Harness Racing: Picks and Horses to Watch March 24-28

Yonkers presents leg 2 of the Matchmaker and Borgata pacing series. The Matchmaker is on Fridays; the Borgatas are on Mondays. This edition covers the Borgata’s second leg, to be reported in the following Preview. 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 is underway. Here’s how we did in leg 1 March 21:
R3 – This Is The Plan ($4.20, $2.50, $2.50); Sonny Weaver N ($3.50)
R4 – Dragon Said ($2.90, $2.20, $2.10); Elver Hanover ($2.60)
R5 – Covered Bridge ($3.20, $2.90); Nicholas Beach ($3.00)
R6 – Leonidas A ($4.00, $2.30, $2.10); Ostro Hanover (31-1), seventh
R7 – Nandolo N ($2.40, $2.10, $2.10)

Thursday, March 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 5 – Serious Mojo: Good qualifier is a flare, he is ready to go all the way.
Race 8 – Something Royal: Ships in from Flamboro off a strong finish second.

POWER PLAYS

Monticello, Races 1, 2

Here’s a good chance to start the weekend off in the black. We’ll take the first two races for a Daily Double and a Parlay to bury the numbers. Depending upon the odds, always consider win, place and show as well as the exotics.

Race 1
A pair in the field have excuses in their most recent outings. Dellas Boy made an outside move and had cover but was always placed poorly for a late chance. Meetyouatmidnight tanked after a tough half, disturbing backers making him 5-2.

Race 2
A second-place finisher last time out as the fourth choice, Dateline Hanover could take the top and the race gate to wire.

Friday, March 25

MATCHMAKERS LEG 2

Yonkers, Races 4, 5, 6, 7

Race 4
In leg 1, Mystifying was the choice of few at 39-1 but she’s a bet back for us in a field of seven starting leg 2 (all MMs are worth $40k). Scarlett Hanover had a decent prep in leg 1 and should be alive from the rail with a good spot to lead or save ground.

Race 5
It was crowded in the stretch, leaving no room for Blue Ivy to find room out of the catbird seat so here we like her better than the three obvious choices. Dragon Roll may try to steal it from the rail with a sharp start.

Race 6
Another bet back, Lit De Rose, may offer a very small price but is bound to be in the picture in every call. Speedier winning than the rest this season, Miss You N may have the rest chasing her a good deal of the way. No Win No Feed A has been aiming at this series for the Millers and could be the key to any triple ticket.

Race 7
Only six go in this division and beaten-favorite Best Head West should share exotic spaces with Karma Seelster, also a crowd choice in leg 1. Machnhope is the spoiler this time around.

Saturday, March 26

POWER PLAYS

Pocono, Race 7

Consus Victory was jammed at the Meadows from beginning to end so Randy Bendis comes east with him to the track where his stable is off to a good start. He will have to deal with Blenheim, who raced well here last week, earning the show spot at 20-1. Kinda Lucky Lindy is a beaten favorite, finishing second to a ground-saver. He steps up a bit, a good sign for this group.

Monday, March 28

BORGATA LEG 2

Yonkers, Races 2, 4, 5, 7, 8

Race 2
Entering the series this week, Mach N Cheese comes off a win and gets the rail, where a slight step-up won’t matter. Nandolo N won bigger than big and should have a lot more to give as the series ensues.

Race 4
Whichwaytothebeach left slowly and made a go of it too late against a tougher field. Semi Tough and Pat Stanley N will make impressions in the results.

Race 5
Chase H Hanover was way better than most thought and could steal this leg. Dragon Said, of course, is his main threat,

Race 7
This is a good chance to stop This Is The Plan from sweeping the series and it all has to do with None Bettor A, who haunted Dragon Said last week and can spook “Plan” with a good trip and present a good price.

Race 8
The speed is stuck leaving from the outside, so the best chances go to Covered Bridge from the rail based on his undaunted chasing last out.

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
3/25/22, Myskillspaydabills R5; +Tartan Patch R6

Dover
3/24/22, +Ziggy Sky R8; +Metallica R10

Freehold
3/25/22, +Smartys Filly R7; Sports Vision R8

Hoosier
3/25/22, +Star Of Oz R3

Meadowlands
3/25/22, Western Showgirl R8; Pappy Rocks R11
3/26/22, Hail Christian N R5

Meadows
3/24/22, +King Royal R8
3/25/22, +Jaspers Revenge R8

Mohawk
3/24/22, +Horse Trader R9

Monticello
3/24/22, Mayor Virgin R4; Statement R5

Northville
3/25/22, +Diesel Accelerator R7; Dali Special R7
3/26/22, Oh K Man R7; Shark In The Bay R8; +Bound To Score R10; The Great I Am R11

Pocono
3/26/22, +Keystone Tenacious R2; +Yankee Keeler ae R8; +My Friskie Boy R12; Gray Dragon R13
3/27/22, +Ellagator R15

Saratoga
3/26/22, +Stormy Beach ae R4; Diamond Cowboy R5; +Delightful Joe R8

Yonkers
3/24/22, +Tempus Seelster R5
3/25/22, +Secret Bro R10