Best Win $28; Cold Cal-Expo $68 Exacta; Power Plays Pump Profits

 
Thursday, Dec. 5

Our Power Plays (PoP) included a Philly Pick 3 and single-race exotics per leg.

In the first event the favorite won, followed by our choices, Beaver Creek Misty ($3.20, $2.10) and Always B Hanny ($2.10). The exacta paid $6.40 and the trifecta paid $8.40.

The favorite also won the next two Pick-3 legs.

In the middle event we were third with Audacious ($5.20), included in the $113.40 trifecta, while our other contenders, Blutos Diamond (8-1) and Strom Party (6-1), finished fourth (in $450.00 superfecta) and sixth, respectively.

The final leg of the Pick 3 was a Pentafecta (Hi-5 Jackpot). Our choices won four of five spots on the winning ticket, including Machiavelli ($2.20, $2.10, $2.10) ok, third ith Drinka Beer ($3.40), fourth with Dragon Strikes (13-1) and fifth with Trump That (8-1). The 'Jackpot' price, shared, was $34.00.


Friday, Dec. 6

The Meadows’ PoP included a Pick 5, Pick 3 and single-race exotics.

In leg one of the Pick 5 we finished third with Pond Jumper ($3.00), in the $29.60 trifecta and fourth with Possess The Stone (11-1), in the $3.28 superfecta. The favorite won the race.

In leg two the favorite also won, while we were fifth with Major Plans (11-1) and eighths with Gunslinger Hill (15-1).

In leg three (start of Pick 3), we were third with Avalanche Hanover (dh $2.20), in the $24.23 superfecta, and ninth with Humboldt (13-1). A 13-1 was the winner.

In leg four (leg two of Pick 3), we were third with Burning Midnight ($2.60), in the $116.40 trifecta, and fifth with Better Scoot N (5-1). The public’s fourth choice won this leg.

In the last legs of the Picks 5 and 3, we finished third with Sometimesawinner ($3.40), in the $116.40 trifecta, and seventh with RN Nate (41-1). The race was won by a 37-1 shot.


Saturday, Dec. 7

In one of our two features at the Meadowlands we were third with Its Just Too Much ($3.00), who was beaten by a 14-1 shot.

In the other Meadowlands feature, our contender, Decoy, scratched.

At Yonkers, the feature was an Open Trot.


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 42 active horses (a 10-percent win hit rate and a 40-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

Praying Fay, $28.60, $7.90, $7.60, Batavia
Delaney R, $7.20, $2.80, $2.20, Northville
Man Of Fire, $6.80, $3.40, $3.40 ok, Northville
*Lickcreek Speedway, $5.40, $4.60, $2.60, Cal-Expo

Seconds

*Berta Vanation, $36.80, $6.40 (Exacta $68.60), Cal-Expo
Hudsonandbernard, $16.80, $10.40, Meadowlands
Shadys Shark Bait, $9.80, $5.00 (Exacta $35.20), Dover
Mystic Ruler, $7.00, $5.20 (Exacta $21.30), Cal-Expo
Caviar Star, $6.60, $4.00 (Exacta $8.80), Freehold
Bound To Score, $4.80, $2.80, Northville
PV Miracle Mary, $4.40, $3.00, Meadows
Mrs Krabappel, $4.30, $3.20 (Exacta $13.20), Monticello
Northern Fiesta, $3.00, $2.20 (Exacta $6.40), Northfield

Thirds

Campus Queen, $4.40, Meadowlands
Addie Rose, $3.00, Monticello
Drink Whiskey, $2.90, Monticello
Harmony Oaks Quike, $2.40, Freehold


News & Notes

It is almost that time in December for the TwinSpires harness-racing department’s annual report, a 12-month look into the archives of suggested contenders posted in the weekly harness blog. Along with it we will announce the TwinSpires Harness Players’ Horse of the Year, which is the horse coming from either our features list or the horses-to-watch list (H2W) that has achieved the highest paying winner from all our posts of the year. Stay tuned for our late-December Weekly Update blog, the final 2019 edition.

Winbak Farm of Ontario announced Stag Party will stand stud at the farm in 2020. Stag Party was ablaze at two but never met expectations at three. He may become, due to his pedigree, a strong contender in the Ontario breeding program. Stag Party is a Bettors Delight colt that “has very good size,” according to trainer Casie Coleman. “He sold for $125,000 as a yearling . . . he was the third highest Bettors Delight colt sold in 2017 . . This colt is very well bred. He is smart with the perfect gait.”

On Dec. 4, Wiggle It Jiggleit showed up for his second qualifying performance. Owner George Teague Jr. was in the bike. The morning mile took place at Dover Downs, which conducted a four-race qualifying session over a ‘fast’ track. “Wiggle” left from post 2 in the seven-horse field and was first out. He took the lead and cut all the fractions (:29, :59, 1:27.2) and fired home first in :27.2, 7 ¾ lengths better than the next finisher, clocked in 1:54.4. He may be ready to return soon.

Reports from Europe confirm that champion trotter Pine Chip has passed away. He was 29. Officials with Sweden’s Broline Stud reported the passing  Pine Chip, who on Oct. 1, 1994 became the world's fastest trotter. Pine Chip recorded a 1:51 time-trial at the Red Mile. A mare, Beat The Wheel, broke pine Chip’s record in a pari-mutuel race, though it was an opportunistic trip. Beat The Wheel drafted in second behind Pine Chip’s scorching fractions until deep stretch, when she left the catbird seat and nipped him at the wire.

California harness racing received a guarantee to continue through May 1, 2025Cal Expo harness racing operations through to May 1, 2025. Webis, Cal Expo’s operating group of Cal Expo, announced an agreement on Dec. 3. The group signed an extension with the Board of Directors of the California Exposition & State Fair in Sacramento to continue its Cal Expo harness racing operations. The renewal includes a clause to extend the lease until 2030, should both parties wish to pursue it. The renewal is especially significant given the recent positive momentum behind the introduction of regulated sports betting in the Golden State. Recent initiatives to drive this forward include California racetracks as being eligible to be licensed for sports betting. The 2019-2020 Cal Expo harness racing season began on Nov. 9, presenting 47 race dates on Fridays and Saturdays through April 25, 2020.


Extraordinary Extras

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