance last week but All Bets Off is not going to allow a pace-commanding performance. Last week we liked Maxi Bon in the second elim and he was off on a productive mile before breaking badly enough to finish fifth, which was last. He should have something important to say about the result of this race and would come as no surprise to us if he won at a decent price, even if he was the third choice. We like him in tandem with Stevensville to be at the wire ahead of All Bets Off.

The $124,744 final of the Lismore, for glamour-gal fillies may offer value in the big beaten favorite that resulted in Rusty Bliss’s $62.50 place offering—we gave you that one as our second choice to Also Encouraging, the public choice that finished fourth after a wide trip trying to get the top cost her the final quarter).

Also Encouraging and It Was Fascination should create the Lismore exacta at the wire, both making amends and creating a sound exotic by beating the obvious choice of the final, Southwind Silence.

Canadian Glamour

In major prep mode for the million-plus bucks in the North America Cup elims (June 7) at Mohawk, glamour-boy pacers battle in three divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere Stake. Each split has a price tag of $75,000.

In round one, two top division colts, Jk Endofanera and Luck Be Withyou, leave from the outside posts and take with them the majority of win bets. All things being equal in their trips, we favor “Luck,” who seems to tower over the entire field. He may also be a huge favorite, so judge your own sense of value here because he could be value if “Jk” gets more than his share of the pool.

Split two could wind up the better of the trio for the bettors, as local favorite Somewhere in L A could take much more money than deserved, leaving some chunky change for others, primarily Always B Miki. He was dynamic winning in New Jersey and trainer Joe Holloway always sends his top stock out prepared to give their all. If the win money is split between “L A” and Burke’s Somestarsomewhere, “Miki” could be a strong second or third choice.

The last in the triptych is an essential test for He’s Watching. He has to produce here, else he loses more than the race; he will have to begin dismounting his pre-ordained throne as the divisions’ best. Certainly a trip to the “Cup” elims would seem moot if he races anywhere near how he did in the Rooney elim. Also missing here is National Debt, who has had his own troubles with miscues in his soph debut.

This looks to us like a perfect field for Jet Airway to fool the bettors and the foes. He was very good as our 21-1 choice in a Simpson split at the Meadowlands where he finished second and is improving with every contest. The price will be right.

Jersey Champs

The New Jersey Sires Stakes championships for sophomores on both gaits is a feature on May 31 at the Meadowlands (see the trotting ranks at the Hambletonian Trail blog).

The $100,000 affairs for colt pacers hosts a small field of five and offers a duel that may ensue through the season, with up-and-coming Doo Wop Hanover and posturing Western Vintage. The latter has been made an overwhelming favorite and that may be obvious now that He’s Watching had a less-than-brilliant debut as a sophomore. “Doo Wop” must prove, without “Vintage” making a gait mistake, that he is better going eye to eye. Either way, it is a race to watch for future performances of the other three, rather than bet against either of the top two.

The fillies’ final brings up a possibility that has a few layers of support. Highland Rockstar is competitive, though not yet a winner among winners, that has had a number of excuses against the likes of this group. One huge and unfair negative that the bettors lay upon him is his driver, veteran Mike Lachance. Mike’s current win record at the Meadowlands is one for 81, so the bettors have put the classy veteran to pasture when they should be respecting his prowess based on his sterling experience, especially in high-pursed affairs. This makes for a terrific overlay in a field where no one filly has a distinct advantage, certainly not concerning a driver or breeding. It would be just like life to find Lachance in the winners’ circle with this enormously paying filly and a slew of so-called smart handicappers scratching their heads while you and I collect.

Easy Rollin’

The $160,000 Roll With Joe mile for FFA pacers is Sunday’s big event at Tioga. If they weren’t in the Molson Pace on Friday, chances are they are in New York for this 10-horse fiesta. Sweet Lou comes straight off of his Meadowlands jaunt last week in the Open; he has two wins in five starts this season and has only been off the board once. State-champ Heston Blue Chip is ready to challenge, himself two for five and in tune with this group that teeters on the 1:50 mile mark.

