Harness Weekly Update: Tall Prices Fall Short; Public Scores

The TwinSpires Harness Blog Weekly Update covers our results from the remaining leg of the older pacing series at Yonkers, our selected features aside from the horses-to-watch list (H2W) successes and failures.

Monday, April 12

The Borgata series at Yonkers stamped the final’s favorites in its last leg (we covered the two April 19 finals in our Preview Blog; see post). We were with Leonidas A through the series as he swept his division each week and he won again in the penultimate Borgata mile. Leonidas A ($3.20, $2.30, $2.10) continues to dominate the older male pacers.

We tried to defy favorite in another division and lost with Raukapuka Ruler N (10-1) who was beaten by the public choice. Then, the crowd agreed with us to the tune of 7-1, backing Chief Mate, who was beaten by a 4-1 shot. Neither hit the board.

Friday, April 16

One of the local features at Miami Valley, the James Hackett Memorial, presented its soph-filly field and the public had it nailed. We finished fifth with Shameful Eyes (5-2), with Ball Diamond (38-1) coming home eighth.

Saturday, April 17

The Hackett for soph-colt pacers at Miami was won by the second favorite, as our outsiders were defeated. Just Playing ($5.20) was third and Official Bean (37-1) was sixth.

At the Meadowlands, our Pick-3 Power Plays combo showed little against the public’s first two favorites, that won all three legs.

In leg one we were second with favorite Reign Of Honor ($2.60, $2.40) and third with Double Account ($3.20).

In leg two we scratched with Whole Lotta Lou and finished fourth with South Beach Star (5-1).

The last leg saw both of our outsiders break to become eliminated. Moreairtime (53-1) finished sixth after jumping and Buck Dancer galloped home seventh.

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 39 active horses for a 13% win hit rate and a 44-percent ATB (across-the-board) hit. Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Island Of The Sea, $8.40, $5.60, $4.40, Meadowlands
Hired Luck, $6.80, $2.60, $2.40, Plainridge
Rys Red Rocket, $6.40, $4.40, $3.20, Plainridge
Always Hotspeed, $5.10, $3.60, $2.60, Monticello
Waves Of Fire A, $3.00, $2.40, $2.30, Yonkers

Seconds

Smiley Dragon, $8.20, $4.60, Miami
Queenace Blue Chip, $7.40, $4.00, Cal-Expo
L Dees Yoyo Ma, $4.20, $3.80 (Exacta $15.20), Plainridge
Brave World, $4.00, $2.60, Northville
Northern Sultan, $3.60, $3.00 (Exacta $14.20), Plainridge
Draven Hanover, $3.40, $2.20, Philly

Thirds

Infinite Zette, $9.20, Pocono
Nextroundsonme, $3.40, Pocono
Schwarber, $2.70, Vernon
Shady Madam, $2.60, Northfield
Royal Pride, $2.40, Plainridge
Kings Treasure, $2.10, Buffalo


NEWS & NOTES

Last week’s H2W presented the highest price win of the year for us to date. Astra, at Northfield, paid $81.80 to win. She passed the penultimate high-paying Jericho Willie, who won and paid $78.50 on Jan. 28 at Monticello. Astra now leads in the running for TwinSpires Harness Bettors Horse of the Year for 2021.

After recording the largest Thursday night handle in the history of the track on April 8, Hoosier Park broke that record a week later. The evening’s 14-race card produced $1,380,396 wagered, establishing the mark for Thursday racing. Each week, The TwinSpires Edge presents selected plays at Hoosier, a spin off of our TwinSpires Edge harness preview blog.

Vernon Downs began its 68th year of racing on April 17. Vernon again hosts the Empire Breeders Classic for three-year-old filly trotters and three-year-old trotting colts on June 18. Vernon also hosts the Zweig Memorial for three-year-old trotters on Aug. 28. On Sept. 11, it presents the New York State Excelsior Finals for two- and three-year-olds. Racing continues through Nov. 6. Post time is 6:10 p.m. every night with the exception of Kentucky Derby Day (May 1), which will start at 4:30 p.m.

Manchego, the fastest female trotter in history, is expected to extend her career. She made her first racetrack appearance of 2021 on April 10 in a qualifier at The Meadowlands, finishing third behind the four-year-old Back Of The Neck and Lindy The Great. Manchego, with regular driver Dexter Dunn, was timed in 1:52.3. Nancy Takter trains Manchego.

Extraordinary Extras

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