March Launches Exciting Exotics In The Mix For Big Profits On The Path Of Eastern Storm Warnings

We’re getting closer to the traditional opening of the stakes season with the “Levy” and Matchmaker series as March roars in, though perhaps not like a lion.

This weekend, then, we continue to pull “live” for many races with all types of harness wagers. All aboard for our popular Partners For Picks (PFP) and Power Plays (PPS), along with features that punch tickets with profits.

The horses-to-watch (H2W) list suggestions remain as serious considerations as the features, so do your own handicapping and then consider our H2W selections.

PARTNERS FOR PICKS

Saratoga / Races 3,4,5
Thursday, March 1

Let’s try to make up for last week’s atrocious three legs of Saratoga’s new meet. That was a triptych of favorite winners paying less than $3.00 (a dollar a pick). So here are our contenders for a Partners For Picks (P4P), focusing on the March 1 Pick 3, each leg a trot. Single-race exotics are also available.

Leg one, Race three
Here’s a conditioned trot that appears to be written for the two obvious morning line (ML) favorites. In an effort to thwart that, whether it’s true or not, any ticket without Back The Bank in it may be doomed from the first leg. Stepping up, technically, the Ohio-bred has a sparkling record on half-mile tracks, including a visit to “Jug” week’s state-bred action in 2017. This is a good trotter, well-bred, and for every reason seen should not go to the post near his 12-1 ML. Backing Back The Bank is a smart alternative to a common-players approach. 

Leg two, Race four
There’s no doubt that Jewells N Caviar has a great shot at delivering a win and with it a very low price but a Crazed gelding first-time starter at three cannot be dismissed. This is Striking Star, whose gelding most likely kept him from racing at two. He put in a wonderful Saratoga qualifier and is the best of the two first-timers (Spoony Love is the other), having no knocks against him. 

Leg three, Race five
Seven Roses broke her maiden in a sharp mile at Monticello right after her fourth birthday, when 2018 launched. Her recent Meadowlands race is a good on in this company and must be respected as she returns to half-mile competition. We also have an eye on Time Is Fleeting. He’s a sophomore who won his first race after leaving the Trond Smedshammer barn. He’s a well-bred Lucky Chucky product that has taken on far more talent then in this field, although he technically steps up.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES 

Saratoga / Race 6
Friday, March 2

Returning from a fifth-place finish last week, Angel Or Terror returns for one of our features, as does the horse that finished just behind her, Heavenly Bet (13-1).

Angel Or Terror was the fourth choice at 9-2 and she raced well. She refused to sit 3 lengths off the leader on the inside so she made a gallant brush three wide to chop into the leader, the favorite. The move cost her and she finished almost 10 lengths back of the winner. Bettors are likely to ignore her here, which could be a huge mistake.

Heavenly Bet was aggressive starting in that same race, going three wide into third and going first over to advance to second by ½ length at the half. The early push found her tired, though, and fading to sixth in the stretch. She gets post 8, which will depress win wagers and that is a good thing for exotics with her included. Before last week she came off of a Meadowlands win and some toss-out performances at Yonkers. At Saratoga in 2017 she was productive. .

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES 

Saratoga / Race 11
Friday, March 2

A beaten favorite on Saratoga’s first program, Our ELs Dream N was hanged to three-quarters after making up 3 lengths, at least, from settling in fourth early. He had a lot of company from movers in the second and third tiers, including the horse that would win at 7-1. From post 1 here, he should have all the energy he needs to get a good early spot close to a leader or in an attempt to control the pace from the front. He could be value at low odds and a great key for exotics.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES 

Miami / Race 3
Friday, March 2

A good second choice last week, Honey B was one of the three choices in our Power Plays race contributing to the superfecta with a fourth-place finish. Going into the race, Honey B was an obvious choice and went off at 5-2, strong for her chances. She qualified at Miami after a five-month layoff since racing at Scioto, where she was competitive against better fields. She fits this week as well as she did last week with this class after a strong brush to three-quarters put her behind three outsiders at the wire.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES 

Miami / Race 3
Saturday, March 3

Last week, we pointed out the great chances for Parkhill Lancelot and were most likely the only source on the planet to do so. We didn’t care about a post-8 launch because Parkhill Lancelot was a prolific Ohio competitor at Northfield, Dayton, Miami and Scioto. He raced once this season before last week after two good qualifiers. He returned to a suitable level and helped the exacta, trifecta and superfecta balloon in values. His ML of 6-1 was not as generous as the 13-1 offered and he was just nipped by an 8-1. With the favorite off the board, Parkhill Lancelot paid double digits to place and show, with the latter paying more than the place. He could win this race while coughing.

POWER PLAYS

Yonkers / Race 3
Saturday, March 3

Because this race looks considerably competitive, there’s a kink or two that could benefit those of us looking for horses neglected for obvious reasons. Here, in post-position order, are the four suggested contenders we measure for good prices with the exacta, trifecta and superfecta (this race also launches a Pick 4).

Azul Pool gets a ML of 12-1 and we can only hope the track handicapper made a big mistake so the gelding goes off something near the prediction. After dropping a level to finish second in this class, Azul Pool appears ready to strike. He raced well before dropping and won last at this level.

Bettorever loves to cash checks and has been a member of exotic combos in many efforts since last November. He should go off one of the top three choices but deservedly so, since he finds a path to cash in one way or another, as he did 50 percent of the time last season.

Western Hill has a few toss-out races and once you scratch them you get a string of fine efforts, a lot of them among better stock than will trudge through the four turns in this conditioner. This is a slight drop from recent races for him and his ML may be accurate but he will bring some value to the combos.

Bullet Bob will leave from Yonkers’ bettors’ cursed post 8 and so he will be branded with some terrible odds. However, he is dropping and has some excuses for losing in higher company (he also won in higher company along the way). Bullet Bob is a key to stronger exotic prices with every positive argument to be in the loop.

 
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

Buffalo
3/3/18, +Hardts Or Bettor R2; +Catch The Wave R4

Cal-Expo
3/2/18, +Totally Racy R8
3/3/18, Listentoherheart R1; Cadet R4; +Eastender R6; +Who Dat Love R9

Flamboro
3/1/18, Casimir Oppee R4; Treasure Writer R6; Gliding Senorita R9

Fraser
3/2/18, +Luna Dancer R4; +Hot A Rena R12
3/4/18, +Iamarichcamto R1

Freehold
3/2/18, Bonfire Bliss ae R1
3/3/18, +Ricimer A R9

Meadowlands
3/3/18, +Rockin Machine R2; +JDs Brent N Sheree R8; +Baggage Claim R13

Meadows
3/3/18, Trixie Dust R9
3/5/18, Stirling Diva R4; Smirking R5

Monticello
3/5/18, Samsawinner R2

Northfield
3/3/18, Audrey Anna R9; ++CG Satin R10; Caviart Scarlett R10; St Lads Gidget R13; Steuben Cindy R14

Northville
3/2/18, Atomic Rei R4; Bobbys Choice R6; Richerthanrayno R8

Pompano
3/3/18, Country Baran R1

Saratoga
3/2/18, +Hanover The Art R9
3/3/18, +EL Dartsmyboy R8

Woodbine
3/1/18, Winning Lyric R6; Girl Drama R8