With five wins in 14 starts this season, Dovuto Hanover may be potent here, certainly at a price. He had a lot of trouble at the Meadowlands, suffering major path problems, in an Open and then was battered from post 8 last week (at 55-1) against “Lou.” His pacing, however, is not a product of insipid speed; he is fast and in the right spot will fire. This could be the right spot.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W

Buffalo
5/31/14, +Release The Terror R1; +Rafferty Hanover R5; +Wolf Angus R10

Hoosier
5/29/14, +Ponda Premier R12

Maywood
5/29/14, +Badlands Lady R9
5/30/14, Baksidebar Nlounge R2; +Irish Raider R3; Dunside Art R4; Freshman Phenonom R8; +Fox Valley George R9; +Sealark Hanover-ae-R11

Meadowlands
5/30/14, +Upfrontsthegold R10
5/31/14, +Hilarious Halo R10

Meadows
5/30/14, Bootswiththefur-ae-R2; +Incredible Dragon R7; Hep R10; Ismrbellatou R12; Petty Hanover R12; Bessie R13; Martini Twist R14

Plainridge
5/31/14, Nanettes Nordic R6; +Best Of Curragh R7; +Fedigan’s Glory R8; Scarab Begonia R8

Pocono
5/31/14, +St Lad’s He Man R5

Rosecroft
5/31/14, +Diamond Gambler R4; New Girlfriend R4

Saratoga
5/30/14, Mcattee R3; Swift Slide R12

Scarborough
5/30/14, Cranmeadow Express R1
5/31/14, Cyclone Pass R2; Shoot First R3; +Ladyofcastlebrook-ae- R5; Wandasbettorchoice R6; +Jitterbug Hanover R7; Electric Mayhem R7

Scioto
5/30/14, +Action-broadway R3

Tioga
5/31/14, Wannabearockstar R8

Yonkers
5/29/14, +Olive Oyle R6
5/30/14, +Mugshot Jess R2; Dragon Ridge R4; +Monkey On My Wheel R6; +Political Desire R11

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

POSTED May 25, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

We were back on track with across-the-board payoffs on the holiday weekend, striking at many North American tracks in stakes and overnights with profitable accuracy. Let’s review the week in chronological order, beginning with the pre-alert races from our Hambletonian Trail blog on Wednesday, May 21.

There were two Grand Circuit soph-colt trotting events at Pocono, highlighted by the return of Father Patrick. He won easily in round two ($2.10, $2.10, no show) but for TwinSpires harness blog readers he did not make it to the top of the headlines. For our wagering pleasure, we nailed the first round with our choice, Auspicious Hanover ($31.60, $4, $3).

Friday, May 23 at Tioga, two New York Sires Stakes featuring Hambletonian Trail colts won a pair, each out choices. Flyhawk El Dorado ($4.10, $2.20, $2.50 ok) and Expressing Action ($5.50, $3.50, $3.40) were impressive winners in their miles if not in their prices.

Friday at the Meadowlands in the first of two New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) divisions for colt trotters, we were second with Sumatra ($8, $4.80)—keep note of some delicious place prices on our choices in the stakes as well as below on the list for our horses to watch (H2W). In the soph-filly event, our top choice Heaven’s Door finished second but was disqualified and placed 10^th. However, our second choice, Cee Bee Yes, won ($12.40, $6.20, $3). Then, we were second in the next colt affair with 23-1 Resolve ($7, $4), with the favorite on top for an exacta of $15.40.

Saturday, May 24 actions, more wagering opportunities continued to deliver winners. The highlight of the night was our prediction at Yonkers that the industry-anointed soph-colt pacer, He’s Watching, would not win his “Rooney” elimination. We challenged him with Stevensville, who out-paced the 1-9 He’s Watching in a wire-to-wire sprint. Stevensville paid $21.60 (no place or show betting). He’s Watching put in a terrible performance, behooving his driver and trainer and he did not make next week’s Rooney final field. If something is wrong beyond our evaluation, which is predicated upon his talent and not a health malady, we have not heard the details.

We finished second in the second Rooney elim with Some Plana ($3.90, no show betting) with the favorite on top for an exacta of $8.30. Our first choice broke and was eliminated.

Two Lismore elims for the soph-filly pacers were highlighted at Yonkers by the second round, which rocked the toteboard when Also Encouraging faded to fourth at three-quarters after a strenuous start on the outside to get the lead. She was our first choice, turning into the huge favorite by the crowd. But, our second choice, Rusty’s Bliss, finished second and because Also Encouraging was off the board, Rusty’s Bliss paid an astounding $62.50 to place. There was no show betting.
Across the river at the Meadowlands Saturday, we wound up with a boxed-exacta win in a NJSS for filly pacers with our choice, Blixtra ($7.60, $5) topped by our second choice, the public favorite Act Now ($2.80, $2.20, $2.20 ok), which paid $24.60.

