Harness Weekly Update: $41 bomb score among double-digit winners

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. Note—some East Coast tracks went dark due to extreme weather conditions.

Thursday, Feb. 3

This week’s Mohawk Miles contenders lit up the board and co-starred in a superfecta. Magics Wizard ($10.30, $5.60) finished second. Then, Mayhem Like Me (8-1) was the fourth element of the fifth-race super.

At Yonkers a Pick 3 resulted in a trio of favorites worth $25.60. We nailed the first two legs with the crowd. In leg one we had Striking Genson ($4.80, $3.30, $2.50), with Joe Exotic ($5.00) third. In leg two we had Velocity McSweets ($4.40, $2.80, $2.60) with Juxta Cowgirl (9-1) sixth. On the backside we finished fifth with Malificient (7-1) and Anne Bonney (43-1).

Friday, Feb. 4

In the Blizzard Pacing Series Final at Mohawk, a pair in the field called to us. When one, Intothemysticmoon, scratched, we were left with a single that won. Belina ($7.20, $3.60, $3.10) came from behind to win the winter feature.

Saturday, Feb. 5

The Meadowlands trio of selected features produced one huge win with Cool Blues Man ($41.40, $16.20, $10.20) when Mindtrap did not make the field from his also-eligible status. In that race, also, Allgowowhoa (6-1) slipped into the super (fourth) with the favorite and a 16-1 shot (third) paying $604.86 for 10 cents.

In the other two races, Casino Bags Anso (18-1), Thespywholovedme (10-1) and Revolver N (11-1) did not hit the board.

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; most prices are for $2 exactas). 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 25 H2W horses (a 20% win-hit rate and a 44% ATB [across-the-board] hit). Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Moonlightandroses, $19.20, $6.40, $4.20, Monticello
Two Hip Dip, $12.20, $4.50, $4.60 OK, Freehold
I Saw You Blink, $3.60, $2.80, $2.40, Meadows
Cut A Rug, $3.00, $2.40, $2.10, Cal Expo
So Much More, $2.30, $2.10, n/s, Mohawk

Seconds

Three Rocks, $9.20, $3.00, Freehold
Rockinattheryman, $2.20, $2.10, Northfield

Thirds

Causway, $15.40, Meadowlands
Sporty Spooky A, $2.80, Cal Expo
Chipper Daisy, $2.40, Northfield
Lady Lou, $2.40, Meadowlands

NEWS & NOTES

Another winter storm in North America made some raceways cancel programs, which in turn affected our itinerary of selected features and H2W plays going into the weekend. As the storm snowed on and iced up territories from the Midwest to the Canadian border, Miami, the Meadows, Buffalo, Western Fair and Yonkers each went dark. Horses posted by us show up again in our next preview edition.

In 2022 the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) year-end championships changes venues. As well, it changes times and will not require lights. The $200k-per-final event takes place at Tioga Downs with a 1 p.m. (ET) post time (pending regulatory approval) on Sept. 10. Traditionally known as the “Night of Champions” at Yonkers, the “Day of Champions” at Tioga features eight races for state-bred two- and three-year-olds. A second card of overnight events takes place starting at 6:15 p.m.

Also in New York, Buffalo and Saratoga have launched meets and, as usual, the draws for their programs usually are released after our deadline for the Edge previews, making it impossible for us to add H2W additions. We want to keep the tracks on our betting menu and the only way is to list horses sans any info on when they will race. This leaves finding the horses to the bettor, a task that may be worth the extra effort.

This month, Pocono Downs begins its 2022 season. Programs are set for Feb. 12, 19, 20, 26, and 27. In March, the track follows a Saturday-Sunday-Monday racing schedule with racing on Mar. 5. Post times this year are every racing day at 1:30 p.m. (ET) (an hour later than last year) except for Sundays, which start at 5 p.m.

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in our columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet, at Harness Racing Update.