Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Jan. 12-16

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, January 12

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 4 — #6 Furiosa (4-1): One strong stretch run for third at 8-1 to his credit.
Race 5 — #10 The Will To Pay (5-2): Post could make second-straight win a value play.
Race 8 — #7 Jitterbug Flip (3-1): Off a win, dangerous here.
Race 10 — #6 Cutting Class (4-1): Strong, impressive close promises better performance.

FEATURES

Dover Downs, Race 6

#1 Bionic (9-2) returns after a complex mile finishing second-placed-eighth by judges’ decision. Going off around 5-2 in that conditioned pace, he need only stay out of trouble to finish off the board in this mile—no less win. It will not be a secret to the crowd but it stamps Bionic a key horse for exotic play with a few other valuable partners.
#6 Levi At Play (12-1) comes in from Philly where he scored a place at 39-1, which was a better mile than other probable crowd choices. Also, #8 Dreaming Of Lou (7-2) was bet with vigor only to finish fourth and from post eight could offer more than he should.

Friday, January 13

FEATURES

Northfield Park, Race 7

Billy Farmer’s #4 Dancin With Rose (5-2) drops into 2023 dropping in class. Coming from Dayton’s recent meet, Dancin With Rose finished fifth at 4-1 in a field crossing the wire inside of 2 1/4 lengths. She is in a good spot to glide through the Flying Turns and do better in this Ohio neighborhood.

Cal-Expo, Race 5

Prepping for the local featured Alan Horowitz final, 10 pacers navigate the two turns and long stretch to enter next week. #3 Villa For Rent (12-1) was a beaten favorite two weeks back for productive trainer Kathleen Plested. It was as even a mile as it was disappointing to bettors but “Villa” is all right and deserves another chance here and could demand a better price for a score.

Saturday, January 14

POWER PLAYS

Meadowlands, Race 10

The race offers trifecta/exacta combos with hefty payoff targets. These, in post position order, are our contenders appearing to satisfy such results.

#1 Mullinax — Sharp return expected off of Philly win.
#5 Bobcat Bay — Strong winning via overland route.
#8 Stag Party — Toss out mediocre mile in last.
#9 On Accident — Perfectly placed to complete exacta at 14-1.

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

Cal-Expo
1/12/23, Cartiere R8; +Street Parade R10; Gray Zee R11

Dover Downs
1/12/23, Thornbush Hanover R9; Got The Mojo R11; +Backstreet Shadow R12
1/16/23, +Advance Man R9

Freehold
1/13/23, Sin Machqueen R5; Woodmere Jazz R6; Lazin On The Beach R11

Meadowlands
1/14/23, Lone Wolf American R2; Katies Bet R8

The Meadows
1/12/23, +With A Warning R2; +Feast Day R8; +Mohawk Seelster R9; +Cholula R12

Miami Valley
1/12/23, +Starznheaven R7

Monticello
1/12/23, +Pay Later R1; +Big N Bad R4; Scouts Report R4; +Dr Snow R6; +Barrywhite Hanover R7; CR Dudley R7

Northfield Park
1/13/23, Connies All In R8; Noone To Depend On R8; +Eloquent Velocity R12; +Dojea Rita R12; Suddenly Royal R13