Freshmen In Focus

Go to Breeders Crown Countdown.

Canadian Pacing Derby

Two eliminations for the Canadian Pacing Derby attract 15-hopefuls as they prepare to dash this weekend for spots in the final field.

Bolt The Duer seems to hold favoritism in division one, off of a world-record mile at Saratoga. Also in that field is Sweet Lou, coming off a third to A Rocknroll Dance in a world-record mile at Pocono. Sweet Lou is the kind of horse that can win eliminations against this caliber and going against this field he may not be a tremendous price but offer enough value for us to feel confident supporting him. 

Warrawee Needy and A Rocknroll Dance highlight the second elimination. Although those two draw the best over the rest of the field, Pet Rock is not one to throw out. He always finds his way into the race, whether he uses an early brush to the lead or a sweep past everyone late. He’ll likely be forwardly placed and save something for the stretch.

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

Batavia
8/23/13, Marvelthisbliss R1
8/24/13. +Native Roots R3

Ocean
8/23/13, +Powerful Passage R5; Fandemoniom R10

Plainridge
8/24/13, +Go Go Cocomo R1 

Pocono
8/24/13, Raging Grin R2; Harbor Point R3; DM Bodatious R4; Cashendash Hanover R8; Drive All Night R11

Running Aces
8/24/13, +My Cover Girl R1; +Steph’s Place R3; +Poetic Movement R3; +Shark Standing R6; +Gift Of Honor R7

The Red Mile
8/24/13, Banco Solo R2; Ma Chere Hall R12

Tioga
8/23/13, Maggie O R1; Celebrity Spitfire R3; Cruise Queen R8
8/24/13, Strong Hope R6; Wisenheimer R9

Yonkers
8/23/13, EL Rock R3; Fox Valley Sage R4; Virgin Mary R9; JK Fine Art R11
 

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

It’s official, the filly trotter who arguably has the best chance to beat the colts in the Hambletonian since Continentalvictory mauled the males will race in the Hambletonian Oaks against members of her own division. Bee A Magician’s trainer ,Nifty Norman, said he feels the Kadabra filly will be producing more amazing miles but they will not happen in the Hambletonian Stakes.

Bee A Magician, who won the Delvin Miller Memorial in 1:51, will bypass the $1.2 million Hambletonian on Aug. 3 at the Meadowlands. In the “Miller” on July 13, she trotted the fastest mile in history for a three-year-old filly.

The $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks is restricted to three-year-old fillies and features eliminations on July 27 followed by the final on Aug. 3. The Hambletonian, open to any three-year-old trotter, will be contested all on one day, with elim heats and the final. It’s the first time since 1996 that the classic race will be conducted in its original format.

Bee A Magician has won seven of her seen starts this year and earned $505,706. In two seasons so far she has won 17 of 20 races and banked $1.27 million. Readers of this blog may recall Bee A Magician was one of our choice picks to turn into a champion before she began to scourge her division at two.

Norman said, “We just feel that going two heats against the boys might be too much. You get a day like this where it’s a hundred-odd degrees and it might be too tough … All the owners are on board with it. We have to protect the horse as much as possible. I actually think the fillies might be tougher than the colts but it’s more the two-heats factor than the opposition.

“If it had been the old format we almost definitely would have tried the [colts],” Norman said. “Her [‘Miller’] performance was obviously her best. Even I was surprised. She’s a good horse but that was phenomenal. I I think we’ll see more of that. She acted like she was a little short after that mile and I think she actually might improve off of that.”

Last season were not as hot on Betterthancheddar than most bettors at three but he came back looking strong and battle-worthy at five after a productive four-year-old season, suffering early losses with many excuses. Now we will never know how good he would have been as an older pacer since his career is over. Betterthancheddar tore a suspensory on June 29 in the Ben Franklin and connections will be sending him to New Zealand for the coming Southern Hemisphere breeding season.

Also ending a career on the track is Rockincam, a winner of close to $800,000 in his career. The six-year-old has had his career ended by suspensory and sesamoid injuries.

