Showing posts with label sophomores. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sophomores. Show all posts

  • Racing For Cash And ‘Crown’

    POSTED Oct 9, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    The Breeders Crown is not as old as some of the events just raced at The Red Mile but  in its brief life it has earned a place in the history of harness racing. Since adopting a format to race all the event’s finals on a single evening, which stacked any and all eliminations the week before, the Breeders Crown has established fecund ground for harness bettors.

    This year’s eliminations will feature most of the 156 horses entered in the season’s-end championship events, which begin on Oct. 11 and continue through Oct. 12 with elimination miles. The “Crown” returns to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania after two years at Woodbine in Canada.

    We will be on site for the three days of racing, with tweets @FrankCotolo , @RayCotolo and lie extended coverage. Follow us, we hope for some major wagering opportunities, as well as presenting exclusive insider comments.

    This week’s blog splits into two volumes. We cover, below, the Saturday, Oct. 12 elims. At the Breeders Crown Countdown blog, we cover the five Oct. 11 elims and provide other information about the finals.

    Elims are unnecessary for the soph-filly pacers and the Open Trot because both received only nine entries. Eliminations for frosh-colt-and-filly trotters plus frosh filly pacers are Friday, Oct. 11. Post time is 6:30 p.m. both nights.

    What we enjoy about the eliminations is that they provide many more races than the dozen finals, allowing for us to pick and choose our spots. But they also may produce good-paying winners that may not be valuable bets in the final. Elims pit different horses against one another and are strong wagering occasions with, obviously, more winners. Keep in mind we are handicapping these races with the same mindset we use for all of our suggested contenders through the season and strive for the strongest returns while respecting the standout horses.

    Seven Stakes

    Seven divisions line up on Oct. 12 to battle for berths in the finals. Four have divisions and two offer spots in the final fields to the first seven finishers. There is no order to our analysis, so check your programs for race number and post time.

    The glamour-boy pacers offer two splits. In the first of them, six colts that have been co-stars in most of the bigger divisional stakes meet sans the intimidation of Captaintreacherous (see below). Sunshine Beach is the only colt this year to beat Captaintreacherous and he will be winging early to place the three turns in his favor. How much the other two top choices will offer could make either of them worthy of a bet against “Sunshine.” Lucan Hanover returns from a rest after winning a “Jug” elim and is perfect for this track. Fool Me Once was beaten in Lexington as a dead-on favorite and has far more credentials to be considered here. Right behind his loss was Apprentice Hanover, who raced better, closing tough from far back, and he is the true outside challenge here.

    Division two goes to Captaintreacherous, who has won here before under the worst conditions and would be our choice if it began to rain daggers in the Pocono Mountains.

    The glamour-boy trotters face each other again and a few that passed over Lexington come back for the big show.

    Division one won’t be handed to Smilin Eli, though his best recent wins were here (he also began to tank here). Bluto won here, though, and could be the overlay as “Eli” and All Laid Out gather stacks of win dough.
     
    In the second split the competition looks to be deep but perhaps that is a smokescreen for Royalty For Life to win at a decent price. After losing the second “Futurity” heat in Lexington, money could float to Spider Blue Chip and the Futurity winner, Creatine. Plus, bettors may not be so forgiving of the bad trip that saw “Royalty” losing badly here a few races back. So watch the odds, Royalty may offer a surprisingly good win price.

    The soph-girl trotters include a few Kentucky-skippers in two splits. The first may be the best betting situation, as undefeated Bee A Magician leads division two and is bound to create a negative pool.

    Kentucky Filly Futurity-winner To Dream On may get more action than she deserves in round one, as trainer Jimmy Takter does not have great confidence in her doing three turns and the general public may not know this or take it into consideration. This could be good for wagering around her. Frau Blucher should be a co-choice, despite tanking in Kentucky but Bouncing Bax may be the big spoiler. This race is rife for an upset.

    Division two may or may not hold some exotic wagering opportunities but it is impossible to bet against Bee A Magician or use her as a key. She has been fiendish and comes off of a brief rest that could find her exploding in this season of world-record breaking miles.

    The mare trotters surprise bettors with two divisions. This is a category usually soft on entries but here they are in two splits, none of them avoiding a chance to race in the final dozen.

    The first split seems to have a lot of promise for D’Orsay, though she may be bet heavily despite the morning line for Bax Of Life suggesting otherwise. “Bax” has had a hard time winning against any of these, so the favorite prediction seems undeserved. Certainly if Cedar Dove in on her game, she will play a part in the outcome, so D’Orsay may present a decent price.

    Episode two points distinctively to Maven, though you can make a case against her to win here. Win Missy B just broke a speed mark at the Meadows on Oct. 9 and will be filled with spunk three days later to attempt a steal here. She could be in better shape now than Check Me Out, who has awoken late this season and seems ready to look something like her sophomore self. But “Missy” should be the outside contender and priced higher than her chances.
     
    The Open Pace and Mare Pace offer a single mile where the first seven go on to the final. The first seven male pacers will meet Clear Vision and Pet Rock, who have byes, next week. The mares will meet byes-takers Drop The Ball and Feeling you in their final. 
     
    Tossing out last week’s Red Mile races for a few here is not restricted to the bad finishers. Indeed, Golden Receiver found a front trip in the mess of a track the key to finally taking care of these types, which he has had a great deal of trouble beating over the summer. A Rocknroll Dance should be back firing on all cylinders after having a bad go of it in that same race. He may not offer much to win but he is certainly the late-season star of this field. Look out for Sweet Lou in exotics, he hasn’t been winning lately but is fond of cashing checks.

