Harness Weekly Update: 18% win rate, $76 exacta
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):
- Confederate
- Seven Colors
- Stockade Seelster
- It's My Show
- Cannibal
- Christchurch
- El Rey
- Voukefalas
- Hurrikane Hunter
- Fulton
Also eligibles include Hungry Angel Boy, Thunder Hunter, Redwood Hanover, Ken Hanover, and Moment Is Here.
Extraordinary extras
Indulge in our new monthly column, Among Ourselves, at Harness Racing Update.
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