Smilin Eli, one of the top contenders for the 2013 Hambletonian, has survived a threat to be left out of the race after concerns over his trainer e that recently surfaced were reportedly resolved.

New Jersey Racing Commission executive director Frank Zanzuccki told harnessracing.com that an initial investigation regarding Smilin Eli and the identity of his trainer has been completed and the trotter has changed barns to trainer David Smith and been declared eligible to race.

Deshawn Minor was the listed trainer of Smilin Eli and most of us covering the classic trot stakes considered the colt a top contender. But there were rumors that the real conditioner was Carl Conte, Jr., who has a license to train but not in New Jersey. An investigation led to the discovery on July 12 of Smilin Eli near Cont’'s barn at the unlicensed Dreamland Farm and as a result the trotter was scratched the day before he was scheduled to start in the Stanley Dancer Memorial at the Meadowlands.

Smilin Eli was placed on the stewards’ list as ineligible to compete as the racing commission investigated the situation. The connections told the commission the trotter was at Dreamland only because his caretaker stopped to pick up a lost cell phone while taking him to be treated in a hyperbaric chamber at Walnridge Farm. Zanzuccki said the commission questioned the validity of that story. It is against commission rules to treat a horse in a hyperbaric chamber that close to a scheduled start.

Zanzuccki said while the horse has been cleared, the investigation has not been completed. or not a hearing is necessary involving all or some of the parties.”

Extraordinary Extras




Cartoons by Thom Pye

Meadowlands Pace tops miles of harness weekend action

Meadowlands hosts single ‘Pace’ elim atop full weekend menu

Captaintreacherous, the bravado glamour-boy pacer, won’t be in the Meadowlands Pace eliminations this Saturday, July 6. The Meadowlands will, however, be the highlight of the weekend in the standardbred world with elims for the major event’s final next week, as well as two for older pacers going for the William Haughton Memorial championship.

The soph-colt-and-filly trotting events (Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers, Reynolds Stakes at the Meadowlands and Pennsylvania All Stars) on the Hambletonian Trail are analyzed on the exclusive blog. 

Our exclusive harness horses to watch (H2W) list from tracks around North America is short but sweet, presenting horses you need to take seriously at tracks around North America.

TwinSpires offers special bonuses for Hoosier Park throughout the harness meet. Check out the Hoosier details here. 

Meadowlands Pace Elim Examination 

After a hard, well-earned, courageous win the Max C. Hempt Memorial last weekend at Pcono, Captaintreacherous will not have to earn his way into the final field of the Meadowlands Pace by racing in an elimination. He is one of three horses to receive a bye (he is exempt from qualifying for the July 13 final) based on seasonal earnings. 

When a total of 13 horses entered the race, a single 10-horse elimination was all that was needed and it will be held Saturday night, July 6 at the Meadowlands. The top seven finishers join Captaintreacherous, Wake Up Peter and Twilight Bonfire in the final. 

Here is the elimination field in post-position order:
Someplace Special, Johny Rock, Sir Cary’s Z Tam, Sir Richard Z Tam, Sunshine Beach, Resistance Futile, Lonewolf Currier, Rockin Amadeus, Beach Memories and Odds On Equuleus.

We have to endorse Johny Rock, who finds a shot here to become first-tier divisional material. His “Hempt” elim was a fine race but he could not handle, as most could not, the final field. The “Pace,” now a $600,000-and-change race, presents some horses that do not seem to be as sharp as he has been against some tougher groups.

Captaintreacherous’ trainer, Tony Alagna, said he was hoping for this scenario when he decided to skip the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes in Canada and focus on the North America Cup, Hempt and Meadowlands Pace. He won four races, elims and finals, of the first two and, undefeated in five starts at three, he has $808,293 in earnings. 

“When we decided to go to the Hempt,” Alagna told Ken Weingartner of the USTA, “we thought it was possible the Meadowlands Pace could have only the one elimination and we would get a bye. Everything has just been falling into place … I have all the faith in the world in him – I know what kind of horse he is. He even impressed me and I’m not easily impressed. But that was a monster trip [he used to win the Hempt] … He came out of the race super; excellent.” 

