Harness Racing: Stars abound July 1 through July 3

Summer brings out the freshmen while most other divisions are already delving into stakes events. On this U.S. holiday weekend, the best of harness betting opportunities are addressed here at TwinSpires Harness Edge.

Always eclectic and to the point is our never-ending TwinSpires H2W (horses-to-watch list). With ceaseless arrogance, it continues to suggest how to enhance your exotic combinations and fair-priced win, place and show finishes.

L’IL FILLIES

Thursday / July 1

Meadows

The affluent Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) welcomes freshman filly pacers to the 2021 program with purses worth $81k and $156k.

Race 8
Seven fillies race for shares in the $81k PASS. All but two debut and the pair having raced is by Betting Line. The single Captaintreacherous filly trained by Nancy Takter should take all the win money, but we see a price with Linda Toscano’s Somesweetsomewhere (by Sweet Lou). Fans will hit the branded trainers hardest and Linda’s value will again go under the radar.

Race 10
Eight sidesteppers are in play in the second PASS episode. Again, only two have already races. The horse to consider is one of the last from the crops of the ill-fated Somebeachsomewhere, Ron Burke's Hoffman Hanover. There won’t be many others from the super-sire and though his blood flows generously in the progeny of Captaintreacherous (who sired three in this field), and Burke’s name will attract bucks, but there is no other evidence that his gal can fly better than the rest.
Of the rest, Showmeursweetside (by Sweet Lou) could be a profitable exotic addition.

COLT CALVARY

Friday / July 2

Yonkers

One stakes step away from the classic Hambletonian, the $500,000 Yonkers Trot is the only trotting Triple-Crown jewel on a half-mile track. The best horse, the pounded favorite, can still win, but the glamour-boy trotters earning berths from both elims can become embroiled within the four turns. Two top contenders—In Range and Ahundreddollarbill—leave from the outside, making matters more serious if duels ensue.

Last week one of our top-five Hambletonian prospects, Mon Amour (8-1), finished second to Ahundreddollarbill in that one’s winning elim. On A Streak, who paid double digits twice for us at two, made the final over the season’s hot trotter Incommunicado.

This week, Mon Amour drew post 4. It is the perfect spot to coast within any battles by the entry, Ambassador Hanover and Johan Pelema, as well as Ahundreddollarbill. On A Streak is also in a great spot leaving from post 2, but he may engage early. Mon Amour (Ake Svanstedt) may improve and be granted an easy trip, which is worthy of a win bet on the outsider. In fact, an upset exacta (both ways) with Mon Amour and On A Streak is the most courageous move here.

MESSENGER DELIVERS

Friday / July 2

Yonkers

Clearly, American Courage will be hounded by bettors and become the favorite. And from post 6, he may not have a sweeping wire-to-wire victory. From post 8, Abuckabett Hanover needs a swift start and a place to coast along the way or he could fight for the lead with the favorite and ruin the chances for both. And I’ll Drink To That could assist in a triple ruin.

Another of our outsiders, Mysweetboymax (81-1), made the final, and we will not dismiss the Sweet Lou colt. He may not go off as high as last week but he will offer a generous win price against the aforementioned trio. A couple of others—Charlie May and Highlandbeachsbest—are up for being involved and participate in our scenario with Mysweetboymax.

PARK PLACE

Friday / July 2

Yonkers

The $150k final of the Park MGM Pace is the sister event to the Messenger. Eight soph-pacing fillies earned their spots in the co-feature. Two undefeated-in-2021 gals meet to determine division dominance. Heart Of Mine and Test Of Faith, both finely bred (Roll With Joe and Art Major, respectively) have only one another to worry about after smothering their elim competition. As for an upset, again, it is up to the main duo to compromise one another or for the bettor to test his or her faith on a scenario that is based on a “feeling.”

Ultimately, we feel Brett Pelling’s Test Of Faith is the better of the two, but we can hardly prove that with a single race. If we were to construct a pricey result, we would put Test Of Faith on top and Classicist second, the latter getting there by a trip that favored her only that much, with Heart Of Mine a near dead-heat for third.

CRAWFORD FARMS

Saturday / July 3

Meadowlands

The $135k Crawford Farms open trot features the dominating Manchego. Can she take her fourth straight in 2021? Sure, but this a pass- or pick-an-upset race and it’s not a very good pick-an-upset race. We mildly endorse Lindy The Great to win in any upset scenario.

ARTISCAPERS

Saturday / July 3

Meadowlands

The pacing-mare division racing for $160k is not as common as other elders, but these are a good bunch of femmes that are equals in many ways. From Yonkers comes Nik Drennan’s Gia’s Surreal, who needs to face some new faces and is aptly entered to take on the task. Being in the 8 hole to start is no comparison to that path at Yonkers; in fact we like her from here, where these two turns can slingshot her home if she has not preferred to get an easy lead. The price should be right against this group.

ROLL AND ROAR

Saturday / July 3

Meadowlands

Open pacers chasing the best portions of $113k go in the Roll With Joe namesake mile. This Is The Plan will take a lot of money as he is still riding on the popularity from his Ohio stakes win. Captain Barbossa picked up fans in the Graduate and dropped them a week later in the Graduate, but will still be well backed here.

An intriguing outsider here is Mach N Cheese. A good earner in the Borgata Series in the spring, his race last week at 45-1 deserves a pat on the mane. He held sway on the outside and still lost by only 3 3/4 lengths as others squeezed him late. He’s liking the two turns after battling on the four at Yonkers against many as good as are here.

JOI DE LA NUIT

Saturday / July 3

Meadowlands

The Joie De Vie for mare trotters presents a familiar field but one in particular familiar trotting mare—Ramona Hill. Though Atlanta is racing at a Manchego level, Ramona Hill has just started her mare season and perhaps the kind of price on her that we became spoiled getting at two and three (until the Hambletonian) will be available. Nothing sentimental, mind you, just backing a trotter that few respected while she was at her best and cashing well for our support.

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. Some repeating horses may not appear due to our deadline to post.

H2W LIST

Buffalo
7/2/21, Barn Winner R1
7/3/21, Carlos Danger R4; Noahs Mill R7

Hawthorne
7/2/21, +Meadowbrook Tiger R1
7/3/21, Spoxys Girl R4; Golden Paradise R4

Meadowlands
7/2/21, +Boaster Coaster R10; +Missy Trix R11

Meadows
7/1/21, Sir Cromell R2; Aintthesamewithotu R3; Royal Esteem R12
7/2/21, Gooville R1; +Jigtime Jones R7

Monticello
7/1/21, Rhodatoldme R6

Northfield
7/2/21, +Smiley Dragon R3; YS Joe R7; Star Of The West R15
7/3/21, +Bet Er All R15

Philly
7/1/21, Docs Swan Song R5; Rentier R7

Plainridge
7/2/21, Dream Chapter R2; Marquis Lafayette R4; +Carson Hill R7; +Joey Bats R8

Pocono
7/4/21, +Andovers Touch R5

Running Aces
7/1/21, Paloma Ruiz R4; Rojo Caliente R7

Vernon
7/2/21, Sound Track R4; +Southwind Falcon R7

Woodbine/Mohawk
7/1/21, Trade Secret R2; Eataamsbettershark R5; Many Moons R9

Yonkers
7/2/21, Grey R4; Iteration R6