North America Cup Leads Mohawk Parade Of Elims; Ohio Battleground At Northfield

The stakes-heavy weekend has a lot of early-season and highly regarded stars going at it Canada, including three eliminations for glamour-boy pacers trying for a berth in the $1-million North America Cup. Mohawk is steaming with divisions in stakes action June 13, including elims for the glamour-girl pacers for the Fan Hanover Final. Older femme pacers ride hard in Roses Are Red elims older filly trotters are on fire in the Ambro Flight.

The sophomore trotters racing on the Hambletonian Trail have their own blog here at TwinSpires. Their presence at Mohawk this weekend comes in eliminations for the Goodtimes Final. The exclusive blog covers other events for Hambo hopefuls from Pocono. There are great betting races for the classic divisions—soph-colt-and-filly trotters. It’s exclusive, extended coverage from TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society.

Across the border Northfield holds a special Friday program for one of their signature events, the Battle of Lake Erie, with some of the veteran pacers we have come to know and love—though we are not loyal to any of them.

Overnight racing continues to present profits and our exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list publishes serious contenders for winning in across-the-board/exotic action. Please peruse the list and don’t miss out on exciting probabilities from our personal files.

TwinSpires also continues to team with Hoosier Park for another season of player perks. Click here to check it out. A spring special offers free harness past performances through June. Click here to take advantage of the deal.

North America Cup Trio

Each “Cup” elim is worth $50,000, fields of eight in each.

Right off the bat we get the field with Wiggle It Jiggleit and that throws off all speculation. The Teagues’ colt hasn’t lost at three and there is no reason why he won’t put a lot of space between him and the rest of the field at the finish line. Local-hero Casie Coleman has Arque Hanover here, so he could be in the top four bet. Ron Burke and Tony Alagna have one each and the name recognition should decide the bettors’ top four. All that is left is Hurrikane Ali, who may be let go at far more than his chances and perhaps offers a true threat to the “Wiggle” streak.

The second elim is very competitive. In The Arsenal will be all out and Go Daddy Go leaves from the rail (he was second from post 10 last week in a Somebeachsomewhere division). The Wayfaring Man is improving and our $45-place horse, Penji Hanover, seeks an opportunity to save ground and topple the giants. “Daddy” looks better than last week but upset conditions could more support an honest win from The Wayfaring Man, which is the way to go for a price.

The trio of glamour-boy displays hands us another monster, Artspeak. If all things go fairly obvious, the final will have on hell of a field, with highly regarded colts and improving colts. Artspeak deals with Traceur Hanover here, and post 1 goes to Wakizashi Hanover, a strong soph so far in 2015. Pierce Hanover gets post 8 after scratching last week. Where does that leave us? This is a definitive mile in that Artspeak can show he is the dominating colt he was at two and go into the final ready to show Wiggle how to really shake. We will look at exotics for price, using Artspeak as a key and “Wakizashi” along with Betting Exchange to pump the prices.

Fan Hanover Elims

The Cup’s filly platform is the Fan Hanover and two $35,000 eliminations at Mohawk, also on the Cup-elims card, will decide the final’s field.

Nine soph-filly pacers go in round one. The focus is on last season’s Horse of the Year, Jk Shesalady. It’s an easy mile for the stupendous gal and not a lot of money is going into the race without her number on a ticket. Also involved is our $82 winner from last week, The Show Returns. Overpaying at 40-1, she probably has not improved enough to storm over “Jk.” She could be a piece of the exotics, along with the second tier of contenders, Sassa Hanover, Bettor Be Steppin and Bedroomconfessions. Mix ‘em as you choose, with “Steppin” the major upset possibility.

In the second split, Happiness comes back after a disappointing loss in The Show Returns race. Trainer Burke has her and Storm Point in this even field. Although stuck with post 9, Deli Beach should be a major factor at a good price. We’re giving her the go in this important race for the division, because she is a contender and the betting will shy from her.

Blooming ‘Roses’

Two elims worth $35,000 each decide the Roses Are Red Final’s field at Mohawk on June 13. Seven pacing mares go in round one, with veteran Anndrovette getting the inside draw. Radar Contact comes off of a great win in an Open at the Meadowlands and should get plenty of action. Takter’s Weeper, the favorite in that race, may not be backed as well and could be the true value, especially with money going to “Ann” and Yagonnakissmeornot.