    Swinging Beauty may offer fine odds to back her in the Mare Pace, as the obvious choices will rule the pools. We toss out her loss in Kentucky and point to her Milton place at 25-1 from post 8 at Mohawk. It’s likely she will not try to come from far back but find a good spot to save ground and launch a winning bid two wide or up the speedy open stretch lane.

    Green Colts Pacin’

    Three divisions for the frosh-colt pacers also adorn the Saturday program at Pocono.

    In chapter one, we are leaning toward Lets Drink On It, who could provide a price worthy of a win bet against some obvious contenders almost guaranteed to go off at short prices. “Drink” lost to the probable choices here (but beat them earlier in the year fairly and squarely) but was a strong contender two back at Philly where he was hanging by a thread through the toughest part of the race (at 5-2).

    In the middle split, Western Vintage appears tough on a few levels but will be pennies away from being an underlay. We may be able to nab top dollar putting some faith in Beat The Drum from the inside. He has raced better than his odds all season and has a chance to make major noise here while “Vintage” has to work too hard to  win (but makes the final).

    The third elim for the young guns offers yet another upsetter in Luck Be Withyou. This guy has been showing speed and stamina in Canada and but for some bad trips may have won a lot more than three in nine starts. He is in a perfect spot and has rested for the trip across the border and should be a price.
     
    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
    10/11/13, +Romeo Star R1; Mcbunny R9

    Meadows
    10/11/13, +Nelly Hanover R4

    Northfield
    10/11/13, +Twinky R7; +Twin B Shasta R8; +Iemma Machine Baby R13

    Vernon
    10/11/13, +Broadwood R11 
     
    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Jul 6, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    We had a good night on the trotting side. 
     
    Briefly, we had the first three Pennsylvania All Stars colt-trot winners: Brew Master ($5.40), Aperfectyankee ($9.40) and Bluto ($9). In the Reynolds Stakes the night before at the Meadowlands we had Ma Cherie Hall ($3.80). You can read those race reviews in details if you visit the Hambletonian Society’s special archive page for the Hambletonian Trail stories.  
     
    At the Meadowlands on Saturday, we scored strongly in the second William Haughton elimination, nabbing Sweet Lou and a win price of $19. In the first elim for the older pacers, our choice, Heston Blue Chip, was one of the favorites but he did not fire enough to even make the final. 
     
    Warrawee Needy won the elim and raised some eyebrows as he joined Holborn Hanover and Somebeachsomewhere as the fastest pacers in a race with a 1:46.4 victory. “Needy” was well backed and the “now” horse, winning as the public choice but no one in that crowded group expected the performance he presented. The four-year-old became the sport’s newest millionaire for trainer Carl Jamieson.  
     
    Once again we were victims of public choices in the two-year-old sires stakes, having only one third in four races.  
     
    Our choice in the Meadowlands Pace elimination, Johny Rock made the final but lost to the big favorite Sunshine Beach. Next week is the July 13 final and the return of Captaintreacherous, who did not have to appear in the elimination mile. He drew post 5. This week’s blog will cover the race extensively, as well as the final of the William Haughton and the Mistletoe Shalee. Around the ovals we will have more contenders from the horses-to-watch list (H2W). 
     
    H2W 
     
    $7.60 Five Cougars A, Maywood
    $3.60 Twilight Bonfire, Scioto 
     
    The following are the horses that finished second or third along with their post-time odds. Special notes on those finishes follow. 
     
    Seconds:
    Creating A Dream (9-2), Buffalo; Win A New Day (3-1), Buffalo
     
    Thirds:
    Fiorenza (7-5), Bangor; Hazel Nut (7-5), Saratoga; Twntyone Guns (8-1), Running Aces; Diamond Amber (11-1), Pompano 
     
    All adjustments for returnees to the list and additions will be in the Thursday blog. 
     
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     
    News And Notes

    Though there were more than a few public choices in the limelight around the ovals on July 6, one giant expectation turned into a huge disappointment. Wheeling N Dealin, the winter book favorite for the Hambletonian, made his 2013 debut in an overnight race at Mohawk and suffered his first loss in 10 starts. He did not even make it onto the board, finishing fourth.

    Wheeling N Dealin was first-over with three-eighths of the mile to go and picked up cover as the field went to a 1:24.1 three-quarters. Wheeling N Dealin didn’t gain any ground, though, and the mile was won by Midfield Magic in 1:53.2. Murmur Hanover was second and Dancehall Mistress was third. Wheeling N Dealin finished fourth for trainer Dustin Jones.

    Jimmy Takter continues to send impressive trotting freshmen to the post. On July 6 at the Meadowlands qualifiers, he revealed two fillies worth following. Red Hot Spicy and Scream And Shout won with miles around 2:00. Also of note on the trotting side was foreign-bred Danielle S winning in 1:58.1 for trainer Jim Oscarsson. A big-dollar yearling, $250,000 Yankee Glide colt Shift Into Glide, was a winner at first. Noel Daley trains. The $100,000 Donato Hanover colt Fashion Tagman won in 1:57.2 for Jim Campbell.

    Extraordinary Extras

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

    Every weekend as part of that blog we offer Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page which includes suggested win bets.

    Connect to Twitter and follow Frank and Ray Cotolo for up-to-the-minute suggestions on wagers at many harness raceways. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts.  

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog. 

