International Trot Headlines Big Yonkers Program; State And Province Super Finals On Parade

With the Breeders Crown elims a week away, raceway circuits look to settle local crowns. Indiana and Ontario holds super finals and New York gathers its best for state-bred finals at Yonkers, where also gather world-wide stars for the $1-million International Trot. In Ohio, Northfield welcomes filly pacers for the Courageous Lady.

A few other events with eligible horses reaching out for bigger earnings are the subjects of our Breeders Crown Countdown blog. Follow our features’ contenders seriously, they have proven to play important roles in all kinds of wagers.

Our contenders are also valuably presented in our regular feature—the H2W (the horses-to-watch) list, always located at the bottom of this blog. Be able to boost the payoffs in any pari-mutuel pool. Do your own handicapping and then consider our H2W selections when playing your bets. Of course, remember to be fully armed with a plentiful TwinSpires betting account.

INDIANA EPISODES

The Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals offer $220,000 each and take place on Friday, Oct. 13 at Hoosier Park. Here, in the order of their appearance on the program, let’s condense the analysis of two- and three-year-old events.

Two-year-old filly trot
Custom Cantab was second for us last week in a sub-final and should be on top for the big money against similar foes.

Two-year-old filly pace
A big performance last week for our contender Voom Or Bang means less of a price this time around but maybe even a better performance.

Three-year-old colt trot
Ideal Jesse was third last week to first and second favorites and may be overlooked as much here.

Two-year-old colt trot
This is a very contentious affair with three in the second tier, where we find an outside contender, Fun Time Charlie, may have the best trip at a price as he improves.

Three-year-old filly pace
If Rockin N Runnin makes it into this (as opposed to Race 3’s eligible mile), take her here. If not, or as an exacta add, consider Pretty Image.

Three-year-old colt pace
Dave And Dennis is better than 50-percent in the money and in a great spot to upend the three obvious choices,

Three-year-old filly trot
Swan Defined could be overlooked considering some of the local heroes involved with obvious favorites, so take her for the upset.

Two-year-old colt pace
Rockin Inthe Hills is as good as the best here but should go off at a better price than usual against them.

DAN PACE & HARRY TROT

Complementing the New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) night of champions finals at Yonkers on Oct. 14 are the Dan Rooney Pace ($250,000) and Harry Harvey Trot ($250,000) for the rugged veteran divisions.

Eight go in the “Dan,” led by top money earner in the bunch, Bit Of A Legend N and followed closely by multiple-stakes-winning buddies of the older pacing ilk. Sitting in the graced 5 hole is Missile J, who made his bones on the Empire State half mile and has been flirting strongly with another big win since traveling. He should offer a fair price here, as Sintra gets the rail, Somewhere In LA gets the 2 hole, Keystone Velocity gets the 3 hole and All Bets Off gets the 4 hole.

The “Harry” sends 10 trotters (two in the second tier), as an overture for the million-dollar trot following on the program. There are a few relative strangers in the fold, including Dia Monde, Money Maven, Cash Me Out, Buen Camino and Charmed Life—all six-digit winners, by the way. The truly popular competitors are Crazy Wow, Musical Rhythm and from post 10, Homicide Hunter, the penultimate top earner of the bunch.

The other horse is Lookslikeachpndalte, who ignited a giant trifecta in the Hambletonian program (you may recall we suggested a win bet on him in the John Cashman and his show position from post 10 helped create a $1,318.00 combo).

Crazy Wow may come up the public choice but this is no joy ride for him. The flow of this field will determine the winner but it’s a difficult forecast as to what will develop. No matter, a good price on Dia Monde may be the best approach to a win bet. Ten for 14 in the money with a 36-percent win rate, along with a strategic trotting style could be the way to go.

GLOBAL TROT MEET

The $1-million International Trot attracts world-wide older champion trotters because the invaders fear not the turns involved in a 1 ¼-miles journey on a half-mile track with a field of 10.

Resolve (USA) is back to defend his title and on the rail with two trailers, is Marion Maurader (Canada). Regardless of the huge talent in the tons of horseflesh leaving the gate, we will concentrate on the trotter we had last year, who finished second to Resolve, Oasis Bi. The nine-year-old has blue blood and a penchant for Yonkers, so even though he has not had the sterling season he had last year, he will again be a threat at the New York oval. His driver, Kim Erikssen said he thinks Oasis Bi is “in as good of form now as he was [last year].”

Also in the field are Dreammoko (France), Twister (Italy), On Track Piraten (Sweden), Midnight Hour (Finland), Tripolini VP (Denmark), Shadow Woodland (Finland) and In Secret (USA). The latter will be driven by George Brennan, a verified veteran and champ on this oval and a serious danger of being a part of some exotic combo at a big price.
 
EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Let’s condense the analysis of the NYSS finals, each worth $225,000 a division, in the order of their appearances at Yonkers on Oct. 14.

Two-year-old colt pace
Jersey Jim should be a valuable wager here considering his low profile connections.

Two-year-old filly pace
American Ideal filly Alexis Faith gets post 7. The Casie Coleman-trained gal should handle the post and a softer field than usual.

Two-year-old filly trot
Four of eight fillies come from the Ake Svanstedt barn. Still, Linda Toscano’s Lima Novelty may be the bet and take it all.

Three-year-old filly pace
Clear Idea has not been off the board this year and with the 7 hole could be a strong third or worse public choice.

Two-year-old colt trot
Perlucky has had a few hard-luck trips but got to the final and could surprise with a big mile for Trond Smedshammer, who may be priming a 2018 Hambletonian contender.

Three-year-old colt pace
See Breeders Crown Countdown blog

Three-year-old colt trot
See Breeders Crown Countdown blog

Three-year-old filly trot
Mamora Bay won’t be admired much by the public but has a big shot at the biggest NYSS purse for the division.

BUCKEYE LADY

Northfield chooses a busy evening of stakes across the country (Oct. 14) to highlight its Courageous Lady affair, where soph-filly pacers hunt the Flying Turns for $120,000. Other commitments could be the reason for eight relatively unknowns from the division where Bettor’s Up will go as the choice for Scott McEnery.

Recognizable to all, however, is Ron Burke, who trains two from the field, both which may be dismissed as the 7 and 8 posts are not the most attractive to the crowd. A morning line of 10-1 for Burke’s Rosemary Rose (post 7) seems a bit high but if accurate could provide a chance to pick up a Burke win with a strong return. The crowd most likely will back Al-mar-got A Fever and Ella Christina behind Bettor’s Up.

ONTARIO GOLD RUSH

Ontario Sires Stakes (ONSS) Super Finals adorn the Oct. 14 Mohawk program. Each mile is worth $225,000. Here, in the order of their appearance on the program, let’s condense the analysis of two- and three-year-old events.

Two-year-old filly trot
Per Henriksen’s Illusioneesta is a Kadabra filly in the growing stable of the veteran trotting conditioner and should make a winning go at this bunch.

Three-year-old colt trot
Mister Muscle will not get the kind of attention he would receive were he to leave from an inside post so his price will be right. He’s a blueblood with much potential.

Three-year-old filly pace
Blameitonthenight is in a great spot and in great shape for Tony Alagna and should produce profit here.

Two-year-old colt pace
Shadow Moon comes from a profitable sire of the frosh kind (Shadow Play) and Dr. Moore is bound to send him out gliding with pace, hopefully at a price.

Two-year-old colt trot
The only Glidemaster son in this field, Speed N Glide, could devour these in either style while being ignored due to some foes with brand-name connections.

Three-year-old filly trot
Tymal Reign is another hot property from the Henriksen barn and she will be winging when it matters most in the mile.

Two-year-old filly pace
Bill Robinson sends Machnhope away at what should be a huge price, especially from post 10. This Mach Three gal has built-in speed.

Three-year-old colt pace
This mile should be a battle among many, so we will take a shot with Tony O’Sullivan’s Calvin K, who has as good a shot as any here and may be an overlooked contender.


H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W LIST

Batavia
10/13/17, One Summers Chance R8
10/14/17, +Maradona R3; Spring Terror R4; Bakken R7; Art Again R11

Charlottetown
10/14/17, +Lisburn R5

Dayton
10/13/17, +Herlin R1

Harrington
10/12/17, +My Sugar Daddy R11; Cool Reward R12

Hoosier
10/13/17, +Rockin N Runnin R3

Meadows
10/14/17, Officially Yours R3; Bilbo Hanover R11

Monticello
10/12/17, +Rosie Rozzo R9
10/16/17, Anja R3

Northfield
10/14/17, +Lots To Live For R7
10/15/17, +A Dandy Bryer R8

Northlands
10/14/17, +Awhimaway ae R7; +Emmas Big Girl R7

Philadelphia
10/12/17, Western Bayama R8; +Shes In For Life R11

Plainridge
10/12/17, +Keystone Ace R3
10/13/17, Bear King R1; Shooby Said R2; Devils Embrace N R3

Pocono
10/14/17, Possessed Fashion R12

Rideau Carleton
10/12/17, Dustylane Msvickie R7

Saratoga
10/14/17, +Save The Date R11
10/15/17, Traverse Seelster R6