Cold Soph-Trotting Exacta Pays $59; Elim Triactor Elements Perfect For $58; Top Win Prices At $19, $14

 

Favorites in the Canadian stakes elims at Woodbine/Mohawk (WoMo) faired well, though we picked up a few good exotics on the main blog and on our Hambletonian Trail blog. Also, our horses-to-watch list maintained a 38-percent across-the-board average.

Here is how it all worked out:

Friday, June 8

The big Canadian weekend (see Hambletonian Trail review below) began on this night with two Armbro Flight elim splits for mare trotters. Though we could not beat the obvious favorite Hannelore Hanover with our Dream Together (8-1) finishing fourth, we slam-dunked the second elim.

In the second elim we had Emoticon Hanover ($7.70, $3.10, $2.20), Celebrity Ruth ($2.20, $2.10) and Ice Attraction ($3.10) for an exactor worth $13.10 and a triactor worth $58.30.


Saturday, June 9

We tried to weave some trips from outside contenders in the WoMo elims but could only get one double-digit winner. It came from an elim in the Roses Are Red duo. Blazin Britches ($14.00, $6.30, $5.70) won easily. In the other elim we were way out with Windsun Glory (62-1), who never races a step, finishing ninth, losing to the public’s second choice.

In the sophomore categories the public was spot on with all of the obvious colt-and-filly pacers we warned about. In the three elims for the North America Cup Final next week, the public chose the low-paying winners. We did miserably but for one second with Done Well ($2.50, $2.30). Except for that second, our “Cup” contenders all missed earning berths in the final. Grand Teton (49-1) finished eighth, Whos Better (24-1) finished fifth and Babes Dig Me (91-1) finished sixth.

The filly pacers’ Fan Hanover elims were won by a public third choice and a 5-1 shot. Super-choice Youaremycandygirl did not make the final, finishing sixth in one of the two miles. We were sixth with Baron Remy (17-1) and fourth with Kendell Seelster (16-1).


THE HAMBLETONIAN TRAIL

Left over from last week’s Update are Hambletonian Trail-blog events recorded on June 1 through June 6. On June 1 there were a pair of short-fielded New Jersey Sires Stakes at the Meadowlands. We won the colt split with Shoshie Deo ($3.40, n/p, n/s) with U Need Stones breaking and finishing fourth (last in this field). We were second in the filly trot, where a 21-1 shot defeated our horse in another mini-field. We were second with Samis Rolln Stone ($2.10 n/s).

On June 5 there were three Currier & Ives events at the Meadows for fillies and on June 6 for the colts. The public choices won the trio, while we were fifth, breaking with Win Treasures (16-1); third with Msnaughtyashill ($2.10); and seventh with Zoe Bi (11-1).

The next day the colts raced in two splits. We were second with Patent Leather ($3.40, $2.60) to the public’s second choice. Then we won with Crystal Fashion ($2.40, $2.10, n/s), with questionable value.

June 6 also brought two New York Sires Stakes colt miles to Buffalo and we scored first with Don ($3.60, $2.50, $2.20). Then we hit perfection, offering a cold exacta, delivering Purpose Blue Chip ($11.00, $4.40, $3.20) on top with Tito ($4.30, $2.10) in the second slot. That cold exacta paid $59.00).

This week, in the pair of Goodtimes elims at WoMo, we were on the board in both races as the public beat us in each. Run Director ($5.50) was third in the opener and Fiftydallarbill ($2.60, $2.40) assisted in a measly exactor worth $5.90. In that second elim we asked Missile Hill (63-1) to be second but he wound up fifth after an impressige trip leaving from post 10.



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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 47 active horses (a 13-percent win hit rate and a 38-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 week) It is up to you to follow horses that have not performed before this weekly review

Winners

Clifton Beach, $19.40, $10.40, $5.00, Meadowlands
Ricks Sign, $16.80, $6.40, $3.20, Scarborough
Myskillspaydabills, $10.40, $6.00, $3.80, Running Aces
Swagasaurusrex, $5.00, $2.60, $2.20, Running Aces
King Of The D, $3.60, $2.40, $2.10, Bangor
Fountain Square, $2.20, $2.20, $2.10 ok, Bangor

Seconds

Bellows Binge, $10.00, $7.40 (Exacta $36.40), Meadows
Locamotion Fred, $6.60, $2.60, Hoosier
Pinkman, $3.60, $2.60 (Exacta $10.60), Meadowlands
Gina Grace N, $3.50, $3.90 ok, Saratoga
Stargazing Cruiser, $2.40, $2.60, Georgian

Thirds

Beach Blast, $4.40, Philly
Spirited Encounter, $4.40, Hoosier
Blue Fin, $3.20, Scarborough
Rock Proof, $3.20, Harrington
Rockin M, $3.00, Scioto
In Trouble, $2.40, Scioto
Real World Goal, $2.40, Plainridge


News & Notes

The “Captain’s Kids” have arrived and they all treacherous. The TwinSpires harness blog was certainly one of Captaintreacherous’s greatest supporters, so we are happy to report on his first crop hitting the track. At the Meadowlands on June 9, colts a half dozen of his colts trained by Tony Alagna. First to qualify was Shipshape, who cruised to win in 1:54.2. His dam is Fresh Idea. Captain Ahab won a tick faster in 1:54. He won over two other Captain’s Kids’ colts—Odds On Boca Raton and Waterway. All three are trained by Alagna. US Captain toppled challengers in a 1:55.2 mile. US Captain is from the champion mare American Jewel.

Trainer Joe Holloway had three impressive winners on the same Meadowlands qualifying card. Hambletonian winner Trixton had some of his first crop on display, with a few winners, including a colt, Battenberg, with a 1:55.4 mile. Holloway also sent out a Heston Blue Chip filly, Zero Tolerance, who won in 1:53.3. Speed Titan, by first crop sire E L Titan, was an easy 1:58.1 winner for trainer Marcus Melander. Melander came right back with a Muscle Hill colt, Gerry, who cut the mile to win in 1:57.3 mile.

Make note that as the 2018 freshman crop lines up for pari-mutuels action, our annual feature, Freshman Frolic will return to our preview blog. Each racing season, TwinSpires harness blog’s Freshman Frolic feature presents probable profit-making novice pacers and trotters based upon breeding statistics. Exclusively prepared for TwinSpires harness bettors, we cover two-year-olds at multiple North American tracks. Over the years, many double-digit winners have come from this section as we share our experienced edge with bettors.

Running Aces announced a number of featured events. Father’s Day weekend offers the $20,000 Running Aces Featured Trot on June 16 with the best local trotters and challengers. On June 17 the best local pacers take on challengers in the $20,000 Running Aces Featured Pace (both are Open events). In July, as part of our Dan Patch weekend, featuring the $50,000 Dan Patch FFA final, there are two more lucrative races: The $25,000 Minnesota Preferred Pace and The $25,000 Minnesota Preferred Trot on July 21. Running Aces continues racing through Sept. 15.


Extraordinary Extras

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

And check my monthly column, Alternative Actions, at Harness Racing Update