     

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Pocono’s Powerhouse Features

    POSTED Jun 19, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    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

    POSTED Jun 15, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    The top news for the weekend is some of the biggest news of the season, as we called it, with Captaintreacherous winning the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup. We call your attention to a blog I wrote for the standardbred industry two days before the “Cup,” which is everything I have to offer about this great colt. Click here to read.  
     
     
     
    Aside from the accolades, we told you that at 1-1 or up Captaintreacherous would be an overlay. He paid a remarkable $4.80 to win. The buzz horses were all zapped by the stretch to the point where the longest shot on the board—Twilight Bonfire—who got into the race on the random draw, closed on the inside to be second at 96-1. He paid $44 to place and ignited a $213 exacta. We cannot take any credit for that exacta. In fact, our best second choice, Odds On Equuleus, raced badly. Trainer Tony Alagna’s other entry, Wake Up Peter, got up for third.
     
    Alagna was understandably ecstatic.  “Indescribable, it’s profound,” Alagna said after the race. “[Captaintreacherous] elevated himself to the great pantheon of horses tonight … Every time this horse gets a question mark he comes back with an exclamation point.” 
     
    In the filly version, we missed the triple by one position but gave you the $20.10 exacta as I Luv The Nitelife blew the field away in the stretch to win and pay $3.20. Belle Boyd was second in that combo. 
     
    We lost the Armbro Flight to the favorite, Maven ($2.80) with our 22-1 shot that finished seventh. One of our two selections in the Mohawk Gold Cup won; second choice Warrawee Needy paid $7.10 while first choice Fred And Ginger suffered a bad journey as the favorite and finished sixth. 
     
    The night before the Cup we could only hit with a strong choice at the Meadows, as Lonewolf Currier paid $2.80. 
     
    For result stories and our winners on soph-colt-and-filly trotters’ stakes, visit the Hambletonian Society’s special archive page for the Hambletonian Trail stories.   
     
    H2W
     
    $10.60 Purple N Gold, Running Aces
     
    The following are the horses that finished second or third along with their post-time odds. Special notes on those finishes follow. 
     
    Seconds:
    Dolly Howard (25-1), Running Aces; Eradikate (1-2), Northfield; Debsgirloffortune (12-1), Buffalo 
     
    Thirds:
    Fiorenza (1-1), Scarborough; Camp Counselor (20-1), Pompano; Young American (1-2), Pompano 
     
    Dolly Howard finished behind Purple N Gold at Running Aces for an exacta worth $278.80. Only 22 horses went to post.  
     
    All adjustments for returnees to the list and additions will be in the Thursday blog. 
     
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     
    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

    Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.  
     
    Every weekend as part of that blog we offer Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page which includes suggested win bets.  
     
    Connect to Twitter and follow Frank and Ray Cotolo for up-to-the-minute suggestions on wagers at many harness raceways. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts. 
     
    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.
     
    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Powerful Pacing Parade

    POSTED May 29, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    Pacers adorn this weekend’s highlights, with older and younger fields in combat. For the mare pacers there are two generously pursed Golden Girl divisions at the Meadowlands and there are two New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) finals for sophomore pacers on a huge Saturday program. More sophomores vie for big cash at Yonkers in the Art Rooney Final and Lismore (fillies) and colts fess up for lucrative Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) at the Meadows. In Canada, the Somebeachsomewhere stakes applaud speedy steeds in honor of the great sidestepper.

    The soph trotters continue on the long road to August. You can read our analysis of those races in this week’s Hambletonian Trail blog, brought to you exclusively by TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society.

    More winners are projected in our exclusive harness horses to watch (H2W) list from tracks around North America.

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

    Keystone And Jersey Sireds

    A trio of PASS for glamour-boy pacers are each over $79,000 at the Meadows on Friday, May 31. One of our successful choices, Martini Hanover, may be worth a shot with odds higher than the 2-1 he presented last week. The crowd will be all over Normandy Invasion, leaving “Martini” to hover as second choice or worse. Don’t count out Our Dragon King, who we shocked everyone with when he scored big at two. He is going to be a divisional highspire and though off to a slow start must be addressed, certainly at high odds.

    Next, trainer Ron Burke will likely offer the favorite with Dedi’s Dragon and that will open up a chance to get a good price on Some Kinda Beach. He is four for four this season and could make some major noise here.

    Then, we return to back Bigrisk, who was third for us last week. He may go off the favorite but probably not by many dimes, since Twillight Bonfire will get good support and the Dave Palone mount from post one will attract Palone fans.

    On Saturday, two NJSS finals, each worth $150,000, are on tap at the Meadowlands for the glamourous guys. A field of 10 go, with top names looking to cash in early on a big event. The top pair are Rockin Amadeus and Johny Rock, both beginning their soph seasons with fervor. There could be a price here, though, worth targeting, in Emeritus Maximus. It might be considered an upset but only due to the name recognition of the top pair. “Maximus” may be better at three and is going very well now for trainer Tony Alagna. We support him in this hoard of Rocknroll Hanover offspring.

    The fillies’ NJSS final is in the hands of I Luv The Nitelife, who will be the huge public choice and rightfully so. She seems to have entered her soph season with all the tools needed to dominate the division and an upset here is beyond our talents to predict. So a pass is our decision.

    Monsters Of Molson

    The $150,000 Molson Pace Invitation at Western Fair Raceway will be contested as an invitational for the first time on May 31. The field will line up as follows: 1. Foiled Again, 2. Aracache Hanover, 3. State Treasurer, 4. Versado, 5. Rock On Moe, 6. Keystone Velocity, 7. A Rocknroll Dance and 8. Betterthancheddar.

