Showing posts with label pocono downs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pocono downs. Show all posts

  • Money Miles On Tap

    POSTED Sep 3, 2014 By Frank Cotolo

    As September enters its first weekend, we stay in Canada for a number of Grand Circuit (GC) stakes at Mohawk. There are numerous co-stars this weekend; all in the U.S., with sires stakes championships from Indiana and Pennsylvania (there are others, such as Ohio, but selections for those are included in the horses-to-watch—H2W—list below).

    Champlain and Simcoe GC events for Sept. 6 at Mohawk will be covered on our exclusive blog, this year’s Breeders Crown Countdown, now on line. We link to it from this main blog for coverage of races through the rest of the season leading to the championship events in November, in cooperation with the Hambletonian Society and TwinSpires.

    Check out TwinSpires-Hoosier Park’s 10-percent bonus for hitting Pick 4s every night there is racing at the Indiana track. And, of course, our horses-to-watch list (H2W) offers live contenders for win, place, show and exotics from tracks across the continent.

    Of course, the H2W list rolls on through the ninth month with suggested contenders that may complement your win, place, show and exotic combos at many harness tracks across North America.

    The ‘Wellwood’ Gang

    Last week’s Metro Pace highlighted the frosh-colt pacers with their biggest purse and strongest challenge to date. This week, on Sept. 5 at Mohawk, frosh-trotting colts go in a pair of $30,000 elims to meet their greatest challenge yet, the William Wellwood Memorial (WWM) Final, next week.

    There are only six colts in the first elim but none in the sextet can be easily dismissed. They are green and relatively unpredictable but not without their strengths already displayed through the first half of the season.

    Jimmy Takter’s Uncle Lasse is bound to get a lot of win coverage and not just for the trainer’s reputation. In the Donato Hanover product’s recent race he won smoothly at Pocono after strong battles (finishing second) with Centurion Atm in the “Haughton” elim and final at the Meadowlands.

    Ron Burke’s Habitat has won three of five on a road tour, including a Champlain at Mohawk, a Tompkins at Tioga and a Kindergarten at the Meadowlands. There will be pennies between the odds of these two, leaving some breathing room for an improving member of the division, who we liked last week in a Champlain, Wheels Ah Smokin.

    He may share third-public choice status with Don’t Rush from the rail but “Wheels” won’t get the obvious interest of the two aforementioned colts. Still, Wheels has won a Kindergarten as the drop-dead favorite (two back) and he was a second choice to Habitat at the Meadowlands in another Kindergarten. Trainer Chuck Sylvester is priming this guy, hoping to mature him for his wealthy owners who can eye the 2015 Hambletonian. Wheels is a son of Muscles Yankee, the sire of Hambletonian champ Muscle Hill. Sylvester trained Muscles Yankee (his third Hambo winner) and two seasons back was close to a fourth win with Lucky Chucky. It is best to go with the sleeper here because the odds should be good and you want to be there if this is the wake-up race (his morning line is 8-1).

    Three of the seven in the second WWM elim are maidens and the best number of wins in the field is two, from the morning-line choice Cruzado Dela Noche. This is the colt that followed Uncle Lasse (elim one) while he was chasing Centurian Atm. The second morning-line choice could be the public’s—Gifted Way.

    We are interested in the rail horse, Jetpedia. He is a son of the productive frosh sire Muscle Hill and he really has done no wrong in five starts. He broke here at 3-1 in a stakes final two back, after being the choice in the elim that got him there. He came back in a Champlain last week and started slowly, spotting the field almost 11 lengths. He was fourth by only 5 ¾ lengths, to Habitat (elim one), who rested a few lengths to win by 2 ½ lengths. He is a horse to watch and in this field a horse to bet, since he has every right to improve and the public will not offer him the kinds of odds he may rightly deserve.

    Pennsylvania Polkas

    The Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) will dance from the mountains of Pocono to the populated perimeter of Philadelphia over two tracks in as many days to crown their state-bred champs in the two-and three-year-old categories. On Sept. 6 the four frosh groups meet at Pocono Downs and on Sept. 7 the sophomore crews battle at Harrah’s at Philadelphia.

