International Trot On Stage; Super State-Bred Champs Contested

All harness racing is as global as it is local . . . The Breeders Crown Countdown takes a deep breath and holds it until all of the eligble horses’ connections (and the few who are able and decide to supplement) exhale: When they make their decisions to participate in the eliminations and/or the championship events at Woodbine/Mohawk (WoMo). In the “Crown Gap,” if you will, Canada will crown its province champions with Ontario Sires Stakes (ONNS) Super Finals and Hoosier will present the Indiana Sires Stakes (INSS) finals. Northfield’s Courageous Lady presents soph-filly pacers, too. The undisputed feature of the Crown Gap this weekend, though, is the International Trot at Yonkers and two huge stakes on the same program. We are on top of it all for bettors of discretion. So it goes, the never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch (H2W) list ensues. Check the H2W for numerous outside contenders that offer many winners and pump up exotics as list members finish in crucial exotic-ticket spots. HOOSIER CHAMPS Indiana Sires Stakes (INSS) Super Final events, each worth $270,000, are the features at Hoosier Park on Oct. 11. We offer our opinion listed in the order the races are presented. Three-year-old filly pace: Trainer Shane Bowermaster sends five state-breds to post, attracting the top drivers and somewhere in the quintet presenting the favorite. We have followed and profited Dojea Rita from the series and see her as a strong outside contender here. Three-year-old filly trot: Summit City Swan has been nothing less than spectacular and still may wind up the public’s second choice, which is surely value. Two-year-old filly trot: Rock Swan and May Baby will steal the win pool, leaving a strong case for J-s Miss Carly, who will leave with instant cover from post 12 and be ready to pounce upon the early speed. Two-year-old filly pace: We were all over Foxy Rigger early in the season and stand by the filly as her sire’s percentages continue to support he will be a mighty force. Two-year-old colt trot: You may want to take a stab at Brigotto in this one. He has been productive in nine events, making a bunch and making the board six times with two wins. Two-year-old colt pace: We have seen this race before and once again look to High Impression, regardless of the public’s opinion. Three-year-old colt trot: If Shartin N can be beaten, as she was by her constant chaser in last week’s Allerage, then Swandre The Giant can be beaten on his home turf. Martini Show, then, is the bet again. Three-year-old colt pace: A simple bet-back for us in this—Rockie Got Framed. He won’t be the favorite, which is good news, but he will be deeply involved in the finish. THE GLOBAL GAIT Ten trotters from around the world are the subjects of the $1-million International Trot at Yonkers on Oct. 12. It’s a 1 ¼-miles race that presents challenges for each contestant. Those challenges, unpredictable, can make it profitable for bettors. One only has to look at last year’s model. Defending champ Cruzado Dela Noche was buried early from post 6. Two horses broke around the first turn, including the big favorite. “Noche” was in the second tier racing seventh in the field of 10. By the half, Noche was second over, fifth, while the public’s second choice, took the lead and the favorite was far back. Having an easy trip behind live cover, Noche came out of his safe spot and moved three wide into third while the top two briefly dueled. Noche only needed a step or two to pass leader Lionel (7-1) and win at 30-1. So much for the best horse or even the second best horse winning. Noche is back, so is Lionel, Marion Marauder and Slide So Easy. Added to the mix is the morning-line favorite Atlanta and the top trotter in the division to date, Guardian Angel AS. Why Atlanta is measured the favorite over “Angel” is debatable. Noche will go off again at high odds (he is only one for seven this season). Lionel, who finished second last year, has done no better. Zarcon Gio is eight for eight this year; Slide So Easy is seven for 11; Norton Commander is three for seven and Atlanta is seven for 11, while Angel is seven for 12. Italy’s Zacon Gio probably won’t get the respect he deserves to be bet more than Atlanta or Angel. Zacon Gio’s perfect winning record (a half-million dollars won in USA funds) is nothing to dismiss. Statistically, when on a streak, a horse wins the odd number of races more easily than the even number, and if you can be near certain about anything concerning a horse’s win streak, then easily conclude that the horse likes to win. We do not know if any of the 10 may break stride or a million other things, but we are pretty sure the odds will resemble the morning line. Though Angel would be a good bet even as the second choice, Zacon Gio will offer more and have math on his side to collect it. WILD ABOUT HARRY Yonkers’ Harry Harvey Invitational, also a 1 ¼-miles distance, sends 10 to the gate for $250k. These aged trotters have a lot to deal with racing in a crowd on the half-mile track, making this more even a race than can be separated by class and earnings. That being said, we