    It will be his fifth trip to the event for Foiled Again, the sport’s richest pacer of all time. In 2011 he captured the final, worth $300,000 that year. Last year Foiled Again successfully defended his title. He won the final by a head over stable-mate Clear Vision in 1:51.3.

    But look out, the connections of Betterthancheddar accepted the invite to the final and the world-class pacer will be making his seasonal debut. He was a Breeders Crown champ and a surprise dominating factor in his division last season. His 8-hole start may only boost his odds, an element of his debut we embrace.

    More trouble may be in the works for the others as the connections of Something For Doc decided to bypass the Molson, leaving an invitation that was accepted by the connections of A Rocknroll Dance. He appears well healed from problems that set him back late last season and recently finished a strong fourth in the Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park, which was a burnout’s paradise. He does, however, have more to be concerned about starting from post 7 than Betterthancheddar, who starts to his outside.

    For pure value, Betterthancheddar is our choice. Even with “Foiled” on the rail and the mystery of “Dance,” Casie Coleman may have her champion primed to debut in a big way. In fact, considering the prowess of this beast, you may not get a chance this season to see odds as large as we assume may present themselves here.

    Beach Boys

    Fourteen glamour-boy pacers drew into a pair of $75,000 divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes this Saturday, June 1, at Mohawk. This event is formerly the Burlington Stakes. This is the final stakes event leading up to the $1-million North America Cup. eliminations on June 8 ( the final will be on June 15).

    The first division features Vegas Vacation and Captive Audience, both top eligibles for the Cup. Vegas Vacation comes into the race off a pair of wins in conditioned company for trainer Casie Coleman. Captive Audience began his soph career with two seconds in conditioned races. Also here are Sweet Talkin Satin, Tarpon Hanover, Evenin Of Pleasure, Mach Pride and Urbanite Hanover. “Vegas” will be gunning but not offering much to win. We are interested in Mach Pride, one of the top-10 frosh-pacing earners last year. Giving him a shot in this could wind up to be a profitable move.

    The second division features Fool Me Once and Odds On Equuleus. Fool Me Once kicked off his soph season well for trainer Mark Austin , winning all three starts.. Odds On Equuleus opens his soph season here off three sharp qualifying wins for trainer Robin Schadt. Also here are Moonliteonthebeach, Varadero Hanover, Resistance Futile, Sunshine Beach and See And Ski. Varadero Hanover has won three of six this season and is gearing up for major stakes. He would be a nice catch here and needs to be respected.

    Absent from the divisions is Captaintreacherous, the top frosh-turned soph and early choice to win the Cup and other stakes for the glamour-boy divisions. His connections said that they’e skipping the Somebeachsomewhere due to travel considerations for the colt. Captaintreacherous’ trainer, Tony Alagna, is based in New Jersey and the connections don’t want the colt shipping just prior to the Cup elims.

    Golden Gals

    Mare pacers go after a lot of money, $90,000 plus in each division of the Golden Girls at the Meadowlands on June 1. Here they are again, the hard-working femme creatures of pacing, always at odds with one another, tightly matched and vehemently competitive.

    Round one offers six of them, with Anndrovette on the outside and Feeling You, already a winner of seven, on the wood. We should take heed of Bettor B Lucky because she is always ready to upset these types when a big purse is offered and do it at a price. Here she may be send off at a fair price of 3-1 or more, which is worth nabbing.

    In round two, our big score last week, Economy Terror, takes on her second of the season and is in a similar situation to get a winning trip, though we don’t expect her to go off anywhere near 10-1. This group appears lighter than the Betsy Ross cast, with speed that could come up short enough to appeal to a late-charging win. So we take her right back.

    Rooney Rousers

    The 23rd edition of Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney final on June 1. This year, glamour-boy pacers go for a purse of $275,000. The field, in post-position order: 1-Sunfire Blue Chip, 2-Source of Pride, 3-Mach it So, 4-Good Day Mate, 5-Doctor Butch, 6-Sir Cary's Zam, 7- Lonewolf Currier and 8-Bet the Moon. Sunfire Blue Chip and Source of Pride race as a common-owner/trainer entry. 
     
    We will go once again with Mach It So, who finished second for us in one of the elims last week. He could be the third choice if people go for the coupled entry and even though Lonewolf Currier has to negotiate the outside he will get a good piece of the win pool (if he doesn’t it will be because of the post and you had better respect him if the crowd lets him go off as third choice or worse).
     
    The companion stake is the $117,060 Lismore Pace for soph fillies. Although trainer Linda Toscano has four in the field, they are uncoupled due to bona fide separate ownership. But Freetime and Handsoffmycupcake are coupled due to common co-owner/trainer Scott DiDomenico. We will take JK Black Beauty, who should be a good price against the aforementioned foes. With a tight cover trip and no traffic late, “JK” could fly by the others, especially if they have been shuffling and battling during the four turns. 

