Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch August 4-8

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 4

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.
R1 — #1 Tactical Mounds (10-1): Promising freshman from a sharp win at Georgian Downs.
R11 — #6 Dance Number (7-2): Good mile in last, beaten fair and square.

BUCKEYE BABIES

Scioto Downs

A quartet of Ohio-bred filly pacers and trotters go for $67-$72k.
Race 10 — #2 Jumping The Line (10-1): on the brink of a win.
Race 12 — #4 Fear Of Sports (9-5): Could be fast as his sire.
Race 13 — #2 She's Loveable (12-1): Burke filly is dangerous maiden.
Race 14 — #1 Mcseaside (10-1): Outsider can upset

Friday, August 5

MUSCLE HILL

Meadowlands

Nine soph-colt trotters that did not make the Hambletonian (Hambo) grade go for $50k in this event named after a Hambo champ. All eyes focus upon the only one that made most top-ten contenders lists—#5 Pretender (4-1). Nancy Takter’s son of the race’s namesake towers over these. The only alternatives for price and purpose are the Nuncio colt, #1 Theresnolimit S (7-2), and #9 Chulo (8-1). That would be a decent paying exacta/triple.

Saturday, August 6

H A M B L E T O N I A N DAY STAKES

Meadowlands

Ten stakes events cover the big program featuring the trotting classic. Here are our contenders (with comments) for each. It is a day card.

HAMBLETONIAN (R15)

The main event ($1 million) offers many arguments for each colt; all must be respected. #1 Rebuff (9-5) has been made the favorite, followed by #5 Jiggy Jog S (4-1), the second filly in the field. Due to that change of heart compared to each week’s top 10 leading to the final, the price for #2 Joviality S (7-2) will be hoisted to overlay. She may not conquer the race on top all the way but she’s capable of improvising on her enormous talent to win anyway.
Another competitive entry that could get the trip of a lifetime is #3 Fast As The Wind (8-1). There is nothing wrong with this guy; he made it here and he could easily race under the betting radar to be a major part of this event’s history.

HAMBLETONIAN OAKS (R12)

The final of the filly Hambo ($500k), we hope, will be nothing like the elim that #3 Warrawee Xenia (5-1) won. We like the filly #7 Baptism (15-1) based on her trip. Baptism began wide, came in to race on the rail and then was shuffled, forced to go three wide on the turn and use what was left closing well center tack—and made the final. “Xenia” used everything she had in one move to catch #10 Fashion Schooner (4-1). That’s our focus, owning to a more aggressive final than either elim with #5 Venerable (9-5) making a big impression on Xenia that could help Baptism.

PETER HAUGHTON (R5)

The $337k memorial stakes for frosh-colt trotters offers three Marcus Melander youngsters. Of the three, the true value should be #8 Oh Well (4-1).
The public may bet him down but the outside position could sway them to Melander's unbeaten #1 Kilmister (2-1) or #2 Herodotus (10-1), the now horse. We like those for exotics but Oh Well as a win bet.

JIM DOHERTY (R13)

This $335k memorial stakes is for frosh-filly trotters and includes our 15-1 elim winner, #1 Una Madonna (4-1). The public won’t let her go with such odds this time and should be all out for #6 Mambacita (3-1). There is our top two, the latter representing a good new sire, Tactical Landing.

JOHN CASHMAN (R14)

The $279k memorial for older trotters has eight at the gate, five from Ake Svanstedt’s barn. We do not like the inequity of trainer reps, so we leave this one up to you.

THE CANE PACE (R8)

Glamour-boy pacers go for $275k, starring #6 Beach Glass (9-5) (who we demolished in the Adios). Poor #8 Night Hawk (4-1) gets the 8 hole but may not be so poor racing his best from it. An overlay price on him is guaranteed and we like his chances to shine in daylight racing even if he does not win by daylight.

SAM MCKEE (R10)

This memorial for 11 older pacers ($278k) is tough, with five from Ron Burke’s battalion. Our longshot bet-back from the most recent division’s fray is #6 Catch The Fire (10-1), hoping to catch a good trip to fly late against wild speedsters shuffling in all four quarters. We have no idea who will wind up the favorite.

LADY LIBERTY (R9)

The Open Mares event ($173k) will indeed be a test of faith betting on #7 Test Of Faith (8-5). She lost three of nine so far and we do not forgive her for them. It’s not a great wagering event but consider giving an outside shot to #2 Mikala (5-1); it would make George Brennan’s trip to New Jersey worth it.

DR. JOHN STEELE (R3)

A memorial for Open mare trotters ($145k) that offers only six who beat one another based upon factors far beyond the wit or wisdom of handicappers. The now horse is #2 Bella Bellini (8-5), but there’s talent lurking in the other five, so we have no argument for your choice while we go for an upset with #4 Weslynn Quest (15-1).

SHADY DAISY (R7)

Soph-filly pacers ($93k) include trainer-driver / father-son team for #2 Sweet Rock Deo (15-1) to be involved in our exotics with #6 Max Contract (9-5) and #9 Treacherous Dragon (4-1).

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

Hawthorne
8/5/22, +Captain Velocity R8

Hoosier
8/5/22, May Baby R9; T's Raider II R12

Meadowlands
8/5/22, +Texican N R5

The Meadows
8/4/22, HS Judy Jetson R4; Missalette R6; +Male Man R9
8/5/22, +What's The Talk R2; +Brace For Landing R2

Monticello
8/4/22, Giddyallyougot R6; Te Amo Blue Chip R8

Ocean Downs
8/4/22, JK Objection R4; Speed Ball Swagger R8

Philly
8/4/22, Fashion Cantab R2; Meanttobe De Vie R8

Plainridge Park
8/5/22, +Sumbigbank Hanover R8; +Dazzling Lindy R9

Pocono
8/6/22, Straight Up Cool R4

Running Aces
8/4/22, Hankscoltfortyfive R3; +Datsyukian Deke R5

Saratoga
8/6/22, +Hot Joe R5

Scioto Downs
8/5/22, +Nebble Hanover R1

Vernon Downs
8/5/22, +Grateful Express R2

Yonkers
8/6/22, +Carracci Hanover R2
8/8/22, Stonebridge Gamble R6