Goodtimes Trotting And Fillies In Sires Stakes

The $233,000 Goodtimes final has drawn five Hambletonian hopefuls alongside five other trotters on the under-card of the North America Cup Saturday, June 20 at Mohawk. Heading the hopefuls is Canepa Hanover, who put in a powerhouse performance in his elimination to equal the Canadian record of 1:51.3, installing him the 2-5 morning line favorite.

While not many put in a visually impressive effort last week, we will side once again with the Hambletonian-eligible Iron. He passed his rivals to finish second to Canepa Hanover, and should be better this go around the Mohawk surface despite post ten. Yet, he may be a stronger exotic contender as well.

Filly trotters are also in competition on Wednesday, June 17 at Pocono Downs in three divisions of the $222,867 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. Twenty-seven fillies will congregate, 16 of them eligible to the filly rendition of the August classic.

The opening split features a pretty even betting field, with Smexi being the probable favorite regardless of her starting from post 9. We’ll opt for another Oaks eligible who starts from the rail, Onda Di Mare. From the Jim Campbell barn, this filly has been sharp all season, exempting her loss of stride in her return. She has overcome the adversity associated with outside posts and finally gets a good starting spot.

Split two attracts the likes of Livininthefastlane, who has been a major competitor on the sires stakes circuit. Setting a stakes record in the sires stakes in her last start on May 16 at the Meadows, she is likely to be the strong public choice. While she has been sharp in the past, she may need a start to return , which sends our attention towards "Oaks"-contender Magic Marker. Tossing her break in stride last week at Pocono, she has been sharp against both fillies and colts. She tends to come from off the pace, and the race may set her up to be carried into contention.

Wild Honey headlines the final division, making her second start of 2015. She won easily on May 16 at The Meadows, but has not raced since. While she has vacationed off the win, Smokinmombo, who lost to Wild Honey on May 16, has been getting sharper with each outing. Entering off a seven-length romp in the Currier & Ives, she draws perfectly to sit a comfortable trip where that she may just pop out late and upset the probable favorite.