Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch March 30-April 3

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.

MOHAWK MILES returns on April 6 as there is no racing at Mohawk Park this Thursday.

Thursday, March 30

FEATURES

Flamboro Downs, Race 4

#8 Flash Tothe Finish (4-1) returns with the same tag after finishing second as the crowd’s choice and he may be a big overlay on the percentage scale for hot trainer Raphael Bourassa. Or the price may stamp him an outsider, with the crowd’s enthusiasm for #2 Custards Dungeon (8-5), who steps up from a place finish at Mohawk where he was 9-1.

Friday, March 31

MATCHMAKER SERIES LEG 3, $40k

Yonkers

Race 3
#1 Majorca N (5-2) never left the fifth position through last week’s mile but as she made up late ground as a 9-1 third choice. The rail may be just the place to launch a lead that does not give up. And, beware #7 Delitfulcatherin N (20-1). She broke from interference on her way to hitting the board, if not winning, at 39-1.

Race 6
This could very well be a pass unless you feel top mares #5 Racine Bell (5-2) and #6 Drama Act (4-1) will cancel one another out. If you do, longshot #3 Alta Madeira N (12-1) is in a good spot to save ground and nip them on sheer momentum.

Race 8
#1 Karma Seelster (5-2) was caught late last week while leading the field in the stretch. There was some noise up front (see Race 3 above) around her in the stretch which upset the flow of the field and without such hijinx she could wire this group easily.

Saturday, April 1

FEATURES

Pocono Downs, Race 3

Simple claimers are many times disguised as tight affairs but to look at them otherwise can produce winners few give a shot. Such is the case of #3 Puzzling (15-1). With only two starts and puny rewards this season, why would we dismiss him? Evenly racing at 36-1 he beat the race favorite and the public’s second choice finished second. The third time could be the charm for Joseph Skowya’s pacer.

Monday, April 3

BORGATA PACING SERIES LEG 3, $50k

Yonkers

Race 3
#3 This Is The Plan will be pacing himself and the rest of the field from beginning to end while #1 Oakwoodnitownit IR picks up a colonial check in the New World.

Race 5
#2 Belmont Royale N is in the perfect spot for a perfect trip and should show all of his stuff late to upset the obvious top choice.

Race 7
#3 None Bettor A just missed against the speed-demon winner. But watch out for the two major closers — #2 Priceless Beach and #6 Funatthebeach N — if a duel ensues without them.

Race 9
Speaking of duels, with speed on the outside (#7 Jimmy Freight) challenging speed on the inside (#3 Idealsomemagic A), we’ll bank against the grain with #6 Covered Bridge getting the best of the breathing late in the stretch.

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

Buffalo
3/31/23, Broadway Bruiser R2; No Schmo Joe R4

Freehold
3/31/23, Podium Seelster R4; +A Real Miracle R4; Topville Rhonda R6; Brownie R8

Hoosier Park
3/31/23, Levi R2; +War Dan A R6; +Star Commander N R7; Sectionline Bigry R10; Cinnamon Beach R14

Meadowlands
3/31/23, Pan Street USA R1; +Kaitlyn N R8

The Meadows
3/30/23, Lady Newton R1; +Father Son R2; +Green Magic R4; Ranaldi R5; Im Chiara R6; +One Eyed Wanda R12
3/31/23, Darth Fader R1; Chuck The Cheese R2

Monticello Raceway
3/30/23, Machtu N R1; Caribbean Tides R4; Gypsy Leather R5

Northfield Park
4/1/23, +Natasha R10; The Letter R11

Pocono Downs
4/1/23, +Davids Coming Home R4; Caviart Max R7

Rosecroft Raceway
3/30/23, Seize Control R2; In Record Time R5; Derby Dog Hanover R10

Saratoga
4/1/23, +Always A Miki R6
4/3/23, Andover Jess R1; Surf Cast Zette R10

Yonkers
3/30/23, +Trizzle Trazzle R5; +Major Battle R5
3/31/23, Belladonna Girl A R1