Harness Weekly Update: Profitable seconds key 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, Oct. 6

This week’s pair of Mohawk Miles was beaten by race favorites. We had Mats MVP (6-1) finish fourth and Merchantman (11-1) finish fifth.

Friday, Oct. 7

At The Red Mile, we were on the board in four of five states. We won with Espresso ($7.90, $2.80, $2.40). We finished second with both Purple Lord ($2.90, $2.30) and Zanatta ($4.30, $3.60, Exacta $13.00) and placed third with Light And Tight ($3.30). Once In A Lifetime (17-1) finished sixth.

Saturday, Oct. 8

On the penultimate day of GC Red Mile racing, we were on the board four of six times in the Stallion Stakes but did not record a winner. We were second with Surfside Beach ($4.20, $2,80, Exacta $10.40) and Ammo ($3.40, $2.70). We finished third with Goldin Greatness ($5.30) and Emira Mil It ($2.60). Kayleigh S (3-1) finished fifth and Toulouse Lautrec (7-2) broke and finished sixth.

Sunday’s Red Mile GC features will be reported in next week’s update.

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 37 H2W horses (8% win-hit rate and a 35% ATB [across-the-board] hit). Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

IC A Free Spirit, $7.20, $3.60, $2.80, Pocono
Athens Seelster, $6.40, $2.30, $2.10, Saratoga
Rocknroll Charm, $4.60, $3.20, $3.00, Hoosier

Seconds

Dravo, $13.00, $11.20 (Exacta $39.20), Northfield
Blow Pop, $12.40, $5.40 (Exacta $28.00), Philly
Optical Illusion N, $8.20, $5.20 (Exacta $24.00), Saratoga
Always A Panther, $7.20, $4.60, Meadows
Oberto, $5.60, $3.00, Meadows
Wildcat Victoria, $4.80, $2.80, Dayton
Takoda Blue Chip, $8.20, $5.20 (Exacta $5.10), Saratoga
Brazen Brazilian, $2.50, $2.10 (Exacta $6.40), Monticello

Thirds

Worldsstonecold AS, $4.00, Freehold
Monterey Jack, $3.20, Meadows

NEWS & NOTES

Dave Brower, companion harness racing journalist, broadcaster, writer, passed away over the weekend. He was 53 years old. When he was a no-show for his simulcast show at The Red Mile, Dave was found unresponsive in his hotel room. Dave arrived after working in Ohio on "Jug" week. There was no official cause of death released at the time of this report. We send our condolences to his family and deeply mourn his passing.

Beach Glass, one of the division’s soph-pacers, will undergo surgery after some recent disappointing finishes in stakes action. Trainer Brent MacGrath said Beach Glass, who finished fourth at The Red Mile last weekend, stays in Kentucky for the surgery to correct an ”airway obstruction.” MacGrath said the surgery “has a 99% success rate” and Beach Glass “should be fine for the Breeders Crown."

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in our column Alternative Actions at Harness Racing Update.