Harness Weekly Update: Big prices among 50% in the money

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 27

Our trio of Mohawk Miles contenders went down badly to favorites. Kinnder Hotblood (55-1) finished sixth; Blue Katana (40-1) was eighth; only Sister Act (20-1) gets a pass for breaking and being eliminated to finish 10th.

One of two state-bred freshman filly trotter stakes went off at Yonkers. Dangerous heat conditions canceled the program, so Erin did not race. In the other split we finished third with Communion Money, though no show betting was allowed.

At Hoosier, two stakes for frosh colt pacers bred in Indiana were completed. We were second with JD’s King James ($2.60, $2.40; Exacta $9.00) and sixth with Chocluck Chip (30-1), in a public-choice-winning mile.

Friday, July 28

At Saratoga, the high percentage of sires-stakes winning favorites continued, so our choices were defunct. Usosweet Blue Chip (22-1) finished seventh, and On The House (10-1) broke before finishing sixth.

Saturday, July 29

The Adios final found our longshot pumping up the exotics by finishing at huge odds. Seven Colors ($13.20) was third.

The Hambletonian elims for colts and fillies were competitive enough to shake up the public. We won the first for the fillies with Walner Payton ($11.60, $4.20, $2.80). Huge favorite and our choice too, Bond, faded to fifth, making the final but disappointing all across-the-board bettors.

The colts were not kind to us. Our Kierkagaard K (7-2) broke early and was eliminated in elim one. Then, we had the right idea to go for an outsider, but our choice, One Hundred Poof (89-1), never got into contention and was rank finishing in a bad gallop.

H2W RESULTS

This week, there were 34 active H2W horses (a 15% win hit rate and a 50% 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

Circuit Party, $22.80, $15.00, $7.60, Saratoga
Richnortherndream, $13.80, $7.00, $4.80, Cumberland
Who Deen E, $10.60, $4.80, $2.80, Northville
Powatan, $3.00, $2.10, $2.10 OK, Pocono
Morning Sunrise, $2.40, $2.10, $2.10 OK, Hoosier

Seconds

Straight Munro, $14.58, $8.90, Red Mile
Brooklyn Moonshine, $10.00, $5.40, Running Aces
Unusual Clarity, $4.60, $2.70, Vernon
Asweetbeachhere, $3.00, $2.10 (Exacta $4.20), Pocono
Quarrel, $3.00, $3.00 OK, Plainridge
Beantown Madness, $2.60, $2,10 (Exacta $5.10), Saratoga

Thirds

Nihilated Truth, $24.40, Monticello
Immanuel KS, $6.00, Meadowlands
Call Belle, $4.20, Northfield
Alonso, $3.00, Meadows
Prestige Seelster, $2.70, Yonkers
Kerrin Joseph A, $2.60, Hoosier

NEWS & NOTES

Batavia Downs began a new season on July 26, and it will cover summer and autumn with harness racing through Saturday, Dec. 9. The schedule changes several times this year. In August racing is presented on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from Aug. 16 through Oct. 28. Sept. 8 is dark; a matinee is held on Sept. 4. November and December racing offers two days a week on Wednesday and Saturday through the close of the meet.

One of the top early contenders for the Hambletonian succumbed to injury, which is why we have not seen him in the elims. Trainer Noel Daley reported Volume Eight wouldn’t race in 2023 after the colt suffered a suspensory tear. "I believe he was a ton the best (in the division)," Daley said. Volume Eight bled badly in his only sophomore start and Daley said he “always believed (his colt) would be better at four." Meanwhile, his career is stalled, and Daley suggested there is a chance the horse will retire to stud.

Extraordinary extras

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