Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Oct. 19-23

Selected features, stakes coverage, and the never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W) share keys to success in exotics, win, place, and show payoffs. 

Breeders' Crown 2023 Edition

From 1986, the first year of the classic series, when we covered a Breeders Crown Final at Los Alamitos Harness for major publications, we have had a close relationship with the Hambletonian Society. At TwinSpires, we continue to have a close relationship with Hoosier Park. This season, the Breeders Crown elims and finals are hosted at the Indiana track and TwinSpires harness focuses upon its wagering opportunities. For the next two weeks, our features are devoted to the championship series. All elim events go for a purse of $25k.

Thursday, Oct. 19

Eliminations

Hoosier

Race 3 (2fT)—Draw The Line is among the last of the Cantab Hall crop and fits with these better than she will be measured by the crowd. At The Red Mile, she had some trouble, placed third from second, but was close enough to take seriously in this division.

Race 5 (2fT)—Drawn Impression, a Muscle Hill filly, qualified well enough to be here and should make a great impression earning a berth in the final here.

Race 7 (2fT)—Chaparmbro was headed to the series from the start by trainer Smedshammer and will hit the board one way or another, win even, and be a value to all bets. 

Race 9 (2cT)—Mars Hill has been a strong division colt from the beginning and it should come as no surprise to anyone if he races his best here and in the final.

Race 11 (2cT)—Outsider Pick Pocket should do better than the crowd measures. The Walner colt could wire this group, especially if the brand-named trainers’ entries push one another. 

Friday, Oct. 20

Eliminations

Hoosier

Race 3 (2fP)—Blue Pacific was a close second choice in a Red Mile stakes last out and finished a step off. Then had a chance to make up for it and get into the final with this mile. 

Race 4 (3fT)—Another longshot victory for Heaven Hanover is a good bet here even though the Kentucky Filly Futurity was a dim mile.

Race 5 (2fP)—There’s a better chance for Caviart Belle to defeat the mega-favorite here than in the final—take it.

Race 6 (3fT)—Blonde Bombshell is in her best form and it’s about time she paid off by beating Bond. Good exacta price with her on top.

Race 8 (3fP)—Mcseaside makes the final, all right, but could do it with a win.

Race 9 (3fP)—Try to beat the great “Sylvia” with outsider Strong Poison for a great price on a Burke entry. 

Race 11 (2cP)—Let’s stick with Huntingforchrome, a Huntsville colt looking to beat the top choice.

Race 12 (2cP)—Storm Shadow can win this like he won an ONSS Super Gold last week—taking advantage of burned-out speed.

Race 13 (2cP)—Trainer Joe Holloway’s Nuclear is in a great spot to cause an upset if he saves some ground.

H2W Legend

Horses to watch (H2W) are strong contenders evaluated from overnight-race charts (including qualifiers), replays, and trainers’ current win percentages. Each horse appears in two consecutive lists if it does not win on its first listing.

H2W horses are suggested for win, place, show (across the board) wagering, and to be included in exotic combinations.

Exactas listed in H2W results reflect an H2W horse finishing second to a race favorite or if the first two finishers were on the list, when an asterisk appears for cold exactas. The note “ok” determines prices are correct when a show price exceeds the place price or all three prices are identical. 

Some results reflect horses racing after preview blog posts and appear the following week. As well, some horses will not appear a second time when their first time is followed by a race at a non-pari-mutuel fair. They will get a second time on the list when returning to a betting race.

Batavia
10/20/23, CR Blazin Beauty R3; Bugatti R4; Da Boogie Man R8

Dayton
10/20/23, Amy L R5

Freehold
10/20/23, Reachin For Heaven R10

Hawthorne
10/20/23, +Dash Around R5

Hoosier
10/19/23, +Picaboo Lady R1; Southside Kid R4; Ben Racin R14
10/20/23, 

Meadowlands
10/20/23, +Harry Hanover R1
10/21/23, +Bettor Be Oscar A R2

Meadows
10/20/23, Rock On Express R2; +Twin B Jammer R12

Monticello
10/19/23, +Unique Beach R1; Caviart Sage R3; Shamma Lamma R5; Major Humor R5

Northfield
10/22/23, Sea Rose R4; +Navagio N R12; +Anne Bonney R15

Northville
10/20/23, Chase The Ace R1; Deerrun Sandy R2; Ariser R4; Eyes Don’t Lie R7

Philly
10/19/23, Lyons Beachboy R2; Southwind Bronn R3; Googoo Eyes R8

Plainridge
10/19/23, Vegas Rocks R9

Rosecroft 
10/19/23, +Tom’s Twilight R3; +Lookie A Cookie R3; +Always On Top R5; Starship R12

Saratoga
10/21/23, +Datguyna Greenshit R3
10/22/23, +Pax Hanover R2
 
Vernon
10/20/23, Clemmie Hanover R10
10/21/23, Panarail’s Girl R3; Zapaca R6
 
Yonkers
10/20/23, Cantstop Yankee R1; Willy Walton R 3; Cowgirl Lilly R5