Captaintreacherous is the defending Pacer of the Year, winning that title as a two-year-old. He has won 13 of 15 races and earned $1.72 million for the ownership group known as Captaintreacherous Racing. 

Alagna, who also trains bye-taking Wake Up Peter, winless in six races this year but still having earned $156,225 thanks to third-place finishes in the North America Cup and New Jersey Sire Stakes championship. Wake Up Peter will qualify on July 6 at the Meadowlands to prep for the Meadowlands Pace final while Captaintreacherous will relax. 

Twilight Bonfire, the other bye-earner, has a win in four starts this year and finished second in the North America Cup. He has earned $304,336 this season for trainer Danny Collins, and was the striking longshot to finish second to the “Captain” in the “Cup.” He will race in a $30,000 Invitational at Scioto on July 6 (see H2W below). 

Big Pacers 

The older pacers are at it again, this time in two elimination divisions to get into the field of the William R. Haughton Memorial (WHM). The top five finishers from each elim will advance to the July 13 final.  

The first division presents the return of hot-and-rich Foiled Again, who woke up two races ago after a few disturbing performances. Last week Foiled Again won the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace at Pocono over his usual foes and became the first pacer in harness racing history to reach the $5-million earning mark.  

Also in this split is Golden Receiver, who has been terrible lately with no excuses from his connections or performances. Though some are saying he is a “cold-weather horse,” the claim is unfounded in his history. He returns to his favorite oval and still deserves attention. 

Warrawee Needy, A Rocknroll Dance, Sapphire City, Hugadragon, Heston Blue Chip, Razzle Dazzle and Our Lucky Chip round out the elim field. Heston Blue Chip has come back at four stronger and able to match the veterans of the division. In this group he may be a strong overlay.  

The second WHM elim features Aracache Hanover, Bettor’s Edge, Fred And Ginger, Bolt The Duer, Up The Credit, Pet Rock, Hurrikane Kingcole, Dynamic Youth and Sweet Lou. Last week we handed you Bolt The Duer, who won in 1:47.4, equaling the fastest mile ever for a pacer on a five-eighths-mile track. We supported Bolt The Duer because we thought he could win the way he usually wins—taking advantage of a suck-a-long trip behind a speedy pacesetter. That is exactly how he won. This time the pacesetter was Heston Blue Chip, cutting fractions of 1:21 to three-quarters. 

On the two-turn Meadowlands oval in this combination of pacers, Bolt The Duer won’t get the convenience that affords him victories. Although Hurrikane Kingcole is capable of cutting deadly quarters and coming up short, most of the other foes here are superior pacers to “Bolt” and could take advantage of a fiery three panels. We like Sweet Lou to be tactically placed for a big mile at a very good price. 

Eliminations for the July 13 Mistletoe Shalee were scheduled for the same program but are unnecessary, since only enough three-year-old female pacers entered. The field for the final is Acquavella, Charisma Hanover, I Luv The Nitelife, Jerseylicious, Nikki Beach, Novascotia Hanover and Shebestingin.  

Frosh State-breds 

The second leg of the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) for freshman pacers is on the Saturday agenda at the Meadowlands also. In the first colt pacing split take a hard look at Doo Wop Hanover, who had the toughest trip against the likes of these youngsters and will be a good price here. 

Then, in split two, Rockeyed Optimist is a perfect longshot play. His qualifier presented a big brush that must be respected as he comes into his first pari-mutuel start. He is a well-bred Rocknroll Hanover colt from a mare by the great Artsplace. 

The fillies’ initial split offers a sharp chance with Danielles All Aces. She showed her first signs of good speed in a NJSS leg against Ideal Helen, who will be the drop-dead public choice in the next split. “Danielle” could be ready for her first powerful mile and not as the favorite. 

