Pair Of 15-1 Shots, Series Scores, Headline Productive Profits

Our feature contenders over the weekend did well, though offering some unpredicted prices. “Levy” winners at Yonkers on April 18, the last round of the series prelims.

We thought the longest price we could get was from Mach It So in the first division but the crowd went for him as their choice ($5.20, $3.20, $2.60), so we gave you the favorite. Then, we left it up to the player whether or not to go for PH Supercam, who is looking to sweep the series, based on how strongly he would be the favorite. We were as shocked as anyone to see him go off the second choice. We were not surprised to see him win ($6.80, $3.50, $2.10) as a tremendous overlay. In the third division we were second with Domethatagain ($2.90, n/s/), contributing with the favorite for a $6.20 Exacta.

Saturday-night wins weren’t over for TwinSpires harness-blog followers. At the Meadowlands, in the Whata Baron series’ second split we nailed Bettorever ($8.80, $3.80, $2.80) after losing with the first-division pick, Cheyenne Seeber (fifth at 22-1) to the crowd’s choice. Also at the Meadowlands, from the horses-to-watch list (H2W) we scored with Jewels In Hock at double digits (see below).

At Pocono in the Bobby Weiss Final we were third with Vance Bayama ($5.00). We were last in the Matchmaker division at Yonkers on April 17 with Palm Patrol (24-1).

The H2W list topped all prices with $30-plus winners at Hoosier and Scarborough. Plus, look at the place prices on some of the horses finishing second. They include two strong Exacta prices. The H2W list has proven to be a strong source for across-the-board plays to deliver profits.

In between published harness blogs, follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter.

H2W LIST RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas are included when a H2W horse finishing second completes the result 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 the exacta). The note “ok” determines that prices published are correct even when a show price exceeds a place price. This week, there were 51 active horses.

Please note that some H2W results reflect win, place and/or show results occurring after press time and that it is up to you to follow those horses that have not performed before this weekly review is posted.

Winners

Sweet Jon, $35.80, $3.40, $2.60, Scarborough
Window Wiper, $33.80, $10.40, $4.60, Hoosier
Jewels In Hock, $15.80, $8.60, $5.00, Meadowlands
Valdidus Deo, $7.00, $3.10, $2.90, Yonkers
Rascam Cyndee, $6.20, $6.80 ok, $3.40, Rosecroft
Big N Bad, $4.70, $4.80 ok, $3.70, Yonkers
Power Everywhere, $3.00, $2.20, $2.10, Northfield
Prvo, $3.00, $2.40, $2.10, Northville
Anndrovette, $2.90, $2.80, n/s/, Yonkers

Seconds

JC Kingdom, $7.60, $5.00 (Exacta $38.80), Freehold
Soap Suds, $7.00, $5.40 (Exacta $51.00), Northville
Doo Wop Hanover, $5.60, $5.40, Meadowlands
Lord Rave, $4.60, $3.80, Northville
Twice Too Nice, $4.10, $2.30, Vernon
Diamond Brady, $3.00, $2.10, Maywood
Go Both Ways, $3.00, $2.60, Freehold
Escada De Vie, $2.50, $2.20, Vernon

Thirds

Double Dribble, $8.60, Philadelphia
Tymal Torch, $7.90, Buffalo
Exhibitionist, $7.60, Meadows
VCs Scooter, $4.40, Hoosier
Dakota Run, $4.20, Maywood
Jds First Lady, $3.20, Miami
Mr Nice Guy, $2.60, Scarborough
Arts Delight, $2.50, Buffalo

News & Notes

Minnesota’s Running Aces, a five-eighths mile track about 25 miles north of the Twin Cities, will begin its 2015 harness season on June 6 and go through Sept. 12, totaling 53 programs and over $2 million in purses. The barn area will open on May 27 with a qualifying session scheduled for May 30 at noon. The track’s director of racing, Gregg Keidel said he expects “…our eighth year will be a lot like the first seven, an exciting season of racing in a wonderful summer setting.”

Scarborough Downs in Maine, which opened a meet recently, announced that a horse shortage in New England is a serious issue at the track. Scarborough was forced to cancel it April 17 card due to a lack of entries. According to a release from the track, April 17 will mark the third-consecutive Friday that Scarborough had to cancel its Friday live program. “With only 51 horses entered for Friday, any card we put together would have been cobbled and would also have jeopardized our ability to put together stronger cards for the remainder of the weekend,” Steve Cobbett, speaking on behalf of the track, said.  Scarborough spokespersons said that the ability to fill races appears to be challenging at present and for the future. With Bangor Raceway set to open a meet with a proposed three-day-a-week schedule in just over two weeks, the outlook for full fields is grim.

Vernon Downs is open again and will again host the trotting divisions of the Empire Breeders Classic (June 21), along with the Zweig Memorial Trot, slated for July 26. The Aug. 21 card features a trio of top events – the Crawford Farms Trot, the Muscle Hill Mares Trot and the Artiscape Open Mare Pace. Vernon will again host the New York Sire Stakes Excelsior Series finals on Sept. 19, the Simpson Stakes on Oct. 16 and the Kindergarten Classic trotting finals on Oct. 1. Additionally, Vernon will play host to a full complement of New York Sires Stakes preliminary events for pacers and trotters. Racing takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings through closing night, Nov. 21, with Sunday afternoon cards added from mid-May through the end of August and Wednesday evening cards added in September and October.

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

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