    We start on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Pocono Downs with four mega-purse PASS finals for freshmen. The first is a $260,000 championship for filly pacers. Bound to dominate the win pool is one of three Ron Burke gals, Southwind Roulette. The public will be impressed by her earnings, sire and speed badge but  these strong factors do not give her an automatic victory. Indeed, we call your attention to Special Package from the rail. Tom Fanning’s daughter of Western Terror (an increasingly productive sire) has made it to the final round only winning one for six this season but her two seconds are commendable and impressive. She will offer a good win price as this field will be imbalanced in the betting due to Burke.

    Next for the same purse, filly trotters face their largest pot. Three from Takter’s team will draw wagering attention; too much, in fact. Wewould rather look for a decent price from the Burke gal, Gatka Hanover. With post 8 she may detract more bettors than the post should provoke. The Muscle Massive gal takes after her dam, Girlie Tough, in name and metaphor.

    Colt trotters bring the 2015 Hambletonian to mind as we all look for a contender able to keep up with Centurion Atm. That one’s trainer, Ake Svanstedt, is in competition with himself as he sends Lima Pride to post here. Stefan Lind’s Billy Flynn has yet to taste defeat and Shoot The Thrill has been productive. Perhaps the 8 hole again holds the overlay card with Piercewave Hanover. He could surprise the public but would be no surprise to us; he is sound, well bred and has good credentials at two.

    Lastly we have the colt pacers. Burke’s barn has the money here with Yankee Bounty, yet to lose in six tries. Our bargaining sense tells us Mcardles Lightning may be overlooked. The Steve Elliot-trained colt is fast, a good earner and the only son of Mcardle in the room. Tomy Terror and Dragon Eddy should compromise by Burke’s biggie, as well as his price.

    Sunday In Philly

    The PASS sophomore finals are the highlight on Sunday, Sept. 6 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. They begin late in the program with the $260,000 filly trot. Lifetime Pursuit is the hot horse and Designed To Be shows up to test her. All this means is a big price on Take The Money for the upset.

    The colt pace offers star material as Mcwicked tries another wire job in a prep for the Little Brown Jug. However, also prepping is the winless Limelight Beach, zero for 11 but now in the Burke barn and ready to upset on his way to the “Jug.”

    The colt trot  stars Father Patrick again and his recent upset to Datsyuk (in post 1 here) could bring his price up a bit. It may be a bit too much, making Father Patrick a price we have not seen since he began racing at two.

    Finally, the filly pace presents eight-for-eight Sandbetweenurtoes and she still looks like the utter best and the lock of the card. 

    Hoosier Heroes

    Indiana Sires Stakes finals ensue at Hoosier Park on the Sept. 6 program. The $75,000 contests are all for two-and three-year-olds. Frosh colt trotters have 10 in the hunt. Airman Batten will be the choice and rightfully so. In seven tries he has six wins, with five-for-six Steal N Gas the closest in records. But the Big Stick Lindy colt, Stickem Buck, cannot be dismissed and should be the best price of the trio.

    On the frosh-filly trotting side there is a contentious affair. The earnings are close and the records are similar. Golden Big Stick has been in every mix thus far and may be the one ready to pop a fourth win for the season.

    In the frosh-filly pace we eliminate the four maidens and take a shot with the 10 horse, Blues Queen. The post may give her some price weight and in the mile may not be a detriment at all. As for the frosh colt pacers, Toni’s Affection should simply have this in the bag for a small payoff.

    Soph-filly trotters have to contend with the perfect Andi’s Alana, having eight wins in as many starts on the Hoosier scene. The filly pacers, though tightly matched, may offer value with Metro Shopping.

    Soph-colt trotters offer a shot for value from Double A Cash Hall, daringly from post 8, while the glamour-boy pacers will continue to be dominated by the all-powerful Always B Miki, who has scourged the Hoosier scene since his rousing second in the Meadowlands Pace.