My Lady Day deserves a shorter morning line than 10-1 and has a big advantage over Ideal Heaven with an inside post so we should take her at the overblown price and see if she can turn the tables on the obvious. 

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track to decide how you will use the information. The list has shortened as the stakes season ensues but still offers the best 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 that horse is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared.

An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list (so it might not get into the race). Multi-horses may be listed in the same race.  Horses from previous lists that are not racing this week will no longer appear until they are confirmed in a race.

Wagering on any of the H2W listed horses is based on your own judgment. Your handicapping skills should include decisions to wager to win, place, show or in exotics. If you have any questions about the H2W list, send them to us through the TwinSpires blog channel.

H2W 

Bangor
7/4/13, +Fiorenza R10

Buffalo
7/5/13, Billy Mccool N R5; +Destinationunknown R11
7/6/13, +Creating A Dream R3; +Win A New Day R4; Spender Hanover R5

Maywood
7/5/13, +Five Cougars A R1; +Too Tall Tamarac R2; +Innovation R5; Bluebird Muffler R9; +Guts N Glory R11

Northfield
7/6/13, +Casimir Luckynutz R2; A Bay Bay R12

Pompano
7/6/13, +Diamond Amber R9; Scoot Diablo R11

Running Aces
7/6/13, Lo Hot Pancakes R8; +Twentyone Guns R9

Saratoga
7/6/13, +Hazel Nut R2; +Jds Memory R2; Fly High R5; +Mighty Art R7; Pop Z Pop R7; Prince Argental R12

Scarborough
7/6/13, +Mr Sigle’s Dream R3; +Fourth Page R5

Scioto
7/4/13, Ee Bay R6
7/6/13, Twilight Bonfire R7

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

Extraordinary Extras


Cartoons by Thom Pye

Pocono’s Powerhouse Features

Pocono Downs shines with features on Sun Stakes Saturday, June 22,with eliminations for finals at the Pennsylvania oval next week, including a big event on the Hambletonian Trail which you can read about on the excluscive blog.

Soph-colt pacers go in elims for the Max Hempt and the fillies ride for spots in the sister event, the James Lynch. Older pacers, a great bunch of stalwarts, battle in Ben Franklin elims and the soph trotters on the Hambo Trail set up the fields for the Earl Beale, Jr.

Our exclusive harness horses to watch (H2W) list from tracks around North America isn’t quite as bountiful as it was during the winter but those on the list need be taken seriously in their various outings.

TwinSpires offers special bonuses for Hoosier Park throughout the harness meet. Check out the Hoosier details here.

Pacers To The ‘Max’

Next week’s Max Hempt Memorial for glamour-boy pacers at Pocono will try to shuffle the deck of division contenders while, most likely, still have to deal with Captaintreacherous (photo above). In the third of three elims this June 22, the “Captain” takes on foes that have failed to loom dangerous so far. Rockin Amadeus, who beat Captain with a soft trip in the Breeders Crown at two, has returned without force and from post 8 seems less a threat than any others in this field. The morning line on Captain is 2-1? Take a deep breath, hope for such a miracle and wager.

In the first elim Johny Rock is bound to make more noise than he did trying for the bigger bucks and Lonewolf Currier is certainly sharp now but Emeritus Maximus is the most likely value contender. He just won at Pocono and deserves a shot stepping up against a few foes he has beaten earlier, when they were hammering out their soph starts.

In the second elim, Tony Alagna’s Wake Up Peter, who was touted up the kazoo against Captain in the North America Cup, still hasn’t lived up to all the hype. In the “Cup” he got Team Alagna third money on top of first money (with Captain). But here you have a shot at a big price, since Ultimate Beachboy will go off at odds far larger than his chances. With driver George Napolitano, a Pocono mainstay, replaced by Andy McCarthy, added to the “Peter” principal, “Beachboy” has a good shot at making the final with a win here. He is coming off of a great race at Philadelphia and in the perfect place at Pocono (post 5) to produce a major crush.

The top three finishers from each elimination advance to the $500,000 final.

