Harness Racing: Hoosier Park plays for Sept. 29

(Each week, Cotolo employs money-management tactics to build wagers that focus on plump profits.)

For the program on Sept. 29 at Hoosier Park, we suggest some horses for selected plays that may fit in any type of wager.

Race 2

A starting gate break ruined the Sept. 8 mile for #3 Buck Nome, but his race prior to that was no embarrassment at 5-2, finishing with four others within a length. Coming back to that form will win him this race over the obvious Morning Line (ML) choices.

In a similar spot is #2 Kaboomski, one we backed before his recent 5-2 failure. He has been competitive and cashed well even though he fits in this race with a single win.

Race 5

The least experienced here may make the most of this mile. Toss out the Sept. 19 race from #6 Bravuda due to galloping at the start, and void of trot from there, and give the Explosive Matter filly credit for her race seven days before where she finished third after breaking the week before at 3-1. On her best trotting day so far (this is only her fifth race), she ruins this group.

Race 8

Here is a bet back trotter with a longshot probability per a common handicapping practice that dismisses a horse for two bad finishes in a row. The truth about #8 Vel Dee Yankee is that her recent pair of races at Hoosier are up for debate. Her recent loss finishing eighth includes a gain of two lengths late on a sloppy track. The race before, breaking after a decent start, is a toss out. Meanwhile, she has been in the money 9-of-12 times at fairs, which parimutuel handicappers do not respect. We’ll take her again, even to beat #10 Georgias Passion, the expected favorite with not much to earn her a 9-5 ML.

Race 12

On the outside, two trotters we backed in their recent races return. The first, #8 Meadowbrook Nola, broke late and was disqualified and placed eighth galloping home third. She deserves her 7-2 ML and if her gait behaves to standards, she can pick up win five from nine starts.

The other is #9 Super Queen, who was no good in the slop last week and before that was in over her head, but returns to earn some keep for trainer/driver Lewayne Miller, whose stable makes a darn good living locally.

Race 14

Hoosier High-5 (non jackpot) races rarely offer sharp conditions but can collect some fields that are better for deep handicapping, which can result in pricey members of the field hitting the ticket. So let’s go deep and forget the conditions. Here are the five we want in a ticket, though they are listed in post position order.

#1 High Intensity – Big effort last out was predicted; another one is expected here.

#3 Massive Girl – Early lick could put her in the spot to tag along and finish in the five.

#6 Nada Volo – New trainer scratched her after a win, steps up here with endorsement.

#7 Love Of Prayers – A 50 percent rate hitting the board is a must on a vertical ticket.

#9 Don’t Bea Jailbird – Three toss outs and he is in the thick of it to enforce a ticket.