Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Feb. 16-20

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, February 16

MOHAWK MILES

Each week we highlight probable long shots from Mohawk Park in this features section. If they do not win at first crack we add them to the H2W the following week as a bet-back while adding new possibilities to this Mohawk Miles section.

Race 1 — #3 Bella Cavalla (5-1): Placed well to start, late move gets third.
Race 4 — #3 Thelegendcontinues (7-1): Broke on the lead, gets another shot.
Race 8 — #1 Belevedere Bronx (10-1): Bet back drops from series.
Race 11 — #1 Bad Eye Bill (9-1): Steps down with a positive post change.

POWER PLAYS

Dover Downs, Race 12

In last week’s Blue Hen/Open Handicap, #2 Baba O’Riley (10-1) weaved his way to finish third at 17-1. The outsider shared the photo with the winning favorite and a long-winded third choice. In this affair he draws to the inside again due to conditions and we expect he will offer a good price against foes branded by more popular drivers and trainers.

Miami Valley, Races 4, 5

In race 4, a good key horse for single- and multi-race exotics (as well as a parlay) comes from the productive stable of Adam Short. #3 Lucky To Be Sweet (7-2) takes on a mediocre field after a strong win here and a week or so off and should be flying. Connected with a Walter Haynes Jr entry, #5 Keep Score (9-2), who steps down a notch, the pair may pay handsomely.
In race 5, #2 Greystone Watchman (5-2) steps up from a sharp second where he was well backed and leaves from a ground-saving post this week, most likely at a parlay price offering a bundle.

Friday, February 17

FEATURES

Yonkers, Race 9

Qualifying at Saratoga, #2 Racine Bell (5-2) prepped for a new season. David Dewhurst’s pacing mare defeated 2021 Horse of the Year Test Of Faith and continued to race with millionaires last year as she became one. She is ready to storm a field to start a 2023 campaign with her regular pilot, Jason Bartlett, in what should be a muscle-flexing exercise before she faces top competition.
Consider #8 Violets Rainbow (12-1) for an exacta considering it may only be her 8-hole start that turns the crowd against her and because she should offer the best price on a ticket with the “Bell” of this ball.

Saturday, February 18

FEATURES

Pocono Downs, Race 6

A beaten favorite last out at Yonkers, #2 Crunch Hanover (3-1) gets a shot at lesser competition for Nick Devita but will be challenged by #7 Stellar BB (4-1). That one was all out winning a qualifier here to prep for a strong campaign in 2023 and has the form to pull it off.

MONDAY$MONEY

Always check the new Monday$Money feature in our Harness Preview editions. It’s the last day and night of our previewed picks and starts the next week with viable contenders.

Dover Downs
Bionic R3; +Justasec N R10; Whata Foolbelieves R10

Saratoga
Odds On Brexit R2; Fire Flower R3

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

Batavia Downs
2/16/23, EY Cowboy R2; Oozie's Beach Gal R3; Con Air Hall R6; Tobins Diva R9

Cal-Expo
2/17/23, Muffin Top R4; +Worthy Opponent R6; +Bestaluck R10
2/19/23, Lil Screamer R1; Chanceitlikeitis R9

Freehold
2/17/23, +Be Mine MK R1; A Real Miracle R2; Natural Kemp R8

Meadowlands
2/17/23, +Super Girl R3; +Always Beachy R3; Headoverboots AS R4

The Meadows
2/16/23, +Starlit Thiswanman R4; Scubadan R6

Miami Valley
2/16/23, Magnificent Mark R3

Monticello Raceway
2/16/23, +K D Ga Ga R2; +Fear My Shadow R3; +Causway R9; +Beachin R10; +Coach Cal R12

Northfield Park
2/18/23, Sweet Nan R1; Sulky Queen R5; +Blue Speech R13

Pocono Downs
2/18/23, TSM Tristan T R4; Dash Of Danger R5; +Northern Rein R9; Four More Years R11

Rosecroft Raceway
2/16/23, +Twist Knot R1; +Select Friday R4; +Mikalob Ultra R8; +Sea Of Life R13

Saratoga
2/18/23, Alluneedisfaith N R6; Roll With Dom R7
2/19/23, +Reign Of Honor R2; +Our White Knight R3; +Gavinator R7

Yonkers
2/16/23, +Ethan T Hanover R1
2/17/23, Karma Seelster R5