Harnes Racing: Hoosier Park harness plays for Sept. 1

(Each week, Cotolo employs money-management tactics to build wagers that focus on plump profits.)

For the program on Sept. 1 at Hoosier Park, we suggest some horses for selected plays that may fit in any type of wager.

Race 3

Toss out last week’s race and #3 Swan’s Maid needs to be considered a serious contender in this field. Before a costly break (at 4-1), the Swan For All filly was full of herself finishing in a dead heat for fifth while dropping from sires stakes-eligible competition. Before that race she was a dead-on threat and raced as we expect her to race tonight.

Obvious for exotics, at least, if you don’t like the win price, #4 Ivana Vinalot was sharp from two 8-hole starts and launches from the 4 hole in this where you might expect a good early spot if not a path from the top.

Race 5

A deep look at #5 Tanya’s Joy reveals her recent race was a marked improvement from her first two. She gave the field a lot of early ground and was still far back in the stretch but came a trottin’ late to pick up a check in fourth. She should be in the exotic mix, at least, if she does not double down on her improvement.

Also bound for public dismissal is #3 Bella Cavalla but she has been potent at this level and, if she races back to her Aug. 18 mile, she could be the kind of surprise we like.

Race 9

Productive in five outings, #1 Simply Oatstanding seems to have a field he can finally beat for his second win of the season and if #8 Wal Finest can stay on stride they may battle late for the inches needed to win. This race is that simple for value as the morning-line (ML) choice, #7 Armbro Arya may be a false favorite all around.

Race 11

All things being equal, #6 American Fashion must be respected for the July 29 race where at 5-2 she was a capable threat, finishing second. This is a volatile group that deserves a better spread of odds than the ML delivers. Although #2 Meadowbrook Nola is still the main threat, she by no means disqualifies American Fashion as her main threat.

Race 13

There appears no safer investment in this program than #1 Dry Creek Stalker. Sometimes, the most obviously-best in the field is a good horse to beat for the win or key for exotics. Other times, a horse is so perfectly placed in a field it should dominate, if behaving while trotting, that a ML like 2-1 seems gigantic if it is offered at post time.

The same goes for the other top contender, #2 Fox Valley Britzka. An early duel at the top in his most recent mile caught up with him late, as did four other horses, while he carried favorite status. He should be in the thick of it tonight.