    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

    Batavia
    9/5/14, Peter Pumpkineater R7; Studio City R9
    9/6/14, King William R3

    Freehold
    9/4/14, Nicetoseeya R2
    9/5/14, Bella’s Spunkin R3; Big Sky Angelina R5; Fancy Pants Sandy R9
    9/6/14, +Kings Legend R5; Mr Thomson R5; Moosehead Jack R6

    Hoosier
    9/5/14, Red Scooter R1; Light Up The Sky R3; Battle Gun R7; Matt The Bruiser R7; Rocket Fuel R9; Allthatgltrsisgold R11; Star City Hero R14

    Maywood
    9/4/14, Jetting Around R2; Buttered Noodles ae R4
    9/5/14, +Impersonal R2; Delightful Dot R3; R Dunshine R4; Rip N Rock R8; Donald Himself R12

    Meadows
    9/5/14, Incredible Dragon R10

    Northfield—Ohio Sires Stakes
    9/5/14, Student Of Life R1; Dellou R2; Lofty Chip R5; Crown Time Keeper R6; Honey B R8; Friskie Til Dawn R9; Emilene’s Future R11; Suite Feelin R12

    Ocean
    9/6/14, +Money Paige R6
    9/7/14, +Winmando R1

    Plainridge
    9/6/14, Painting The Town R2; +Somerset Minibob R4

    Philadelphia
    9/7/14, Gallie Bythe Beach R7

    Scioto
    9/4/14, +Whowhohoosier R2
    9/6/14, Pro Deuce R4; +Tempster Hanover R6; Can’tcutthatchip R12

    Tioga
    9/6/14, Flashbacks R6
    9/7/14, Goose Creek R1; Ten Yard Penalty R11

    Vernon
    9/4/14, +Canbec Jewell Sun R4
    9/5/14, Fleetwood Hall R1

    Yonkers
    9/6/14, Lawgiver Hanover R5; Big Jer R7
    9/8/14, Caviart Key R6; Montana Pablo A R6
     
    Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.      

  • 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.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Jun 22, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    Sun Stakes Saturday at Pocono Downs on Saturday, June 22, was a speed showdown, with elimination miles that were decided after blistering three-quarters, duels for the lead and whiskers.

    The headliner was the first Ben Franklin elim, where we supported Captaintreacherous against four-year-olds and older for the first time in 2014. He was tremendous racing on the outside after being forced to the lead early and burrowing through the stretch, having already put away Foiled Again (10-years-old), Bettor’s Edge (five-years-old) and four-year-olds Sunshine Beach, Sunfire Blue Chip and Beach Memories. At the wire, however, 29-1 Domethatagain nudged a quantum-nose ahead down the passing lane after having an extremely easy trip sitting behind the champ. Captaintreacherous ($3, $2.10) meets “Dome” again in next week’s final.

    The second Ben Franklin elim went to the ever-improving Sweet Lou, now five. Our choice, Allstar Legend made the final by finishing fourth. The final will be a fascinating battle between “Lou” and “Captain,” as opposed to the projected duel between Captain and Foiled Again, as Lou is racing a hole in the wind in this division.

    The week’s results from the Hambletonian Trail blog presented an upset and some easily predicted victories by soph-trotting mainstays. In elims for the Earl Beale, Jr., also at Pocono on Saturday, everyone’s favorite Father Patrick ($2.10, $2.10, $2.10) was an easy winner. So was Nuncio in the second of the two affairs, with our choice Datskyk ($2.10, $2.10) completing the $3.60 exacta.

    We nailed both of the colt winners Saturday at Saratoga on the Hambletonian Trail with Gural Hanover ($5.90, $3.10, $2.10) and Lukas Hall ($3, $2.30, $2.30 ok).

    Wednesday, June 18 in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for fillies on the “Trail” at Pocono, the stunning defeat of Shake It Cerry ($2.10) was the work of Desgined To Be, who, strangely enough, was an 8-5 second choice. Our other choice, Donella Hanover finished fourth at 7-1.

