Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch June 16-19

Selected features and the never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W) share keys to success in exotics, win, place and show payoffs.

Thursday, June 16

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.
R6 — #1 Rockinmydream: Impressive finish third at 29-1.
R8 — #4 Roy Rogers: Tired dueling early for the lead from post 10.

Friday, June 17

EMPIRE CLASS

Vernon, R5, 7

Finals of the Empire Breeders Classics for soph trotters ($187k each) are solid preps for Hambletonian hopefuls. The seven involved in the filly version are all daughters of Chapter Seven. Still, most votes land on Marcus Melander’s #5 Joviality S. A great fresh record in ’21, two wins from two starts in ‘22, and a super sires-stakes win at this track suggest she can own this mile.

As a key, we’d use #2 Seven On The Rocks second for an exacta. The beaten favorite last out at Buffalo broke and recovered and here should promise a good price with the key.

Three sires, Chapter Seven, E L Titan and Conway Hall, represent the colt episode field. If an 8-hole launch for #8 Cool Papa Bell discourages bettors and they edge towards #6 Justice, there will be a decent price on Jim Campbell’s colt. It’s a worthy wager, then, especially since Campbell has a few strong probable entries for the August classic.

Saturday, June 18

GOODTIMES FINAL

Mohawk, R7

#4 Fast As The Wind, from productive sire Cantab Hall, shone over both elim fields and deserves to be a huge favorite in the $251k final. However, co-favored in the same elim, #7 Pretender’s trip was a strong overland effort that made 80-1 #6 Southwind Domino look good. He can turn the tables here at a better price.

FAN HANOVER FINAL

Mohawk, R8

#3 Treacherous Dragon has one move and if compromised could get herself into a duel—or two. Maybe even with the other Bret Pelling filly, #1 Wickedly Innocent. Closing tough in her elimination against “Dragon” was #6 Sea Silk. The Ron Burke trainee may find battling speed ahead of her a plus and take advantage in a stretch offering a clear path. A Burke horse at a big price in this $401,000 final is worth backing.

ROSES R RED FINAL

Mohawk, R10

#2 Test Of Faith should beat #3 Lyons Sentinel but why care? If you aren’t passing this $315,000 final, then consider the fast-closing #6 Fire Start Hanover. In the crowded stretch of Lyon Sentinel’s win, “Fire” was at her side as the field leveled. Had she started the charge a few steps earlier she could have upset.

N.A. CUP FINAL

Mohawk, R11

In his elim, #5 Pebble Beach our-paced both elim fields, with #7 Night Hawk again his best man. Their elim included the division’s top talent at this point.

In the $1 million final, we have to hope there are serious challenges to those two; both will be heavily bet. Should they fold in the stretch from duel-stress, two dangers await them—#6 Ario Hanover and #3 Ron. That duo hanged tough to make the final, closing in the second half from caboose positions.

Wagering to win, both will go off well enough to cover a loss from the other; a rare situation in which to back both.

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

Hoosier
6/17/22, +Serious Miki R13

Meadowlands
6/17/22, +Jaya Bae R11
6/18/22, Laurie Lee R9

Meadows
6/16/22, Sucretariat R6
6/17/22, Hall It Off R1; Rose Run Wilson R6

Monticello
6/16/22, +Machine Team R2; +Overbearing R4

Northfield
6/18/22, +Official Treasure R11; +Western Rosie R11; +Cinderella Delight R12

Northville
6/17/22, +Palmers Pride R7; +Secret Or Not R8
6/18/22, +Mighty Tony Mac R9; Nox R9; Pinot Blanc R14

Oak Grove
6/19/22, Valottalove R1; PD's Gabriel R2; Alwaysashiningstar R5

Philly
6/16/22, Swan In Motion R12; Fashion Winner R13; Create R14
6/17/22, +Luc Rocks R8

Plainridge
6/16/22, Pembroke Regal R7

Pocono
6/18/22, +What A Dame R3; Rogerthat Bluechip R4

Running Aces
6/16/22, Kiss On The Lips R3; +Lickcreek Speedway R7

Saratoga
6/17/22, +Dunkin' Beach R3; Broknheartsville R10
6/18/22, Better Moonon Over R5; Tuapeka Trick N R8

Vernon
6/18/22, +Purpose Blue Chip R5

Yonkers
6/16/22, +Corsini A R1; Slick Artist A R3; Mystifying R7
6/17/22, +Hopetobefirst R1
6/18/22, Nowhere Creek A R4; Publicity Seeker R6