Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Dec. 29-Jan. 1

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 29

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 — #6 Amalie Hanover (8-1): Qualified well enough to consider.
R4 — #5 Zippidy Zoom (7-2): Way better than the 23-1 measure of the crowd.
R5 — #1 CM Savewill GL (15-1): Dull effort to improve upon from the rail.
R9 — #7 Peggy J (4-1): Evenly, toss it out and bet back.
R10 — #10 Kevndan Fraudsters (5-1): Sharp in local series where he just missed at 7-1.

FEATURES

Dover Downs, Race 4

A bet-back from last week’s H2W list is our focus. #6 Hickok Forty Five (5-2) raced a well-intended mile at 21-1 and took the show spot with a late gain. Trainer Crissy Crissman-Bier has this one fine tuned and we hope he will improve off that event (the same class as here) with a price close to the overlay the crowd made of him. He has claiming price (in the conditions) among the top three.

Friday, December 30

FEATURES

Mohawk Park, Race 7

After a strong win, #3 Nightlife Seelster (10-1) seeks supremacy stepping up. From the hot barn of Shawn Steacy, this steed is raring to go again after a brief rest and will not find favor with the fans. However, the better betting risk if to back a horse on the way up as opposed to on the way down. That is not a widely accepted handicapping element, which gives an edge to us whom take it seriously.

Saturday, December 31

POWER PLAYS

Meadowlands, Race 8

Here’s a good race to make some noise with exotics on the precipice of 2023. We offer our top four contenders in post position order, hopefully offering value within the combos of single- and multi-race exotics.
#5 Speedy Dominic A is set for a speedy start from the Jennifer Bongiorno team.
#9 Catch Me Conrad has been present in more than 50 percent of his starts and may offer a good price leaving from post 9.
#7 Seeuinnashville A has earned some scratch for Yonkers regular Carl Tirella and fits well here.
#10 Idealsomemagic A could be the longshot spoiler for a lot of exotic tickets in only his second start and last of 2022.

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
1/1/23, +Daytona Dreamin R3; +Street Parade R6; +Northbrook Ron R9

Dayton
12/29/22, D Gs Elsa R6; Anthem R12; Makeitagaingo R14
12/30/22, Play The Ponies R6

Dover Downs
12/29/22, +DS Heartland R12

Freehold
12/30/22, +Midnight Zen R4

Meadowlands
12/30/22, Mighty Surf (ae) R13
12/31/22, Boiler Maker R1; Third Edition R3; Brackley Beach R6

The Meadows
12/29/22, Keystone Chaos R1; Xenia R4; Mr Jeff R11

Monticello
12/29/22, Masterson R2; Fritzie Pic Up Man R6; Coach Cal R7

Northfield Park
12/30/22, +Rockin Deo R9

Philly
12/30/22, +Arabella's Cadet R1; +Caviart Eden R3; +Ideal Beach R14