Harness Weekly Update: Public choices rule prices

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. 3

This week’s expanded Mohawk Miles offered five races. Our lone winner was Cherie Amour ($12.60, $6.50, $3.20); followed by PL Oooooooooyah (3-1) fourth; Swan By Land (16-1) seventh; Chesapeake Sunrise (3-1) eighth; and Pointto Sweet Lou (22-1) ninth.

The trio of Matrons at Dover found us on the board two out of three races and then with favorites. Quick Stop ($2.20, $2.10) and Earthwindfire ($2.10, $2.10 OK) finished second, and the disappointing Ervin Hanover (9-5) was eighth.

Friday, Nov. 4

Hoosier’s big sophomore-stakes evening resulted in a chalk-dominated winners list. We had one of the favorites—Sea Silk ($3.40, $2.40, $2.10). Our other contenders in the quartet were 50-1 Gabbys C Note ($4.60) third; Rip Wheeler (7-1) sixth; and Branded By Lindy (4-1) ninth after breaking at the gate and galloping throughout.

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 38 H2W horses (5% win-hit rate and a 24% ATB [across-the-board] rate). Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Neon Lights, $12.60, $9.20, $6.00, Vernon
Ibeneedinstitches, $2.20, $2.10, $2.10, Meadows

Seconds

The Boss Man, $13.00, $4.80, Yonkers
Perfundo, $8.30, $3.40, Mohawk
Voelz Delight, $3.80, $2.50, Mohawk
Machtu N, $3.70, $3.00 (Exacta $7.00), Monticello
Always At My Place, $3.40, $3.00, Dayton

Thirds

Skateboard Chic, $4.30, Vernon
General Dolan, $3.40, Hoosier

NEWS & NOTES

Racing at The Meadowlands is back on Fridays and Saturdays through the end of the year with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m. (ET) There is one exception; there will be no live racing on Dec. 23-24.

Meanwhile, Fall Final Four/TVG Finals Night takes place on Nov. 26 with eight events. Two-year-olds are in the spotlight with four classic dashes: the Governor’s Cup, Three Diamonds, Valley Victory, and Goldsmith Maid. In addition, there will be four TVG finals: the three-and-up pace and trot, as well as the filly and mare pace and trot.

As the season begins to bow, there should be no argument that even before Auld Lang Syne echoes into 2023, Bulldog Hanover will be the harness writers’ Horse of the Year. As for TwinSpires harness bettors’ Horse of the Year, Yes Double Down clings to the lead with the leading win payout ($110) as the final two months of the 2022 season ensue.

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in our column Alternative Actions at Harness Racing Update.