Harness Racing: Picks and Horses to Watch Feb. 24-27

Mohawk’s winter series are early features for the weekend and more contenders for specially selected features are also on tap, as well as our never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W), all of which may greatly improve the prices of your exotic tickets and pump up some win, place and show payoffs.

THURSDAY, FEB. 24

MOHAWK MILES

Each week 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.

Race 4 – Soverato: Clearly an outsider off of a dull effort but salvageable as a contender from the Shayne Barrington barn.
Race 7 – Wickenburgh: Scratched last week. A beaten favorite, losing a big lead in the stretch. May not repeat that kind of mile here.

MOHAWK FEATURES

Race 2 - Ontario Girls

Leg one of the Ontario Girls pacing series for mares is worth $20k. Value may strike Just Daisy making her seasonal debut after a fine qualifier. Two from the Blizzard Series will attract the public — Awesome Hill, finishing second in that series as the favorite and Bottomoftheninth, who lost the lead and was passed in the Blizzard at 5-2.

Race 8 - Wine & Roses

This series for three- and four-year-old fillies and mares begins with a $32k purse. In the most recent leg, most of these trotters chased Bcs Rose, an obvious favorite here. Outsider Draven Hanover got a great start and followed the leader loyally at 51-1. Though leaving from the outside we must respect that trip and give her a distinct chance to upset.

FRIDAY, FEB. 25

FEATURES

Hawthorne - Race 5

From the outside, Keene William can leave and either gun for the top or find a ground-saving spot close. He has a slight class advantage here and there is no reason for him not to give his best at a good price from post 8.
Canthelpbutwin was dueled out of first place last week as the favorite, an excuse good enough to make him a contender here.

SATURDAY, FEB. 26

FEATURES

Meadowlands - Race 2

Last week, Pretty Ricki left the gate at 7-2 and took to the outside sans cover. He had no room once the flow closed in but managed to make up some late ground while still finishing fifth. Trainer Scott Betts brought him to the Big M during a strong campaign from his barn at the Meadows and in the Midwest and must be taken seriously.

Saratoga - Race 2

Here are three contenders that should be considered for any or all wagers available:
Hestherightstuff shifts from a win as a favorite at The Meadowlands in mid-February to take on similar conditions on the half-mile.
Umberto ignored staying inside and grinded his way to third by the finish line at 3-1.
Steel Reefer was aggressive at 8-1, firing for the lead in a duel and staying tough to finish second.

HARNESS HORSES TO WATCH

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
2/25/22, Dancingonthesand R2; Avaya Hanover R3; Alilthundadownunda R6
2/27/22, +Brooklyn Wind Up R2; Fox Valley Hoss R5

Dover
2/24/22, +Shakespeare R4

Freehold
2/25/22, Stan The Man R5; +Ok Lets Rocknroll R7; Native Ideal R10; Class Hero R11

Hawthorne
2/25/22, The Bucket R1; Star Of Oz R3; Keystone Charles R6; Beat Of NY R8

Meadowlands
2/25/22, Pivotal R4; Lady Resort As R5; +Vintage Gal R7
2/26/22, Barbados R7; +Shvaiko R9; Dean B Hanover R10

Meadows
2/24/22, +Octave R2; Kyuquot R11
2/25/22, Bar Harbor R1; Wildfire Flasher R5; Bereaved Hanover R9

Miami
2/24/22, +Peter's Royalty R5; Howyadoinbub R5; +Ponderingjacksfame R13

Mohawk
2/24/22, +Moonlitebeach R5

Monticello
2/24/22, App Hanover R2; Rocks Fantasy R5; Prince Of Art R6

Northfield
2/26/22, +Marced Debutante R1; Ms Gray Sea R5; Sandy Win R12

Pocono
2/26/22, +Ain't It Fun R1; ae Adelante S R2; +Winning Is Sweet R5; Keystone Tenacious R7

Saratoga
2/26/22, Fireball R5; Warrawee Nonsuch R8; +Simple Kinda Man R10

Yonkers
2/24/22, Ys Tallia R2; P L Oscar R3
2/25/22, R Maddy Blue Chip R5