Harness Weekly Update: 18% win rate, $76 exacta

TwinSpires Staff

September 3rd, 2023

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, Aug. 31

Our Mohawk Miles trio offered a single winner, favorite Winmebak ($2.40, $2.10, $2.10). Premier First Star (26-1) finished seventh to the favorite winner, and Widespread Panic (8-1) broke and was eliminated as another 8-1 came in first.

Friday, Sept. 1

Three New Jersey Classic elims for soph trotters were covered. We hit the win with one, Air Power ($6.40, $5.00, $2.10), and finished fourth with Blonde Bombshell (3-1) and fifth with Dyladmar (20-1).

Saturday, Sept. 2

Pennsylvania Sires Stakes freshman champs emerged for colt and filly pacers and trotters at Pocono. We won with favorite Sierra Girl ($2.60, $2.40, $2.10). We finished second with Security Protected ($2.20, $2.10) which completed an exacta worth $3.80. Otherwise, Gem Quality (5-1) finished fifth, and Ginger Tree Belle (90-1) ended the mile seventh.

At Mohawk, the favorite won the Maple Leaf Trot despite a mile troubled by a few breakers. One jumper interfered with our choice, Fashion Frenzie (7-1), who finished fifth but was placed fourth.

In the Canadian Pacing Derby, our speed-burning theory did not play out, and the crowd did not think much of it either, as Hellabalou (125-1) finished seventh.

H2W LIST RESULTS

This week, there were 51 active H2W horses (an 18% win hit rate and a 39% across-the-board hit rate).

Exactas listed in H2W results reflect an H2W horse finishing second to a race favorite or if the first two finishers were on the list, when an asterisk appears for cold exactas. The note “OK” determines prices are correct when a show price exceeds the place price or all three prices are identical.

Winners

Brother Dick, $19.80, $6.60, $6.20, Philly
Mr Grant, $14.60, $7.00, $5.80, Meadowlands
Musical Box, $9.80, $4.00, $2.80, Philly
Chaparmbro, $7.80, $3.80, $2.80, Meadowlands
Goinroundncircles, $7.00, $5.60, $2.60, Freehold
Astor, $6.10, $3.10, $2.10, Monticello
Fear The Pansy, $6.10, $2.60, $2.10, Batavia
Emmy Lou Hayes, $5.90, $3.60, $3.20, Tioga
Arnie’s Angel, $3.30, $2.40, $2.20, Tioga

Seconds

Stay Jelly, $20.80, $6.00 (Exacta $76.60), Plainridge
Valottalove, $11.80, $3.90, Vernon
Burrow, $4.40, $2.60, Scioto
Peggy J, $4.40, $2.50, Vernon
Starzznstripes, $4.00, $4.20 OK, Hoosier
Lazarus Girl, $2.80, $2.10 (Exacta $8.40), Freehold

Thirds

Dice R Out, $4.30, Woodbine
Anytime N, $3.20, Vernon
Mighty Surf, $3.00, Freehold
Cash Roll, $2.90, Yonkers
Rocket Deo, $2.20, Meadowlands

NEWS & NOTES

The $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot on Sept. 9 added two entrants from the U.S. The connections of two high-profile trotters, Academic and Venerate, accepted invitations to the global event from Racing Secretary Joe Frasure. Already in the field are Get A Wish (Denmark), Etonnant (France), Vivid Wise AS (Italy), Aldebaran Zeus A (Australia), Jiggy Jog S (Sweden), Hierro Boko (Finland) and Bengurion Jet (Italy).

Our Top 10 for The Little Brown Jug 2023 (note that some soph-colt pacers on our list have not confirmed inclusion but may be considering entering):