Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Dec. 15-19

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, December 15

MOHAWK MILES

Each Thursday we are highlighting races featuring probable long shots at the Canadian harness meet. All horses that do not win at first crack appear the following week in the H2W as bet-backs or in selected features, adding new possibilities to this section.

R2 — #1 Mats MVP (3-1): Steady with cover, third at 18-1,
R6 — #7 Lilys Lass (4-1): Settled for second at 20-1.
R7 — #9 Warrawee Yankee (5-2): Won with strong brush, can repeat.
R9 — #7 Peggy J (4-1): Good to rebound after strolling a mile.
R10 — #2 Zippidy Zoom (5-1): Wasted early speed in last, back in gear here.

FEATURES

Dover Downs, Race 10

The Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund Final ($100k) for state-bred sophomore pacers, with a field of eight, may present a strong favorite or two but we expect a tough challenge from #6 DS Heartland (9-2) and will back him for price and purpose. In 15 starts, the son of Badlands Hanover missed hitting the board only four times and it should not be surprising if he is in the right spot at the right time with a double-digit delivery on the win side.

Friday, December 16

POWER PLAYS

Northville Downs, Race 10

Three from a Power Plays set last week return in a field of eight and each deserves respect to be essential single-race exotic participants. #5 Boogie Shoes (10-1) gets a better post to shoot to the lead he deserves after a pair of 8-hole starts. To his left, #4 Hardt To Handle (20-1) leaves and should get a good spot to aim for the beam. #6 Starlitblackdragon (6-1) continues to earn his keep as he shoots for the highest purse cut among this company.

Saturday, December 17

POWER PLAYS

Cumberland, Races 1, 2

A Daily Double (DD)—Parlay seems to be a good bet in the opening pair of races on the card. In the first race, #1 Readyfortheladys (9-2) is a beaten favorite just finishing in a dead heat for third, faltering, most likely, from a strenuous overland trip. Trainer Eric Bickmore is sending out serious contenders like this, driving them himself for insurance.
In the second race, #6 Skyway Ballet (9-2) raced far better than 31-1, finishing fourth last week for top Maine trainer Ryan Berry. Your personal parlay could explode with this one winning on the back of the DD.

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

Cal-Expo
12/16/22, Daytona Dreamin R3; +Bluebird Affection R7; Fort Apache Scout R8; Heza Big Dealer R10

Cumberland
12/16/22, +Dancin Hill R3
12/17/22, Lucan Hanover R5; Twin B Jays R7

Dayton
12/15/22, Valrhona R9; Pine Master R14
12/16/22, +Seaside Hill R4

Dover Downs
12/15/22, Blue Collar Bills R1; Hickok Forty Five R3; +Bettor Memories R11

Freehold
12/16/22, Aida De Vie R1; Midnight Zen R2; J A T O R4; Northern Luxury R6

Meadowlands
12/16/22, +Scrappin Gold R6; Ima Happy Fella GB R6; Ideal Beach R7; Betabcool N (ae) R14

The Meadows
12/16/22, Northern Baccarat R3; +Airspinder R7; Alilthundadownunda R12

Mohawk Park
12/15/22, Whatineedisaman R9

Monticello
12/15/22, +Shadow Isreadytogo R2

Northville Downs
12/16/22, +TL All Business R1; Split Rail R8; Bo Nanza Chip R8; +Empire Earl N R9

Philly
12/16/22, Down The Pike Mike R10

Rosecroft
12/15/22, Rusty Rambo R4; Uncle Coz R6; Redding Hanover R8

Saratoga
12/18/22, +Chamorro R11

Yonkers
12/15/22, Frankie Hill R1; Famous Dan R2
12/16/22, Kenrick N R4; Undertaker R7