    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
    5/31/13, So Over R1; Spencer B R1
     
    Hoosier
    5/30/13, Justified R 6
     
    Maywood
    5/31/13, +Catch The Rapids R4; +Mack Brenlin R14
     
    Northfield
    5/31/13, Medley Mindale R2; Fraggle R15
     
    Scarborough
    5/31/13, Magical Ability R3; +Dvc Journey Home R4; +Can You Fly R6; Keystone Howie R8
    6/1/13, Win The West R5
     
    Scioto
    6/1/13, Kf Shark R2; +Lookinforadventure R5; Fiftytwoflat R5; Yakkity Yak Jack R10

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED May 11, 2013 By Frank Cotolo

    This past weekend you had to go out of your way to find a winner from this department, as the weekend’s offerings, in general, missed their marks, mostly to favorites. Keeping good notes on our Thursday blogs and following through is what worked this week if you wanted to cash some great tickets. We begin with the successes.  (Photo on right by Thom Pye)

    One of our entries in the horses-to-watch list (H2W) left after the nominal second appearance. Carmelita’s Girl was not on this past Thursday’s H2W at Northfield. The horse went to post on May 10 and won, paying $140.60. If you have been following H2W horses the week after they leave the list, you have had a number of great winners.

    Also, from last week, we were third with Fred And Ginger in the Van Rose Memorial at Pocono against Golden Receiver. Fred And Ginger went to the Meadowlands on May 11 and just beat our choice, Hurrikane Kingcole, the favorite. Fred And Ginger paid $22.40 and atop “Hurrikane,” who turned out to be the favorite (something we did not count upon happening), presented an exacta worth $65.20. 

    This week, we liked Mister Herbie in one of the “Cutler” elims and we mentioned he had to beat the “now horse” Modern Family. He was second to Modern Family and that exacta paid $11.60. 

    We were right about one of the Woodbine finals in that the favorites could be beaten but in The Diplomat Final our outside contender finished third at 21-1 to a 6-1 shot, both beating the two top choices.

    For the soph-colt-and-filly trotters’ stakes, visit the Hambletonian Society’s special archive page for the Hambletonian Trail stories.  

    H2W


    $22.20 Sun On The Rocks, Cal Expo
    $12.40 Dontgetinskyway, Buffalo
    $8.40 Outta The Red, Cal Expo
    $4.80 Dreaming Of Amy, Cal Expo
    $4.80 River Of Faith, Maywood
    $4.60 Vyce, Raceway
    $3.00 Hillbilly Hanover, Pocono

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

    Seconds:
    Wisher (5-2), Pocono; Rocket Fuel (10-1), Hoosier; Wingull (6-5), Pompano; Fireyourguns (4-5), Buffalo

    Thirds:
    Pacific Prince (3-1), Buffalo; Debs Girloffortune (29-1), Buffalo; Redmeansgo (21-1), Northfield; Fox Valley Bobbijo (19-1), Maywood; Chevie Balboa (2-1), Cal Expo; Redford Hall (1-1), Buffalo 

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

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

    News And Notes

    Our big TwinSpires Players’ Pool Hambletonian winner in 2011, Broad Bahn, was set to return to the races for a career as an older trotter but things have not turned out well. He was at stud in New York in 2012 but now will be heading for Europe to join the stable of Stig Johansson in Stockholm. His owner, Leif Alber, said he will take the trotter to Sweden to address some physical issues the horse has developed. “Johansson is one of the best trainers in the world,” Alber said, “ and if somebody can solve the problem, I believe he is the man.” Broad Bahn will be on the same flight as one of his former foes, Take My Picture, since that one is going to race in this year’s Elitlopp. 

    Joe Holloway’s enthusiasm for his filly pacer, Shebestingin, remains as she comes into her sophomore season after a rest from suffering an injury that cut short her two-year-old season. Since her return, Shebestingin (pronounced She-be-stingin), she has won three of four starts. Her only loss came by a neck to Jerseylicious, who won last year’s Sweetheart Pace on Hambletonian day (we tweeted that winner while covering the races at the Meadowlands) and is undefeated in eight starts this season. Shebestingin’s stakes schedule includes the Valley Forge, Mistletoe Shalee, Breeders Crown and Matron.

    “We were high on her last year,” said Holloway, who trains Shebestingin. “The reason I got her ready so early [this year] is she’s pretty inexperienced. I wanted to get a few starts under her belt … What are you going to do, wait until June and start up; it’s tough to train one down that tight. Now it’s a lot easier. She’s already tight; I can back off a couple weeks … She’s not going to race until the New York Sire Stakes [June 9] at Tioga. She’ll get two solid weeks off and then I’ll qualify her. Then it gets hot and heavy.”

    With Freehold closing for the summer and the major stakes visiting Mohawk and Pocono, the Meadowlands has structured several late-closing series to offer Freehold horsemen classes for their horses during the month of June. Events will be available for trotters, pacing mares and pacing horses and geldings who have made a minimum of six starts at Freehold in 2013 or are classified as C-2 at the Meadowlands as of May 27. Winners of over $30,000 in 2013 are ineligible. There will be two $10,000 legs and a $20,000 added final for each throughout the month of June.

    Extraordinary Extras

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

    Every weekend as part of that blog we offer Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page which includes suggested win bets.   

    Connect to Twitter and follow Frank and Ray Cotolo for up-to-the-minute suggestions on wagers at many harness raceways. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts.   

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog.

     

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED Nov 3, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    The million-dollar stakes evening at Indiana Downs brought us low-priced winners and defeats by surprising entries.

    It’s a tough night by any standards when your top winner on the program pays $4.40. That’s what World Cup paid in the Oliver Trot Classic Consolation. Two dollars and 20 cents less came from Foiled Again, as part of a power-packed entry in the Indiana Pacing Derby; he was our winner though he had to carry companions in the wagering, paying $2.20.