In the colt NJSS we were second with Dancin Hill ($2.40, $2.10). However, our second choice, Doo Wop Hanover won ($3.40, $2.20, $2.10) and our third choice was third (Rock Out $2.20), making for the trifecta ($16.80) elements.

Neither of our colt-pacing Pocono Cup choices was on the board at Pocono that same evening.

Sunday’s Maxie Lee Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia found us third to Market Share, the crowd choice, with DW’s NY Yank ($4.60). In the Betsy Ross that day, we were fourth with Monkey On My Wheel.

Along the Hambletonian Trail (blog now active) in cooperation with TwinSpires, you can read the race stories and data on the history of the August classics at the Hambletonian Society 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.

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

H2W RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas are included when a H2W horse finishing first or second completes the result with a race favorite or another H2W horse listed in the same race (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete the exacta).

Winners

Case Dismissed, $76.40, $27.40, $6.60 (Exacta $211.40), Meadows
Lukes Raoule, $25.40, $8.40, $4.40, Rosecroft
A Fool For Mark, $17, $7.80, $8.40 ok, Scarborough
Grix Gadoo, $6.60, $3.60, $3.40, Scarborough
Areyouinorout, $4.60, $3.50, $3.80 ok, Buffalo
Dew N Doughnuts, $4.60, $2.60, $2.20, Meadows

Seconds

Bettor’s Night, $10.20, $4, Scarborogh
Jitterbug Hanover, $9, $2.80, Scarborough
Shenandoah Tomcat, $7.40, $2.80, Rosecroft
Noble Warrawee, $6.30, $3.80 (Exacta $12.20), Yonkers
St Lads He Man, $6.20, $4, Pocono
Time Stood Still, $5.90, $3.90 (Exacta $14.40), Tioga
Ramblingamblinman, $4.80, $5.20 ok, Pompano
Sealark Hanover, $4.80, $3.20 (Exacta $15.80), Maywood
Rafferty Hanover, $4.30, $4, Buffalo
Here’s Ethel, $4, $3.60, Meadows
Bonos Lassie, $3.80, $3.20 (Exacta $14.40), Hoosier
Mcgreat, $3.20 n/s, Pompano
Political Desire, $3, $2.20
Sometimes Said, $2.60, $2.40, Meadowlands
Its Bush Time, $2.30, $2.60, Saratoga
Gonna Rock N Roll, $2.10, $2.10, Pocono

Thirds

Fox Valley George, $13, Maywood
Jaipur, $6.30, Tioga
Another Beauty, $5.80, Maywood
Racin For Gold, $5.80, Pompano
Fedigan’s Glory, $3.60
Best Of Curragh, $3, Plainridge
Bagel Man, $2.20, Harrington

News And Notes

Captaintreacherous lost a qualifier to Foiled Again but only by a whisker. The two dueled at the Meadowlands as if it were a betting race, showing that they have the genes of champions.

Foiled Again was tuning up to travel north for another Molson Pace at Western Fair. The May 30 event will feature the two-time Molson champ in his sixth Molson appearance. Last year’s winner, State Treasurer will be back, along with PH Supercam, the “Levy” winner, Dancin Yankee and Apprentice Hanover, as well as Captive Audience, Bettors Edge and Bandolito. Watch for our analysis in the Thursday, May 29 blog.

Kawartha Downs’ owner Skip Ambrose said that live harness racing will take place at the Ontario five-eighths mile track this summer due to an agreement reached with the Ontario Racing Commission. The tentative schedule calls for racing every Saturday night from June to October (race dates are to be announced within the next week pending approval of the track’s license. The full schedule for Kawartha Downs’ 2014 season, which will be the 42nd year of harness racing, will be released shortly.

Mohawk Raceway is back in action, hosting its 51^st season. The 102-day meet will kicked off last week; live racing will be held five nights a week on Mondays, Tuesdays (except May 27 and Oct. 7), Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Each race night will have a 7:25 p.m. first race post time. The most anticipated event on the stakes calendar is the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup, featuring the season’s three-year-old pacers to that point, Saturday, June 14. The evening will offer a special post time of 6:45 p.m. Watch the TwinSpires harness blog for complete coverage, beginning with eliminations on Belmont Stakes weekend.

Other major stakes at Mohawk will be the Maple Leaf Trot (Saturday, July 19), the Metro Pace, Canadian Pacing Derby and Shes A Great Lady Stakes (Saturday, Aug. 30) and the Canadian Trotting Classic, Elegantimage Stakes, Peaceful Way Stakes and William Wellwood Memorial (Saturday, Sept. 13).
There have been few disappointments in the pari-mutuel debuts of last year’s divisional heroes and heroines. As of this writing, Shake It Cerry, Western Vintage, Father Patrick, Shebestingin, Somwerovrarainbow, Maven and Market Share have all come back sharp and looking in fine fettle to take on the new season.

