Harness Weekly Update for Nov. 22

The TwinSpires Harness Blog Weekly Update covers our successes and failures from selected features and the H2W (horses-to-watch list, now including Hoosier spin-offs).

Thursday, Nov. 18

Thursday’s Mohawk Miles contenders finished third and sixth. Respectively, they were Northern Blizzard ($3.10), going off at 4-1, and Duke Deo (14-1), finishing sixth.

At Hoosier, the Star Destroyer events presented one winner from our contenders’ list in three sophomore events. Pub Crawl ($4.00, $2.80, $2.40) won over Queen Of All ($3.00), who was third in the filly trot. Swingforthefences ($2.20, $2.10) finished second in the colt trot, with Bluebird Maverick (49-1) fifth. In the colt pace we were fifth with Rock With JK (30-1).

Saturday, Nov. 20

The stakes season’s curtain call took place at The Meadowlands with four two-year-old stakes—The Fall Final Four—and some opens for aged divisions.

In the Valley Victory our choice, Threepointbluechip (6-1), went straight for the lead but took some bad steps, almost breaking. That left him in the back of the field and he closed well late to finish fourth to the favorite.

In the Goldsmith Maid we won with Joviality S ($7.00, $3.20, $2.20). In the Governor’s Cup our longshot decision raced his odds. PJ Lou (87-1) finished fifth.

In the Three Diamonds, no one could touch the favorite, Niki Hill, but we finished third with 48-1 shot Don’t Fence Me In ($5.80). In the open mare contest our longshot had no shot at 60-1 but it did not matter because the best mare of the season, Lyons Sentinel won as the second choice.

In the open pace we won with Allywag Hanover ($6.20, $3.60, $2.80). In the open trot we were third as the third choice with Back Of The Neck ($3.00). In the open mare pace we were nowhere in seventh with Watch Me Now N (60-1).

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). 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 35 active horses (a 14% win hit rate and a 43% ATB [across-the-board] hit). Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Full View, $11.20, $3.60, $2.80, Dover
Prince C Hall, $4.80, $3.20, $2.20, Plainridge
King Ragnar, $4.40, $2.40, $2.40 OK, Oak Ridge
Pappy Rock, $2.80, $2.20, $2.20 OK, Freehold
Heartland Eclipse, $2.40, $2.10, $2.10 OK, Monticello

Seconds

Always Artistic, $9.80, $4.40, Northfield
His Excellence, $7.00, $3.90, Monticello
Super Betcha, $4.20, $2.80 (Exacta $9.20), Plainridge
Gearupn Go Moe, $3.00, $3.60 OK, Cal Expo
Maydaymaverickhope, $2.60, $2.60 OK (Exacta $3.30), Freehold

Thirds

Noa, $5.60, Northville
Heart On My Sleeve, $4.30, Yonkers
Fast Track, $3.20, Cal Expo
Im An Athlete, $3.00, Cal Expo
Loutenant, $3.60, Dayton

NEWS & NOTES

For Perfect Sting it was not the sophomore season expected, but he will not be returning next year to face even better horses. Perfect Sting, undefeated at two and Breeders Crown champion at two and three, will enter stud in 2022 at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey. Perhaps standing in N.J., a state that once thrived in the breeding department, says something about expectations for his prodigy? It is possible, of course, that he becomes responsible for horses more successful than he was.

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s connections have already announced that the Hambletonian-winning mare and winner of scads of dollars will be competing in 2022. She is a stalwart against male and female and even though she never won a Breeders Crown final, she has earned lots of “Crown” money. Although consistency does not earn the sport’s awards, it is an attribute missing from the resumes of many champions.

Late-night Easterners—America’s midnight-and-after bettors can get busy again. Cal Expo action is in motion. Fans will find the return of three bets with a reduced 16% takeout and a revised Pick 6. The three wagers with the reduced takeout are the 20-cent Early and Late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4, with the latter featuring a $25,000-guaranteed gross pool. Last meet’s Pick 6 was a 10-cent unique jackpot wager but is now a 20-cent bet with an 80/20 split in place.

Extraordinary Extras

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