Harness Racing: Picks and Horses to Watch April 7-10

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

The Borgata series results. Here’s how we did with leg 3, April 4’s divisions.
R1 – Semi Tough ($22.60, $10.40, $8.10)
R3 – Covered Bridge ($2.70, $2.30); None Better A (12-1), fourth.
R6 – Pat Stanley N ($4.20, $2.50); Exacta $18.40
R8 – Poseidon Seelster ($29.60, $11.80, $8.50); Tatoo Artist ($2.90, $2.20); Exacta $138.50
R9 – Jacks Legend N ($2.10)

Thursday, March 31

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.

R5: Maple Leaf Bound: Made up great ground to finish fifth.
R9: Baywatching: Steps up from smart victory, can handle these.

FEATURES

Hoosier, Race 10

Britney Dillon sends Hugs And Kisses in a second season, facing untested foes. This is the only Rockin Image-sired horse in the field, a mild factor that could change to big factor for sophs from that sire. She could be good enough to beat Always Sugary, that one no guarantee to win her third straight.

Friday, April 8

MATCHMAKERS LEG 4

Yonkers, Races 5, 7, 9

Race 5
Lit De Rose finds himself in a weak field of six for division one of three $40k splits. Last week he was 5-2 against Miss You N after taking an early lead, losing it and picking up some ground while crowded. Exotics may not offer much but Lit De Rose in either spot with Easy To Please may be a worthy exacta.

Race 7
From the wood, Best Head West gets his best spot to win in the series so far. At 29-1 last time he held back until the stretch and picked up the show spot against Racine Bell, who put two pair of lengths between herself and the place horse. Mystical Carrie may be afforded a perfect trip to hit the board.

Race 9
In her first start of the season, Gia's Surreal had presence and we caught her hitting the board to play a strong role in a better exotic price. She won’t go off a favorite due to last week’s fine trips by Karma Seelster, Miss You N, and Blue Ivy, which makes her an overlay for sure. We’ll leave exotics alone here and reach for the strong win/place/show prices available from Gia's Surreal.

Saturday, April 9

POWER PLAYS

Pocono, Races 1, 2, 3, 4

Race 1
A Pick-4 ticket and your choice of single-race exotics rule the afternoon.
Major Betts was sharp opening day at Philly and is in a spot to go wire to wire. Friskie All Nite could sit right behind him all the way.

Race 2
Also from post 1 with a good shot to win on top is Papi Hanover. Toss out last week’s 11-1 clunker in a higher conditioner. Mushana’s early season record puts the trotter in contention.

Race 3
Fresh sophs start a local series. Of the three undefeated so far, the rail starter, All Or Nothing, just won a qualifier and debuts at three here. He can go faster and should meet the test, becoming our strong single in the Pick 4. Meanwhile, for exotics limited to this event, we endorse War Of Will as a surprise.

Race 4
Another leg of the local series for trotters, this field of eight is a dangerous end to the Pick quartet. Filled with colts from top sires, we will go with the strength of a top sire, Walner and the training of Julie Miller and use the 8 horse, beaten-favorite Paymaq. The only Cantab Hall rep is Backstreet Player, who qualified with a sharp mile and should be a criss-cross in exactas with Paymaq as well as a Pick-4 member.

Monday, April 11

BORGATA LEG 4

Yonkers, Races 2, 5, 7, 9

Race 2
Splash Brother returns to the series in this short field. He finished second two weeks ago at 8-1 and was scratched in the following leg. He comes back fresh and bound to be huge odds even with only five others going. Certainly, Nandolo N will soak the win pool and may be invincible with this crew but Splash Brother should hit the board.

Race 5
Another sextet in division two tests American History, which has lost sparkle since the series started. This leaves Town Gossip, who lost as a second choice and then battled to get second to one of our longshots last week. He’s worth the wager considering the immeasurable shapes of the probable favorite.

Race 7
The third division of six includes the two longshots we delivered last week but this week we go with one of our choices from last week that finished second—Pat Stanley N. His mile was a tough grind on the outside but he caught up well and was supported to do so at 4-1.

Race 9
Seven close leg 4, where Leonidas A winds up the favorite. However, our bet-back horse is Jack’s Legend N off of his gallant attempt last week. Trainer Josh Green needs to have good results to keep him in play for the final. Also back from a good try last week is None Bettor A from the rail. They would make a good paying exacta if “Leo” tires late.

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

Cal Expo
4/8/22, Hoo Nien A R6; Northbrook Ron R6

Freehold
4/8/22, Gorgeous Ranay R2; +Marilyn's Jo R5

Hoosier
4/7/22, +Drivin Me Crazy R3; Jax Reddy R7
4/8/22, ER Rocky R5; Manny R6

Meadowlands
4/9/22, Memo R2; I'll Drink To That R3

Meadows
4/7/22, +Shayna Rosa R5; +Beachesbeckonme R8
4/8/22, +Sportsbook Hanover R5

Miami
4/7/22, Flatten The Curve R1

Monticello
4/7/22, Tuukka R4; +I Am Golden R5; Itiswhatitis R6; Pine Bush Rocket R9

Northfield
4/9/22, Sidechicknamednick R1; Cold Hearted Gypsy R3

Northville
4/8/22, Itsiris'sbirthday R2; +Big Beach R6; Omyheart R7; Bearly Behavin R9

Philly
4/7/22, Valottalove R3; Camden Hills R6; Gatsby R9; Bank Breaks R13

Pocono
4/10/22, +Crazy Cute R9

Saratoga
4/9/22, +Vintage Sauvignon R12; +Furious Beach R13

Yonkers
4/7/22, Rocknroll Annie R3; Edge Of Eternity R3; +What's Your Beef R9