 ‘Lynch’ Mob

With the two probable choices on the outside, odds for Jerseylicious may be at a bargain level as a low-priced overlay. She certainly seems to be ready to pop a big mile this time around in the first James Lynch elim.

In elim two it is harder than in the Fan Hanover to pass I Luv The Nitelife. She defined awesome in that affair and comes here with fire in her belly. Even the local success of Somwhereovrarainbow doesn’t seem to be much of a scare.

The top four finishers from each elim, plus the fastest fifth-place finisher, advance to the $300,000 final.

Big ‘Ben’

The older pacing guys are at it again, this time eliminating for next week’s Ben Franklin final. There are three elims, so a herd of big guys have joined in the battle, with the top three finishers in each elim meeting for the $500,000 final.

In elim one it would be foolish to dismiss Golden Receiver, though his recent two efforts are dull, at best. He returns to the scene of his marvelous win in May and there is no reason to think he won’t male major noise. But near his morning line, 7-2, he is truly golden, especially with Betterthancheddar having to once again take the long route around more than two turns.

Round two is tough, with cases for at least four to take the cake. Suffice it to say that the odds should make up your mind but here are the three that should make it to the final—Razzle Dazzle, Fred And Ginger and Heston Blue Chip. That’s right, we toss out Sweet Lou here. Of those three, you may want to back “Fred” again, as his last race was marred by a stressful trip and he is still in tip top form and he may get the bargain position in the betting of that trio.

Now everyone loves Pet Rock after his win last week. And everyone still admires Bolt The Duer and Foiled Again is still the richest of them all. But we are going to find value and back Hurrikane Kingcole. He is Bolt The Duer’s best friend because he sets up that one’s miles often, providing suck-up cover. But here the “Hurrikane” may not tire as easily. In fact, he may get some cover if “Foiled” is beginning to worry about his season (he hasn’t won since April).

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track to decide how you will use the information. The list has shortened as the stakes season ensues but still offers the best 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 that horse is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared.

An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list (so it might not get into the race). Multi-horses may be listed in the same race.  Horses from previous lists that are not racing this week will no longer appear until they are confirmed in a race.

Wagering on any of the H2W listed horses is based on your own judgment. Your handicapping skills should include decisions to wager to win, place, show or in exotics. If you have any questions about the H2W list, send them to us through the TwinSpires blog channel.   

H2W 

Buffalo
6/22/13, Cheyenne Cam R1; Win A New Day R5; Gerald N Sam R9; Fantasypan R10; Up Front Lady Gray R11; Creating A Dream R12; +So Over R13

Maywood
6/21/13, Too Tall Tamarac R2; Really Lucky R4; Five Cougars A R8; Mystical Walter R9; Bluebird Muffler R14

Northfield
6/22/13, Casimir Luckynutz R1; Elvis Returns R2; Timer R3; Lost Photo R5; Mj’s Victory R10; Majestic Duke R11; Nisty’s Dignity R13; His Eminence R14   

Pompano
6/22/13,+Bolero Topgun R10; +Camp Counselor R10  

Running Aces
6/22/13, +Dolly Howard R1; Place At The Beach R2; +Ben N Al R3; Parthenon R4; High Bet Hanover R5; Furious Five R5; Ty Top R8; Hammers Cam R9

Saratoga
6/22/13, Hazel Nut R2; Jds Memory R2; Vodkas Terror R3; Might Art ae R6; Pop Z Pop R7; Ideal Wizard R8; Daydreamin Lynx R8; Money Twitch A R9

Scarborough
6/21/13, +Keystone Howie R 9; 
6/22/13, +Scootin Keefe ae R7; Lislea Bonita R7

Scioto
6/21/13, Ee Bay ae R11
6/22/13, +Lucky Lime R5; Show Topper R6; +Stand Tall R13

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

The Hambletonian will remain at the Meadowlands through 2018 and hopefully TwinSpires will be able to report on it and all of the orbiting stakes live, as well as all the races leading to the classic trot. The Hambletonian Society, the race sponsors, and the Meadowlands have extended the existing contract three years. The Meadowlands has hosted the event since 1981. The $1.2 million renewal takes place on Aug. 3.