    We share the successes of soph-trot endeavors here with our weekly update. The Hambletonian Trail comes to you in cooperation with TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society. You can read the recap race stories and data on the history of the August classics at the society’s archives.

    In the Max Hempt elims, also on Sun Stakes Saturday at Pocono, our choice and the public’s choice in the first round, Always B Miki, suffered a tough outside trip, finishing third but placed fifth and not earning a berth in the final. Our second choice finished second—Limelight Beach ($3, $3.40 ok)—and our third choice finished third—Allstar Partner ($20.80).

    In the second of three splits, Sometimes Said ($2.20) was third at 4-1, while top-rated Doo Wop Hanover (4-1) was skewered on the lead, finishing seventh (no final for him) and Western Vintage (7-1) put in a terrible effort, finishing eighth; neither, of course, make the final.

    The third elim was taken by North America Cup choice-gone-bad Mcwicked, with our choice, Stratos Hanover seventh at 39-1.

    Soph-filly pacers went in a trio of elims for the James Lynch final’s field. In the first split we were second with our second-choice Gallie Bythe Beach ($5.80, $3.20), with our top choice, Someislandsomwhere, finishing fourth at 5-2. Nothing went well for us in round two, as Allstar Rating (2-1) was paced down badly in the stretch and Katie Said broke from interference at 61-1.

    More unpredicted antics served the results of the third split, with huge choice (and our choice) Uffizi Hanover ($2.20, $2.10) nipped at the wire after a scalding first half and our second choice, Also Encouraging ($5.80) getting third.

    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.

    A reader/bettor sent us an email when he noticed something odd about our H2W (horses to watch list) this past week. Over the course of a few weeks (we are in week 24 of the list this year) a great number of horses returning for their second and last entries on the list (notated with a “+” before their names) are coincidentally drawing tough, outside posts. It’s unfortunate and sometimes moot but it has resulted in many loses for second-timers. You may want to create a spin-off list of such horses and follow them when they come back for the third time. We will still only keep horses twice on the list, regardless of their posts either time.

    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

    Rock Out, $22.20, $7, $2.80 (Exacta $64.80), Meadowlands
    Lindys Real Deal, $18.60, $6, $3.20 (Exacta $51.50), Vernon
    Muscles To Spare, $10.40, $5.80, $4, Tioga
    The Real One, $6.20, $3.80, $2.40, Yonkers
    That Friskie Feeling, $5.40, $4, $3.60, Scioto
    JJs Jet, $4.60, $5 ok, $2.80, Scarborough
    Dune Dude, $4, $2.80, $2.40, Maywood
    H-andharleythejet, $4, $2.20, $2.10 (*Exacta $12.60), Plainridge
    The Maniac, $3.80, $2.20, $2.10, Buffalo

    Seconds

    CJ Crystal, $4.40, $2.80 (Exacta $30), Ocean
    Always Wearable, $4.20, $2.10, Hoosier
    Geronimo Fame, $4.10, $4, Tioga
    Pretty Place, $3.40, $3, Maywood
    Miss Defiance, $2.60, $3.20 ok (*Exacta $12.60), Plainridge

    Thirds

    Clearly Possessed, $10, Buffalo
    Milliondollardad, $5.60, Buffalo
    Nothinbutanallstar, $5, Hoosier
    Milliondollartouch, $4.80, Saratoga
    What About Brian, $4.40, Tioga
    Team Edward, $4, Vernon
    Zampano, $3.40, Buffalo
    Big City Jewel, $3, Yonkers
    Sassy Sarah, $3, Scarborough
    Winbak Wildfire, $3, Scarborough
    Forty Carrots, $2.30, Saratoga

    News And Notes

    Northfield Park has added a $10,000-guaranteed total pool for a Pick-5 bet on Monday, June 23’s racing program. The pool includes a carry-over amount of $1,946.92. The wager begins with Race 3 that evening. Northfield’s Pick 3s, 4s and 5s offer a 14-percent take out rate.

