Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch July 14-18

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, July 14

MOHAWK MILES

Each Thursday we highlight some probable long shots from Mohawk Park. If they do not win at first crack we add them to the H2W the following week as bet-backs or in selected features, adding new possibilities to this section.
R1 — Twin B Showmance: Beaten favorite bet-back from last week’s duo.
R10 — Staythirsty De Vie: Freshman from new trotting sire doing well.

Friday, July 15

PA SIRES STAKES

The Meadows

Race 4
Two $65k miles for soph-colt trotters includes characters that could make the August classic. In the first split of six, we’ll go with the rail horse, #1 Outside The Fire, a Cantab Hall product. Without Dave Palone driving, it could mean a good price, as he is apt to pick Nancy Takter's #4 Keg Stand, the probable top choice.

Race 6
A price could be offered for #2 Fiftyfour K, a Sebastian K colt on its second trip around a mile this season, over #1 Dandy (Cantab Hall), already a winner of four from seven starts.

Saturday, July 16

SUPER STAKES SATURDAY

Meadowlands

The 14-race program offers nine Grand Circuit events, headlined by The Meadowlands Pace. We’ve condensed the text to cover our contenders in the selected events. Check the official program for the order.

DEL MILLER MEMORIAL
Soph-filly trotters; two divisions; $100k each
Race 2 — #4 Fashion Schooner: Chased the best in last, ready to romp.
Race 3 — #7 Joviality S: Beat the boys, so these should be easy.

STANLEY DANCER MEMORIAL
Soph-colt trotters; two divisions, $125k each
Race 4 — #5 Fast As The Wind: Ready for another big mile; #6 Pretender: Now or never to make it to the big dance.
Race 6 — #1 King Of The North: Gate to wire with a smooth stride.

MISTLETOE SHALEE
Soph-filly pacers; $125k
Race 7 — #1 Lyons Serenity: Upset-minded with a good price; #4 — Treacherous Dragon: Obvious public choice, always dangerous.

DOROTHY HAUGHTON MEMORIAL
Mares Open; $175k
Race 9 — #6 Racine Bell: Good price available for mild upset.

WILLIAM HAUGHTON MEMORIAL
FFA pace; $500k
Race 10 — #2 Catch The Fire: May get the perfect trip to race best when it counts and light up the toteboard against current-rage #7 Bulldog Hanover.

HAMBLETONIAN MATURITY
4-Year-Old Open Trot; $432k
Race 11 — #1 Incommunicado: Under-rated talent can win at big price.

THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

The 2022 namesake race is worth $600k and on paper it looks like one of the first years of the event when it was worth $1 million and a single colt ruled the division. This year it’s elim winner and soph-colt-pacing division’s boss — #6 Beach Grass. There is another way to go.
I am not convinced #3 Night Hawk isn’t as good on any particular night and because Beach Grass is such a huge favorite, Night Hawk will offer a higher price than his chances deserve — do not punish him for losing his elim because he practically did not. Instead, eliminate #4 Market Based, who had it easy.
Also on the contender list at a big price is #2 Caviart Camden. The son of Huntsville is in a great spot to peak and pay.

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

Hawthorne
7/15/22, +Romantic Warrior R8
7/16/22, +Et Tu Brute R9

Hoosier Park
7/14/22, Why Not Now R10
7/15/22, Ike's Panther R2; Goo Goo Won R5

The Meadows
7/14/22, What Should I Goo R4; +Keystone Stevie R9

Mohawk Park
7/14/22, Ghostly Casper R7; Ima Doll R8

Monticello
7/14/22, +Lincoln R5

Northfield Park
7/16/22, Rockin Megan L R2; Somewhere Onthebay R4; Machbook Pro R9

Oak Grove
7/17/22, +Lindy The Brave R7; +Innit Hanover R8

Ocean Downs
7/14/22, +Rockin Ellie R7

Philly
7/14/22, +How The Hell R11
7/15/22, +So Delightful R6 (ae)

Plainridge Park
7/14/22, +Explosive Ridge R2; +Doc Goldenfleece R3; +Sortie Hanover R10

Pocono
7/16/22, +Chapolier R8
7/17/22, Nuttinbuthebest R1

Running Aces
7/14/22, Tenthousand Angels R6; Lickcreek Speedway R9

Scioto Downs
7/14/22, T Barrr R5

Vernon Downs
7/15/22, +Fancy Knows R3
7/16/22, +All Heart I Am R5; Special Tyler R8

Yonkers
7/14/22, +Drama Act R7
7/15/22, +I'm Benicio A R5