Highest Priced Series Score, $29, Dover Winner, $45, Lead Profit Parade

We hunted for the best “Levy” winner at Yonkers over the past few weeks. We were nipped and headed with four choices coming in second. On April 11, we broadcast in our blog that the April 11 divisions appeared to be the most contentious of the series.

It was not entirely the case but we struck hard by nailing the highest paying Levy winner of the series, Heez Orl Black N ($29.20, $17.80 n/s) in division three. Then, of the two entries we suggested in the first division, we had first with Windsong Jack ($6.20, $2.60 n/s) and the third finisher, Machs Beach Boy (n/s/).

In the Matchmaker from Yonkers the night before, we were on the board both divisions. First, we won with Venus Delight ($4.80, $3.10, n/s) and then we were second with Krispy Apple ($3.80, n/s/), which produced an exacta with the favorite winning ($8.20).

The horses-to-watch list (H2W) was lucrative again this week, featuring a $45.00 winner at Dover in its final week of the season. It is among 10 on the victory list with 50 percent winning over 7-2. Again this week, look at the place prices on some of the horses from the list that settled for second. And don’t ignore some of the show prices atop that list. Four of them paid 5-2 and up. The H2W is a promising source for across-the-board play and it delivers often.

In between published harness blogs, follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter.

H2W LIST RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas are included when a H2W horse finishing second completes the result with a race favorite or the first two finishers making up the exacta are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete the exacta). The note “ok” determines that prices published are correct even when a show price exceeds a place price. This week, there were 51 active horses.

Please note that some H2W results reflect win, place and/or show results occurring after press time and that it is up to you to follow those horses that have not performed before this weekly review is posted.

Winners

Elite Awards, $45.40, $14.20, $4.80, Dover
Landonfitz, $12.80, $6.00, $4.00, Hoosier
Peytons Troubador, $10.80, $6.80, $6.00. Northville
Matt Tin Roof, $10.20, $4.80, $3.00, Philadelphia
Rockys Z Tam, $9.00, $3.20, $3.20 ok, Hoosier
Little Ben, $5.20, $3.00, $2.60 (*Exacta $13.40), Dover
Wildcat Ideal, $5.00, $4.00, $2.80, Scarborough
Susan Sarandune, $4.40, $3.40, $3.60 ok, Northfield
Whistle Pig, $2.60, $2.10, $2.10, Northfield
Togetherforever, $2.40, $2.10, $2.10 ok, Maywood

Seconds

Prismatica, $22.60, $5.80, Meadows
Marquise Delafitte, $20.40, $1.80, Meadows
Best Glider, $5.20, $4.40 (Exacta $24.60), Meadows
Diamond Brady, $4.80, $2.80, Maywood
Sawbuck Hanover, $4.80, $3.80, Philadelphia
Ajuama, $4.60, $3.80 (Exacta $9.40), Hoosier
Durant, $3.40, $2.60, Hoosier
Getitoffyourchest, $3.00, $2.60 (*Exacta $13.40), Dover
Milano Grande, $3.00, Northfiel

Thirds

Double Dribble, $15.80, Philadelphia
Alickyalater, $14.20
Steuben Patriot, $8.20, Pocono
Vc Scooter, $7.00, Hoosier
Tour Guide, $4.60, Cal Expo
Ashlees Wedding, $4.40, Philadelphia
Artistic Cruiser, $3.90, Flamboro
Tremendous Hit, $2.80, Buffalo
Woodmere Trackeater, $2.60, Scarborough
My Hope, $2.40, Hoosier

News & Notes

Trotters eligible to this year’s Hambletonian were on track at the scene of the classic when they qualified on April 11 at the Meadowlands. Jimmy Takter-trained Canepa Hanover, a son of Hambo-champ Musceles Hill, broke in his debut. He was lightly raced at two due to health issues. Also debuting at three coming off of various physical problems was Takter’s Whom Shall I Fear, who won in 1:59.1. He is a full brother to Father Patrick and a $475,000 yearling. Other Hambletonian-eligible males were Explosive Brother (third). Fashion Creditor (second), Finish Line (fourth), Handover The Money (fifth), Michaels Pearl (fifth), Natural Kemp (third), P Mac Attack (sixth), Southwind Mozart (third), Stonebridge Force (third) and Workout Wonder (second).

Natural Kemp, who last year won one of two starts for trainer Ake Svanstedt, is a son of Muscles Yankee. His family includes last year’s Hambletonian winner Trixton, as well as top stallions Andover Hall and Conway Hall. Svanstedt also trains Handover The Money, Southwind Mozart, Stonebridge Force, and Workout Wonder. Trond Smedshammer, who won the 2004 Hambletonian with Windsongs Legacy, trains and drives Finish Line, a son of Yankee Glide. P Mac Attack is another by Muscle Hill. Nancy Johansson trains him. The $1 million Hambletonian Stakes will be contested Aug. 8 at the Meadowlands, with eliminations in heats and final on the same day. TwinSpires hopes to cover the stakes-laden program live again this season.

Thursday, April 9 was the opening night of the 118-date meet at Mohawk Racetrack, following the finish of harness at Woodbine. The meet features racing every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tuesdays will be added to the lineup beginning June 2. The first-race post each night is 7:25 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 32nd edition of the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday, June 20 highlights the meet. The “Cup”card will be made up of the Fan Hanover, Goodtimes, Roses Are Red Stakes and the Mohawk Gold Cup. A special post time of 6:30 p.m. will be in place for Cup night.

Mohawk has been upgrading its media facilities, including a new control room with HD broadcasting. Amid changes this season is the younger horsemen colony. Veteran Doug McNair told reporter Dave Briggs, “Even if you go back just a few years, most guys had to be in their thirties before they could race full time [on the Woodbine/Mohawk circuit] … When you have the younger drivers, they tend to hang out with a younger crowd and it might [attract]...a new generation of people coming out to the track.”

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

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