    Batavia Downs’ 68th harness season is poised to begin. The 2014 season features 72 racing programs beginning July 23 and going through Dec.6. The racing days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons in July and August. After Sept. 1, Tuesday nights replace Sunday matinees. The evening post time is 6:35 EST and afternoon post time is 1:15 p.m.

    Some feel it is about time and considering Bee A Magician’s losing season thus far at four it may be a way to show that her connections still have plenty of confidence in her. What this is all about is Bee A Magician racing for the first time against males. Last Saturday at Mohawk, “Bee” finished ninth in the Armbro Flight Final. It was a performance that raised questions since the only time that she ever missed the board in her career was in her second start at two. Trainer Nifty Norman told Trot Insider that she scoped sick after the “Flight” final. Norman said she is “feeling better already.” Bee has lost her first three starts of the 2014 season after never tasting defeat at three in 17 starts (remember, we gave you D’orsay who beat her and paid over $100 to win). Norman said she will race next on July 5 in the $400,000 Hambletonian Futurity for four-year-olds at The Meadowlands. ‎That race is open to all four-year-old trotters and it means she’ll skip the second leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares on Monday, June 30 at Mohawk.

    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

  • 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.      

  • 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 10th. 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 51st 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

  • 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

  • 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.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Apr 20, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    Feature-wise, we hammered at Yonkers on Friday with the Matchmaker and were shut out of the “Levy” on Saturday—but not by Foiled Again. His off-the-board loss on April 19 was a big story in the industry but not for bettors. The story for bettors was that Foiled Again lost and lost badly but the winner was a five-cents-to-the-dollar entry. That is insult to injury, considering how difficult it has seemed to beat the stalwart pacer.

    Our victory was predicted perfectly in round two of the Matchmaker, as Monkey On My Wheel won in the short field, paying $29.40 and $8.90 (no show betting). In the first division, the other Casie Coleman-trained mare, Scandalous Hanover, who was our choice, lost at 2-1, suffering a bad outside trip on the half-mile.

    Our three Levy choices were not entirely skunked by favorites. PH Supercam surprised at 9-1 in division one (Sapphire City was fourth, Apprentice Hanover was third—no show wagering); Dancin Yankee won the next split at close to 2-1 (Texican N was third—no show wagering) and in the Foiled Again loss to Easy Again, Malak Uswaad (74-1) was fifth.

    In our Pick-3 and-4 choices at the Meadowlands Friday we had only one second with Wheels ($3.80, $3). Saturday, our pick in the Pocono feature, All Gold (18-1), finished fifth, while our Meadowlands feature picks were fourth (Hobe Sound, 25-1) and eighth (Burkentine Hanover, 70-1).

    TwinSpires and the Hoosier 10-percent Pick-4 Bonus continued and on Apirl 16 we offered a few additions to tickets. Two of the five we suggested were scratched and the others were off the board. Two Hoosier winners on the horses-to-watch (H2W) list below, however, were involved in bonus exotics.

    Every time you cash a winning Pick 4 ticket at Hoosier Park, you receive a bonus equal to 10 percent of the gross winnings, up to $500 per night. We will assist on Twitter occasionally, with suggestions for your tickets. Follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires for choices.

    For complete details:
    |http://www.twinspires.com/10-pick-4-bonus-every-night-hoosier-park

     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

    Shamderock, $48.60, $17.80, $3.80, Pompano
    Stop The Traffic, $13.60, $5.80, $4, Hoosier
    Southern Artie, $6.80, $5.80, $6 [ok] (Exacta $31.20), Rosecroft
    Jammin Joshua, $4.20, $3.40, $2.10, Hoosier
    Blue Note, $4, $2.60, $2.10, Cal Expo
    Sundowner Bob, $4, $3.40, $2.60, Vernon
    The Midnight Owl N, $3.60, $2.40, $2.10, Freehold
    Frontgear, $3.40, $2.80, $2.40, Hazel

