Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Dec. 8-12

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 8

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 — #4 Move Out Milly (8-1): Qualified evenly, on time, to be a threat in this race.
R4 — #4 Chief Corleone (4-1): A contender this field cannot refuse.
R6 — #2 Lilys Lass (8-1): Handled outside with speed and confidence.
R10 — #7 Thankyaverymuch (5-1): Swell closing effort after 10-hole launch.

Friday, December 9

FEATURES

Cumberland, Race 3

#1 Dancin Hill (4-1) was the public’s second choice in this local series last week but got off to a slow start and took refuge with moderate cover, able only to close late with little affect. The Berry barn has been earning well so far and Dancin Hill could contribute the top share here, where he won’t go off a favorite.

POWER PLAYS

Northville Downs, Race 8

From post 8 last week, #8 Boogie Shoes (15-1) did not make a step of progress and was aptly sent off at more than 40-1. This week the launching pad is the same gate and he’ll go off long odds again. But this week any effort should get him on the board and pump up any exotic, and light up the board should he race as well as many from the Danielle St Louis barn.
Companions in exotics include #6 Starlitblackdragon (9-2) and #4 Hardt To Handle (12-1), both whom collect checks regularly.

Saturday, December 10

POWER PLAYS

Charlottetown, Race 5

An exactor, triactor and super hi 5 in this race of eight (big field for Charlottetown) tempts us to try to bury the exotic numbers. Let’s goooooooooooo! How you use our top four contenders is a matter of choice for the types of bets you make. Here they are in post position order with comments.

#1 Jays Little Spark (4-1): She is in a good spot to draft close to a pacesetter and with any kind of luck may be full of pace when it counts late.
#5 La Vie En Rose (7-2): Tossing out her last effort, this mare makes good on cashing checks (hitting the board 14 times in 25 starts) and is comfortable at this level.
#7 Miss Sangria (5-2): Morning-line favorite has burned some money but not with these types, so getting a piece of this purse pie should be easy. We hope that she does not win for the sake of getting better prices.
#8 Jordies Hope (10-1): From Flamboro, where this mare qualified well, her local trainer has respect for her back class at Charlottetown and should have her racing aggressively from the outside to hit the board (she is the longshot here that could surprise with a win).

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
12/9/22, +A Major Omen R7
12/11/22, +Bluebird Affection R7

Cumberland
12/9/22, +Joes Beauty R9; +Air Force Grad R11

Dover Downs
12/8/22, +Johnny Badlands R4; +Star Messenger R6; +Aberdeen Hanover R8; +Harambe Deo R10

Freehold
12/9/22, Turbochargedpete R7

Hoosier Park
12/8/22, +Knives Out R2; +Shock Wave R4
12/9/22, Cream Puff Mama R8

Meadowlands
12/9/22, +Jagged Little Pill R3; +Scrappin Gold R5 (ae); +Capozzo R5

The Meadows
12/8/22, +That's My Leroy R8
12/9/22, +High Impression R6; +Skyway Ballistic R12

Mohawk Park
12/8/22, +Day At The Gym R1; +The Will To Play R7; +Toughsonofabeach R9

Monticello
12/8/22, +Saratoga Blue Chip R1; Madelynn Sophia R2; Shadow Isreadytogo R7; +Jessicas Beach Boy R10

Northfield Park
12/10/22, +Downhill Skiing R5; +Molly Kool R6; Plzdontlietome N R11; +Mae Be Magic R13

Northville Downs
12/9/22, Empire Earl N R3; TL All Business R10

Rosecroft
12/8/22, +Hi Sir R5; +Dance On The Beach R7; +Transparency R14

Saratoga
12/10/22, Control Tower R2; Record Year R7; +Aerosmith Hanover R13
12/11/22, +Chamorro R1; Inquiring Mind R9

Yonkers
12/8/22, +Refined R8
12/9/22, State Senator R4; Picard A R5; Ehrmantraut R7