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

Sophomore Serenades

POSTED May 21, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

The Grand Circuit is offering plenty of purse-filled action for sophomores on the Memorial Day weekend (in the U.S). Harrah’s Philadelphia presents two six-digit events on Sunday, May 26: the Maxie Lee Memorial for Open trotters and the Betsy Ross for mare pacers.

The weekend starts with soph-colt-and-filly-pacer stakes at Yonkers with Art Rooney and Lismore elims. More sophomores rattle their sulkies with Historic events at Pocono and New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) at the Meadowlands on Saturday.

Soph-colt-and-filly trotters continued to be covered throughout the week on our spin-off blog, the Hambletonian Trail. Follow the divisional races and the eligibles to this year’s August trotting classics at The Meadowlands. For this weekend’s events, go to the “Trail” blog and peruse our analysis. Check weekdays where there are not TwinSpires blogs for other events not covered within the blog deadlines.

Also on weekdays, check out the TwinSpires-Hoosier team’s perks 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.

Follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get tips on Hoosier contenders you can use in your tickets during the promo program days. Other possibilities appear in exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list.

Pacers Clamoring

The sophomore debut of He’s Watching takes place on his home turf in New York at Yonkers Raceway as he leads a list of 11 three-year-old colts in the 23^rd edition of Yonkers’ Art Rooney Pace. The total purse of this season’s “Rooney” is $380,000, with a pair of $40,000 elimination races Saturday, May 24. The first four finishers in each round qualify for the final, programmed for Saturday, May 31.

The elims –races 9 and 11—present He’s Watching from post 2 in the opening round against (in post order) Unlocked, Forty Five Red, Gold Rocks and Stevensville. Ray Schnittker trains Stevensville, who has won one of two in his debut soph season and is a very fast hombre. The cards stack for He’s Watching but readers of the TwinSpires harness blog know that we are not as buzzed about him as industry members. This is why we are going with Stevensville to upset He’s Watching’s first soph outing. Even from post 7, Stevensville could prove a major problem for anyone in the field and if he is getting better then we better be with him before he proves he is a major match for He’s Watching.

The second elim features Ideal Fashion, Some Playa, All Bets Off, Thereisapaceforus and Maxi Bon. This is a difficult race to predict betting activity. However, Maxi Bon should get action, being the top earner of the quintet for trainer Tony Alagna. Keep an eye out for Some Playa to be a second or third choice. If ignored, he could turn out to be the bet. The public may put too much money on Ron Burke’s entry, All Bets Off, and that could create fair odds for the other two mentioned if they are second-or lower choices.

The $124,744 final of the Lismore for soph-filly pacers is also on May 31. This Saturday it also offers two elims, worth $20,000 each to decide the final’s field.

The first elim features It Was Fascination, Bettor Business, A Little Starstruk, Southwind Silence and Palm Beach. It’s tight, for sure, with only five gals. But it may be best to hope for decent odds on the filly debut of It Was Fascination. Alegna may have her primed and from the Yonkers rail she could sail home easily.

Five others make up the second elim and Casie Coleman’s Also Encouraging is bound to be the choice with two starts and two wins already in 2014. She faces Tyra, JK Molly, Gentlemen’s Delight and Rusty’s Bliss, none of which have won this season in two to four starts. There will be no encouraging price for Also Encouragement so as a key you may want to use Rusty’s Bliss to get a piece of the late action for a decent exacta.

History Ensues

The Grand Circuit’s Historic Series continues at Pocono with the Pocono Cup (formerly the Jersey Cup), featuring two $36,000-plus divisions for glamour-boy pacers.

The first split should see Jk Endofanera take a slew of win bets. He won his debut and has been highly rated by prognosticators of the division this year. But we will take the oddly named The Lunch Pail, a Joe Holloway-trained youngster that is showing he wants to make some money this season. He has been off the board only once in six starts and may be every bit as good as “Jk.” Again, we would want to get him on the improve and this is a chance at a price.

Fire In The Belly was set to go on the H2W list after some tough trips. Still, he has won six of nine for Jim King, Jr. The crowd will probably go for Takter’s duo, no doubt a classy pair, but uncoupled they could get too much attention and send some odds up on “Fire.” Holloway has another here—Stratos Hanover—and you can bet he will be gunning and have something to say about the top three at the finish.