    Seconds

    Roy Orbisong, $25, $9, Scarborough
    Damon Blue Chip, $13.80, $10.60, Pocono
    I Can Feel It, $8.60, $4.40, Cal Expo
    Bettor Be Genuine, $6.80, $4.20, Saratoga
    Somethingtobehold, $6.40, $3.90, Buffalo
    Restless Yankee, $5, $2.80 (Exacta $36.40), Vernon
    Versado, $3, $2.70, Yonkers

    Thirds

    Whiskey Bernie, $8.20, Cal Expo
    Gonna Rock N Roll, $7, Pocono
    Pass The Deck, $6.80, Freehold
    Caerleon Hanover, $4.60, Pocono
    Seagram, $4.40, Yonkers
    Alligator Falls, $2.80, Hoosier
    Palm Beach Boy, $2.10, Freehold

    News And Notes

    More well-known horses were prepping at the Meadowlands in qualifiers over the past weekend, with the star of the show Arch Madness returning from a long hiatus. The veteran trotter from the Trond Smedshammer barn, raced against some other familiar, though younger trotters, Corky and Archangel. Arch Madness left them in the dust, winning by several lengths in 1:53.3. “The buzz among the observers was that he looks as good or better than he has in the past few seasons,” said our source at the morning trials.

    Conditioners Tony Alagna, Jimmy Takter and Linda Toscano were present and Linda had her stable star Market Share on the track for a successful workout sans minus trotting hobbles to freshen for a trip to Sweden to race in the Elitlopp. Takter’s 2013 Breeders Crown frosh-filly pace winner Uffizi Hanover made her first appearance with a 1:54.4 tune up. Takter’s lightly raced Gettingreadytoroll won in 1:53.3. Late to the races at two, Gettingreadytoroll has a single money start, a win in 1:54.2 at Pocono.

    All Bets Off “looked sharp” in his second prep for the Ron Burke stable. The Matron winner in 1:52.4. Burke’s Governor’s Cup winner JK Endofanera won his qualifier in 1:52.4 over Ideal Cowboy and Somewhere Fancy in another key prep for this group. Odds On Equuleus returned to the races after a disappointing sophomore campaign. See And Ski and OK Commander finished across the track together in 1:52.

    It will be six months before we see driver Andy Miller back in the sulky after a frightening accident at Yonkers last week. Miller, driving Marmara Denizi, trained by his brother, Erv, was in the back of the field when unseated during the first race. Also unseated was George Brennan, driving In The Clear, who appeared to step on the wheel of a first-up Fiftyshadesofhay. In The Clear went down. Brennan got up and resumed his drives for the card. According to Miller’s wife, Julie, as well as trainer Scott DiDomenico, Miller broke a pair of lumbar vertebrae in his back. He had surgery and will miss chances to participate in some of the sport’s biggest events of 2014.

    In less than three weeks, Bee A Magician, 2013 Horse of the Year, will be back to races at four. Trainer Richard Norman confirmed that the Kadabra daughter will be qualifying the first week of May. “There are no health problems,” said Norman, “and I’m very pleased with her … It’s amazing but she finished up last year as good as she started. She hit her knee in the first start back but other than that she weathered the storm pretty well.” The plan is to launch her season in the Miss Versatility at Mohawk and then roll right into the Armbro Flight. Last season Bee A Magician won all 17 starts against the same foes in her division. She was discovered on this blog at two. The winner of $2.2 million lifetime did not get our vote for the best of ’13; we went with Captaintreacherous.

    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

  • Penultimate Jousts In Yonkers Series; Meadowlands, Pocono Present Features

    POSTED Apr 16, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    One more round for the males and mares pacing at Yonkers Raceway this weekend, then the George Morton Levy Memorial and Blue Chip Matchmaker pacing series hold their finals The ‘Levy’ and Matchmaker finales are set for Saturday night, Apr. 26. The purses are $567,000 (Levy) and $371,400 (Matchmaker). These are the two richest races to date this season in North America and are accompanied Apr. 26 by their respective consolations (Levy for $100,000, Matchmaker for $75,000).

