Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch July 6-10

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 6

MOHAWK MILES

Each week, we highlight probable longshots from Mohawk Park (WoMo) 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—Cruising Tom and Glenfidich; Bet-backs turn up in this race with high expectations hitting the board.
Race 6—Go Have Fun; Good qualifying prep for this Kadabra filly.

Saturday, July 8

ZWEIGS ZOOMIN

Vernon

The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorials for sophomore colt and filly trotters now take place before the Hambletonian and its Oaks but are still featured in upstate New York. The filly version ($142k) is first up on the program. Ake Svanstedt continues to present international types to the trotting world and his super filly this season is Emira Mil It. Though Sadie Hanover is leading the division so far and the Toscano barn is hotter than hell, Ake (who also trains Gigi Hanover in this stake) had got to see the potential of Emira rising and here she is worth the bet to show a strong prep for the Oaks.

The $350k Zweig for glamour-boy trotters gathers Hambo-hopefuls. The field is arguably a second-tier group of potential classic winners, which makes it a good betting race. French Wine could easily make it back into the top tier winning this and Manclane charts to pick up a piece of this purse. Kilmister is the probable favorite, but those three could hit the board for a good triple price.

M-PACE ELIMS

Meadowlands

We’re going for an outsider in the first of the two $50k elims because elims can generate longer shots than winners of the final mile. Bret Pelling liked the recent performance of his sophomore-student Combustion enough to get him into an M-Pace elim. At 10-1, the Captaintreacherous colt had it easy to finish within a length of the top three; Pelling does not enter horses where there is little chance and we feel he won’t be saving this horse, so to speak, just to get into the final. As well, a price is evident to those of us taking the “elim leap of faith,” which has served us well over the years.

In the second elim, there are two of our top-10 M-Pace contenders and we’ll alert all about possible best performances in this. Ammo is our top pick in the final but a win here matters most now because he will offer an overlay price considering his recent races were tough trips that qualify as toss-outs. Then comes Stockade Seelster, who won’t be an Ammo's price but should be considered an equal to the most talked about Confederate and Christchurch. He too may offer a decent price. When making a decision, do not think about the final.

GRADUATES FINALS

Meadowlands

In the Open Trot ($230k), we have to find a reasonable possibility that can defeat Jiggy Jog S at a fair price or pass. At first glance, it looks like a pass. At a second glance, the fair price may go to Keg Stand. At a third glance, those two may not be the best choices. The fourth glance, however, is a light backing of Pappardelle. His defeat by Keg Stand in June is no disgrace nor are his earnings; everything on paper makes him deserve to battle this class and to think he could not upset this field is underestimating this class.

The Open Pace ($240k) offers arguments for any of the 10 going to post. Why argue if it’s that possible this race comes down to a trip? We supported Trendy Teen at 26-1, and from post 8 against this ilk, he made the cash grid, finishing fifth. With a mile less reliant on one big brush, Trendy Teen from post 2 could produce an easy trip that makes winners look like top-notch handicappers—however you define one of those.

H2W LIST

Buffalo
7/7/23, Tap Tap Tap R2

Hoosier
7/6/23, Tellittoella R1; Tantrum Blue Chip R3; Where’s Drogon R 9; +Call Out My Name R13

Meadowlands
7/8/23, +Meet The Creeper R1; Hammering Hank R3

Meadows
7/6/23, Tardis R4; Bettorbytheseaside R6; +Itty Bityy R10; Bellas Titan R11

Monticello
7/6/23, Makin Trouble K R2; Yankee On The Move R3; E R Shane R7
7/7/23, +Southern Swan R1

Northville
7/7/23, Mirabella R1; Dont Dally Sally R4

Ocean
7/6/23, Das Deo R3; Unnreal R4; Always On The Hunt R8

Philly
7/6/23, +Song Cycle Senese R8
7/7/23, +Dealt A Winner R1

Plainridge
7/6/23, Kokanee Seelster R4; +Whata Foolbelieves R6; +Crunch Hanover R10

Pocono
7/8/23, Gods Spirit N R2; Globaldomination N R4; +Awesomeness R4; A Fearsome Hanover R7; 7/9/23, +Hunting AS R14

Running Aces
7/6/23, Aerial View R5; +Southwind Molly R8; +Directing Traffic R9

Saratoga
7/8/23, Father Ofthe Year R2; Ima Happy Fella GB R6; Black Edition N R10

Scioto
7/6/23, Workinitonbroadway R6; +Glowing N The Dark R15
7/7/23, +Always A Vavoom R16

Tioga
7/7/23, +Pearl Harbour N R7

Vernon
7/7/23, +Lorrie Sue R7
7/8/23, Linemup Knockmback R7; +Lepanto R10

Yonkers
7/6/23, Hayek R4
7/8/23, Jojo’s Place R6