turn our focus on Will Take Charge. A viable Breeders Crown candidate, a win here may send him “Crown”-bound. He has been in the top five of the division (see The Fives at Hambletonian.com) for trainer Jeff Gillis and post 11 could be a plus for the distance, especially if speed falters or if he somehow gets the lead with little effort and controls the fractions. Price-wise, he could deliver strong odds among this group. PACE PARADERS The other under-card feature at Yonkers on Oct. 12 is the $250k Dan Rooney Invitational. Eight older pacers go a standard mile. McWicked was super last week but he and the others have to deal with None Better A, Andrew Harris’s winner of a dozen in 17 starts; Micky Gee N, local-track-trainer Lance Hudson’s Aussie earner; and Jimmy Freight, who drew the rail and also comes off of a sharp race. It is another toss up from the toughest division to measure. This is why we look for a good price from a pacer the crowd will most likely dismiss among the celebrities. That horse is The Real One. Pat Lachance’s pacer has been on the board 12 times in 19 races, with four wins, places and shows. He is apt to get a good spot early and could save precious ground as the top ones breathe heavily to stay afloat late. BRAVE BELLES The field for the $120k Courageous Lady at Northfield on Oct. 12 does not include national division beauties, nor does it contain more than seven soph-filly pacers. For those reasons, it could present a decent paying winner. The probable favorites from the public include JK American Beauty, Nancy Johansson’s New York-bred and one of that one’s sires-stakes foes, So Awesome. The third choice is most likely Skater Chick, who is new to the Ohio track. Ron Burke entered a pair of his second-tiered class gals, She’s Allright and Rose Run Uptowngal. We cashed on “Rose” during the season, when she raced in classier company than this field. Her 6-1 morning line may be a conservative measure for her closing odds, especially leaving from post 7. She will go off as a greater risk and bring value to exotics, even with the aforementioned public choices. SUPER CHAMPS The $225,000 ONSS Gold Super Finals line the Oct. 12 program at WoMo. There are eight division finals for which we offer our opinion, listed in the order the races are presented. Three-year-old filly trot: Presto Change has seen a tough road to get here, where she may have a slight class edge from the journey. Two-year-old filly pace: Alicorn makes a Crown-gap stop at this race and towers over this field, having only Karma Seelster to tolerate until the finish line. Two-year-old filly trot: Outsider She Rocks Kemp should offer the best value, partially due to leaving from post 10 and partially due to the fillies leaving from posts 1 to 3, who will share a lot of the major betting dollars. Two-year-old colt pace: YS Mathis is one of the best Sportswriter products in a spell. He has to beat himself to lose this one. Two-year-old colt trot: Port Perry is a Kadabra colt that has been racing under the radar, making a batch of money and could make a batch more in this Crown-gap event, paying well for bettors, too. Three-year-old colt pace: Considering the vast array of talent Stag Party has raced against outside of the Ontario-breds in the division, this group is soft. Stag Party has been deeply involved in a lot of races, cashing fully without winning. This could be his sophomore zenith and will certainly be worth the price. Three-year-old colt trot: Hambletonian-champ Forbidden Trade does not have this one in any kind of bag because he will have to struggle with his hometown class as much as he has struggled with all of the better horses defeating him since the August classic. For price and purpose, we will take Southwind Avenger. Even from post 10, he could shine here. Three-year-old filly pace: Sunny Dee has been consistent and consistently backed through the season. Though disappointing, she still may be the best of this very soft division. Hopefully, the strong support for her that has produced little, will turn into a big overlay. 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 10/11/19, +Barn Beast R4 10/12/19, Royal Machery R2 Dayton 10/10/19, +Passionate Deo R7 10/11/19, +Up Front Flor Ida R10 Freehold 10/11/19, +Lookout Stokk Zone R7; +Dr Grinch R10 10/12/19, Northern Jack R4; +B’s Weddie R6 Meadowlands 10/11/12, +Captain Barbossa R2; +Senorita Rita R5; Winndevie R7; +Marloe Hanover R10 10/12/19, +The Saint R2; +Geez Joe R8 Meadows 10/12/19, Sapphire City R5; +Bambino Joe R6; Stirling Escort R11; Enoch R11 Monticello 10/10/19, American Champ R2 Northfield 10/12/19, Champagne Shower R6; Nutmegs Yankee R14; Danger Strike R14 10/13/19, Miss B R13 Northville 10/11/19, Crystal Rei R10; Faith Prevails R10; +Northern Matador R11; Bo Nanza Chip R12 Philly 10/10/19, +Tyson R6; Nomo Volo R6 Plainridge 10/10/19, Wartech R1 10/11/19, Burkes Bandit R4; +Southern Swan R4; +Midnite Craze R9 Pocono 10/12/19, R Bazingga R1 10/14/19, Sabrina Deo R6 Saratoga 10/10/19, Cash Crazy Express R3 Vernon 10/11/19, +Quid Pro Quo R13 Yonkers 10/10/19, March Awareness R2; Love Trumps Hate R2; Linkjack Hanover R3; Cisco Pal R4 10/12/19, +Control Tower R12