Harness Preview: Dan Patch Picks and Horses for August 11-15

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.

Thursday, August 11

MOHAWK MILES

Each Thursday we highlight some probable long shots from Mohawk Park. If they do not win at first crack we add them to the H2W the following week as bet-backs or in selected features, adding new possibilities to this section.
R2 — #3 Tactical Mounds (5-1): A bet-back situation coming from a show finish.
R5 — #2 We Shall Sea (8-1): Broke at the gate, galloping distanced is forgiven.

Friday, August 12

DAN PATCH STAKES

Hoosier

The Hoosier Park signature event, the Dan Patch Stakes, is worth $315k for Free For All pacers, and includes the top dog of the division, #3 Bulldog Hanover (3-5). The mid-season star has been beating older foes while winning seven of eight starts and will be the public’s choice over two locals and seven invaders.

The trainer investing biggest to upset “Bulldog” is Ron Burke; he trains five of the 10 starting.
The longshot upset scenario comes from a scenario benefiting Burke’s #1 Workin Ona Mystery (15-1).

Last week at The Meadowlands “Mystery” left from post 8 and held his own, finishing fourth. Mystery, from post 1 here, needs to save ground as Bulldog takes the lead and is challenged. A few here can test him and may, so Mystery can find room late and pull off the shocker—if only by a whisker. A win bet is the best value.

The Dan Patch offers a guaranteed $25k Superfecta pool for the 20-cent base price. Our strategy is to knock out scores of bettors by using Workin Ona Mystery and Bulldog Hanover in the top and second spots. From there the ticket needs wild-card choices to guarantee a big payoff. Here is our ticket:
1, 3 / 1, 3, 9 / 4, 7, 9 / 4, 7, 8, 9
This ticket costs $5.20. If you play it multiple times ($10.40; $15.60, etc.) and cash, you will bury the Superfecta pool.

HOOSIER HIGHLIGHTS

Hoosier

Two memorial races—the Gregg Haston and Teagan Tetrick—each offer $40k on the Dan Patch Stakes program.

Race 11
The Haston could deliver an outsider worthy of defying the public—#4 Makin Some Noise (8-1). Campaigning at Scioto, the son of Always B Miki worked with the top rung in Ohio Opens and is forgiven for his last race due to equipment trouble. He travels here to return to his best form.

Race 12
The Tetrick is a fillies-and-mares invite featuring one of The Meadowlands’ shockers from last week, #8 Kobes Gigi (8-5). The Indiana-bred was a 51-1 winner. We like getting behind #9 Maggie Rhee (12-1). She’s a fine Open mare who races better than her odds and comes off of a win at Scioto in a race she won as she improved to take on better.

KEYSTONE BABIES

The Meadows

This is a duo of Pennsylvania-bred frosh-filly trotters for $73k each.
Race 8 — #3 Angelpedia (4-1), from the Brett Pelling barn, adds to the season’s success of her sire, Cantab Hall.
Race 9 — #5 Piano Bar (5-1) (by Bar Hopping) is in a spot to break her maiden at a price.

Saturday, August 13

MILSTEIN MOB

Northfield Park

The $300k Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield offers nine pacers a shot at a huge mid-season purse. Although we scored with #5 Bythemissal (7-5) in the Adios upset, we pass on him here. As well we pass on #1 Night Hawk (4-1); as a bet-back he won’t offer enough to win leaving from the rail. Though he needs a sharp trip, #8 Layton Hanover (15-1) can weave a wealthy return from post 8 because he may be the class of this group.

 

Horses to Watch

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) follows. 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 failed to win. An “ae” signals also-eligible. Types of wagers to make are based on your judgment.

H2W LIST

Hoosier
8/12/22, Keene William R1; JKs Henry R5; Gazing Star R6; Fishyriggins R10

The Meadows
8/11/22, +HS Judy Jetson R5; +Missalette R7

Monticello
8/11/22, Pinebush Sweetlife R1; Hypothetical R8

Northfield Park
8/13/22, Herculisa R8; Amadeus AS R9; Revenant Blue Chip R15

Philly
8/11/22, Priceless Shadow R1
8/12/22, +Candy Bomber R6

Plainridge Park
8/11/22, Ubanji R1; Dewey Dog R3
8/12/22, Great Pop Up R1; Joes Beauty R7

Pocono
8/13/22, +Straight Up Cool R14

Running Aces
8/11/22, Easy Three R8

Saratoga
8/12/22, +Mr Cool Seaeyre N R2
8/13/22, Top Recruit R5

Scioto Downs
8/12/22, Marloe Hanover R10
8/13/22, Dealt A Winner R1

Vernon Downs
8/12/22, All Heart I Am R12
8/13/22, Stirling Ensign R1; +Samson J R9

Yonkers
8/11/22, Wily Wally R4
8/13/22, Torkil R3