Another Plested Powerhouse At $74 To Win; Ariana G Devours Division; What A Hill Avenges In Glamour-Boy Derby

Our biggest priced winner this week was a first-time entry on the horses-to-watch list (H2W), coming from a barn we touted from the start of the current Running Aces meet. Trainer Kathleen Plested came through with Tornado Henry at 36-1 (from headline, see H2W list below). It’s one of a few bulging prices the leading trainer at Cal-Expo has produced since bringing her stock to Minnesota.

At Mohawk on Saturday, Sept. 16, we were competitive and won a three of four finals, though prices were debatably low.

We took the Canadian Trotting Classic with What The Hill ($7.60, $5.10, $3.70). The Hambletonian-disqualified glamour-boy trotter had a smooth pocket trip but was still the best, as we expected, in his avenging win.

Our top two choices in the Maple Leaf Trot came through for a $15.70 exacta, with Hannelore Hanover ($3.00, $2.60, $2.30) on top and JL Cruze ($7.50, $3.90) completing the combo.

The chant in the glamour-girl trotter division echoed through North America, as predicted—Ariana G, Ariana G, Ariana G, Ariana G, Ariana G, Ariana G, Ariana G, Ariana G, Ariana G ($2.10, $2.10 n/s ok) was no match for her foes in the Elegantimage final.

Though Lady Shadow (2-1) took a tough route to get the top in the stretch of the Milton Final, the duel getting there caused her to tank and finish off the board to a 6-1 winner.

Friday’s Helen Smith Final at Freehold had only four entrees, barring place and show betting. We were second with Hillarmbro (3-1).

The eight Simpson Stakes at Philadelphia on Sept. 17, which were covered in our blog, will be reported in our next update blog, Sept. 25.


BREEDERS CROWN COUNTDOWN

Mohawk stayed the scene for Grand Circuit action on Sept. 16, with the “Countdown” covering the frosh-colt pacer division with a trio of Metro Stakes elims.

Two favorites won in three races and we were responsible for an exacta partner in elim two with Lost In Time ($6.60, $4.20). That combo paid a healthy $38.40. Our second choice, This Is The Plan (22-1) was fourth.

In the first elim we were sixth to a favorite with Phil The Thrill (11-1) and in the last split we were eighth with Torrin Hanover (22-1), while our second choice, Babes Dig Me, was the favorite but finished seventh to a 7-1 winner.


H2W LIST RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas listed are included when a H2W horse finishes second with a race favorite or the first two finishers making up the exacta are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete a cold exacta). The note “ok” determines that prices published are correct even when a show price exceeds a place price or any or all of the prices are the same. This week, there were 26 active horses (an 12-percent win hit rate and a 54-percent ATB [across-the-board] hit rate).

Please note that some H2W results reflect win, place, show and exotic results occurring by press time but some horses race after the blog is posted (we list them the following week) It is up to you to follow horses that have not performed before this weekly review is posted.

Winners

Tornado Henry, $74.40, $19.40, $8.00, Running Aces
Intractable, $5.80, $3.00, $3.00 ok, Northville
Bonita Island, $3.20, $3.50, $2.10 ok, Saratoga

Seconds

Big Brad, $7.00, $4.60 (Exacta $57.00), Dayton
Mr French, $5.00, $4.00, Saratoga
Liquors’kwikker, $3.00, $2.60, Running Aces
Guardian Angel AS, $3.00, n/s (Exacta $8.50), Batavia
Pinkman, $3.00, $2.80, Meadowlands
Astor, $2.60, $2.60 ok (Exacta $8.20), Freehold

Thirds

Nvestment Bluechip, $11.20, Dayton
Bands Houdini, $3.00, Hawthorne
Ianthe Hanover, $3.00, Plainridge
Higgs Boson, $2.40, Philadelphia
Chapter Too, n/s, Yonkers


News & Notes

It’s Little Brown Jug week at the Delaware, Ohio fair. In our next blog we will analyze the Great American Pace, which is the feature on the final day of the fair, along with other stakes. Our speculation about Fear The Dragon’s absence won’t come true, because the colt qualified brilliantly last week after some minor health issues. So, the “Jug” comes down to a battle between a pair of Brian Brown trainees, as Downbytheseaside and Fear The Dragon. The eight entries are the smallest number since the 1980 Jug (won by Niatross). Only seven horses entered in 1948 (won by Knight Dream) and 1965 (won by Bret Hanover). The post positions for the final heat will be determined by the official results of the $188,928 first heat. The winner of the $401,472 final heat will be declared the 72nd Jug champion.

On Sept. 20, the filly version, the $273,250 Jugette, will highlight the second-half season’s top glamour-girl filly, Blazin Britches. She’s the winner of nine of 10 races and has been made the 6-5 morning line choice in the event. The Brian Brown trainee has post 3 in the first of two eliminations. Obvious Blue Chip is the second choice post 4.

Caviart Ally is the line-maker’s choice in the six-horse second $54,650 elimination. The Noel Daley trainee has been first or second in her last five starts, having earned $475,700 in her career. The second and third choices in the second elimination are Tequila Monday and Idyllic Beach. The top four elimination finishers will advance to the $163,950 second heat. The winner of the second heat will be declared the Jugette champion.

Extraordinary Extras

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

For Thom Pye cartoons, informative harness history and more, click here ~