Fillies Fly With Other Faves In Hambo & Oaks; Top Pacers Rule
Here is the complete weekly report on hits and misses in features and our horses-to-watch list (H2W) as presented by the TwinSpires Harness Preview Blog.
Thursday, Aug. 6
First, we apologize for our mistake in the second division of the Pure Ivory at Woodbine/Mohawk, where we erroneously called Keystone Cecilia. She was, in fact, in division one, where we finished fourth with On A Streak (18-1). Division two, then, was void of a choice.
Saturday, Aug. 8
We hit the $7.80 exacta cold in the Shady Daisy. It paid that much due to Lady Lou ($3.60, n/s) getting second to 1-9 Reflect With Me ($2.20, $2.10 n/s).
The Dr. John Steele Memorial for older trotters had a scratch, reducing the field to five. Still, we scored the best possible way, winning with When Dovescry ($11.20, $8.60, n/s). Huge-favorite Manchego (n/s) finished third.
The Sam McKee had us in the thick of the fiery pace until the final strides as speed held up and our None Bettor N (28-1), finished fourth.
In the Peter Haughton, two breaking young trotters, both favorites, broke and an 85-1 shot blew by our choice, Venerate (5-1), and another, to win.
Dead-on 4-5 public choice Sorella won the Hambletonian Oaks. Our choice, Next Level Stuff (9-1) finished fourth.
Gimpanzee ($3.40, $2.40, $2.20)—who else could anyone pick—wins his fifth in a row and is arguably the best trotter in the world right now.
The Hambletonian was exactly as we—and the public—forecasted: Ramona Hill ($) with Ready For Moni ($) second and Back Of The Neck ($) third.
There was no denying Tall Dark Stranger the Cane Pace win; he as the prohibitive favorite. Chief Mate (12-1) got up for fourth.
H2W LIST RESULTS
The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Exactas listed include a H2W horse finishing second to a race-favorite or if the first two finishers are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses are listed—a cold exacta). The note “ok” determines that prices are correct (even when a show price exceeds a place price or all prices are the same).
Please note that some results reflect horses racing after the blog posts (they appear the following week).
This week, there were 36 active horses (a 17-percent win hit rate and a 58-percent ATB [across-the-board] hit rate).
Winners
Surf The Web, $15.60, $8.00, $7.20, Meadows
Rock Diamonds N, $10.40, $4.00, $2.40, Plainridge
Outkast Blue Chip, $5.60, $5.40, $4.40, Pocono
Meant Tobe Shooter, $4.20, $2.60, $2.60 ok, Hoosier
Shartin N, $2.80, $2.20, $2.10, Meadowlands
Weslynn Quest, $2.40, $2.10, $2.10 ok, Scioto
Seconds
US Captain, $14.00, $6.00, Meadowlands
Mr PM, $8.00, $4.80, Ocean
Beyond Kronos, $7.40, $4.80 (Exacta $39.80), Meadowlands
Jesse Duke N, $6.60, $3.40, Meadowlands
Illini Force, $4.80, $3.20, Hawthorne
Some Royalty, $4.10, $2.70, Vernon
Play Trix On Me, $2.60, $2.40, Meadowlands
Thirds
Wild Wild Western, $20.20, Meadows
A Bettor Hat, $8.70, Batavia
Canthelpbutwin, $5.00, Hawthorne
Mapua Magic Ten, $4.80, Running Aces
Sugaronthebeach, $3.90, Yonkers
Dootheboogaloolindy, $3.20, Vernon
B Ryan Bluechip, $3.00, Meadows
Illini Force, $2.40, Hawthorne
NEWS & NOTES
The first August in the new Meadowlands press box, those of us covering the Hambletonian gazed across the landscape at the old structure and thought how strange a view on the other side of the new oval; like the mausoleum of Meadowlands, Sr. Who could have thought that in 2020 there would be a situation where out-of-town journalists had every view of the track taken away? Though we all did our jobs in 2020 from our home offices, Hambletonian Society’s Moira Fanning pinpointed how we felt. “I sure as hell will miss seeing everybody and the press box will not be the same. This will be a Hambletonian for the record books no matter who wins.”
Northville Downs opens after its COVID-19 hiatus. The goal is to race through the end of the year “as long as purse funding and the health and safety of those participating in our sport can be maintained during the pandemic.” The Michigan oval’s racing dates are Fridays and Saturdays from Aug. 14 through Oct. 10, saying “We appreciate everyone’s patience in this unprecedented year as we try to resume normal activity, taking everything one day, week, or month at a time.”
The 27th edition of the $225k Dan Patch Stakes at Hoosier Park is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 14. A virtual post draw will be held Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. on Hoosier social media outlets. The Dan Patch kicks off The Championship Season, accented by the Caesars Trotting Classic and the Monument Circle Pace and highlighted by the return of the Breeders Crown on Oct. 30—31.
The Fall meet at Rosecroft will begin Wednesday, Sept. 23 and will once again feature competitive harness racing from a top-notch equine and horsemen community, as well as its signature event, the $100,000 Potomac Pace. Rosecroft will race from Sept. 23 through Dec. 23 every Sunday and Wednesday. The first post time is 7:15 p.m. Racing will be conducted sans spectators.
Extraordinary Extras
Indulge in our columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet at Harness Racing Update
ADVERTISEMENT
