Harness: Betting Previews for Thanksgiving week

Aside from some Thanksgiving Classics at Hoosier on turkey day, we have returned to that time of the season when we choose feature races from the great caldron of North American harness racing. Sans the big purses and big trotting and pacing stars, there is still plenty of harness-racing action to go around. And the never-ending TwinSpires H2W (horses-to-watch list) continues as those Mohawk Miles search for longshots in any class.

MOHAWK MILES
Thursday / Nov. 25
Mohawk

Each week we highlight some probable longshots from Mohawk Park in this features section. If they do not win at first crack we add them to the H2W the following week as a bet-back while adding new possibilities to this Mohawk Miles section.

In Race 2–Northern Blizzard; bet-back proposition from last week.
In Race 6–The Magic Of Life; May have bled last time, returns with Lasix

THANKSGIVING
Thursday / Nov. 255
Hoosier

Special events are the racing side dishes for the U.S. National Holiday.

Thanksgiving Classic $40k
3yo filly pace
A quintet of gals led by top-earner Kobes Gigi. We’ll defy her bankroll with Britney Dillon’s DC Batgirl. Her winning trip on Nov. 6, a conditioned pace, proves she could take on a step above that class and, with a small field where she is third highest earner, it is more likely she can prove it.

Thanksgiving Classic $45k
3yo filly trot
We’ll take a bet-back situation with Queen Of All from her third in last week’s Star Destroyer in another attempt to beat Pub Crawl, who returns here for her final race of the season (cheap exacta with that one atop).

Thanksgiving Classic $50k
3yo colt trot
How did Swingforthefences lose a single race against his foes in this division? Simple, it’s a stronger bunch of sophs than have been put together in any single state-bred event. Street Gossip found a free path to nip him last week but here his problem could be an upset from Platinum AS. Anette Lorentzon’s E L Titan colt is a tough comer and the positive alternative between Illini Earl and Swingforthefences.

Thanksgiving Classic $55k
3yo colt pace
Again, the crowd will hail Bulldog Hanover and we will try to beat him—and not with Goldies Legacy, who almost beat him last week. The value proposition for us in this group is out bet-back Rock With JK. He was fifth to most of these last week at 30-1 and an upset here will bring in a fistful of cash as well.

POWER PLAYS
Dayton / Races 3, 4, 5
Friday, Nov. 26

The Power Plays are back; we begin with a 50-cent Pick 3. A quick refresher: our contenders are suggested additions to any ticket you build and the best prices promised among them are suggested win bets. Also, choose to use any contender in any exotic connected to the race(s).

Race 3
Vel Charlie was a huge favorite in his second race after a Ron Burke claim and had a tiring trip working on the outside only to come up short. He should rebound here. Speaking of short, trainer Adam Short sends the ML favorite after a step up failure after a winning streak in the Burke barn. He stays in this class for Short, who is confident he is worth the tag—against Burke’s claim.

Race 4
This is also a Hi-5. This is a good field for pricey contenders. From the outside comes Northfield shipper Awsome Paul, who has worthy experience at this level on the four-turn mile. Here winning may be a chore, but hitting the board for exotics is more likely and will yield bucks. Another longshot, Deer Run Billy, was real good last week and trainer Frank Johnson rightfully feels the trotter can improve on that here.

Race 5
Steady performer One Fine Andi is sitting on a win, as should his driver Chris Page be after being scratched (sick). The filly’s recent three races were more consistent than those supporting her at this level. Early speed could win this one and Martha Max has enough to take this group gate to wire.

FEATURES
Northville / Races 7
Friday, Nov. 26

A beaten favorite from last week’s H2W, Wanderer, took the field most of the way but a challenge at three-quarters was too much for him to handle. The 11-year-old son of the powerful Stand Forever does haven enough to keep this field at bay while offering more in the win pool this week.
Miss Explosion found a good spot early as one of the public’s top three choices in her second race for new trainer Brook Daniel. This week she can take that trip one step farther—to the finish line—while being dismissed by bettors who will be charmed by the drop down of Southwind Scorpion.

FEATURES
Charlottetown/ Race 3
Saturday, Nov. 27

Stepping up, Century Gaga does not have to improve much here to get into the main picture. She spent little energy winning her last, cashing in on three races since shipping from Rideau-Carleton. The daughter of Sportswriter has hit the board 11 of 29 times with a penchant for earning.

FEATURES
Charlottetown/ Race 9
Saturday, Nov. 27

A few fast starts have not resulted in the best routes for Traces Of Purple but, however she leaves, she rolls hard to get in the mix. From post 7 in this conditioner the mare could follow live cover or fire all at once late and take this at a good price.

Last week, Thebossisagirl was hanging outside for two calls before taking refuge behind the leader and gaining in the late steps of the contest. A three-time beaten favorite, she could take an easier route from post 3 this time when she is not the favorite.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and confirm the wagers available at the prescribed track. H2W offers possible contenders researched from reviewing races. Horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track with the date of their race and the race number (R6 ). If a + is in front of a horse’s name, it appears on the list for the second time (horses are listed twice only if, at first, they fail to win. An “ae” signals also-eligible. Types of wagers to make are based on your judgment.


H2W LIST

Cal Expo
11/26/21, +Im An Athlete R6
11/28/21 Major Mac R2; +Joltin Joe R2; River Lassena R4; Oneida Blue Chip R4; +Fast Track R5; +Gearupn Go Moe R6; Imma Tank R9

Freehold
11/26/21, Windsong Pioneer R7; Dbldelitebrigade N R8

Dayton
11/27/21, +In Trouble Again R2; +Loutenant R10

Meadowlands
11/26/21, Marloe Hanover R10

Meadows
11/26/21, Dragon Time R1; Ryan Racketeer R3; +Hudsonandbernard R11

Northfield
11/27/21, +Talkin Again R2; +Rockin Megan L R3; +Always Artistic R4; +Cinder Rock R12

Northville
11/26/21, Maggie Mae Trot R2; Astra R3; Swan Leader R6; +Vow To Wow R8
11/27/21, Magic Stark R10

Philly
11/28/21 Lionhead R4

Plainridge
11/26/21, Burkes Bandit R3; Goodashim R6