    At the Meadowlands on Saturday, two series’ finals are included in the program. The Artistic Vision for three-years-old-and-up filly-and-mare pacers goes for $55,800 and the Whata Baron for three-years-old-and-up horse and gelding pacers has a purse of $63,000. Plus, again this Friday we engage in the Meadowlands Early Pick 4, with its last three legs a Pick 3 on its own.

    Pocono presents a Bobby Weiss Series late-closer worth $30,000 on April 19’s program. We have something to say about some value in that contest.

    Until Nov. 18, playing Pick 4s at Hoosier Park through your TwinSpires account offers specials. Ten times point-earning advantages take place on every Tuesday program and Pick-4 bonus bets are plentiful. The bonus feature includes every Pick 4 on every Hoosier program. We will be adding Hoosier to our horses to watch (H2W) list and suggesting horses during the week on Twitter @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires. Click here for details.

    We have added a few horses to watch (H2W), on our exclusive list for TwinSpires harness blog. Use these suggested contenders that are proving productie across-the-board wagers and serve as profitable members of exotics.


    Leveling Levys

    Yonkers Raceway presents the penultimate divisions of the Levy on Saturday, April 19 and all we can do is depend on outsiders to make this series a profitable affair. Certainly betting winners of many divisions cannot shout for joy on their win-mutuel returns. Hopefully we have helped with strong place and exacta additions to those short-priced favorites.

    The trio of divisions tonight are also short for bargain shoppers, with two Burkes making it a five-horse betting mile. We are coming back to Sapphire City in this split, since he has shown some stuff in the series and may be able to handle Clear Vision, Burke’s best of his pair. Along with Apprentice Hanover, first or second, these two could increase the payout of an exacta and put a decent price to the win column with “City” atop.

    Burke sends three in division deux and we go back to Texican N for an upset. He hasn’t rallied in the series but hasn’t surrendered, either. Driver Brian Sears sticks with him and he could present some value among the five betting entities if he scuttles through late and gets a share of the series lucrative rewards.

    No one knows what to say against Foiled Again, who leads the last division’s field with an impeccable 2014 record, all in this series. Two other strong contenders are Burke-trained, so what is left but the outrageous—that competent foe Malak Uswaad N shocks the field with Sears and trainer Peter Tritton taking two on the night (Texican N is Tritton’s student). Whatever you do, use Tritton’s charges in both exotics as well as taking a shot for an upset win.

    Matchmaker Mares

    Friday, April 18, the divisions in the fifth round of the Matchmaker series take one more shot to get a berth in the final or to a consolation next week. Division one goes with seven on board. Yagonnakissmeornot gets post 7 and Ideal In Vegas post 3. Those two will probably be the favorites over four lightly raced non-winners and another with a single win in a dozen starts this season. Coming in from the north is Scandalous Hanover for trainer Casie Coleman. This mare has only two starts and was second in both. If she was revving up for this, she can take it, perhaps as third choice.

    The second of the two divisions is loaded with talent and almost impossible to establish an honest line. The crowd, however, may split their votes between Somwherovrarainbow and the mighty Anndrovette. The best scenario to hope for is that swarming speed will make waste of those two and Summertime Lea (who has to leave from post 8 to make noise). There is a chance for Coleman to sweep the duo of divisions if Monkey On My Wheel can stay mid-pack while the flaming fractions ensue and then cut through the smoke and beat Shelliscape, who should also be closing (if not, she will burn out too).

    Visions Of Art

    The $55,800 Artistic Vision Final at the Meadowlands on April 19 brings together six participants in the series; two are a coupled Ron Burke entry and one of them is the prolific American In Paris, who has yet to lose in six starts this season, all at the Meadowlands. While the Burke brigade is barreling through the Levy series across the river, his duo here, which includes Art Ideal, will take the majority of win money from the public and receive all of the accolades from the public handicappers.

    If you wish to key exotics with the Burke duo, don’t expect a windfall. If you want to try to beat “Paris,” we call to your attention Hobe Sound as the upset candidate. Her two attempts in this series were both thwarted by Paris but she races well in both—even her seventh-place finish last week had a positive side, with a 10-length close as the field roared to get Paris. Before that she was only 6-1 in the series and was fourth and before that she was productive at Yonkers, though a bad trip ruined a win for her in the Petticoat Final. John Campbell picks up the drive (at press time) and can be trusted to give her the best ride she can get.

