Harness Weekly Update: 56% across-the-board hit rate

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, Oct. 12

Our trio of Mohawk Miles contenders produced a winner in Connor ($4.90, $3.20, $2.10). Otherwise, Star Hairdresser (8-1) finished fourth to the race favorite, and Tymal Contessa (53-1) was eighth behind an 8-1 winner.

Friday, Oct 13

Our contenders shone in Hoosier’s Indiana Sires Stakes finals. Two of four winners paid handsomely. Helpfirstedition ($9.80, $7.20, $4.00) won the soph-colt trot, and Tell’s On A Roll ($7.40, $3.60, $2.80) won the soph-filly pace. All JK ($2.60) finished third and Picaboo Lady (25-1) was sixth.

Saturday, Oct. 14

We went with six of the features on Hawthorne’s big stakes night, but the public was near perfect and five of the six on our list lost to their favorites while a 5-1 shot beat our 5-1 shot — Illini Diva, who broke to finish ninth — in the other.

We finished second with Fox Valley Julian ($4.20, $2.40) with a $9.60 exacta; second with Niko Man ($2.10, $2.10 ok) with a $4.60 exacta; third with Fireballs Pride ($3.40), fourth with Fox Valley Patriot (6-1); and seventh with Fox Valley Sadie (7-2).

H2W LIST RESULTS

This week, there were 36 active H2W horses with a 22% win hit rate and a 56% 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

Heart Of Dixie, $6.60, $2.80, $2.40, Pocono
Blowin Smoke, $6.20, $2.80, $2.10, Rosecroft
Delightful Summer, $5.00, $3.80, $2.10, Northville
Rock Solid Express, $4.50, $2.60, $2.10, Saratoga
La Puddie A, $3.80, $2.80, $2.40, Plainridge
Jossie James A, $3.40, $2.40, $2.10, Freehold
Mcmarkle Sparkle, $2.50, $2.10, $2.10, Yonkers
Cathy Hanover, $2.60, $2.40, $2.10, Meadows

Seconds

Get E Up, $10.80, $3.20 (Exacta $18.00), Hawthorne
Momoni De Vie, $8.60, $5.80 (Exacta $31.60), Philly
N Expense, $6.20, $3.20, Plainridge
Amy L, $5.40, $4.80 (Exacta $30.60), Dayton
Big Kan D, $3.20, $3.00 (Exacta $8.60), Northville
Royal Courtier, $2.20, $2.10, Monticello

Thirds

Unique Beach, $8.40, Monticello
Jack Roger, $3.60, Rosecroft
Mcfehr, $3.40, Northville
Datguyna Greensuit, $2.80, Saratoga
Briar’s Desire, $2.40, Plainridge
Two Friskie To Pet, $2.40, Freehold

NEWS & NOTES

Racing resumed at Bangor Raceway on Oct. 11. Racing is conducted on a three-day-per-week schedule through the first week in November. Post time is 3 p.m. on Sunday and Wednesday, with the Saturday night cards raced under the lights beginning at 6 p.m. The horseman colony once again includes Walter Case Jr., Bruce Ranger, and David Ingraham.

The Meadowlands resumes live racing on the weekend of Oct. 20 and continues each weekend through the balance of 2023. The fourth and fifth legs of the Kindergarten Series highlight the first two weeks back, leading into the finals and consolations on Nov. 4. 

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