Philadelphia Fights

Harrah’s Philadelphia hosts two giant miles for aged trotters and aged mare pacers on Sunday, May 25. The men ramble in the Maxie Lee Invitational and the women wrestle in the Betsy Ross, both stakes with a purse of $250,000.

The usual suspects are at hand for the man war, minus the so-far dominant Sebastian K. Market Share is here, off of his bad behavior in the “Cutler” and Sevruga gets the rail while Arch Madness has more to deal with from post 8 than his current form. Takter puts Not Afraid in, Opening Night returns, along with Daylon Magician (who just won at the Meadows), Undercover Strike and DW’s NY Yank.

Market Share and Sevruga, on their best behaviors, have the edge here but the crowd will see that and hammer them. Beware, however, of Burke’s DW’s NY Yank. He might be as big here as we expected him to race in his Cutler elim. Certainly, he will be a good price against the proposed top two. This race could produce some traffic and that would be good if “Yank” can stay out of the dueling and shuffling.

The Betsy Ross cast is also familiar by now from escapades at Yonkers’ Matchmaker Series. One of those, Casie Coleman’s Monkey On My Wheel, may find a perfect spot to beat the speed here. With Shebestingin flying on the outside to get position, Anndrovette in gear to try a steal from the top, Drop The Ball ready to duel that one and the back field of Jerseylicious and Rocklamation timing their closes, “Monkey” could be in a perfect spot at a perfect price to take advantage of those too speedy and those too late.

Jersey Boys

A $48,500 NJSS mile for soph-colt pacers is leg two for the division of Jersey-breds. One would imagine that Doo Wop Hanover will be at least as well supported here as he was last week, with Rock Out probably the second choice again (the two race uncoupled for trainer Steve Elliot). This leaves plenty of wagering space for lightly raced Dancin Hill to serve notice on the division. There is little else flashing about any of the others, most of which have few if more than a maiden victory to their freshman seasons.

Jersey Girls

The second NJSS leg for soph-filly pacers presente two splits worth $26,000 each.

In the first round there are three Burke trainees, two coupled, in the seven-filly field. Last week we liked the debut of Ideal Helen but she did not care to participate as we hoped and lost at 37-1. Let’s toss that out and see if trainer Erv Miller sends her into the thick of it in this less-than-stellar group.

Round two brings back Blixtra, who we liked two back but not in the first leg, where performed well enough to finish second at 30-1 but was placed eighth for bad behavior. Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt may find that the filly’s odds are high again due to that incident and that is what we want in order to back her again. The other danger is Act Now, who was soaring late in the first leg and has plenty of frosh back class.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W

Buffalo
5/23/14, Wolf Angus R11
5/24/14, Adelia’s Prince R5; Release The Terror R7; Rafferty Hanover R11; Areyouinorout R13

Harrington
5/25/14, +Bagel Man R4

Hoosier
5/22/14, Bond’s Lassie R3

Maywood
5/23/14, Badlands Lady (ae) R1; Another Beauty R2; Sealark Hanover R5; Fox Valley George R11; +Zumba R12

Meadowlands
5/24/14, Sometimes Said R12

Meadows
5/23/14, Case Dismissed R1; Dew N Doughnuts R8; +Mateo M R11; +Incredible Dragon (as) R14; +Strother R14; +Here’s Ethel R15

Plainridge
5/24/14, Best Of Curragh R3; Fedigan’s Glory R6

Pocono
5/24/14, St Lad’s He Man R3

Pompano
5/24/14, Mcgreat R1; Ramblingamblinman R4; Racin For Gold R7

Saratoga
5/22/14, Its Bush Time R10
5/23/14, Political Desire R9

Scarborough
5/23/14, +Grix Gadoo R8
5/24/14. Ladyofcastlebrook R1; Jitterbug Hanover R2; +Bettor’s Night R3; Electric Mayhem R4; +A Fool For Mark R7

Scioto
5/23/14, +Upfront Miss Major R6

Tioga
5/23/14, Time Stood Still R1
5/25/14, +Candid Man R3; +Jaipur R4

Vernon
5/23/14, +Quickway R3
5/24/14, Glide Speed R7

Yonkers
5/22/14, Olive Oyle R3; +Mcnickles Mcdimes R4; Dropping Star R6
5/23/14, Sign Of The Moment R1; Mugshot Jess R2; +Noble Warrawee R2

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.

