Gimpanzee Tanks Foes; Top Winners $41, $39; M-Pace Chalk Heavy

Here is the complete weekly report on hits and misses as presented by the TwinSpires Harness Preview Blog.


Thursday, July 16

Indiana Sires Stakes’ only episode on the program was a $60k mile for soph-colt trotters. Our first choice, Emma Town Bud, scratched. Our second choice was in the picture. Flagman ($5.20, $3.00) completed the $9.60 exacta with the favorite atop.

Saturday, July 18

There were three Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) for the soph-colt pacing divisions at the Meadows. Our only pick appearing on the toteboard was Tito Rocks ($5.80, $3.40), losing to a longshot in division two. In division one we were sixth with a bet-back, Rogerthat Bluechip (41-1). In division three we had the favorite, Captain Groovy, who disappointed backers, finishing fourth.

The single Arden Downs event for soph-filly pacers was won by our choice, the favorite, Patriarch Hanover ($4.00, $2.60, $2.60 ok).

Our Meadowlands evening began with a rush, Ramona Hill ($18.80, $9.00, $5.60) was best of the glamour-girl trotting fillies and best for us.

The market went dry in the first of two Stanley Dancer (SD) divisions for the colt trotters, as the favorite won. We never had a shot, as Real Cool Sam  (5-1) broke around the first turn, galloping right out of contention.

Our loyalty for Beyond Kronos (41-1) turned to dust in the second SD as the trotter strolled instead of racing. Our fourth choice on our top-five division list, Ready For Moni, won at 5-2. It’s hard to imagine Beyond Kronos will drop into the Hambo box.

The Mistletoe Shalee offered giant odds for our top two and the pair raced loyally to the support. Baby Your the Best (50-1) and Marloe Hanover (41-1) were not fully involved.

We were second to the favorite in the William Haughton with Century Farroh ($4.20, $3.40). The exacta was $21.40.

As expected, and at a decent price for the best trotter in the USA these days, our choice and the choice of most others, Gimpanzee ($3.40, $2.40, $2.20) won the Hambletonian Maturity.

The 2020 Meadowlands Pace was nowhere near as exciting as the scenario we wanted. The favorite, Tall Dark Stranger, was tons the best, while late-entry Captain Midnight, our outsider (39-1) was never truly involved. The three favorites survived steaming fractions. Papi Rob Hanover ($3.60, $2.80) finished second and Allywag Hanover ($2.80), two of those public choices, finished third to the favorite. Catch The Fire never caught fire.

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 59 active horses (a 7-percent win hit rate and a 29-percent ATB [across-the-board] hit rate).

Winners

Here Comes Teddy, $41.60, $10.40, $5.80, Philly
Rock On Line, $39.00, $17.40, $7.20, Meadows
Shez A Fireball, $7.40, $5.00, $3.00, Plainridge
Meetmeatthefinish, $2.80, $2.10, $2.10, Hawthorne

Seconds

Ucanttouchthis, $11.30, $6.70, Mohawk
Sugaronthebeach, $7.30, $8.60 ok (Exacta $17.80), Tioga
MVP Luke, $5.60, $4.60 (Exacta $13.50), Scioto
Always A Fiji, $3.80, $2.80, Hoosier
Catch My Shadow, $2.80, $2.10, Pocono
Wind Of The North, $2.60, $2.20, Northfield
Ballerat Boomerang, $2.10, $2.10 ok, Northfield

Thirds

The Mighty Marner, $3.60, Meadowlands
Geez Joe, $3.20, Meadowlands
Wild Bill, $3.20, Pocono
Somebeach Baron, $2.80, Northfield
A Bettor Hat. $2.10, Buffalo
Plunge Blue Chip, $2.10, Meadowlands

NEWS & NOTES

Though it made headlines on July 16, the pair of winners paying over $100 to win at Philly were both assisted by favorites under pressure. First, trotter Bold Goddess paid $121.00 to win as race-favorite Deep Impact jumped while gaining ground coming into the stretch. The public’s second choice lost that race by a neck. Later, frosh-pacer Dancing Lew (A Rocknroll Dance) took advantage of favorite Rollbin’s break in the stretch to win and pay $144.60. Rollbin recovered from the break and finished a clean fouth, just behind the show horse, the public’s second choice.

Speaking of extenuating circumstances while racing, Bettors Wish stopped on a dime last week in the Graduate Pace final. Starting from post 10 was no concern of bettors; they made him the race favorite. He was racing well enough before the final turn, third over and fifth, but as the shuffling crew began to tire after a 1:20.3 third panel, Bettors Wish was empty. Later, trainer Chris Ryder reported that the colt bled. He missed the William Haughton on July 18 and will be on Lasix in his next start.

Some of the less-popular North America Cup soph-pacing colts are prepping while pacing for big purses. Among them are Tatoo Artist, who swept three Ontatio province-bred (ONSS) events; Beaumond Hanover, a ONSS Gold winner; Elver Hanover, the fastest frosh trotter in history; Chief Mate, who scratched from the Meadowlands Pace; and Groovy Joe, our second best in the top-five for the division. The delayed event takes place at WoMo on Aug. 29.

On July 14, Nick Roland drove six winners at Running Aces. Nick drove in all 12 races on the program; his highest paying winner was $8.20. With no other handicapping concern, betting Nick’s drives all night would cost $24.00. His six winners in 12 drives won a total of $30.20, giving Nick’s followers a flat-bet profit of $6.20, or 26 percent.

Extraordinary Extras

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