    ‘Baron’ Brutes

    All that is left in the next series finale Saturday at the Meadowlands are four-year-old male pacers. They go hunting for the best of a $63,000 purse in the Whata Baron Final. Making up for a tough sophomore season, Wake Up Peter has been strong against this group, winning both of his “Baron” legs. Captive Audience has accomplished the same with his divisions and these two will be the obvious public choices.

    All we can see in the way of an upset is Burkentine Hanover. From post 10 he will be dismissed, as he was last week. But he was fired up and soaring, gaining while wide and coming very close to “Peter” at the wire, finishing third at 8-1. He should be far more than 8-1 in this and that is all the more reason to rebel against the top two.

    The Meadowlands Early Pick 4 (April 18, $30,000 guaranteed pool, 15-percent take), tails off into the Pick 3 with its second leg. Here are some suggested contenders, hopefully other than the obvious choices for both multi-race exotics; as well, they are sound across-the-board competitors.

    Early Pick 4 (Races 3 through 6)
    R3—use 7 Easter Surprize
    Pick 3, (Races 4, 5 & 6)
    R4—use 2 Lad Pine
    R5—use 4 Mr Candyman; 5 Wheels
    R6—use  9 Shine N Shimmer

    Pocono Prices

    Nine three-and-up pacing fellas, with two also eligible, go on April 19, in Pocono’s Bobby Weiss Series Final, worth $30,000. The Burke brigade is present with two, uncoupled, but they are in deep, with many series competitors in the mix. We are looking for All Gold to be one of the overlooked contenders. His most recent series leg was a tough 8-hole grind and before that, at 9-2, he finished just behind one of the probable public choices here, A Stitch In Time (leaving from post 9 in this battle). In a race where so many entries can be argued, we’ll take All Gold.

    H2W Legend

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

    H2W

    Buffalo
    4/18/14, Upfrontoutthedoor R1
    4/19/14, Lucky Millionaire R4; Somethingtobehold R5; Naked News R7

    Cal Expo
    4/18/14, Lucky Man Again R6; Wanna Win R7; Blue Note R8; Vantage R11
    4/19/14, I Can Feel It R3; Western Tower R9; Red Star Wild One R10; Whiskey Bernie R12; Lucky Land R12

    Freehold
    4/19/14, Palm Beach Boy R2; The Midnight Owl N R3; +Pass The Deck R8; Brickyard Ben R12 

    Hazel
    4/18/14, Kaitlyn Rae R9; Frontgear R12
    4/19/14, Iron N Steel R8

    Hoosier
    4/17/14, +Alligator Falls R6
    4/19/14, +Stop The Traffic R6; Bazinga R7; +Jammin Joshua R11

    Meadowlands
    4/18/14, +Special Command R5
    4/19/14, +Bet On The Law R2

    Meadows
    4/18/14, +Chekov R7; Masterdream Chaser R13; +Woody R15

    Miami Valley
    4/17/14, +Swimsuit Model R9

    Pocono
    4/19/14, +Bagel Man R2; Gonna Rock N Roll R4; Caerleon Hanover R5; Damon Blue Chip R12

    Pompano
    4/10/14, Shamderock R1; Yankees In Six R3; +Kennairnmachmagic R6; Goldstar Raider R8

    Rosecroft
    4/19/14, Southern Artie R4

    Saratoga
    4/18/14, +Sarkozy R1; Bettor Be Genuine R2
    4/19/14, Tinys Million R2; Alastair Hanover R3

    Scarborough
    4/19/14, +Roy Orbisong R1

    Vernon
    4/19/14, +Sundowner Bob R4; Restless Yankee R7; +Unicorn Hanover R8; Stettin Hanover R13

    Yonkers
    4/18/14, +Mctaylor R9; Defiance N R8; +McTaylor R9; Seagram R10
    4/19/14, +Versado R7


    Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.