Countdown Corners Yonkers Finals, Mohawk Grand Circuit Action For Sophs

Yonkers Raceway and Mohawk Racetrack will host many contenders for the Breeders Crown in stakes action on Saturday, Sept. 2, including in the $500,000 Messenger Pace and $113,880 Lady Maud at Yonkers Raceway and the $165,838 Simcoe Three-Year-Old Trot at Mohawk Racetrack.

The Messenger lines up “Crown” hopefuls Mac’s Jackpot, Miso Fast, Art Scene, Blood Line, and, the likely chalk, Downbytheseaside. While an outside post on a half-mile has not appeared to faze Downbytheseaside, we recommend as a possible value contender Mac’s Jackpot, especially since he draws well again. Though, he would need the race to collapse entirely to collect the win, but that set up is possible going for this high of purse.

Tori Hanover, Awash and Ella Christina are the Crown eligibles in the Lady Maud Pace, with Awash most likely taking favoritism off her classy resume. However, from the outside, Robin J is entering off a sharp mile against older mares in a conditioned race at Saratoga Harness, and could possibly work out a smoother trip against a practically second-tier group of stakes fillies.

Hopefuls in the Simcoe Stakes consist of Dunbar Hall, Hill Yes, Awol Hanover, Euro Gap, Lindy The Great, Seven And Seven, Bill’s Man, and Try Try Again, none of which truly stand out among the total 12 that will go to gate.

Value in this event revolves around which the public favors. Lindy The Great, appearing to be in the best form entering the race, would be a good price if dismissed by the public, but it’s unknown whether they will consider his form relative to his lack of class.

Bill’s Man has a ton of class, as well as form, and could also be sent off the favorite. International Moni also exits top-tier stakes events and has been off form enough that he could potentially bounce at fair odds.

All said and considered, the most reliable value in this race will probably come from Seven And Seven, as he starts from post 10. He could get the pace set up he needs to sweep into contention from behind, which is where he’ll likely position himself from that outside post. He also exits a decent effort against tougher conditioned stock here at Mohawk and would just need to replicate his performance in the Goodtimes Trot in order to have some kind of an effect at a price.

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Follow major 2017 BC hopefuls on their road to the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park at the Breeders Crown Countdown blog and the TwinSpires harness blog weekly, with archived reports on the results at the Hambletonian Society web site.