In round two it is a challenge to make a strong odds line. There are good arguments for Sandbetweenurtoes, Krispy Apple and Venus Delight. Also, Colors A Virgin ships in from Indiana and she fits in well with this ilk. Racing with better than she has been in Indiana should make her race better and there’s a chance she will offer some good money, good enough to back.

Battle In Ohio

The $175,000 Battle Of Lake Erie is set to go this Friday at Northfield Park, attracting the likes of Foiled Again and State Treasurer, both opulent pacers in their divisions. But Foiled Again is coming in off a bumpy start to his 2015 season, and State Treasurer will start from post 7. This is a race where anyone can claim the top share of the purse.

Our contender in this event is the Somebeachsomewhere four-year-old Cammikey, starting from post 2. He has won three races in a row at the Meadows near or on the front, with his most recent win being against their top pacers. The key going over the Northfield oval is a pocket trip and with this horse’s speed and post he may receive the perfect journey on the half-mile.

Fillies In Flight

On Friday, June 12, two eliminations for the Armbro Flight will be contested at Mohawk. The elims feature seventeen mare trotters in total.

The opening elimination will be the mares versus Bee A Magician, who ships in off a win in the Charlie Hill Memorial against male trotters at Scioto. Yet, she seemed vulnerable after putting in an easy mile, and could be put into a similar situation here. One mare that could make for an awkward encounter in the stretch is Allie Labrook, who set a track record at Hoosier Park in an Invitational a few weeks back. She is among the sharper mares in this field, and may be the lone trotter that can challenge Bee A Magician.

Shake It Cerry headlines the second elim off a 1:51.4 score in the second prelim of the Graduate series at the Meadowlands. She is among two other sharp mares that will likely take money in this race, Rockin With Dewey and Charmed Life. Outside of all of them is Frau Blucher, who we will direct our attention towards. She won an Open at Pocono in wire-to-wire fashion. Off that strong effort, she may be ready to return to the stakes level.

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

Bangor
6/12/15, Lifeontherange R1; Beauxarts Hanover R3

Buffalo
6/12/15, Livefreeordiehard R2; Put It In Gear R4
6/13/15, Schooner Or Later R11
 
Century
6/12/2015, My Boss R6; Make It So R6
6/13/2015, B R Money Matters R4; Escalante R5; Bruadar R8; Cenalta Fireworks R9; Lust R9; Shaleslittlespirit R10

Charlottetown
6/11/15, Van Zandt R8
6/13/15, Windemere Jolt R2; A Teachers Pet R4; After Lunch Larry R5; This Bird Will Fly R5

Hoosier
6/10/15, +Goldengear R14
6/11/15,  +Meadowbrook Shiela R3
6/12/15, Er Monica R3; Cielle R6; Indy Rocker Girl R9

Meadowlands
6/12/15, +Lindy Land R2; +Aldebaran Eagle R4; +Americanautomation R10

Meadows
6/12/15, +Magic Will Work ae R5

Northfield
6/12/15, Friskie Til Dawn R2; Bell Flower R2; Bella Quick R4; Lisa Jane R6; Finefeelinfriskied R8

Ocean
6/14/15, +Nuclear Attraction R7

Philadelphia
6/10/15, +Seagram R4
6/11/15, Cabbies Delight R9
 
Plainridge
6/11/15, +Leihla Seelster R6; +Tropical Trice R9

Pocono
6/10/15, +Chocolate Xplosion R1

Running Aces
6/13/15, Queen Of Denial R1; Tawa Road R2; +Dark Prince R3; Da Terror R3; +Donna Letsgo R6

Saratoga,
6/12/15, Iced Out R1; +Blueridge Jezabel R4; Haymaker R12

Scarborough
6/11/15, Daughty Hanover R6

Scioto
6/10/15, +Sectionline Jeg R4
6/11/15, +Stop The Traffic R9; +Sts Frankie R11
6/12/2015, +Atlas Peak R2; Garbo R8; Thats My Girl G R8; Ponda’s Image R11; Mama Said R11
6/13/2015, A Bettor World R1; Manipulator R1; Big Green Tractor R4; Lucky Lime R9; Docs Bonanza ae R9; Docs Bonanza ae R10; Sharp Returns R12.

Vernon
6/12/15, Won Sweet Dream R3
6/13/15, Ulster R5

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.