The Hambletonian, first contested in 1926, was presented at five different tracks, including a 25-year run, until 1980, at the harness meet in DuQuoin, Illinois. 

Here is a driver’s update. At Vernon Downs, on June 13, driver Roman Lopez became the first driver to post five wins on a single card at the 22-program meeting. The track was sloppy and the 53-year-old horseman managed to bring home enough winners for a flat-bet profit of $22.70 (it cost $20 to play each horse he drove on the program and the total return on five winners was $42.70). Lopez lost five drives on the same program.

I was not only lucky enough to have witness the great trotting mare Peace Corps race, I was fortunate enough to meet her in her stall when former owner Hans Enggren housed her at Kosmos Breeding Farm in Pennsylvania. Recently, it was confirmed that Peace Corps died in Mallorca, Spain, last November at the age of 26. Her current owner, John Bootsman, confirmed the mare’s demise. He said she had a “good life” on the island in the Iberian Peninsula. 

Peace Corps (pictured left) was a five-time (1988-1992) divisional trotting champion, who earned $4,137,737. She raced from 1988 to 1994, and was the top money winning female standardbred in the world. Early in her career, she was trained by Tom Haughton and started in the 1989 Hambletonian, which was won in a dead heat by Park Avenue Joe and Probe. Peace Corps was third. Peace Corps also won the Breeders Crown four times, in 1988, 1989 and as a mare in 1990 and 1992.

The undefeated Wheeling N Dealin, a top Hambo contender got onto the track for the first time since winning the Breeders Crown last October. Wheeling N Dealin won his qualifier at Mohawk in 1:55.3. Trainer Dustin Jones said last week that the colt will qualify at least once more and then try and get a few overnight races before the Hambletonian. 

Also qualifying on June 12 was last year’s North America Cup winner Thinking Out Loud and his talented stablemate Dapper Dude, as well as Little Brown Jug winner Michaels Power. Thinking Out Loud won his qualifier in his first appearance since December. His stablemate from the Bob McIntosh stable, Dapper Dude, finished second to Michaels Power in a qualifier won in 1:52.3. For Michaels Power  it was the second winning qualifier of the 2013 season.  

Extraordinary Extras

Marvelous Menagerie At Mohawk And More

It’s one of the biggest programs of the season, headlined by the Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday, June 15. There is so much material to accompany analysis of the races on the Mohawk Raceway program that night that we have split the difference with the usual two blogs—here and our Hambletonian Trail blog—and added a special North America Cup blog that will appear at this site on June 14.

The Elegant Image and Goodtimes finals are both at the Hambletonian Trail while here we will deal with the Armbro Flight, Fan Hanover, Mohawk Gold Cup and races 4 through 7 on the program where there is a $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 that includes a 20-percent bonus for all TwinSpires players hitting the combo.

And there is a $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 covering races four through seven at Mohawk on Cup night. TwinSpires players hitting it get a 20-percent bonus. See our H2W list under Mohawk for our suggestions.

Let’s not forget June 14 at Harrah’s Philadelphia where more glamour-boy pacers roll for big dount in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes action.

Our exclusive harness horses to watch (H2W) list from tracks around North America isn’t quite as bountiful as it was during the winter but those on the list need be taken seriously in their various outings.

TwinSpires offers special bonuses for Hoosier Park throughout the harness meet. Check out the Hoosier details here. 

Armbro Flight Femmes

This field should be the same bunch of gals fighting for a few big purses all season. The division has four-and-up mares and so far the youngest have been best. Take Maven, who was a major soph winner and one of this event’s elim winners. She looked smooth and strong coming down the stretch last week and will be ready for a shot at the $271,470 on this line here.

Both elims were won with closers and the best staying speed came from 10-1 Intense America. Maven got to her but she was tough holding on for second as Bax Of Life came from out of the clouds late. “America” gets the rail and should be on top in this slow-to-start bunch. At odds that could be as high as last week she could upset with a front-trotting, fraction-controlling engine drive as long as she keeps from dueling with China Pearls.

