Harness Weekly Update: Exactas among weekend 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.

The update for leg 1 of the Borgata series, March 21 at Yonkers, will be included in the next Preview edition along with our decisions on leg 2.

Thursday, March 17

Both of this week’s Mohawk Miles contenders were beaten by favorites. JM Deflection (33-1) finished sixth, and Horse Trader (25-1) finished eighth.

At the Meadows, a 5-2 shot won our selected feature. We took the rest of the trot mutuels with Perlucky ($3.40, $2.40) second, and Mission Voyage ($2.60) third, while Papi Hanover (41-1) finished fourth.

Friday, March 18

The first leg of the Matchmaker series at Yonkers had four divisions. There were no upsets. We won the first division with Drama Act ($2.80, $2.10, $2.10 OK). Lit De Rose ($2.90, $2.80) was second with a $6.20 exacta.

In division two we were second with Best Head West ($2.20, $2.10) and fifth with Delitfulcathern N (5-1), beaten by a 4-1 shot.

In division three Blue Ivy (6-1) finished sixth to a 5-2 winner. In the fourth split we were second with Karma Seelster ($2.10, $2.10 OK) while Mystifying (39-1) was fourth at the wire.

Saturday, March 19

Pocono’s Power Plays locked into Race 5. Our 22-1 target, Yankee Keeler, finished fifth. He Gone Better ($3.40) was third, and My Friskie Boy (5-2) was seventh.

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 43 H2W horses (a 16% 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

Striking Genson, $14.00, $5.20, $3.50, Yonkers
Gibus, $10.00, $4.30, $2.90, Saratoga
Bombshell Hanover, $8.30, $3.10, $2.30, Saratoga
Big Gulp, $4.00, $2.60, $2.40, Miami
Too Much Hanover, $3.60, $2.20, $2.10, Freehold
Lyons Princess, $3.10, $2.10, $2.10 OK, Flamboro
Resita, $2.60, $2.20, $2.20 OK, Meadows

Seconds

Imamajorplayer, $6.60, $3.40 (Exacta $21.80), Monticello
Canthelpbutwin, $5.40, $3.00 (Exacta $15.20), Hawthorne
Meadowbranch Ricky, $5.20, $4.00 (Exacta $15.40), Meadowlands
Dateline Hanover, $4.40, $2.60 (Exacta $24.00), Monticello
Pretty Ricki, $3.60, $2.80, Meadowlands
Metallica, $3.40, $2.20, Dover

Thirds

Sports Vision, $5.60, Freehold
Infinite Zette, $3.50, Yonkers
Sierras Spirit, $3.40, Northville
Blank Stare, $3.00, Miami
Keystone Tenacious, $2.60, Pocono
Nox, $2.60, Northville

NEWS & NOTES

Jujubee, the 2021 late-champion trotter, prepares for his four-year-old campaign in North America as his connections declined an invitation to the Elitloppet. Jujubee was voted the top trotter due to his success in the waning weeks of the season without the usual tough road against familiar foes in top stakes. He did that even after a light two-year-old season. At three he easily won the Kentucky Futurity and Breeders Crown. The son of Creatine won 14 of his 18 races and earned $900k.

The 2022 Scioto racing season takes place May 12 through Sept. 17. The first post all season, including the special Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day cards, is 3:15 p.m. (ET) due to ongoing grandstand construction. Ninety harness racing programs ensue through the summer.

Dover Downs offers an “Overnight” late-closing series for soph trotters and pacers. It begins on March 2 and goes through closing day, March 31. The series is for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund eligibles only. Fifty-nine have been nominated to race on these dates in these divisions: March 21 (three-year-old filly trot); March 22 (three-year-old colt and gelding trot); March 23 (three-year-old filly pace); March 24 (three-year-old colt and gelding pace).

Extraordinary Extras

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