Harness Weekly Update: Shipper At $79; Chicago's Chalk

The TwinSpires Harness Blog Weekly Update covers our successes and failures from selected features and the horses-to-watch list (H2W).

Friday, May 14

At Hawthorne the three old-school-drivers-named races gave us the winner, Rockyroad Alba ($3, $2.20, $2.20 OK) in the Farber, with Fox Valley Elicit (15-1) on a break that ruined his chances of an upset.

We were second and third in the Paisley with Nora Tova ($2.80, $2,20) at 7-1 and Dirtylittlelies ($5.40), respectively. The 5-2 entry won.

Favorite Fox Valley Specter (6-5) finished fourth for us, with The Papa Bear (11-1) getting fifth in the Busse.

Saturday, May 15

In the Meadowlands’ Cutler Memorial for older trotters, we finished third with Guardian Angel AS ($5). One Hall (14-1) finished seventh.

The first of two Graduates found us fifth with No Lou Zing (5-2), third with Chief Mate ($4.20) and fourth with Allywag Hanover (6-1).

H2W LIST RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Exactas listed include a H2W horse finishing second to a race-favorite or if the first two finishers are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses are listed - a cold exacta). The note “OK” determines that prices are correct (even when a show price exceeds a place price or all prices are the same).

Please note that some results reflect horses racing after the blog posts (they appear the following week).

This week, there were 35 active horses for a 23% win hit rate and a 54% ATB (across-the-board) hit. Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Atlantic Star, $79.80, $18.80, $7.80, Hoosier
My Friend Mel, $23.20, $8.20, $4.20, Scioto
Natameri, $14.80, $5.80, $2.40, Vernon
Sheeza Shark N, $3.80, $2.60, $2.10, Freehold
Saylor, $3.60, $3.30, $2.30, Vernon
Disturbia, $3.20, $2.20, $2.10, Philly
In Range, $2.20, $2.10, $2.10 OK, Meadows
Thebeachiscalling, $2.10, $2.10, $2.10 OK, Philly

Seconds

Righthererightnow, $7, $7.20 OK, Northville
One After Nine, $4.90, $2.80 (Exacta $8.10), Vernon
OK Jewel, $4.80, $4 (Exacta $13.20), Hawthorne
Barn Hall, $4.70, $3.10 (Exacta $19), Vernon
Gertrude Hanover, $4.40, $2.80, Plainridge
GW Show Faith, $4.20, $3, Plainridge
Thruway, $2.80, $2.80 OK (Exacta $12.60), Meadows

Thirds

Margin Of Error, $7.80, Scioto
Est Belle, $4.60, Northville
Bring The Thunder, $3.80, Northfield
Piper Hanover, $2.40, Meadowlands

NEWS & NOTES

Remember a valuable tip for using H2W picks. Horses listed for the second time may skip a week or more of racing. They may also change tracks and listing them for a second time will be missed by the nature of our deadlines to post. You should make note of horses that fit into either category and continue to follow them. Passing on a horse that has yet to show up for a second time in the H2W list could be costly. The latest case in point is Atlantic Star (see H2W Winners list above). After his first time on the list, he shipped to Hoosier from Northfield and won at 38-1.

Speculations and promotions are in full swing for this year’s Meadowlands Pace. Dave Little puts together his weekly list of the top 10 contenders. We compare our choices for the top five next to his:
1. Perfect Sting / Always A Miki
2. Southwind Gentry / Perfect Sting
3. Summa Cum Laude   / Charlie May
4. Exploit / Southwind Gentry
5. Charlie May / Lawless Shadow

Speaking of Meadowlands Pace winners, Wiggle It Jiggleit won’t be wiggling or jiggling on harness tracks any more. George Teague Jr. and connections have retired the pacer at nine. His racing credits loom boldly. He retires with 36 wins from 66 starts, earning around $4 million. His photograph adorned a box of Wheaties breakfast cereal during the peak of his career.

Each Wednesday our spin-off blog at edge.twinspires.com selects specific races for the Hoosier Park harness program. The results in our Weekly Update do not cover those races. The blog is worth a look, to compare with your handicapping, since, as is the case with our home blog, we make crucial betting decisions not appearing in most current public handicapping material.

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in our columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet at Harness Racing Update