Harness Weekly Update: 17% win rate and 51% ATB

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, Nov. 9

Our Mohawk Miles section returned last week. P L Robert G ($5.50, $4.00) completed an exacta worth $14.20. Shakeitifyougotit (6-1) finished fifth to another 6-1 shot. Brooklyn Strong was an also-eligible that did not draw into the field.

The Matrons at Dover found three of four of our contenders paying off. Confederate ($2.20, $2.10, $2.10) was a no-brainer win but a bad exotic key as the race’s second choice placed. Winners included Call Me Goo ($4.20, $3.00, $2.40), with Heaven Hanover (2-1) fourth; Twin B Joe Fresh ($2.60, $2.20, $2.10) led an $18.60 exacta with our other contender, Mcseaside ($8.00, $3.00); Rec Time (36-1) finished fourth. The washout contenders, Air Power (2-1) and Gaines Hanover (4-1) broke in their final and were eliminated.

Allywag Hanover (9-2) could not overtake the two big favorites. He finished fourth in the Potomac at Rosecroft.

Friday, Nov. 10

Though we did not hit the Pick 4 at Hoosier, we always endorse our contenders for single-race action in the wager’s legs and in this stream, those were the profiting moves. Leg one blew the lid off of the exacta with our two contenders. The winner was Ghostintheshell S ($31.60, $15.60, $8.80) and second was Luv Lorelei ($8.80, $4.60). The exacta came back $262.20.

We were second in leg two with Tellmeaboutit ($6.60). In leg three, we finished off the board, fifth, with Sure Thing Herman (7-5). In the fourth leg, we nailed second with Truffle Dog ($6.20, $3.20) and third with Francis Underwood ($2.60). The favorite won, returning a $54.20 triple with the public choice and our two contenders.

H2W LIST RESULTS

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.

This week, there were 41 active horses (a 17% win hit rate and a 51% ATB (across-the-board) hit.

Winners

Busboy Hanover, $14.80, $5.20, $2.80, Dayton
Splendid, $7.60, $4.00, $2.60, Meadows
Another Breath, $7.00, $4.20, $3.00, Northfield
Perfect Passion, $7.00, $3.60, $3.40, Philly
Go Randy Go, $5.70, $3.60, $2.40, Monticello
Kill A Dragon, $5.00, $3.10, $2.50, Saratoga
Reachin For Heaven, $3.00, $2.60, $3.00 ok, Freehold

Seconds

The Right Time, $22.20, $9.50, Mohawk
Bo Breeze, $15.40, $8.00 (Exacta $42.20), Dover
A Major Attitude, $7.00, $2.80 (Exacta $10.40), Rosecroft
Franzo, $7.80, $5.40, Rosecroft
Caviart Reagan, $4.80, $2.50 (Exacta $24.80), Vernon
Town Gossip, $3.20, $2.80, Hoosier
Century Jamila, $3.00, $2.10, Meadowlands
Key Advisor, $2.60, $2.60, ok, Dayton
Cartier Zette, $2.10, $2.20, Meadows

Thirds

Getaway, $13.60, Freehold
Pardonnez-moi, $5.10, Vernon
Redwood Again, $4.60, Rosecroft
Herrickroosevelt N, $2.90, Saratoga
Bee Aware, $2.80, Freehold

NEWS & NOTES

As sure as the New York Jets continue to struggle filling seats, the California Sires Stakes (CASS) program ensues—even with only one harness racing venue. As in all state-bred series, rules apply, but CASS’s qualifications are liberal (the Golden State is not truly Standardbred country). “Foals of 2022 by stallions registered the year of the breeding season may apply. However, stallions from the states/provinces of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan and Alberta join them if they stood in their own state/province and registered with the CASS in order for their foals to be eligible."

Diamond Creek Farm’s stallion roster for 2024 is an explosive bunch. Adding to a universe of star stallions are 2023 headliners Confederate and Tactical Approach, as well as Cannibal. They join top trotters and pacers, including Gimpanzee, Downbytheseaside, Creatine, Father Patrick, Bettor’s Wish, Always B Miki, Downbytheseaside, and Sweet Lou.

Sweet Lou is having a great 2023. His two-year-old pacing fillies are big earners, and his three-year-old colt pacers are lead by Confederate. He continues to produce successful aged horses as well. Sweet Lou is No. 2 in North American stallion earnings for aged pacers; his offspring earned $17,720,759 to date. He is No. 3 in earnings for frosh pacers and No. 1 in earnings for three-year-old pacers.