Fan Hanover Heroines

Here are three-year-old fillies pacing for $391,882 in Canadian coin, a lot of them carrying over their jousts with gals they met as freshmen. The single elim’s ending last week may be repeated this event, as I Luv The Nitelife returned to her frosh self and was all out in a wire to wire effort. It is hard to say who can match her in this field, since Belle Boyd is certainly the second best and all results point to those two at the finish line. In fact, Belle Boyd raced a tougher mile, so if you care to box those two it would not be out of the question to see “Nitelife” cuffed late or even somewhere down the stretch. Other than those two, only Love Canal showed anything, with a closing kick that got her third but that move may just repeat the trifecta here.

Another Cup

Don’t expect State Treasurer to repeat the Molson Pace mile because on the two-turns at Mohawk on Cup night, the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup should belong to Fred And Ginger. Followers of our blog know that we gave the elder pacer a great report at the beginning of the season and nailed that big exacta with him at 10-1 beating Hurrikane Kingcole on May 11. Since then “Fred” came off a hot pace and won in a sizzler but has not been able to bring home a price near 10-1.

Here is the perfect spot for Fred to hide up close while State Treasurer, Ok Commander and Up The Credit shuffle for position and burn out from the efforts. And while Warrawee Needy has to once again be hurled wide to brush into contention, Fred will be full of himself with energy to spare coming to the wire. “Warrawee” may make for a good exacta with Fred since he must negotiate his moves from post 9.

Philly Pacers

Three PASS miles for soph-colt pacers, each worth more than $79,000, go to post on June 14 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. In episode one we are sticking with Bigrisk, as he improves on the circuit and could be ready to fire big soon. Then, in PASS round two, Lonewolf Currier should adore getting onto this track after four-turns misery struck him with post and trip. In the nightcap, Our Dragon King could repeat but not at 15-1. We always seem to go with him when he is a huge overlay. Perhaps in this field he will be an overlay at 2-1, since it is not a powerhouse bunch.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track to decide how you will use the information. The list has shortened as the stakes season ensues but still offers the best 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 that horse is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared.  

An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list (so it might not get into the race). Multi-horses may be listed in the same race.  Horses from previous lists that are not racing this week will no longer appear until they are confirmed in a race. 

Wagering on any of the H2W listed horses is based on your own judgment. Your handicapping skills should include decisions to wager to win, place, show or in exotics. If you have any questions about the H2W list, send them to us through the TwinSpires blog channel.

H2W 

Buffalo
6/14/13, +Ja’s Charmer R2; Destinationunknown R9
6/15/13, +Rock N Bliss R6; +Coastal Highway R9; Debsgirloffortune ae R11

Meadows
6/15/13, +Redwhitenbluestone R11

Mohawk
6/15/13,Bare Necessity R4; The Ladies Man R4; I Luv The Nightlife R5; Belle Boyd R5; Love Canal R5; Mystician R6; Simply Business R6; Captaintreacherous R7; Odds On Equuleus R7

Northfield
6/14/13, +Eradikate R5; +Don’t Need A Gun R7

Pompano
6/12/13, Appeal A lot R8; Phyleon R11
6/15/13, Bolero Topgun R4; Camp Counselor R4; +Young American R6; +Future Plans R6; +Mach Made Her R10

Running Aces
6/15/13, +Math Major R2; +Racing Raff R4; +Purple N Gold R5; Dolly Howard R5; +Ileana Steele R6; +Persuade Me R8

Scarborough
6/14/13, Keystone Howie R5;
6/15/13, Fiorenza R1; Summer Weight R1; Mr Sigle’s Dream R3; +Zindelight ae R7; +Scootin Keefe ae R8; +Prince Of Desire ae R11

Scioto
6/15/13, Stand Tall R1; Show Topper R2; +Yakkity Yak Jack R3; Lucky Lime R3; Sammy Storm R7

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.