Harness Preview: Picks and Horses to Watch Nov. 16-20

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, Nov. 16

Mohawk Miles present probable outsiders for any wager offered.

R2—Shakeitifyougotit; Improving and up for this group.
R5—Avas Angel Baby; Respectable hitting the board at 5-2.
R7—Ally Flight; Good chance to win another in a row.
R9—Ultimate Long Shot; Valued claiming price a good sign.

Thursday, Nov. 16

Power Plays

Hoosier

Race 2—The 50-cent Trifecta presents a chance to score by making a small ticket backed by playing a combo a number of times (your choices). 

Here are our three contenders:

The filly ER Brandy takes on colts again, which could add to her value. She tested the waters last week and showed little—which could add value, too. 
Ellianna R fits well, and if she stays flat, could be a strong challenge.
Global Princess found better support last out and picked up the show spot and is a terrific contender to hit the board.

Friday, Nov. 17

Star Wars

Hoosier

Races  8, 11, 12— Three of the Star Destroyer events ($60k) on the program attract our attention.

3fT—Picaboo Lady finds a spot with her class of foes and should overwhelm them after racing with better.
3cT—Even from the outside, French Wine meets far less talent than he battled in the glamour-boy division and should romp here. Also, Niko Man has been looked over against better and may show his best against these.
3cP—Coach Stefanos is on a roll and rolls on here. Dynamite Dylan is the surprise competitor and a must-add in exotics.

Saturday, Nov. 18

Fall Finals Preps

Meadowlands

Races  3, 4. 5, 6, 7, 8—Eliminations for top frosh pacers and fillies set up next week’s famous national season-ending stakes bill. Each elim or prep is worth $20k.

Goldsmith Maid (2fT)

Div. 1—Walcango will go off higher than she should and can beat the other Walner-bred fillies at a price.
Div. 2—Date Night Hanover is a better investment in the elim than she’d be if the win gets her into the final. 

Governor’s Cup (2cP)

Div. 1—Its Saturday Night has raced less than all of these and done well enough to back here for a fruitful price.
Div. 2—Nuclear raced well against his division and may do better than these if all out in the elim and pay well.

Three Diamonds (2fp)

The single prep is a great theater for My Girl EJ, who was on her toes all season and on the peak now.

Valley Victory (2cT)

Is next year’s Hambletonian candidate about to pump up prognosticators? If Mosquito goes for the sting, yes. The Muscle Hill colt is on a road his sire once paved.

H2W LIST

Horses to watch (H2W) are strong contenders evaluated from overnight-race charts (including qualifiers), replays, and trainers’ current win percentages. Each horse appears in two consecutive lists if it does not win on its first listing.

H2W horses are suggested for win, place, show (across the board) wagering, and to be included in exotic combinations.

Exactas listed in H2W results reflect an H2W horse finishing second to a race favorite or if the first two finishers were on the list when an asterisk appears for cold exactas. The note “ok” determines prices are correct when a show price exceeds the place price or all three prices are identical.  

Some results reflect horses racing after preview blog posts and appear the following week. As well, some horses will not appear a second time when their first time is followed by a race at a non-pari-mutuel fair. They will get a second time on the list when returning to a betting race.

Cal Expo
11/17/23, Alilthundadownunda R3; Bold New Beginning R4; Chase The Gold R7; Reagan Blue Chip R9; Eyes Don’t Lie R10

Dayton
11/16/23, +Key Advisor R6; +Momentsthatmatter R7; +Luv Lorelei R9

Dover
11/16/23, Mankat R9; Bettor By Seaside R14; YS Mathis R15

Freehold
11/17/23, +Getaway R9; Dream Chasin R9; Byrds The Word R10

Hoosier
11/17/23, +Francis Underwood R9; +Truffle Dog R9; +Tellmeaboutit R13

Meadows
11/17/23, +Walkin Papers R4

Monticello
11/16/23, +Little Guy R1; Safensound Hanover R5; +Dunes Beach R6

Northfield
11/19/23, +Royalty’s Dreamer R4

Northville
11/18/23, +Vintage Chrome R10

Philly
11/16/23, +Brother James R1; Atthebeach Hanover R2; Songs In The Wind R2; Silent Splendor R3

Plainridge
11/16/23, Mr Dunnigans R4; +Duplicated N R5; Quick Shot R9
11/17/23, Keystone Maxim R5; Andy Mac Hanover R6; +Hilaria R7; 

Rosecroft 
11/16/23, +A Major Attitude R4; +Always B Magic R8; +Capital Builder R9

Saratoga
11/18/23, +Herrickroosevelt N R4
 
Vernon
11/18/23, +Pardonnez-moi R4; Jersey Justice R10
 
Yonkers
11/17/23, Bully Boy Hill R3; Abruzzo R7