    Our other choices in the features finished fourth (Hurricane Kingcole, Northern Miss Hall), fifth (Blackjack Princess), sixth (Lindmeyourvictory) and seventh (Big Chocolate).

    The fat lady has yet to sing; next week glamour-boy pacers are at it again in the $415,820 Messenger Stakes. It’s one dash for cash at Yonkers, featuring, alphabetically, A Rocknroll Dance, Bolt the Duer, Domethatagain, Hillbilly Hanover, Lawgiver Hanover, Major Bombay, Pet Rock and Steelhead Hanover.

    The stakes companion event, the $229,440 Lady Maud Pace for soph-pacing fillies, presents seven in the Nov. 10 classic, also a one-dash-for-cash event.

    Entries, in alphabetical order, are Bettor B Lucky, Economy Terror, Handsoffmycookie, Major Look, Ramalama, Rockaround Sue and Romantic Moment.  The femme field actually looks more competitive than the boys’ bunch.

    Balmoral is the scene of our next national stakes blast. On Nov. 10 a slew of American-Nationals for selected divisions all offer six-digit purses and bring to Crete, Illinois a number of the season’s players.
     
    More on all of this action in our Friday blog.

    News And Notes

    Harness racing returned to Cal Expo this weekend for the first time since June (the five-month drought of races is the longest at the facility since 2000), giving the industry another incarnation with a new operator. Alan Horowitz, executive director of the California Harness Horsemen's Association, expects the new operators to aggressively try to win back fans and rebuild the racing product.

    “Expect new wagers with new guaranteed payouts, more full fields with new horses, trainers and drivers,” he said.

    Horses and horsemen have signed up to race from Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Canada.

    The meet opened on Breeders’ Cup weekend. Management feels racing from 6 to 11 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time), will attract an audience across other time zones, picking up East Coast fans when those tracks close, adding people in Central time and maintaining the West Coast viewer all evening.

    In Delaware, Corey Callahan defends three-straight driver crowns and Josh Green has a seven-straight streak going as leading trainer at Dover Downs. The track opened for its 44th season on Sunday, Nov. 4 

    Callahan will be tested by last meet’s runner-up, Ross Wolfenden, fresh from winning his second-consecutive Harrington Raceway driver crown; Tony Morgan, winner of three of the last seven Dover championships; and former driving leaders Tim Tetrick and Jim Morand. Ron Pierce is another top reinsman set to appear regularly in the strong driver colony during the six-month long season.

    Next weekend, the track’s major stakes events get underway with eliminations for the $400,000 Progress Pace for the soph-colt pacers and seven Matron Series divisions for two- and three-year-olds, all on Sunday, Nov. 11.

    Dover features 15 races daily; Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. while Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. There is no live racing on Fridays and Saturdays in November.

    Extraordinary Extras

    Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances. Every weekend as part of that blog we we offer Balmoral Pick-4-and-win picks at the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program page which includes suggested win bets.   

    Connect to Twitter and follow Frank and Ray Cotolo for up-to-the-minute suggestions on wagers at many harness raceways and for live coverage of the Breeders Crown elims and finals. Then, wager from your TwinSpires accounts.  

    Get onto our mailing list and receive a free copy of a classic horseracing fiction book by clicking here.  

    Check out special podcasts available for beginners and veterans of harness betting, a new series available free so you can learn more to bet more and win more at TwinSpires. Click here.
     
     
     Cartoon by Thom Pye
    Thanks to Don Daniels for the classic photos

  • Meadowlands August Classics On Tap

    POSTED Aug 1, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    It is time for the first weekend in August, the traditional launching of the season’s second half, celebrated with some of the more ambitious stakes events to be collected on a single card. On Saturday, Aug. 4, the glamour-boy-and-girl trotters headline the international stage with the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks finals. 

    The full analysis of the Hambletonian Final is available on the blog where we have followed both divisions since the Grand Circuit began in May—on our exclusive Hambletonian Trail. The archived reports of all the eligibles’ performances in stakes since May, as well as the elims for Saturday’s classics, are at the Hambletonian Society.  

    All of the other stakes action on the program is covered below. We will be reporting and updating racing live from the Meadowlands on Aug. 4. Follow Twitter accounts @FrankCotolo and @RayCotolo and watch the TwinSpires and Hambletonian Trail blog throughout the card for on-the-spot info, late changes, betting news, etcetera. It’s exclusive for TwinSpires.  

    Also, the power-packed Aug. 4 Meadowlands program features the Super High 5 on the 15th (final) race of the program with a takeout of only 5 percent. 

    Co-stars Combined


    Friday, Aug. 3, the field of the $50,000 Townsend Ackerman is represented by Hambletonian eligibles that did not make it to the big dance. This will be a tough betting race in that four of the colts are coupled in one entry and three are coupled in another, with only three other betting entities.  

    Also, since Little Brown Fox is a member of the four-pronged group and he was a misfortunate elim breaker (while being the choice of many to win the final), it is a strange combination of elements. He would be the choice and would have been bet heavily even as his own betting interest. The break that took him out of his Hambo elim was circumstantial, not chronic, and he is the best of this group for sure.  

    Last year’s “Oaks”-eligibles, mostly, line up for the $73,000 Ima Lula Final. The versatile Cedar Dove is here off of her series win from post 11 after coming in second in leg one. She will be the public choice, as we estimate, and China Pearls will be close behind her in the betting, though that one was scratched for illness last week (we have no details about that). But Tui is an immediate danger here. She was on her way to a sweep but she broke late in leg two and could only get fifth. She will be a lot higher in the odds than she was then, making her the outside contender for us.  

