Exotic Elements In Play; $22 Win Tops Tepid Weekend

Thursday, March 5

Power Plays (PoP) at Saratoga presented particular outsiders to be considered for the average player’s Pick-4 combo ticket, as well as for single-race exotics. We supplied a single winner, More More More ($3.80, $2.50, $2.10), who, in leg two, wound up the only favorite of the quartet’s winners.

In the first leg, we finished third with Gussy’s Realdeal ($4.30), losing to a 43-1 shot. Leg three found us second with Tiger Boudoir ($10.80, $4.50) as a 4-1 shot was first. In leg four, Age Is A Number (8-1) broke and was eliminated.

Regardless of only one favorite in the Pick 4, it paid a mere $47.38.

That night, Wallyworld VIII at Pompano featured two Wally wins, both favorites, though he raced in all five Wallyworld events.

Our Never-Wallys were, in race order, Dance Hall Brawler ($4.40), third; Silver Wings (5-1), fifth; Mach Lee (14-1), sixth; Caroline GR ($3.20), third; and Cousin Rickard ($2.60, $2.40), completing the $10.20 exacta.


Friday, March 6

A feature at the Meadows presented our choice as a favorite. Dracarys Z ($2.40, $2.10) was beaten by the public’s second choice.

The other feature was mistakenly listed for this date. See Saturday, below.


Saturday, March 7

The Yonkers’ feature sent Mr Profeta (71-1) to post and he raced far better than his odds, finishing fifth to the public’s second choice.

At Northfield we offered suggestions for their Pick-5 stream and single-race exotics. In leg one, Shadows Mystery scratched, which cost our followers nothing.

In leg two, Cheyenne Zone (22-1) finished seventh to a 7-1 shot.

In leg three, the race favorite, our choice, Buddy Hally ($2.10), finished third to a 9-1 shot, contributing to the $169.20 trifecta and the $22.56 superfecta.

Duck Duck Dragon ($2.60) finished third in the fourth leg to the race favorite. That trifecta came in at $11.60; the superfecta paid $3.52.

Ubanji ($3.00, $2.20) was second in the last Pick-5 leg, completing the $6.00 exacta with the race favorite, the $13.60 trifecta and the $7.18 superfecta.


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 9-percent win hit rate and a 30-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 weeks) It is up to you to follow horses that have not performed before this weekly review.

Winners

Vettel N, $22.00, $7.20, $5.60, Meadowlands
Youmakemyheartsing, $7.20, $3.40, $2.60, Hawthorne
Well Of Fire, $3.80, $3.00, $2.60, Meadows
Western Bay Bay, $3.60, $2.70, $2.20, Monticello


Seconds

Getter Queen Flush, $24.60, $13.20, Cal-Expo
Five Card Drawn, $5.20, $3.80, Cal-Expo
Fire Dance, $4.40, $3.40, Hawthorne
Bold And Brave, $2.70, $2.10 (Exacta $4.90), Monticello
California Rock, $2.60, $2.40, Cal-Expo


Thirds

Uncle Hanover, $11.40, Meadowlands
Fusion Power, $4.40, Freehold
Dramatist, $3.80, Saratoga
Art Seeker, $3.00, Meadows
Rock Lights, $2.60, Pocono


News & Notes

Hoosier Park’s 2020 season, a 160-day meet, begins March 27. A slightly new format for the 27th season is set. Racing follows a Friday-Saturday schedule opening week, a Thursday-Friday-Saturday schedule the second week, and a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule in April. In May, Hoosier resumes a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule through October. In November there’s a Thursday-Friday-Saturday, which ends on Nov. 21. Racing at Hoosier begins with a 6:30 p.m. post.

Hoosier hosts the 2020 Breeders Crown (BC) in October on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. The BC was held in Indiana in 2017. This year the 12 championship races are worth a combined $6 million. In addition to the BC, Hoosier hosts an extensive stakes schedule worth nearly $4 million. Hoosier’s signature pacing event, the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, is slated for Friday, Aug. 14.

It’s still early in the season but we are keeping our eyes on first-crop stallion freshmen. Among the known racehorses now in the U.S. breeding sheds are Always B Miki, Betting Line, Creatine, Racing Hill and Southwind Frank. Ontario sends out ghet from Control The Moment and State Treasurer. “Miki,” of course, holds great expectations. His first crop of yearlings (this year’s two-year-olds) averaged $63,149. There were 87 sold.

Trainer-driver Marc Aubin, 86, passed away on Feb. 28 in Florida. Aubin raced in the Midwest and then in the ‘70s settled his tack in the nomad-harness community of California. There he became one of the top trainer-drivers among many others known today for accomplishments on major circuits, including Ross Croghan, Rick Plano, Ron Pierce, Howard Parker, John Campbell, Rick Kuebler, Tim Maier, Geraldo Longo, Jim Grundy and others. Aubin finished his career in Florida. As a driver, Aubin earned purses worth near $16 million.


Extraordinary Extras

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