State-bred Sophs On Parade; Tremendous Trotters Take To The Track

POSTED May 14, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

Grand Circuit (GC) action for three-year-olds on and off the Hambletonian is some of the lucrative action on the bill this coming weekend. Young pacers and trotters, colts and fillies, including many of last year’s top stars, joust for big purse money in sires stakes from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Soph-colt-and-filly trotters are covered on our spin-off blog, the Hambletonian Trail, where you can follow divisional races with eligibles to this year’s August trotting classics at The Meadowlands. For this weekend’s events, go to the “Trail” blog and peruse our analysis. Check in between blogs, too, since some events covered will not fall into our regular weekly scheme.

Also on weekdays, check out the TwinSpires-Hoosier team’s perks 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.

Follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get tips on Hoosier contenders you can use in your tickets during the promo program days. Other possibilities appear in exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list.

Trot Transformers

The A.J. Cutler Final is the feature this Saturday at the Meadowlands. A cast of mighty side-steppers takes a shot at the $175,000 purse. The focus will be on world-record breaker Sebastian KS and Hambo-winner-turned-aged-monster Market Share. Last week in an elim, Ake Svanstedt’s Swedish trotter tied the record for fastest trotting mile, cutting through the night to win in 1:50.1. Market Share won the other elim and in the final they leave from posts 1 and 2, respectively.

Arch Madness, a star in his own right, is also here. He was second to Market Share last week and has come back to the races at 10 with a vengeance. Modern Family made the final, as did our two choices from the elims, DW’s NY Yank and Undercover Strike, along with Possessed Fashion, Archangel, Intimidate and last year’s winner, Sevruga.

Long prices will be spread out across this field, for sure, but how high will be considered value if the top two don’t bounce from their soaring wins last week? Drivers on all trotters other than the top two are probably hoping for divine intervention. Certainly Modern Family will leave hard and try to get to the top but what will that cost him in real estate? It will give Sebastian KS great cover. There are enough mid-race movers here to give Market Share a covered second-over trip, with Arch Madness hoping for similar assistance coming from behind. This is where the race will be won or lost, since so many of these guys like to start their engines late. If Modern Family gives Sebastian KS the cover he needs, he could break last week’s speed mark by sitting cold until the charging begins. Nothing short of a major speed duel will ruin his mile and nothing short of putting him in irons will keep Modern Family on the lead past the finish line.

With Sebastian KS as a key for exotics you may wish to hope for Market Share to have trouble with all of the closers and be nosed out late. If Modern Family can hold on to second or third, all you need is another lightly supported trotter to come up with a decent priced triple. It’s your choice which or how many to join in the multi-horse exotics with Modern Family and Sebastian KS. It is the only way we see getting some decent payoff for your efforts.

Jersey Boys

A $50,500 New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) mile for soph-colt pacers features the return of Western Vintage, our choice to head the division this season—all he has to do is pace. This guy was dynamic last season when he was on gait. He has jumped in one of his three qualifiers prepping to debut at three and the two he won were gorgeous miles. What we hope is that all the recent predictions for soph heroes, most of which have not placed him on top, will allow for a decent price in this fray.

Jersey Girls

NJSS split one for the filly pacers goes for $27,500. Gettingreadytoroll should go off the public’s choice off of her “Reynolds” win last week, where Rockingcam Park was second and should inherit second choice by the public. How the public supports Ideal Helen, debuting her soph season after a strong frosh season, remains to be seen. But if a good price, even as third choice, surfaces, we trust she will be ready to rear her class and win.

Split two is worth $27,000 and appears more contentious than split one. Last week we afforded Blixtra a shot with Sebastian KS’s Svanstedt aboard. At 15-1 she was buried on the inside and not with much force to close. Ron Burke has three in here, two coupled, but we like the looks of Boxed Chocolate, a well-bred Jersey gal that shows mild success in the Midwest and may embrace this mile track after battles at Balmoral. She should get little support due to her first visit here and her trainer, Todd La Fontaine, who is a stranger among the likes of Burke, Alagna and Sholty.

Keystone Colts

Three $66,000-plus PASS miles for soph-colt pacers bred in the state are on the Pocono program May 17. This is the glamour-boy division’s debut among their hometown cohorts.

Split one presents a probable favorite that almost won for us at the Breeders Crown when we reported live from Pocono on a rainy evening of finals. Sometimes Said was second at 34-1 to the great Luck Be Withyou. After his first win at three he joins the stakes ranks again for trainer Jim Campbell. Limelight Beach is his main rival here, so we will go beyond and take a price with Seventh Secret. He is consistent and should improve as he races more with the big boys, so he could upset the top two. There is a good triple with him and the other two, especially with Seventh Secret the key.

