Extraordinary Exotic Action Afoot; Short List Triptych Teases; Meadowlands Hi-5 Offers Value Quintet

This week ends February, so March may come in like a lion. We hope it does for our readers, as we offer selected features with promise for all kinds of wagers. And, as usual, opportunities for across-the-board and exotics action are presented at our H2W (horses-to-watch) list. There are valuable favorites and double-digit outsiders for any wagers you target. Consult the H2W for all of your harness action. POWER PLAYS Saratoga / Races 3,4,5 Thursday, Feb. 28 Here is a conglomerate to begin the week, a three-race analysis with single- and multiple-race exotics from which you may choose (not to gouge upon). We suggest contenders (in post-position order) for any of your chosen betting types. Race 3 Under The Bus needed her recent race, a return to Saratoga since turning five. It was a minor step up but good enough to make her odds worthy of play here. Double Joy ships from Monticello, where she raced with horses a bit over the conditions here. She likes to collect checks and has already raced this year to cash some. Awake My Soul comes in from Yonkers after a qualifier here, dropping enough to compensate for an outside post (which worries too many people). Trainer Michelle Crawford could have a very good meet here, starting with this one, who will add kaboom to exotics. Race 4 Pittstop Emerald is highly under-rated here, most likely due to the slew of class-dropping foes. But they do not look so threatening and do not seem worthy of their morning lines (ML). Race 5 Two strong favorites could end the Pick 3 with a whimper but if you care to add a minor bomb that would pump up the price, try using Xenia Onatopp. Brian Cross will be working some stock that campaigned at Hoosier and this one, in her soph season now, could be headed for some big checks in New York. FEATURES^FEATURES^FEATURES Miami / Races 2, 5 Friday, March 1 Miami, Race 12 Saturday, March 2 At the Miami Valley meet we offer three more selections from our trainer-watch report known as “The Short List.” In this exclusive dossier, we are following the track’s high-percentage-winning conditioner, Adam Short as a handicapping edge. Short has a good hit rate so far and this addition to The Short List presents three horses on two programs that deserve attention in all betting pools. Race 2 Mosee Terror finished fifth on Feb. 22 in a claimer within striking lengths of the top four, all 1 ½ lengths off the winner (the public choice). Two factors are strong for this one tonight. First, Mosee Terror was the public’s second choice by pennies. Next, he lost while in the barn of trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. Coming into the Short barn, Mosee Terror gets the shift and the beaten-favorite angles to his advantage. Race 5 Dateline Hanover picks up both of the aforementioned advantages. On Feb. 18 he finished sixth of six while trained by C. Brian Loney; now his conditioner is Short. Also, Dateline Hanover was the public choice, so he is a beaten favorite. No pun intended but in that race, “Dateline” was short, having the lead going into three-quarters before stalling. Race 12 On Feb. 16, Short’s student, Cyclone Kiwi N, was the dead-on favorite and won with a powerful trip at Miami. Enough said. He should not bounce and still be worth the odds since he takes on the same class. This Saturday, “Cyclone” could be a softer favorite considering a 10-horse field that includes a few other wagering-attracting foes. POWER PLAYS Meadowlands / Races 5,6,7 Saturday, March 2 Here’s another jam-packed Power Plays edition. Races 5, 6 and 7 have single-race exotics, though Race 5 only offers a Jackpot Super Hi-5. Race 5 is also the start of a Pick 3 and the second half of a Daily Double. Choose wisely after reading our suggested contenders (in post position order), weighing heavily on Race 5. Race 5 Delightful Offer had a lot of trouble and was gifted a spot by the judges after an inquiry. He has raced well enough in higher classes from worse posts to take serious here. Solo Story returns at this level looking sharp after three tough trips. He lost here by a nose at 5-2 last week. Incredible Shark drops, though affective and well-support in higher company and will add value to any exotic ticket. Yupper steps up and has an outside post but seems to be in shape enough to pick up some tired ones late and pump up the exotic prices. Griffon Hanover also starts from the outside and drops in class but he has a history of productive finishes at Yonkers, where the class ladder exceeds that of the Meadowlands. Race 6 Billy Badger N is another Down Under pacer (U.S. bred) making his way back to daddy’s world. Under the tutelage of Chris Ryder, this guy looks ready to eat up American soil and settle in for a good earning campaign. In New Zealand he raced with top priced steeds at their usual longer-that-a-mile distances, slowing losing that status. At this level, distance, with a rest and a good qualifier, he could debut here with a smashing win. Race 7 Since Castle Flight was claimed out of his winning race on Feb. 9, trainer Dylan Davis has kept the pacer as sharp as was the purchase. Immediately profitable stepping up with new connections, Castle Flight lived up to his $50G tag by cashing for second and then winning in the Meadowlands top levels. He may not be missed by sharp bettors but stands out as an exotic key. H2W Legend Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires. H2W LIST Buffalo 3/2/19, +Bugatti R2; Henrys Way R4; +Catch The Wave R6; Rock Fame R13 Cal Expo 3/1/19, Who Dat Love R2; Storming D Odds R5; Place At The Beach R7; +Yankee Time R8 3/2/19, Rockinaroundheaven R7; +Be My Lucky Lady R11 Dover 2/28/19, +GWT R7; +Sicily R9; +Western Young Gun R12; +Own It R13 Flamboro 2/28/19, +Blue Eyed Cowboy R8 3/2/19, +Mark Your Paige R3 Fraser 3/1/19, Feel So Close R1; +Custard Lite R2; +Its My Birthday R6 Freehold 3/1/19, Sing Along R1; +Jeramaya R8; Il Mago R9; Gators Ben Weinning R10 Meadowlands 3/1/19, Montalbano Bi R1; Filly Forty Seven R3 3/2/19, +Shambala R10; +Ever Again R10 Meadows 3/1/19, +Sir Jack R4; +RN Nate R5; Maytime Terror R7 Mohawk 2/28/19, Outlaw Gunpowder R1; Western Phil R4 Monticello 2/28/19, Six Roses R4; Giacometti R6 Northfield 3/2/19, +Get Your Armor R2; Kyleeslilenforcer R6; +Red R7 Pompano 2/28/19, Soccer Hanover R3; Race Me Rocky R5; Worth Considering R6; +Rosella R6 Saratoga 2/28/19, Race Me Cocoa R6; +Speester R8; Quid Pro Quo R10 3/2/19, Ultimate Credit R5 Western Fair 3/1/19, The Red Baron R6; +Mack The Knife R10 Yonkers 2/28/19, Broadway Bruiser R2 3/1/19, +Money Maven R2; _Beyondthesilence N R5; +Shezza Grip N R8; +Bravo Tex N R12 3/2/19, Christen Me N R8; +Iwillmakeyousaywow R10 3/4/19, +Queenace Blue Chip R5; +Yeahnah R8; +Whos Better R9