More ‘Crown’ Bet-Back Cashing At Dover, Meadowlands

Thursday, Nov. 7

At Dover there were three Matron stakes for two-year-olds (one was a non-betting event). Though we encouraged our Breeders Crown alumni bet-backs with the highest odds as top choices (since there were a few in each division) just for win bets, we warned about the bet-backs being best.

It was a cold exacta for us with the favorite and second-choice bet-backs in the colt pace. The winner wasPapi Rob Hanover (2.40, $2.10, $2.10) with Cattlewash ($2.30, $2.60) second. The exacta paid $6.20.

Lyons Sentinel ($2.40, $2.10, $2.10), the bet-back favorite, won the Matron filly pace. The other bet-backs finished third and fourth, respectively. They were Hen Party ($2.40) and Looksgoodinaromper (6-1).

The favorite, bet-back Amigo Volo won the colt trot. We tried to beat him, expecting the prohibitive win mutuel, using Saxon (8-1), but that one finished fourth to the favorite.


Friday, Nov. 8

We tried to beat Manchego, the bet-back choice, in the Preferred Handicap at the Meadowlands but finished second to complete the generous $10.00 exacta with Rich And Miserable ($4.20, n/s).

Breeders Crown ’19 bet-backs have performed superbly. Though their prices were, most of the time, prohibitive, they finished on the board at a phenomenal percentage and produced exotic success when more than one raced in any particular event.


Saturday, Nov. 9

There was no contest at the Meadowlands with the bet-back power of Major Betts ($2.10, $2.10, n/s) in the Hometown feature, which had its purse hike to $80k when the colts merged with the fillies to present one division.

 
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 45 active horses (a 22-percent win hit rate and a 51-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

Favorite Uncle, $23.00, $7.30, $6.50, Yonkers
June Morning, $11.60, $7.00, $3.00, Cal-Expo
Lancaster Park, $6.80, $3.00, $2.40, Northfield
Back Up A, $6.60, $3.00, $2.20, Hoosier
Time Watch, $5.60, $3.00, $2.20, Dover
JL Cruze, $4.40, $2.80, $2.20, Meadowlands
**Unimaginable, $4.40, $19.20, $4.20 ok, Oak Grove
Ticket To Seattle, $$3.60, $2.90, $2.70, Batavia
Pretty Image, $2.90, $2.50, $2.90 ok, Batavia
Majestic Kat, $2.70, $2.50, $2.20, Batavia

**Prices are correct. In this race, there was only $60.00 wagered in the place pool. Only one $2.00 ticket was wagered to place on the favorite, Unimaginable, causing the huge place price.

Seconds

I’vegotagirlcrush, $8.20, $5.20, Hoosier
Banker Volo, $5.40, $2.20, Oak Grove
Custards Dungeon, $4.40, $3.00 (Exacta $8.30), Cal-Expo
Boots N Chains, $2.80, $2.10 (Exacta $8.60), Philly
Kissmydanceshoes, $2.80, $2.10 (Exacta $3.80), Meadows


Thirds

Awaken The Shadow, $8.60, Scarborough
BJ Rowdy, $7.20, Plainridge
Hi Ho Steverino, $6.40, Plainridge
Lazurus, $4.00, Yonkers
Melanies Fran, $3.60, Monticello
Dojea Rita, $3.20, Hoosier
Rocknroll Captain, $2.80, Vernon
Maddison Ivy, $2.40, Northville
 
 
News & Notes

The 2019 Harrisburg Standardbred Horse Sale from Hanover Shoe Farms experienced significant rises in just about every category. The $100,000 yearling is now common the past few years. After the first session of yearlings, Somebeachsomewhere’s progeny averaged over $111,000. Older, proven sires, including Dragon Again, Artsplace, Yankee Glide and Muscle Hill, had yearlings averaging over $76,000. For all the data on the yearlings and racehorse/mares, read the complete coverage in Harness Racing Update, by Ray Cotolo.

Thoroughbreds raced at the Meadowlands in the fall for he past several years, confining their races to short, turf-only meets that allowed harness racing a fall meet. The plan for next year is to convert the main track and race a longer thoroughbred meet. As a result, the Meadowlands is currently working out the details for the 2020 racing season to be presented without a fall harness meet. Standardbred dates applied for in 2020 will number the same (90) as in 2019. The season will begin Thursday, Jan. 2, racing on Friday and Saturday (with a few Thursdays added) ending on Sept. 19.

Shartin N, the six-year-old daughter of Tintin In America, hopes to end the season on a high note at the Meadowlands on Nov. 23. “We plan on being there for the TVG Mare Pace,” said co-owner Joann Looney-King. “We are going to prep at Dover on Nov. 13 if the race fills. I want [Horse of the Year (HOY) honors] so bad.” Shartin N’s main HOY foe is soph-trotting colt Greenshoe, who, like Shartin N, was defeated in the Breeders Crown. But Greenshoe has ended his season and racing career. “He probably won’t race anymore,” said trainer Marcus Melander. “He will go to Hanover now to stand stud.”

Not all soph stars are retiring. Chris Ryder, trainer of Bettor’s Wish, said the pacer will race at four. “He will be in the Matron and possibly try older horses,” Ryder said. Bettor’s Wish is the year’s richest standardbred ($1.436,445). He won elims or finals of 11 stakes races including the Breeders Crown, Meadowlands Pace, North America Cup and Messenger. Art Zubrod, a part owner of the pacer, said, “My recommendation [for putting the horse to stud] is to [test him] in the spring when he is not racing so we can get a good reading on what we can expect for the 2021 season.”

A few other active racehorses from 2019 going to stud, beside Greenshoe, include Six Pack. The older trotter will stand stud in at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey. Six Pack won close to $2 million, winning many stakes, including the Stanley Dancer, Yonkers Trot, Matron and the Kentucky Futurity. Pacer Jimmy Freight is retiring from racing and will be standing stud in Ontario at Winbak Farm. Jimmy Freight sports a career slate of 21 wins, 13 second-places and nine third-place efforts from 52 races. Jimmy Freight paced to $1,457,405 in earnings.


Extraordinary Extras

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