Harness Weekly Update: H2W serves extra helpings of exactas

The TwinSpires Harness Blog Weekly Update covers our successes and failures from selected features, stakes, and the H2W (horses-to-watch list). H2W horses through the following Monday appear in the following week’s Update.

Thursday, Nov. 24

This week’s expanded Mohawk Miles listed five horses. JK Miki Mantle ($2.90, $2.40, $2.40 OK), a favorite, was our sole winner of four contenders. The Will To Play ($3.70) was third to a favorite; Thankyaverymuch, a favorite, finished fourth and was placed seventh by the judges; and Getitgetitgotit (61-1) finished fifth.

Friday, Nov. 25

In Hoosier’s four Thanksgiving Classics, there were three winning favorites. We were second with Pattsville ($4.00, $3.20), losing to the only longshot winner of the quartet. We were third with Caviar Gold ($2.80) in another. Public choices buried our other contenders; Taurasi (7-2) finished eighth, and Swan Trixie (38-1) finished seventh.

Saturday, Nov. 26

Final Four action was anything but a goldmine for us while trying to nail some outside contenders. Strong Poison, a big favorite, burned out to finish seventh. Southwind Admiral (47-1) was no match for the favorite winner. Heart On Fire finished fourth to the obvious public choice. And Can't Stop Lou (17-1) surrendered to the favorite in the stretch to finish fourth.

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 form a cold exotic combo; most base prices are $2). 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 36 H2W horses (a 14% win-hit rate and a 36% ATB [across-the-board] rate). Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Hilarious Lou, $15.80, $5.80, $5.40, Rosecroft
PL Ooooooooooyah, $9.10, $5.10, $3.60, Mohawk
Village Champ, $4.80, $3.20, $3.20 OK, Freehold
Stonebridge Nike, $3.20, $2.20, $2.40 OK, Northville
Statement, $2.90, $2.20, $2.20, Monticello

Seconds

Wegoforthefront, $10.60, $7.00, Dayton
Refined, $7.80, $7.40 (Exacta $28.00), Meadowlands
Run Around John, $5.40, $3.40, Monticello
My Guilty Pleasure, $5.20, $3.40 (Exacta $13.00), Freehold
Imnottellinyaagain, $4.60, $3.00, Northville
Avery Hailstorm, $4.00, $2.20, Northfield
Spoileronthebeach, $3.80, $2.80 (Exacta $20.00), Philly
Bazaar Bazaar, $3.70, $3.50 (Exacta $25.20), Vernon

Thirds

None

NEWS & NOTES

There is little to no doubt that this is the year of the Bulldog. The top pacer of 2022, Bulldog Hanover is the 100% winner for Harness Horse of the Year. For anyone believing the fastest pacer of all time is not destined for the title, take note of a mighty coincidence in another animal competition. A bulldog won the title of Best in Show at the 2022 National Dog Show. Winston is the first French Bulldog to win the competition’s top prize, beating hundreds of pure-bred canines. An historical asterisk? Sure.

Seelster Farms, Jack Darling, Brad Grant, and Diamond Creek Farm welcome applications for the first breeding season of Bulldog Hanover as he continues his stallion career in Ontario. After breeding and racing in 2022, the stallion Bulldog has a limited number of shares available to purchase for North American breeders. Perhaps he should have a full book in his first season? After all, if he is anywhere near as fast to produce as a sire as he was to win on the track, his bloodline could dynamically influence the breed.

As the stakes season ends, TwinSpires Harness Preview spotlights overnights as top betting affairs. All of our features will be plucked from overnights at North American raceways of our choice, and every highlighted feature race follows our policy of measuring the best of betting opportunities—win, place, show, and exotics, always in the TwinSpires bettors’ interest.

During the pandemic lockdown, TwinSpires harness offered our predictions for successful new sires. Bar Hopping met our forecasts. On Nov. 21, Bar Hopping passed away while standing at Hanover Shoe Farms. The sad news was a shock. He was only nine, and his death came without explanation. The son of Muscle Hill’s first crop includes Bella Bellini, Breeders Crown and Hambletonian Maturity champ; 2021 Yonkers Trot champ Johan Palema; and Grand Circuit winners In Range and Pub Crawl. He also sired Date Night and French Wine, Kentucky Championship Final winners this year, as well as 2021 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion S I P.

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in our column Alternative Actions at Harness Racing Update.