Holiday Harness Hours A-Plenty; Persuing Profits Powerfully

This is the penultimate preview blog of 2019 but well-paying wagers appear seamlessly from old year to New Year and so we continue to present the best possible contenders in North America to help your profit motives with harness races.

Specialty features and Power Plays (PoP) partner with contenders in our the never-ending TwinSpires horses-to-watch (*H2W) list. Always check out our H2W list before building any major exotic tickets, too.

*Due to some meets ending for the year and others on holiday hiatus, the H2W track list is greatly reduced temporarily.


FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Pompano / Race 7
Thursday / Dec. 19
 
On Dec. 12 we supported promise in New Plymouth entered in a conditioned mile. The public partially agreed, letting the Dennis Whittemore-trained trotter go off as their third choice. New Plymouth started well enough, even being 8 lengths off the leader, but an attempt to get a better position early cost dearly. New Plymouth broke and never recovered. As we often do this time of year, we are taking a first-time H2W pick off of the list for addition in a handpicked feature.

But for a few dollars of earnings required, this race almost meets the conditions of last week’s event. New Plymouth—zero wins and places in eight starts as this season winds up—still holds a better record than a few others in the field. For price and purpose, we will put New Plymouth on top in the exacta and trifecta as well as take it to win (and for place and show is no fool’s bet). We will crisscross Schubie and Jas Going Away for the two combo bets.

POWER PLAYS

Dayton / Race 12
Thursday / Dec. 19

The 10-cent superfecta is a worthy target to end the Ohio track’s program. We want to take a big swing at it, using our typical “bury-the-number” tactics. The four contenders we employ are not in a particular order of preference, so make of them what you wish in combinations. However, consider orders based on betting the combo on a $2 basis, so that striking a victory will mean having the ticket worth 20 times the 10-cent payoff. Thus, we bury the number.

Big Bossman came from a horrible race at Northfield and showed his usual speed to no avail in his first Dayton appearance. He meets new opponents and may balance his steps from post 2 in a better performance, more importantly, at a high price.

Skyway Grand Slam will attract bettors but not enough to hurt a “super” price. He has a real chance of winning this, though his 2019 win tab is a single affair. Still, he was even money winning that with zero in the win column before November. He was supported last week in a good effort finishing on the grid, where he will be again in this event.

PL Haymaker comes into this fray off of a win at 3-1. It was a perfect trip, so not impressive, yet he belongs in this class right now and has done well picking up checks in exotics. Trainer Michael Arnold has a decent across-the-board percentage figure going for him, which helps.

Not only does Zippy Cowboy have a great racehorse name, he has the stats that could place him in the top four at big odds—the kind we enjoy when trying to bury a number. “Zippy” races in the top four way more than his odds suggest. He has a late kick that disappoints favorites that have left from the outside, and in this event, the two projected top public choices leave from the 8 and 9 hole.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Dayton / Race 12
Friday / Dec. 20

Again, we hit upon one of last week’s H2W members, Heart Crusher. Our analysis for her Dec. 13 race made note she entered the race coming from a claim with “recent activity in a slightly higher class that lends itself to a new trainer’s touch.” She went off at 57-1, ignoring our point. Heart Crusher scratched after entering a step-up attempt, and this is her second effort for trainer Noah Garrett. Again, the crowd is bound to ignore her while we see last week’s failure moot since it was another huge-favorite victory for “Super Aaron Merriman” and hometown training favorite Virgil Morgan, Jr.

POWER PLAYS

Northfield / R2—R6
Saturday / Dec. 21

A $1 Pick 5 is in play, along with single-race exotics, as noted. Below are the suggested contenders for each Pick-5 leg that can also be used with each wager available. Those contenders mentioned are not in  the order of any choice for any specific bet.

Race 2
Alisha’s Big Star has excuses related to traversing this half mile on the overland route and gets an unfair ML in this drop down. She is in the mix for all waging levels.

H-And-N DHO Hailey drops down to a claiming tag more her value, deserving attention. In play: $1 Pick 5, exacta, trifecta.

Race 3
Hey Sweety ships in from Batavia, making a whole bunch of sense to win here but also to be in the exotic numbers. One of the track’s adored drivers steers this baby, which can’t hurt.

The probable favorites here won’t help an exotic much if either wins but in the extra three needed to cash you must consider Tucson Breeze and KJ’s Foxy Lady. In play: exacta, trifecta and 20-cent superfecta.

Race 4
Casimir Quiche has raced only a dozen times this year in company a bit better at Northville. She figures to race her best form here, a first trip to Ohio.

Kick It In Kate should do far better here from the second-tier 9 hole but she will get more action than usual being steered by hometown-adored Aaron Merriman. In play: exacta, trifecta and 20-cent superfecta.

Race 5
Song In My Heart is a regular in amateur drivers’ events and he has a great percentage in the money this season. A well-bred, mature trotter, he needs to be considered.

Impressive Chief steps down a bit and could do as well as he finished in his first Northfield appearance after racing well in Michigan. In play: Pick 3, exacta, trifecta, 20-cent superfecta.

Race 6
Swan On The Bank was claimed and qualified after too many breaks and returns here, where smooth strides could win this easily.

One Last Howl has speed that could produce a good mile leading the field or coming strong late to pass tired ones. .

I’ve Got Spirit would complete a fine-paying trifecta with the two aforementioned. In play: exacta, trifecta, 20-cent superfecta.


H2W LIST

Dayton
12/20/19, +Big Pink R7; +Rolling Thunder ae R7

Dover
12/19/19, +American Admiral R2; +Southwind Moroccan R9

Freehold
12/20/19, +Harmony Oaks Quike R4; +Caviar Star R9

Meadowlands
12/19/19, +Mistress Angelina R3; +You Mach Me Crazy R8
12/20/19, Tyronbettorsella n R6; Two AM R7

Monticello
12/19/19, Dr Snow R5
12/23/19, +The Band K R5; +Hope Hotspur R9