Matchmaker Wins Are Common Again; ‘Levy’ Picks Play Exotics Roles; $53 Bomb Leads Price Parade

Left over from last weekend’s horses-to-watch list (H2W) was a shipper from Monticello to Pocono. On Monday, April 1, the last day of our blog’s coverage, Stitch In Time won at 25-1 (see H2W results below) to take the week’s biggest win price. Here’s the success and failure rundown from our covered features: Thursday, April 4 Our Power Plays for the Hoosier Daily Double (DD)and single-race exotics turned into a one-for-two proposition in mathematic order. In Race 1 the favorite beat our choice, Townline Blue Boy (30-1). In the second half of the DD we offered what became the favorite, Townline Flyinlady ($3.40, $2.40, $2.10), to complete a meager DD reward. Watch for fresh Hoosier picks and bettors’ deals in the upcoming preview blog; Friday, April 5, In the penultimate leg of the Matchmaker Series at Yonkers, with only three divisions, prices were skim because of dominant mares. We tried to beat our second choice, Don’t Think Twice A ($3.30, $2.10, $2.10 ok) but she was best, while our upset-and-exotic possibility, Obvious Blue Chip (36-1), finished fourth. Second to the favorite in the middle division, we ignited a $12.00 exacta with Betterb Chevron N ($3.00, $2.30). Nailing a cold exacta in the third division was so easy it paid merely $5.40. Our order was Shartin N ($2.20, $2.10 n/s) atop Kaitlyn N ($3.40, n/s). Make note on the exacta value because Kaitlyn N was the third choice at 9-1. We attempted a maneuver to raise the price of a triple with Seaswift Joy N (6-1) but she finished seventh, surprisingly going off as the second choice. Saturday, April 6 The Levy series’ fourth-leg offerings were contained in four divisions this week. We were in the thick of the divisions, beginning with the first. We were second to the favorite with Major Crocker A ($4.10, $3.00), which spawned an exacta worth $17.60. In division two we were third with More The Better N ($4.00). The winner went off 8-1 and the race favorite was second. The third episode found our top selection, Don Domingo N, scratched, leaving his biggest threat to come in second at great odds. That was Ideal Jimmy ($5,80, $3.00), beaten a nose by a 15-1 shot with a cover trip closing on speedballs burning out from fast fractions. Finally, we were second again in the nightcap, beaten by the favorite. Our contribution to a meager $5.00 exacta was Gokudo hanover ($2.50, n/s). H2W LIST RESULTS The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas listed are included when a H2W horse finishes second with a race favorite or the first two finishers making up the exacta are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete a cold exacta). The note “ok” determines that prices published are correct even when a show price exceeds a place price or any or all of the prices are the same. This week, there were 60 active horses (a xx-percent win hit rate and a xx-percent ATB [across-the-board] hit rate). Please note that some H2W results reflect win, place, show and exotic results occurring by press time but some horses race after the blog is posted (we list them the following weeks) It is up to you to follow horses that have not performed before this weekly review. Winners Stitch In Time, $53.40, $21.60, $4.80, Pocono Rough Odds, $17.60, $6.60, $4.00, Meadowlands Dexter Jolt, $11.40, $5.80, $2.90, Monticello Bo Mach, $8.90, $3.90, $2.90, Yonkers Rockefeller Lindy, $8.80, $4.60, $3.00, Meadows Queen Lostris N, $8.50, $4.00, $3.20, Yonkers Vodka Is Terror, $8.40, $3.80, $3.60, Meadows Winnerup, $5.20, $2.60, $2.80 ok, Philly Just My Shadow, $3.90, $2.80, $2.50, Mohawk Anarchy Hanover, $3.40, $2.60, $2.20, Miami Ultimate Credit, $2.40, $2.10, $2.10 ok, Saratoga Seconds Lulu De Vie, $9.00, $5.20, Freehold Part Time, $7.20, $6.60, Pompano Heaven Rocks, $7.10, $3.60, Buffalo Bubeleh Stone, $5.70, $5.50 (Exacta $22.20), Buffalo Sometimesawinner, $3.70, $2.90 (Exacta $14.80), Yonkers Bettors Pride, $2.80, $2.20, Freehold Trotting Grace, $2.80, $2.10 (Exacta, $4.60), Hoosier RU Talkin, $2.60, $2.10, Pocono Swapportunity, $2.40, $2.40 ok, Hoosier Thirds Rascal Flatter, $8.20, Pompano Wishy Washy Girl, $2.50, Yonkers Indian Spirit, $2.40, Miami Artful Way, $2.10, Saratoga News & Notes On April 9, Churchill Downs Incorporated, in partnership with Keeneland, breaks ground on a $150-million, state-of-the-art racing venue in Oak Grove, Ky. The name of the facility, along with branding, will also be unveiled. It will feature up to 1,500 historical racing machines beginning in 2020; a 125-room hotel; a 1,200-person seated capacity grandstand; and space for indoor events. There is also a 3,000-person capacity amphitheater and a state-of-the-art equestrian center, including indoor and outdoor arenas. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission awarded a license to Churchill/Keeneland for 12 live harness dates beginning in October 2019. Plainridge Park opens its doors to the 2019 harness racing meet on Apr. 8, celebrating its 20^th year hosting the sport. The 2019 meet features 108 days of harness racing every Monday, Thursday and Friday through Nov. 29. Sunday racing will be added from Sept. 29 through Oct. 27. First race post time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on all race days through August. It will then move to 2:00 p.m. during September and October and move to 1:00 p.m. for the final month of racing in November. Plainridge will offer wagering opportunities which include the 20-cent Jackpot Wicked Hi-5, which will now be offered twice daily in races six and nine. It will also host the Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) starting in September. Donttellmeagain was the last horse to win a race and beat 2018 Harness Horse of the Year McWicked. On April 2, Donttellmeagain qualified sharply in an April 2 qualifier for his 2019 bow. The gelding qualified at Philly, winning in 1:52.2. Tim Tetrick drove the Jim King, Jr. trained pacer. Donttellmeagain is a five-year-old son of Dragon Again and should be expected to meet his headlining foe, McWicked, in older paces as soon as McWicked returns to action. Woodbine Entertainment released an updated list of eligible sophomore pacers for the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup. There are, as of this writing, 78 “Cup”-eligible three-year-old pacers following the first sustaining payment. Metro Pace winner Stag Party and Breeders Crown champion Captain Crunch are the obvious headliners on the list of eligible sophomores. Other notable pacers paid up include Blood Money, Capitano Italiano, Captain Ahab, De Los Cielos Deo, Goldberg, Mohawk Seelster, Proof, Rogue Cheddar, Sports Jacket, and Yacht Week. The $1 million Pepsi North America Cup is scheduled for Saturday, June 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Eliminations are scheduled to take place a week prior on June 8. Extraordinary Extras Indulge in my monthly columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet at Harness Racing Update