The second PASS episode is tightly contended, though the public will lean toward Pierce (the horse, not the driver), Cannikey and Maxi Bon. This could, however, be a great stage for Mojito Hanover, largely dismissed last out because he only broke his maiden two races back, and Mattaerican, a beaten favorite that suffered a rough middle mile at the Meadows last week. “Mojito” should be the outcast of the two and worth a shot.

The nightcap PASS is bound to be a wagering carnival for Somewhere in LA, that one coming from Canada where he won the Diplomat Series Final over a suspiciously awkward National Debt. Somestarssomewhere makes his soph debut and should suck in some bets but we like the 7, Parnu Hanover and the 8, Playerosa. The former meets softer here and was 2-1 against Sometimes Said (from split two) and probably will be disrespected by bettors. Playerosa will definitely be dismissed and among the longer shots, most likely having better chances than his odds indicate.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W

Buffalo
5/17/14, Gus Is All Lane R2

Freehold
5/16/14, Her Ideal Hanover R1; +Moon Lake R6; Dropping Star R9
5/17/14, Cheyenne Patti R13

Hoosier
5/15/14, +Four Boys R11; +Royal Heart R11; Cantabs Pride R12

Maywood
5/15/14, Prince Ponder R9
5/16/14, Zumba R3; +Dontmesswith Angel R3; +Makena Cat R3 +Josting Jack R5; +Tiza Mojo R9; +Pure Smoke R11

Meadowlands
5/16/14, +Hot List R9; +Clementine Dream R3
5/17/14, Word Power R2; Hilarious Halo R14

Meadows
5/16/14, Our Crown Law N R3; Heres Ethel R6; Case Dismissed—ae—R14; Incredible Dragon R15
5/17/14, Fun N Pleasure R6; Obee R7; Mateo M R12

Plainridge
5/17/14, Wishful Desire R4
5/18/14, Ornate Hanover R2; +Fantastic R3; +Roundaboutmidnite R7

Pocono
5/18/14, BL Class Act R3

Saratoga
5/15/14, Major Way R8
5/17 Major Way R13

Scarborough
5/17/14, +Flash’s Camilla R1; Ladyofcastlebrook R2; Bettor’s Night R3; A Fool For Mark R9

Tioga
5/17/14, Jaipur R3; Magnum Kosmos R8

Vernon
5/15/14, +Highway R8

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.

Series In The Spotlight

POSTED Mar 12, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

This weekend the Meadowlands kicks off a few more traditional late-winter series for three-year-old-and up trotters, the Horse & Groom, and three-and four-year-old pacers, the Clyde Hirt. The Winter Survior Claiming series for soph and older pacers is also featured.

We once again highlight specific races from the Meadows on Friday, March 14 and we have added many names to our exclusive horses to watch (H2W) list presented exclusively below. Be aware of the members of this list since each week they provide more than wins, places and shows (and some of the place and show prices have been extremely profitable across-the-board investments) they participate in creating exactas every week. Please note that horses from our featured overnight events the week before appear on the H2W list as second-time members if they did not win when we highlighted their previous race.

Meadowlands Episodes

Friday, March 14, trotters and pacers battle in series divisions.

The Horse & Groom Series for trotters three and up offers two divisions, each worth $20,000, with entries going for their first serious event of the season. There are no sophs in the first leg but four-year-old Crosbys Clam Bake could make enough noise here to upset as an outside contender. At Woodbine he raced with better fields and his first in the states, at the Meadows, was a loss at about this level but with an excuse being short.

In the second division, Cajole Hanover should be one of the top three supported and needs respect after a bad break took him out of the “Singer” as a major overlay of 13-1. With Time To Quit, a fan favorite with a lot of success early this year, right behind him, it may be a good time for “Cajole” to beat him (he is always close when flat against that one).

The Winter Survivor Series gives some older, workhorse pacers, a chance at some decent money, with $15,000 prizes for these divisions and a chance at the final for more. In division one Saturday, Subliminal Hanover could offer a surprise for two reasons. First, he raced far better than 80-1 last week and he has been competitive at the $15,000 claiming level. Secondly, Marcus Miller is listed to drive and that will not sit well with fans who place a premium on which driver steers which horse. We’ll trust Marcus far more than the public and thank him for upping the price.

