Harness Racing: Picks for Jan. 13 through Jan. 17

A gripping cold wave in the East did not stop the stalwart standardbreds, though a few tracks went dark from the temperatures, coming right back with full fields. Our selected features and overnight events are filled with opportunities to help exotics explode, and our never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W) enhances exotic wagering prices as well as produces fair wins, places, and shows.

MOHAWK MILES

Each week we highlight some probable long shots 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.

Thursday, Jan. 13

Race 3 – Swans Honey — won at Flamboro but may be dismissed by the crowd.
Race 6 – Dewy Deo — interfered trip, merits another chance at a price.

POWER PLAYS

Thursday, Jan. 13

Freehold - Races 3, 4, 5, 6

We take on another round of single- and multi-race exotics/win, place and show, with the legs of a Pick 4.

Race 3

Arguments on the class of this conditioned pace are valid but not essential factors - certainly not according to the Morning Line (ML). A case in point is a 9-1 ML for Never Not Dancing. Two races ago working at Yonkers and trained here by Tim Lancaster, the mare won in November for three times this purse and against better.

In essence, her recent races are better than the ML favorite’s recent trio and that mare, Stick That Lip Out, is 2-1. And certainly, the longest shot of the three, Make A Scene, has a vague shot with some back class and gate speed.

Race 4

Nine Ways has found many ways to win at Freehold, the most recent in last November. In the slop to start the new year, Nine Ways got some early speed going and though finishing sixth was only three lengths off the win. ML choice Northern Rock looks plenty weak even with the slight drop down, so a better price with Nine Ways in the first-or-second slot is Justa Camilion from the 2 hole.

Race 5

Stakeout was on the H2W list last week and is a bet-back here as well as a P4 contender. Hovering in this class and a bit better he should improve off of last week’s 9-1 loss.

Also from the H2W list comes Jacob Cutting’s Pedigree Blue Chip. We are still hot on the driver/trainer’s stock in the east and on the ML here he is one of the top three choices at 3-1. As well, Woodmere Ultimate makes three from the H2W list and would truly raise the price of any exotics if around late. He could leave fast and get a beneficial spot to be seriously in the mix.

Race 6

This race wraps up our P4 and is the first leg of another (check the H2W for contenders in this P4).
Certainly the crowd could make Some Lucky Magic the top choice and finish this P4 with a favorite. He is also from the H2W list and an obvious choice.

Cutting’s Paloma Ruiz goes in her third race from Rosecroft and last week she went the overland route with cover and made up ground to finish on-the-grid fourth.

FEATURES

Friday, Jan. 14

Hawthorne - Races 1, 6

Let’s hone in on early-meet action at Hawthorne, where catching on to contenders could be more valuable than when the meet is on the wane.

Race 1

Qualifying for a campaign this meet, Ryans Ambassador made the needed time. That was obviously all he was out to do for productive trainer John Filomeno, so we won’t judge his mile for any other purpose. He drew a good to post here and is the contender to consider the most in this small field. Filomeno’s stable should pump a few well-priced winners before the crowd catches on and this could be one of them.

Terry Leonard’s stock is already cooking so beware of a debut from Beat The Devil to participate at the wire.

Race 6

Et Tu Brute qualified well, finishing second on Jan. 3 in the same mile as Ryans Ambassador. He finished second as the favorite at Hawthorne four days later in a claimer. He was wide early and lost by a head to a perfect-trip foe. He seeks revenge facing the same winner and should get it.

Patton Plus has had a race over the track in a local series leg and strained to keep up with better stock. He drops into this to collect one of the purse checks.

POWER PLAYS

Meadowlands

We have many bet-backs from the Meadowlands. Instead of putting each for a second time in the H2W, we are going to use them specifically for exotic plays in the Friday and Saturday races below. Consider all of them for your exotic tickets (check programs for bet types) along with/or for win, place and show bets.

Friday, Jan. 14

Race 5 – Alkippe — Scratched from season debut last week for this spot.
Race 6 – Rable — Off of needed race with early lick, drops in class.

Saturday, Jan. 15

Race 4 – JK Will Power — Second race after drop, look for style reverse for new trainer.
Race 5 – Waves Of Fire A — Second start at M-lands, hanged two back on half-mile.
Race 6 – Walknafter Midnite — Better conditions, drops, tough trip last.
Race 6 – Mayhem Hanover — Drops in condition, two back at Philly strong.
Race 7 – Darlene Hanover — Finishing twice in superfectas, one big move wins it.
Race 9 – Typhoon Stride N — Yonkers strong, M-lands evenly, drop here works.
Race 9 – The Bird Dance N — Caught late at 5-2, fits to do well with this group.
Race 9 – Put To Right — Beaten favorite, strong contestant here.

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
1/16/22, +Mandeville R4; +Pridecrest R4; +Dislocator R9

Dover
1/13/22, +McNeil Z Tam R14

Freehold
1/13/22, +Rhythmofthenight R7; +Princess Holly N R8; Whata Twist R9;
1/14/22, +Lime Twist R9

Hawthorne
1/14/22, +Fox Valley Gemini R2; Western Waltz R3; +Primo Giovanni R5; Fuel The Joe R8

Meadows
1/13/22, Hide Your Banker R3; +Cirrus De Vie R4; Roundtown Rocker R5
1/14/22, Bring The Thunder R1; Pembroke Wildcat R8

Miami
1/13/22, +All About Lynx R9; +Rockin Airway R9

Mohawk
1/13/22, Ravishin Ruby R10

Monticello
1/13/22, Twin B Impressive R3; Tinos Pulse R5

Northfield
1/14/22, Looking Santastic R4; Merciless R8; +Payara R9; +More Than Many R11; Shes Cruising Home R13

Yonkers
1/13/22, Dbldelitebrigade N R4; Tokyo Seelster R7
1/14/22, +Hill Of A Horse R6; +Redwhite N Goo R6
1/17/22, +Venier Hanover R5 ae; +San Domino A R9