Century Downs Coup With Trio Of $30-Plus Winners; $20 Upsets In Sires Stakes Scores

Between the suggested action on the features and the horses-to-watch (H2W) list from this blog and the cluster of races offered on the Hambletonian Trail blog, we were productive in the profit department.

The highest prices of the coverage were once again produced by Canada’s newest track, Century Downs. On the H2W list below you can see the three $30-plus winners heading the list. The H2W sources also continued munificent place-and-show prices, most that delivered profits on across-the-board bets, as well as playing essential roles in exotics.

The Hambletonian Trail blog’s attempt to beat the prohibitive favorites trained by Jimmy Takter in four races at Philadelphia on May14 was fruitless, as his students swept the quartet of events. We were second in one split with Cue Hall ($5.20, $4.00), to complete an exacta worth $15.40 and third with Piercewave Hanover in another split that did not offer show betting.

Continuing with the H-Trail races, on May 15 we had the public choices in a colt trot state-bred race at the Meadowlands with Muscle Diamond ($2.20, $2.10). We suggested an exacta to obvious top choice Mission Brief ($2.20, $2.10, $2.10) in a filly split but it did not work out.

Meanwhile, at Tioga in filly trots that same night on the H-Trail, we scored big with Lindy Land (20.40, $5.30, $4.20) in one split and we were a high-yielding third in another with My Lucky World ($10.20).

On May 16, at the Meadows’ special afternoon Preakness-simulcast program, we struck again with filly-trotter Magic Marker ($20.60, $5.60, $2.40), with another split finding us second to a favorite with Sweet Thing ($5.40, n/s/) for a $6.40 exacta.

All Hambletonian Trail race stories are archived at the Hambletonian Society website.

Back on the main blog, May 16’s best result with soph-colt pacers in four state-bred divisions at Pocono was Mcardles Lightning ($14.60, $10.80, $7.00). At the Meadowlands, meanwhile, we picked up winners in state-bred action. Our colt winner was Lindys Old Lady ($3.20, $2.60, $2.10) and our filly winner was Hurrikane Ali ($3.40, $2.40, $2.20). Neither of those were expected to be the public choices they became. We were also third in a filly split with Hollyrocker (50-1), paying $4.60.

The Confederation Cup went to the favorite, All Bets Off and our winner in the second elim from the week before, Let Drink On It,

In between published harness blogs, follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter.

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 the 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 69 active horses.

Please note that some H2W results reflect win, place and/or show results occurring after press time and that it is up to you to follow those horses that have not performed before this weekly review is posted.

Winners

Kumu, $39.90, $12.20, $3.90, Century
Wigesjet, $36.30, $8.90, $8.30, Century
Elska Min, $35.90, $9.90, $4.00, Century
Sand Fortune, $8.00, $3.40, $2.60, Hoosier
Island Jet, $5.60, $4.40, $4.00, Maywood
Diamond Keeper, $5.20, $2.60, $2.10, Yonkers
Bubeleh Stone, $3.80, $2.60, $2.40, Scarborough
Sir Kensington, $2.90, $2.30, $2.10, Saratoga
Image Of Felicia, $2.60, $2.20, $2.40 ok, Maywood
Full Code, $2.40, $2.40 ok, $2.20, Scioto

Seconds

American Passion, $7.40, $4.50 (Exacta $20.90), Century
My Hare Lady, $5.40, $4.60, Scioto
Jk Patriot, $4.80, $3.60, Philadelphia
Beauty Of Nature, $4.30, $3.30 (Exacta $18.10), Century
Crazy About Pat, $3.80, $3.70, Yonkers
Baby Kay, $3.40, $2.80, Scioto
Goldstar Thumper, $3.10, $2.60 (Exacta $7.50), Buffalo
Sinfully Slick, $3.00, $2.60 (Exacta $11.60), Hoosier
It’s a Miracle, $2.70, $2.40, Saratoga
Kirty Dream, $2.20, $2.20, Scioto
Simply Stella, $2.20, $2.10, Plainridge

Thirds

Creighton Hanover, $6.80, Scioto
Kingofthejungle, $6.40, Pocono
Cactus Billy, $6.00, Hoosier
Shake It Cerry, $4.20, Pocono
Air-stewart, $4.00, Vernon
Burning Prospect, $3.20, Century
Nighthawk Hall, $3.20, Buffalo
Sorrento Hall, $3.20, Hoosier
Sportsonthebeach, $2.80, Century
Elm Grove Inarush, $2.60, Meadows
Box Car Johnny, $2.50, Yonkers

News & Notes

Dave Palone hit the 17,000 mark as a driver. We have done some research concerning his flat-bet-profit rate and were not surprised to discover that it is a flat-bet loss. Palone, who is almost always a huge favorite for bettors, especially at his home track of the Meadows, has had “X” amount of horses that were not crowd choices but is nowhere near a profitable return as a handicapping element. Palone has driven in around 54,000 races. In his 17,000 victories, the average win mutual was around $5.00.

We don’t have flat-bet statistics for Trace Tetrick but the younger brother of Tim Tetrick pulled off a personal best at Hoosier Park when he won his 3,000^th race as a driver. Trace is currently leading all drivers for the 2015 season at the Indiana raceway with 58 victories and nearly $400,000 in purse earnings through the first 30 days of racing.

The fabulous Father Patrick pleased trainer Jimmy Takter with a qualifier in 1:52 at the Meadowlands. Father Patrick readies for his four-year-old debut and Takter was so happy with the prep mile that he tweeted his joy, announcing that the colt is in perfect shape. That debut is due to take place at Philadelphia on May 24 in the Maxie Lee Trot. It will be the first time in his career he meets older horses.

The first of 49 nights of harness racing at Grand River Raceway begins on June 1. It’s the 12th season for the half-mile oval in Ontario. Grand River will race Monday and Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern) from June 1 through Sept. 30. Also in Ontario, Clinton Raceway began a meet.

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

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