In the second division we trust Marcus Miller again as he aims to sweep the series divisions tonight with Highland Boreas. Up from Pompano, where he was popular as a claim and did well for his connections, he raced with two moves here last week to be second at 21-1. That was not a fluke, he is a contender and may be dismissed by the crowd for the morning-line choices.
Saturday, March 15, the Meadowlands presents two legs of the Clyde Hirt Series for three- and four-year-old pacers, with $20,000 in the prize bag for each. In the first split, Nathaniel B continues to improve after competitive affairs at Dover and last week he pushed the outside too much and lost ground late. He should be racing more like he did before he got to New Jersey, winning two straight on the improve.

In the second episode, Brees Creek returns from a hole-in-the-wind trip last week, finishing second and may not be overlooked by the crowd but still worth what they offer, considering a few others here that bettors may find impress them. Watch the board, there is always a chance this one gets away from them.

This week’s overnight offerings:

Meadows
March 14, Race 5

In a strange twist of events, local hero Dave Palone gets aboard the horse we feel will be the best outside contender—if the presence of Palone doesn’t affect the odds. The horse is Elian’s Ponda and we can only hope that the morning-line (ML) favorite, Allstar Survivor, will get a lot more action than Palone’s charge, even though “Allstar” will start from outside post 9. Actually, there is a chance that Allstar will go under the radar, leaving Depp Blue the crowd’s choice. That would be good for Elian’s Ponda because if the gelding goes smoothly, he is as good as any of this field’s participants.

Toss out that tough March 7 affair, where he dueled early and broke late. Toss out the Feb. 21 mile, where he was well supported but trotted out of steam from a first-over trip. And dismiss the dead halt in the Valentine’s Day race, which may have been a result of the sloppy track. If he can race back to the Jan. 31 win, he wins, and this time not as the big favorite (we hope). Should Allstar be overlooked, get an exacta going with him.

Meadows
March 14, Race 11

Hawaii And Sun steps up a tad but is a horse on the upswing and looks as if he may be an outside contender in the betting. His March 5 win was fabulous, using a giant brush to dominate the field halfway through and hold on though wide. The race before that can be forgiven, getting the 9 hole after taking a breather and delivering a competent qualifier at Northfield. Before that he had two excuses for losing and a just-miss win last year. And he was well supported along the way. Hopefully, the crowd will like the inside horses better and leave us to attempt a great cash on the ignored contender.

Race 11 starts the Meadows’ 50-cent Pick 5. If you are looking for live horses that can bring the payoff up, add Hawaii And Sun; TSM Warhol T in the second leg; Nottin To Much in leg three; D Mac (a H2W member) in leg four; and Truth To Power in the last leg.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “AE” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W

Cal Expo
3/14/14, Lust R6; Mystically Mine R6; Jinn’s Fantasy R8; Missys Diamond R13

Dover
3/13/14, +Steady Pulse R4
3/16/14, Snowball’s Keeper R3; Briteolive R8

Freehold
3/13/14, Lemon Drop Hall R6; Danishdujour R9
3/15/14, Docdor Laughing R2; Pacific Escape R8; GW Gizmo R11

Meadowlands
3/13/14, Sturdy As A Hall R3; Blue Fin R8
3/14/14, Stonebridge Classy R1
3/15/14, Quinnman R6; Between Me And You R10

Meadows
3/14/14, +Incredible Dragon R4; +D Mac R14

Miami Valley
3/13/14, Alluring Art R6
3/15/14, Ventura Highway R1; +Woop D Do Bazzle R2

Pompano
3/15/14, Premier R1; Avantage R3; Skad’s Winner R6; Waldy Jimmy R8; Make You Famous R8

Rosecroft
3/15/14, Doomsday Hanover R7; Caviat Lindy R8; TN Starbuck R9; Nuclear Standoff R10; Wicked Persuasion R12

Saratoga
3/15/14, +Windy City Ron R4; +Real Yankee Fan R6 ; Muncie—AE—R6; +Sand Summerfield R9

Yonkers
3/13/14, Ladys Bag Man R3
3/14/14; Canbec Fidolin R4; +Blacktuxwhitesox R11
3/15/14, Ethan Hanover R2

Ray Cotolo contributed to each Thursday edition.

TwinSpires.com Blog

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

Stakes shine in the mountains

Eliminations rock harness schedule again

The Harness Season Heats Up

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

Sophomore Serenades

State-bred Sophs On Parade; Tremendous Trotters Take To The Track

Series In The Spotlight

Contributors

Derek Simon

Frank Cotolo

Ed DeRosa

Peter Thomas Fornatale

Jill Byrne