Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch June 15-19

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, June 15

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 8—Sports Duchess and The Ideal Huntress; Back from last week’s smoke-scratched list to compete in the same race. You call it.
Race 10—Sister Twister; Tough from the outside, price promises much.

POWER PLAYS

Hoosier

TwinSpires Hit It & Split It. Play your share of the $1K late Pick 4 jackpot (through June 29).

Here are our contenders for the Pick 4. We feel they help all exotic payoffs; please consider them when building a Pick 4 ticket, as well as for single-race bets.

Race 11—Bluebird Alibi is lightly raced and in her third start this season. At two last November, she was in a $15K claimer at 7-2 and nearly won. She drops into this one and could be a valuable addition to all bets among this group.

Race 12—Firstofanera lost as the favorite in a conditioner. It was her second of the season at three, and she looks to be dangerous here among more common stock. Walkin On Sunshine is a tough gal and usually underrated by the crowd—a plus here.

Race 13—This big-bucks ($95K) sires stakes can be huge to all bets if Ponda Jet is beaten. We’ll try the upset with Talent Scout. He belongs in this company and seems disinterested in post position against all types. He will be an overlay.

Race 14—Quik And Shady is a go-getter, and his recent two are sharp miles for one going off double digits. A win supports a good Pick 4 prize, and hitting the board will increase all prices.

Friday, June 16

FEATURES

Vernon

Two Empire Breeders Classics feature soph trotters.

Race 2—For the fillies ($104K). Has us betting back on Kayleigh S. She was third last week, holding her own and improving for trot-savvy Marcus Melander, and here she may shine en route to the “Oaks.”

Race 4—For the colts ($95K). Presents only five and demands a wide swing on Country Dagger. Twice on the board in three starts, the Crazy Wow colt may be as fearless as his sire.

Saturday, June 17

GRAND CIRCUIT

Mohawk

North America Cup ($1m)
We continue to punch an outsider to upset in this event and certainly beef up the prices hitting the board, so we shy from a big Brett Pelling probable favorite. Ammo’s post draw makes many dismiss him against a competitive field with a few headliners. We like Ammo offering a good price and take the leap of faith that Joe Holloway’s colt may be so good he is able to do what good horses do best—overcome the adversities of post and tough competition; paying well.

Fan Hanover ($420K)
The Pelling-trained soph-filly pacer stakes performer named Charleston earned a berth in the big-dollar final the hard way. We need to back her at a price she may not offer again.

Goodtimes ($250K)
A Hambletonian Trail prequel? Not quite. Still, it’s a good stop along the way to the elims. Marcus Melander’s Challenger made the final at 35-1, finishing fourth, easily. He should be waiting here to get more than a piece of this, as his trainer seriously aims his glamour-boy trotters at spots in the August classic.

Armbro Flight ($250K)
It is difficult to pass on Bella Bellini, but that’s the goal if we play this event. Our contender is Warrawee Xenia. She made the final while struggling first over and was offering 2-1 doing it. She finished fourth and brings herself fully to the big ready for a better mile at a better price.

Roses Are Red ($305K)
Silver Label raced steadily behind Treacherous Dragon in their elim and has every right to be taken seriously in the final, defying speed for a trip and worth the price, even if by a whisker.

H2W LIST

Cumberland
6/16/23, Airspinder R7
6/17/23, Putnams Storm R12

Hoosier
6/16/23, Shock Wave R2; Shadowrage R7; General Dolan R10

Meadowlands
6/16/23, +Balenciaga R8
6/17/23, Blogmaster R2

Meadows
6/15/23, Bettingfra R2; Ponda Luck R4; Wesley Hanover R5

Monticello
6/15/23, How Are Yee John R5; +Beachin R6; Manone R9

Mohawk
6/15/23, The Hazelton R4; Cruising Tom R5
6/17/23, Lawless Shadow R13

Northfield
6/17/23, Ellagator R6

Northville
6/16/23, I Choose You R7; Delightful Summer R9; +Good As Hill R11

Philly
6/15/23, Andoverthewinner R10

Plainridge
6/15/23, +Cash Vaughan R6; Woody's Cash Crop R8; Star Speaker R10

Pocono
6/17/23, Outwit Outrun R12
6/18/23, Mariner Seelster R1

Running Aces
6/15/23, +Tempura Hanover R3; +Wish I Had Thyme R8

Saratoga
6/17/23, Pacing Major N R5; Blue Collar Man R7

Scioto
6/15/23, Forky R3; Medoland Terror R5; Low Rider R9
6/16/23, +Fort El Said R3
6/17/23, +Mohawk Seelster R4; Always A Vavoom R4

Tioga
6/17/23, Some Kinda Night R3

Vernon
6/17/23, +Daley Rep R3; Ideally Sweet R4

Yonkers
6/16/23, Techys Angel A R1; Millwood Bonnie N R2; +Vel Mr Nice Guy R5; Macintosh N R8; Onto El Dorado N R11