Harness Racing: Picks for Dec. 23 through Dec. 27

There are only two more TwinSpires Harness Previews remaining until year’s end.

This week the offerings are shortened due to tracks going dark for Christmas Eve (Friday) and Christmas Day (Saturday). Still, we siphoned wagering opportunities from the slim weekend schedule for pre-holiday plays.

And—the never-ending TwinSpires H2W (horses-to-watch list) ensues with across-the-board cashing opportunities.

Next week the TwinSpires Harness Preview will offer a special post—The TwinSpires Harness Review for 2021.

Thursday, Dec. 23

MOHAWK MILES

Each week we highlight some probable longshots from Mohawk Park in this features section. If they do not win at first crack we add them to the H2W the following week as a bet-back while adding new possibilities to this Mohawk Miles section.

In Race 5 – Woodmere Rio — took overland route, dead-heated for fourth at Western Fair, goes for new trainer.
In Race 8 – L Dees Patrick — galloped early, could not regroup, tries again.

POWER PLAYS

Thursday, Dec. 23

Philly - Races 7, 8 9

A Pick 3 (P3) is a target this afternoon. Here are our contenders we hope you consider when building your ticket and for any single-race exotics.

Race 7

Vinny De Vie jumps off the H2W list to take his second swing at success in this race. He was the beaten favorite on Dec. 16, immediately out of the race with a break at the gate. Tom Fanning’s trotter could romp if he stays flat here.
Speaking of breaking, the volatile Redwhite N Goo comes from beaten-favorite status at the Meadowlands, finishing second for Scott Betts. Fast on gait he is tough to beat. For single-race exotics, too, consider Shadrack Hanover, four for seven hitting the board.

Race 8

Leg two of the P3 offers many cases for each in the field and could be the leg that heightens the P3 value. A good addition to a better price depends upon a sharp effort from Nextroundsonme. Jenny Melander’s trotter comes from Freehold where he was the public’s second choice and had a long trip from post 7, having to make a three-wide move that cost dearly on the half mile; he finished sixth.

Ron Burke’s Patriarch Hanover has raced with better and should race a bunch here at a fair price.

Race 9

Deborah Daguet has sent out some sound entries lately. Her entry here, Kenogami Coco, was nipped at the wire by one of the rest chasing him at Philly. We also expect Hat Trick Marleau to be in the mix. Coming from a third at Yonkers and dropping gives him two reasons to shine here.

FEATURES

Thursday, Dec. 23

Pompano - Races 2, 3, 4

Here are our suggested contenders for single-race win/place/show and/or exotics in three-straight races.

Race 2

Major Hooligan took near-a-month’s hiatus for Andy Shetler after a moderate gain from behind at this level. The trotter has been beaten at the wire 10 times this season, earning well by being totally competitive. A good price is forecast for what could be the race that hurls him out of this class.

Race 3

Carbon Cider handled the 8 hole well enough last time, gaining 11 lengths including an 8-length brush, beating, at least, the race favorite who finished eighth of nine. He comes from the productive barn of Jamie Macomber and will be the biggest problem for Morning Line choice Ourlittlemiracle.

Race 4

The resume of trainer/driver Joe Sanzeri is usually overlooked at his home track and though he handles the highest earner, Trents A Lock, in this field the crowd will bow to driver Wally Hennessey. Good, because Joe’s moneymaker rebounds from a break two weeks ago and we’re throwing that race out and banking on the class in this for price and purpose.

FEATURES

Sunday, Dec. 26

Northfield Park - Races 11, 14

Here are our selections for two races on the Northfield Park card.

Race 11

Joe Putnam moved some stock over to Northfield Park when the Hoosier Park meet ended. He was a top property there and sent out some great stock. The new home for HP Xanadu’s campaign shows much promise. At 16-1 last week he was left far back from post 6 and ground his way through 9 lengths to finish third. That kind of grinding will help him from two more posts out here and may offer his backers more than last week while racing to a win or combining to raise the prices of exotics.

Race 14

Last week, Diva Dali (6-1), from Zach Tackett’s productive barn, took to the outside chasing the favorite and salvaged the tough trip by finishing third to a pair of easy-trippers, with the public choice winning. He draws the toughest post on the Flying Turns but it will only make his value higher, as he can find live cover and use his speed at the best time, especially if there’s a duel or a shuffle while he saves ground.

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). 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 fail to win. An “ae” signals also-eligible. Types of wagers to make are based on your judgment.

H2W LIST

Cal Expo
12/26/21, Gene Eugene R8; Western Devil R9

Charlottetown
12/26/21, +Santa Monica R1; +Evening Maelstrom R4; +Fluentocity R6; +Ill Tell Me Ma R6; +Rock The Baby R6

Dayton
12/23/21, Odds On Algorithm R2; ER Nelson R6; I Choose You R7; Western Sierra R11

Dover
12/27/21, Gaazilla R1; Vincenti R8; Wise Image R13

Meadows
12/23/21, Bring The Thunder R3; Captainfabulous R5; Valdius Deo R7

Mohawk
12/23/21, +Magics Wizard R2; +Twin B Beachdreams R7; +Just My Shadow R12

Philly
12/23/21, +Protostar R3; +MB Matters R12
12/24/21, +Love Yourself R2