    Stakes On Hambo Program


    Saturday’s cavalcade starts with the $30,000 Duenna for glamour-gal trotters. Most in this first of two divisions were Oaks eligibles. Chuck Sylvester’s Southwind Moni is as close as the veteran trainer will get to Hambo-day glory this year. Still, she could bring a decent price against this group since she has been racing better than her odds for a while.  

    Next, the $253,000 Lady Liberty produces mare-pacing free-for-allers of the first degree. A great shot at a long price would be Higher And Higher. She qualified well for this and is returning to the track where she was most productive. Trainer-driver Daryl Bier is responsible for her wins at the Meadowlands, where bettors stood clear from her due to his lack of fame. From the 10 hole you can be sure she will be a big price and she will be winging late to take down some of these popular names.

    The second Duenna field is next and we absolutely love Starglow Hall. Coming from the rich and competitive New York Sires Stakes, her recent trip on Batavia’s half-mile warrants attention. Certainly at 9-1 she would have won handily were it not for being three wide early and first over for two more calls. Chris Ryder trains this well-bred filly that could surprise foes here.

    The Miss New Jersey Final is next, worth $125,000 for soph-filly pacers bred in the Garden State. Rockaround Sue has been dynamic in her last three but will be a dead-on choice. Let her win at a low price. Take Blackjack Princess to upset, certainly at the price that should be offered. She made a bold move in the prep last week but was hung out to dry. A big mile awaits here, so why not on the big day?

    More Hambo-Program Stakes


    Freshmen filly pacers are the stars in this, their most lucrative event so far this season, the $286,300 Sweetheart Final. The top prospect will most likely be Shebesting but post 10 could be a problem. It is enough of a question to go shopping, especially since the rest of the big bets will go to Nikki Beach, especially with Brian Sears up. Outside of those two is the chance to take on Cult Status. She was right behind Nikki Beach in the prep and looks to break her maiden in this stakes after only two starts for trainer Richie Silverman. It would be a grand win for the one-time popular-driver-turned-conditioner, as well as it would be a wonderful price.

    Frosh-colt pacers are next in the $309,050 Woodrow Wilson Final. Another pacer that could rise from the maiden ranks with a stakes win is Chris Ryder’s Martini Hanover. Coming from Pennsylvania, this colt looks like he wants to pace all day and that is the kind of fiber we want on a green colt that looks for glory on the first Saturday in August. He is probably improving leaps and bounds and that is worth a bet here against the obvious choices the public will make.

    Frosh-filly trotters are on stage next in the $354,450 Merrie Annabelle Final. We liked Lady Riviera last week and she was best of the rest at 7-1 against the length-devouring To Dream On. Let’s turn the tables on the public choice and go for the price with her again; she may win being closer up this time as “Dream” will attempt to wire the field.

    The frosh-colt trotters, those 2013 Hambo prospects, go at it next in the $387,250 Peter Haughton Memorial. Again, we lean in the direction of the improving young horse and that’s where we find A Perfect Yankee. Getting into this final was not easy, since he broke at the start of his elim and was far back until he was able to pass horses in the stretch and, in full stride, finish fourth. Certainly the crowd will steer clear of driver Jim Oscarsson, feeling safer with Brian Sears on Major Athens. As well, they may shy away from the 10 horse, Fashion Blizzard, who we had last week. His second-place finish qualifies him to be in the thick of this, even as far out as he will start.

    Big Trots

     
    The older trotters vie in the $50,000 Vincennes Invitational and the traditional Nat Ray Final, worth $250,000.

    First, the Vincennes sends out 10 veterans from various class levels, making for a tightly competitive field. A profitable scenario finds Zooming controlling the fractions as the speed of the group from the inside and giving the Millers, Julie-trainer and Andy-driver, a big win. Certainly the Pocono race this guy delivered in a conditioned event is enough to allow him the veracity to defeat some of the older ones here.

    In the Nat Ray eight go out and seven have to contend with multiple-world-champion Chapter Seven. Mister Herbie already handed that one a defeat, winning at 8-1 in Canada. But an attempt to topple him today could make a case for Hot Shot Blue Chip. No stranger to this day, his return to the track after a brief retirement has been vengeful. Let’s take him today as the top two could cancel each other out.

    Closing Duo


    Pacers close out the stakes program with the $242,500 U.S. Pacing Championship for the elders and the $275,000 New Jersey Classic for the sophomore colts.

    The “Championship” has well-known starters and you can make scenarios that would benefit most of them to win. But We Will See returns to where he struck strongly last year and is in top shape again. He was hung at Chester in a scorching three-quarters and here will be looking for a trip from post 8 that allows him to turn the burners on just in time to pass the tired duelers. There is no way to predict price; you be the judge of the value.

    The “Classic” for state-bred soph colt pacers should go to Hurrikane Kingcole. He will, however, be wagered upon heavily. Should he get into a bad outer flow or at best hang, Rollnlikeabigshot may be there after a ground-saving trip to pick up the pieces and take this at a price.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.

  • Looking For Champions

    POSTED Jun 27, 2012 By Frank Cotolo
    It’s the time of the season where everyone in the standardbred business watches closely for the cream of the crops. Insiders know the vigil is good business, while smart bettors know they can identify the horses that the public will be following with every cent, leaving overlays upon which to sensationalize.

