Harness Weekly Update: 15% winners, 40% across-the-board hits

The TwinSpires Harness Blog Weekly Update covers our successes and failures from selected features and the H2W (horses-to-watch list). H2W horses through the following Monday appear in the next Update’s results.

Thursday, July 6

Of our trio of Mohawk Miles contenders, we were second with Cruising Tom ($3.00, $2.50), completing a $6.50 exacta. Glenfidich, (18-1) another contender in that race, was an underlay even at his high odds, finishing eighth. In another race, Go Have Fun (12-1) finished eighth to the public choice.

Saturday, July 8

At Vernon, there was no beating the favorites in the Zweigs for sophomore trotters. Our contender in the filly split, Emira Mil IT (28-1) finished sixth. In the colt version, our three contenders missed the board. French Wine (5-1) finished fourth, Kilmister (5-2) finished fifth, and Manclane (22-1) finished eighth.

In the Graduate Series Trot Final, we attempted to upset a 1-9 shot but could only finish fourth to it with Pappardelle (59-1).

In the Pace final, there was traffic causing our 57-1 shot, Trendy Teen ($11.40), to close for the win, finishing third.

In the first of two Meadowlands Pace elims, we went with outsider Combustion (17-1), who finished last. Make note, however, that one of our “Pace” top 10 contenders, Cannibal, who did not make many of the top 10 lists, won and paid $20.00 (see below for our last top 10 for the classic.)

In the second elim, Ammo (30-1) made the final, finishing fourth. Stockade Seelster (11-1) aimed to be a threat by three-quarters, broke to finish fifth, and was placed eighth by the judges.

H2W LIST RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Exactas listed include a H2W horse finishing second to a race favorite, or if the first two finishers are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses are listed—a cold exacta). The note “OK” determines that prices are correct (even when a show price exceeds a place price or all prices are the same).

Please note that some results reflect horses racing after the blog posts (they appear the following week).

This week, there were 48 active H2W horses (a 15% win hit rate and a 40% ATB [across-the-board] hit. Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Lepanto, $12.20, $4.60, $3.10, Vernon
Hayek, $5.80, $3.70, $2.30, Yonkers
Yankee On The Move, $4.90, $4.00, $2.60, Monticello
Black Edition N, $4.50, $2.20, $2.10, Saratoga
E R Shane, $3.90, $2.40, $2.30, Monticello
Newsy N, $3.80, $3.40, $3.00, Bangor
Globaldomination N, $3.60, $2.60, $2.60 OK, Pocono

Seconds

Glowing N The Dark, $19.20, $5.60, Scioto
Itty Bitty, $16.60, $6.40, Meadows
Tap Tap Tap, $9.60, $7.40, Buffalo
Always A Vavoom, $7.20, $5.20, Scioto
Mirabella, $4.40, $4.00, Northville
Southwind Molly, $4.40, $3.40 (Exacta $30.80), Running Aces
Jojo’s Place, $4.00, $2.70 (Exacta $9.60), Yonkers
Hammering Hank, $3.80, $2.20, Meadowlands
Lorrie Sue, $3.00, $2.10 (Exacta $9.30) Vernon

Thirds

Makin Trouble K, $3.70, Monticello
Bellas Titan, $3.40, Meadows
Pearl Harbour N, $2.40, Tioga

NEWS & NOTES

H2W followers should note that some horses on the list will not appear for a second time when they follow their first time with a race at a non-parimutuel fair. They will still get a second time on the list whenever they return to a race at a parimutuel track.

The third invitation to the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot goes to the connections of Jiggy Jog S. Jörgen Sparredal and trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt own the four-year-old Swedish-bred mare who demolished her male foes in the Graduate Series. Jiggy Jog S joins Aldebaran Zeus and Get A Wish in the quest for the MGM Yonkers International Trot trophy Sept. 9.

Our Top 10 Hambletonian Trail contenders follow (final odds will define our win wager).
1) Bond 2) Air Power 3) Sadie Hanover 4) Up Your Deo 5) Oh Well 6) Ari Ferrari J 7) Kilmister 8) Special Way 9) Celebrity Bambino 10) Kierkegaard K

Indulge in our new monthly column, Among Ourselves at Harness Racing Update.