Northfield Rising; Scioto Scores Shine

Ohio adds Northfield Park to the abbreviated season, so we are combining a preview blog featuring suggested contenders on the opening night of Northfield, May 26, the following program, May 27, and Scioto’s May 27 H2W entries with an update blog reporting on the first two programs at Scioto, May 22 and May 23.

Keep checking the TwinSpires blog section regularly for our harness racing previews and updates, since it will not be the usual, consistent two-times a week until there are enough tracks open to provide full coverage.
 
 
FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES~

Northfield / Race R3
Tuesday / May 26

Former New York-based Odyssey Blue Chip starts his six-year-old season in the second tier, having met way better at Yonkers and Saratoga. Marion Chupp takes over the training and we hope to be offered anywhere near his 12-1 morning line (ML).

Finish Line was claimed and stayed flat in two qualifiers. Now his new connections have him in a conditioned mile to make their investment unavailable to others.

POWER PLAYS

Northfield / Races R4, 5, 6
Tuesday / May 26

This Power Plays (PP) stream is a Pick 3 that offers good single-race win bets as well as the suggested contenders fit into any single-race exotics.

Race 4
Starry Nite Teen goes for a new trainer, having been claimed last year. At that time he was cooking at Northfield and could pick it up where he left off, fast and daring.

Race 5
If you toss out the miserable outside posts Foundonabeach had in two races early this year you see a trotter with some sharp races in conditioners that fits well in this group. Sam Schillaci’s local stable must be raring to go where they do best.

Race 6
Bait A Hook steps down to a better level, though he has some excuses based on overland journeys for losing. At the Meadows he was very much alive with groups that were a smidge better than these.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES~

Northfield / Race R10
Tuesday / May 26

William Bercury’s Carolina Beach will get more play because Aaron Merriman is driving than because Bercury trains. Though it’s a good combination, Bercury is the main man behind the power of his stable and terrific stats. If this Somebeachsomewhere product goes off at a ML 4-1 it’s a gift. He is certainly worth way less.

Open-minded Barley Up is one of those perfect exotic-wager adds, having cashed in some Opens with a strong form this season.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES~

Northfield / Race 12
Tuesday / May 26

William Rhodes trains horses all over the state and collects money in so many of those races that you cannot ignore any of his entries. You may have to settle for some low prices but in fields like this, Some More Prince could be dismissed, according to the ML. Never, we say, because Rhodes can take an Iowa-bred pacer and compete among better ilk, as Some More Prince’s past performances prove this season at Northfield.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES~

Northfield / Race 3
Wednesday / May 27

No superfecta would be complete in this conditioner without Maximum Credit, hopefully leading the combo. He’s a beaten favorite dropping from some classier company at the Meadows where he put in a stinker. The rest was good and he returns here off of a strong qualifier.

Ulf Hanover is also a candidate for the top four. William Rhodes had him primed for a win when the lockdown came.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES~

Northfield / Race 6
Wednesday / May 27

Although he has not been well supported this season in two races, Archetto Hanover ended 2019 as a twice-beaten favorite due to awful trips. Those races, however, would rile this group. Here, he may go off higher than his 3-1 ML due to bettors leaning on drivers more heavily than their stock.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES~

Northfield / Race 8
Wednesday / May 27

Grapes Cherry slides into a conditioner to begin his 2020 season. He was getting his grip as the year ended and is well placed in this mile with a price, due to the overwhelming prediction that Trump’s Wall will keep the others from  crossing the finish line first.

We’ll dismiss Trump’s Wall in the exacta, too, going with Mykindanight from the second tier. This is a perfect class for him, where bettors were confident before and rightfully so, as he stayed flat chasing a leader that left the second two in the dust.


U P D A T E
Scioto, May 22

Only four races found our fancy on opening night. It was a chalky evening for bettors. We opened with a winner—Duck Duck Dragon ($4.00, $3.00, $2.60). Also in that race, ME Radar Girl ($2.60) was third.

We had a ML 9-2 shot win, but in a dead heat. Eye Ofa Tiger AS ($5.40, $5.40, $3.80 ok) shared the victory with the race favorite.

Also on the board was Up Front Flor Ida ($3.80), while Beach Bar (6-1) was seventh.

On the H2W, I Chose You ($2.60, $2.60) finished second.

Scioto, May 23

We nabbed a long-shot winner with Mosee Terror ($20.60, $7.40, $5.00) and topped it off with the $51.10 exacta, cold with Totally Kissed ($4.20, $3.80) second.

All that was left making the pay line was Oberlin ($2.80), third.

The Dark Shadow (3-1) and Hell On Wheels (5-2) finished fourth, while Sonofa Sizzle (30-1) was seventh.

On the H2W, Whiskey Friskey ($5.60) finished third.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and confirm the wagers available at the prescribed track. H2W offers possible contenders researched from reviewing races. Horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track with the date of their race and the race number (R6 ) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name, it appears on the list for the second time (horses are listed twice only if, at first, they failed to win. An “ae” signals also-eligible. Types of wagers to make are based on your judgment.

H2W LIST

Northfield
5/26/20, Major Nemesis R13; Southside Kid R 14; It’s A Good Thing R15
5/27/20, After Market R5; Ardeen R9; Mego Moss R10; Supreme Mach N R11; Don’t Dally Sally R13

Scioto
5/27/20, Perfect Artist R2; Kikimora R3; Rockinallnightlong R4; Keystone Memphis R7; Big Krell R8; McArdles Love R12