    Giant races are ahead, including the Meadowlands Pace and, of course, the Hambletonian and all the stakes orbiting that race’s program on the first Saturday in August.

    Hambo-hopefuls continue to battle, colts and fillies, and the classic Yonkers Trot is the next big test. On July 7 (no elims), the $445, 594 event is complemented by the Hudson Filly Trot, worth $185,194. For the analysis of each event, go to our exclusive Hambletonian Trail next week and follow through with result stories (and the archived stories of all the eligibles performances in stakes since May) at the Hambletonian Society.

    Ben Franklin Final


    At Pocono Downs the $500,000 Ben Franklin Final brings together some of the best older pacers, including last year’s late-blossoming Betterthancheddar and the fiery We Will See. These two will likely take most of the wagers.

    Our elim winner from last week, Aracache Hanover, and multiple-stakes-series champ Foiled Again will be looking to pour spoils over the half-million dollar event and at good prices.

    Aracache Hanover did exactly what we thought last week, going first over at the right moment to win. He has yet to reach his peak and looks to continue his winning ways this week.

    Foiled Again was a game third to the likely favorites in the second elimination. He went first over early and cleared the top only to lose it in the stretch. He should get a better trip this week and could blow right by this group.

    Max And James Finals


    Hurrikane Kingcole is much the best in the Max Hempt Final at Pocono on June 30. We will try the same exacta we had in last week’s elimination with I Like Dreamin for second. He will likely get a second- or third-over trip and fan out late to close.

    There is little doubt American Jewel will lose the James Lynch Final. This filly is towering over her division after settling her late-season health problems. This is a good race to pass.



    Soph Fields


    New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) headline Thursday and Friday at Yonkers Raceway, with events for three-year-old pacers of both genders. The sophomore fillies go in the first three races on June 28.

    The opening filly split, worth $111,268, finds recent state-bred winner at Vernon, Brownsville Bomber, headlining and looking tons the best.

    The second $111,268 field presents a battle between NYSS winners New York Kitty, JK Fine Art and Romantic Moment. The latter is the one we will back.

    Handsoffmycookie returns to Yonkers after winning the Lismore earlier in the month. She will be hard to beat in the third division, worth $113,268.

    Friday night features the NYSS colts at three miles worth $113,413 each.

    The opening event features NYSS-proven Breakin’ the Law, sharp though obvious to bettors. And in the second division Forever Just also a local NYSS winner, seems to be the best.

    The nightcap features New York-star pacer Heston Blue Chip, three for three this season, facing Coral Snake, a soph unraced at two, with four soph wins in as many tries. And the good outsider is Steelhead Hanover, who could upset and will probably be the bargain of the three.

    Titans Clash


    The Meadowlands features the best free for all trotters in the Titan Cup Final this Friday, June 29.

    Chapter Seven, who set a world record in the prep last week, which was his first performance at four, will be vying for the prestigious event’s crown, won last year by Arch Madness, who set the all-age world record in that performance and is here to defend that title.

    Winning Mister, who was a game second in the Cutler as well as in the Titan Cup prep, is on board in this field. He may receive some strong betting, but has a great chance.

    Winning Mister usually sets the tempo, so if he goes soft fractions and saves himself for the final half, Chapter Seven will have no shot to catch him.

    Grand Circuit Contests

    Three-year-old colt and filly pacers will contest in the W.N. Reynolds on Saturday at the Meadowlands. This is the first year these Grand Circuit stakes are presented at the Meadowlands; they were once a regular part of the circuit at Pocono Downs.

    In the only division of the filly Reynolds, it is pretty wide open. Blackjack Princess and Gottaseeaboutagirl have the best shots but the worst posts. Blackjack Princess was a game second at 34-1 in the Historic Ladyship at Tioga. Before that, she was third against older mares in an Open at Saratoga. She is improving and may hit her peak this week.  

    Also in contention is Gottaseeaboutagirl. The Meadowlands is the track where she prevailed, not only the most, but at her best. She closed to win the Night Styles against older horses and beat Air Guitar Hanover, along with Blackjack Princess, in the John Simpson Stakes. She should offer a good price.  

    In the first division of the colt Reynolds, E Z Noah is the likely favorite. Delaware-native Flying Instructor will be seeking his first Open stakes win. Racing primarily in the Delaware Owners and Breeders Fund Stakes (DSBF), his best race came in the final on April 9, romping by 8 lengths in 1:51.4 as the 1-9 favorite. He returned in fine style to win two legs of the DSBF at Harrington. He normally sets the pace and he may get a pocket trip as E Z Noah takes the top.  

    In the second division, All Steinam is the likely favorite after recovering from two breaks to finish third to a 184-1 shot at Pocono. Mcerlean and Verdad will likely be ignored in this division. Mcerlean was the pace setter in the second Hempt elimination against Hurrikane Kingcole. He faded to fifth. This speedy three-year-old may get little play and should be game this start.  

    Verdad, our selection in the first Hempt elimination last week, looks for redemption after breaking in the stretch and finishing fourth. Before that, he won against older in non-winners of $13,000 last five. As long as he stays flat, he should show what we expected him to last week.  

    Play the Hoosier Mega 10X Pick 4 every Thursday!

    Harness at Hoosier Park is going great guns and so can you when you play the Thursday night programs. TwinSpires players earn 10 TSC Elite Points for all wagers they make on those programs. Also, the Pick 4 features a guaranteed $5,000 pool (races four throuth seven). Post is 5:30 EST.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.