As Predicted—Bettors Wish Crushes ‘Crunch’ In ‘Pace’; Greenshoe Augments August Hambo Hope; Double-Digit Frosh Hits

Thursday, July 11 A foursome of New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) divisions for frosh-filly pacers was the feature on the program at Yonkers. In the first two fields we were on the board. Division one was our winner, The Fun Marshall ($11.00, $2,50, n/s). The second split found us finishing second to the public’s second choice with Racine Bell ($9.50, $3.00). In the third NYSS our contender broke. Finally Free (13-1) finished seventh. There was a fourth division but our choice, Dragon Blue Tina, scratched. Hoosier held leg one of the Indiana Sires Stakes (INSS) for frosh-filly pacers. There were a couple of upsets, one with our contender, Clever Character ($15.20, $4.60, $4,80). While a 4-1 shot won another split, we finished fourth with Power Of Tell (25-1). In the other two INSS divisions we had no chance from the starts. A favorite won, while out choice, Fishyriggins (9-1) broke, running home ninth. We began the quartet of INSS fields with another jumper, General Doug A (10-1), finishing seventh-placed-ninth while a 9-1 shot won. Saturday, July 12 The jam-packed Meadowlands program was too fast for some as well as it burned big favorite dollars. Starting with the main feature, the Meadowlands Pace, we were just nipped by longshot Best In Show (27-1), who was not the best in the race. The best in the race was who we have been backing, Bettors Wish ($4.00, $2.80), since he won the “Rooney” at Yonkers. In this race we enforced our opinion over the popular Captain Crunch, the huge public choice, who finished as we predicted, off the board (fourth). Bettors Wish traveled on the outside most of the mile. Our hope for second, US Captain (89-1), started with some spunk but finished off the grid. We also tried to beat Atlanta in the Hambo Maturity. A 23-1 shot did just that, while we finished third with Six Pack ($2.80). No one could defeat Shartin N; she won the Golden Girls as the public choice. We raced well into fourth with Seaswift Joy N (51-1). Lather Up, as the favorite, won the W. Haughton. Our faith in McWicked (2-1) is waning this season; he finished fourth. Stonebridge Soul, the public’s second choice in the Mistletoe Shalee, took soph-filly pacers for a loop. We finished fifth with Philly Hanover (13-1), while our exotic partner, Zero Tolerance (5-1), finished fourth. At Yonkers, the L.B. Sheppard Final for frosh colt pacers was won Columbo, the public’s third choice. We wound up with the favorite, Hunter Hill (8-5), who finished a disappointing fourth. HAMBLETONIAN TRAIL Two divisions of the Del Miller Memorial brought the most promising “Oaks” fillies to the gate at the Meadowlands on July 13. We challenged the big favorite in the first division and made her work for the win. Settling for second was our failed upset Cloud Nine Fashion ($4.00, $3.40) to complete the exacta worth $9.80. In the second Del Miller, prohibitive favorite, which we agreed upon, Millies Possesion ($3.00, $2.40, $2.10) won with ease. The first of two Stanley Dancer Memorial colt splits presented a wake-up mile for Swandre The Giant (5-1) as he defeated our contender, the favorite, Green Manalisi S ($2.40, $2.10). The second colts division went to the huge favorite, Greenshoe, with our contender, Pilot Discretion ($3.00, $2.60), the best of the rest. 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 58 active horses (a 10-percent win hit rate and a 33-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 weeks) It is up to you to follow horses that have not performed before this weekly review. Winners Expect The Sweep, $7.60, $3.00, $3.20, Northfield Rock On Ruby, $6.80, $4.40, $3.20, Running Aces Hypocracy, $4.80, $4.10, $2.50, Saratoga Fargo Hanover, $3.40, $2.40, $2.10, Plainridge Gimmesomeroom, $3.10, $2.50, $2.10, Vernon Write Me A Song, $2.20, $2.10, $2.10, Plainridge Seconds Grantor Hanover, $14.00, $4.50 (Exacta $72.50), Buffalo Money Earned, $10.20, $3.50, Vernon Lexi Tee, $8.00, $4.80, Plainridge Speed Ball Swagger, $5.80, $3.60 (Exacta $25.20), Philly Mangogh, $5.40, $3.20, Meadowlands Falcons Luke, $4.80, $3.60 (Exacta $16.00), Buffalo Shesureissomething, $4.60, $3.20, Running Aces Glorious Virgin, $4.40, $3.00 (Exacta $5.10), Hoosier Attache, $2.60, $2.20 (Exacta $8.40), Northfield Thirds Tight Lines, $5.10, Yonkers Worthy Of Honor, $2.60, Pocono Queen Me Again, $2.40, Northfield Good Heavens, $2.10, Plainridge News & Notes The 2019 edition of the Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer, the season’s biggest racing event at Charlottetown Driving Park, is a month away. This year marks the 60^th anniversary of the area’s great harness racing show. Trials will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10 and Monday, Aug. 12, to set the field for the final on Saturday, Aug. 17. The 53^rd edition of the Adios Stake is scheduled for Saturday, July 27^th at the Meadows with a first race post time of 11:25 a.m. Other stakes scheduled for the day of the Adios include the Adioo Volo for soph-pacing fillies, the Arden Downs with divisions for soph colts and filly trotters, and the Arden Downs for freshman colt and filly pacers and for the first time, the Adios program will host a $50,000 Invitational Pace for Older pacers. Baby races at Woodbine Mohawk (WoMo) on July 12 featured five sets from the freshman divisions. Among the best in the session was Muscle Mass trotting filly Princesspartypants, winning in 2:02.3 for trainer Roger Mayotte. A 1:58 score was impressive for Nice Kitty Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere), trained by Eric Adams. Bob MacIntosh’s Gamblin Road (Holiday Road) won in 2:00.1 and another Somebeachsomewhere product, Somebeachsometime, won in 2:00.4 for trainer David Menary. Extraordinary Extras Indulge in our monthly columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet at Harness Racing Update