Ariana G, Downbytheseaside Win Toying With Foes; ‘Crown’ Countdown Cools Off; $18 Winner Tops Overnight Prices

Top choices that were obviously going to do their best were right there this weekend in a mishmash of features.

However you decided to wager—if you did at all—in the questionable Jug Preview on Sept. 9 at Scioto, Downbytheseaside ($2.10, $2.10 n/s) sprinted to the easiest of wins, as predicted by the population of the world.

At Mohawk there were two elims for the Canadian Trotting Classic, a glamour-boy trotting stakes. We were fourth, making the final, in the first elim with Lindy The Great (5-1), while we took second in the other elim with Long Tom ($4.80, $2.50).

The Elegantimage elims featured another giant, the fabulous filly trotter Ariana G ($2.10, $2.10 n/s ok), who won the first episode in a romp. We were fourth to a 3-1 in the next elim with Glitzey Gal (15-1).

Two Simcoe sophomore splits, one for colt pacers and one for filly pacers, was also on the Mohawk program Sept. 9. We were second with the colts, having Ocean Colony ($5.10, $4.50) to complete the $30.60 exacta, and we were sixth with the fillies, having Blameitonthenight (42-1), losing to a 5-1 shot.

Friday, Sept. 8 we visited the Meadowlands as it began its brief meet and featured a field of four in the Miss Versatility leg. We were third in the show-betting-barred event with Oho Diamond (5-1).

Thursday, Sept. 7 frosh-colt trotters in New York Sires Stakes at Vernon were dominated in the pair of events by public choices. We finished fifth with L Dees Courageous (50-1) and sixth with Funknpancakes (9-1).

BREEDERS CROWN COUNTDOWN

Grand Circuit events continued at Mohawk on Sept. 8, with the “Countdown” on board with the Milton and Maple Leaf Trot elims.

The second of the Milton pair found us third with Frost Damage Blues (n/s) in a wild ride for the group as super-choice Lady Shadow finished fourth, leaving longshots for win and places. In the first split the public choice won, while we ended up sixth with Call Me Queen Be (5-1).

Two Maple Leaf elims were unkind to our choices. In the first split, Lookslikeashipndale (6-1) flew to the lead off the gate and burned out in a wide duel, finishing seventh to the favorite.

The other elim was a crazy concoction of movements from some great horses that buried a few of them in the mile trip. With the top three favorites off the board, we wound up beating them, getting fourth with Musical Rhythm (10-1).

Saturday’s Jim Ewart Memoral at Scioto found our choice, Check Six ($3.20) in a dead-heat for third.


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 38 active horses (an 13-percent win hit rate and a 32-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

Hockey Hanover, $18.20, $3.40, $2.40, Meadows
Act Like A Diva, $6.00, $4.50, $3.20, Batavia
Darkest Secret, $5.80, $3.30, $2.50, Rideau-Carleton
Mets Hall, $5.20, $3.80, $3.40, Pocono
AAs Glory, $3.80, $2.10, $2.10 ok, Scarborough

Seconds

Sheilas Share, $6.60, $3.20, Bangor
Silver Arrow, $5.00, $13.40 ok (Exacta $46.80), Tioga
Prince Of Minto, $3.10, $3.00 (Exacta $14.40), Saratoga
Oneisalonelynumber, $3.00, $2.40 (Exacta $17.00), Pocono

Thirds

Intractable, $10.20, Northville
Frank’s Best, $4.20, Running Aces
Mach It A Par, $2.10, Yonkers


News & Notes

Here is the fifth week of our exclusive TwinSpires top 10 contenders list for the 2017 “Jug” on Sept. 21 (not any or all in this list are guaranteed to race in the Jug but they are all eligible).

1-Fear The Dragon
2-Downbytheseaside
3-Funknwaffles
4-Classic Pro
5-Blood Line
6-Miso Fast
7-Filibuster Hanover
8-Heaven’s Gair
9-Ocean Colony
10-R J P

The Meadowlands is presenting a new wager—the Pick 10 Survivor (PTS), to debut at its Fall/Winter Meet on Nov. 4. The PTS demands the bettor have winners in the first 10 races on the program. Winners of Race 1 will advance to Race 2 while those tickets that fail to pick the first-leg winner will be eliminated. Then all live tickets after Race 2 will advance to Race 3, while those that failed to pick the Race 2 winner will be eliminated; and so on until there is only one correct ticket (“the Survivor”) or all 10 races have been completed. A winning ticket will earn the entire pool minus the wager’s 15 percent takeout. If there are multiple tickets that survive through all 10 legs or are the last surviving tickets eliminated at the same time, they will split the net pool. The wager will carry a 20-cent minimum. There is no carryover associated with the wager. The Meadowlands is partnering with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program to guarantee the wagering pool at $10,000. The Meadowlands will be the only track in North America offering the PTS.

Western Fair is considering the installation of a passing lane. A spokesman for the Ontario half-mile says the passing lane would span half of the homestretch. Some critics have suggested a passing lane that is slightly longer and, of course, there are patrons opposing the addition completely. Other critics feel a better solution is to change the starting position of the races, launching the gate  at the head of the stretch so horses could have time to get good, early positions. This is also considered safer than most solutions to the ever-present trouble outside posts have winning on four-turn raceways.


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 ~