Power Plays At Mohawk, Northfield; Meadowlands On Tap

 
North American harness racing continues to expand during June. We are following the openings and adding betting prospects for your wagering purposes. Our selected features are complemented by our H2W (horses-to-watch) list for your consideration toward successful win, place, show, single- and multi-race exotics. 
 

POWER PLAYS

Mohawk / Races 1—5
Thursday / June 11

Woodbine/Mohawk Park (WoMo) starts its Thursday program with rotating Pick 3s inside of a Pick 5. Here are our suggested contenders for the Pick-5 stream. All horses mentioned are recommended for single-race bets as well as combo tickets for any and all multi-race exotics.

Race 1

Cruise Captain has raced a few times at Woodbine this season. In each, he was used strenuously in the first three panels. Similar trip factors hurt him at Western Fair. He should have an easier path here from a cherished 5-hole start.

Aging Cool Rock is still looking for his first 2020 win and although he has lost to some in this field, his closing style is perfect for leaving from post 10 here.

Race 2

In their last efforts this March, Nothing But Muscle helped Mister Magic beat him by challenging him to an early duel. Mister Magic stayed in the catbird seat, letting “Muscle” move ahead. The Muscle move wearied him and he finished far back while Mister Magic won. Muscle leaves from post 6 and could start the first turn on the lead with no pressure. That could do it for Carmen Aucello—who trains both.

Price-wise, Hetties Commander has a decent chance to get into the penultimate finishing spot, even though he is stepping up into this crowded class. He has some class history and a good closing punch.

Race 3

Outsider Noneyabizzness was all right at this class in January, though suppressed by an early duel leaving from post 9. The soph son of Shadow Play never got much out of being a freshman but his experience at WoMo could begin to payoff here.

Another soph, Siddhartha, has already faired well at WoMo after out-classing his foes at Rideau-Carleton. He starts his campaign in this race for the under-rated trainer Robert Shepherd, who has this colt (from the under-rated sire So Surreal) ready to fire.

Race 4

More inexperienced youngsters hit the track in this episode among the parade of “Pick” combos. These are maiden trotters, the kind the textbooks tell you to avoid. We like them and we immediately see a reason why—Field Gunner. A first-time starter with only a time-standard qualifier where he finished eighth presents little promise (he made the time). However, this is a Kadabra colt in the hands of trainer Luc Blais. Those two elements are trustworthy; better, in fact, than any of the performance lines available from the others in the race.

Tuckers Out is obviously going to attract support and should be considered in the top three. Another first-time starter, Ongoing Royalty, has potential to pay big and win big.

Race 5

Another three-year-old contest offers a field of 10 as the Pick 5 concludes. This is a quiz box of a field, with first-time starters and beginners with unimpressive starts. An outsider with obvious promise appears to be Going Fast. Four seconds at two is a high mark in this group for those already having raced. His sire, Western Terror, is gaining in stature, too.

We would not be surprised if Northern Baccarat put in a fine effort here, certainly involving his finish as a part of exotics. As an aside, I hope if this one becomes a sire we will see a colt named Marvin Baccarat.


FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES~

Meadowlands / Race 7
Friday / June 12

In this strong field of trotters, Con Air Hall is placed well by trainer Scott Di Domenico for a first-start win of the season. He made the qualifying time at Gaitway Farms, racing with top aged division stalwarts, including the winner Winning Shadow and place-finishing Top Flight Angel.

Di Domenico may have a big challenger in the 2020 division here. Con Air Hall recorded his speed badge at Pocono and then was shipped to the minor leagues at Plainridge in 2019. Elisha Lafreniere was training for owner/trainer Mark Ford. Now, Di Domenico has the seven-year-old and is not waiting for his home track Yonkers to open for a 2020 debut.

Meadowlands / Race 8
Friday / June 12

On gait, the progeny of trotting sire Manofmanymissions are tough challengers. Their propensity to jump, of course, is inherited from their sire, who left every handicapper skeptical of which standardbred would show up—Manofmanymissions the trotter or Manofmanymissions the galloper. It was, though, many times smarter to wager with hopes the trotter stepped politely through the mile because he paid so well so often.

His sons, specifically, have been strong, though most of them played skip-to-ma-lou now and then—perhaps as homage to their speedy dad. On a smooth night, Manofmanyimages raced like his dad the trotter, and although he never square-stepped his way into high stakes ranks, he has been a good earner and a good pay pal to backers. In this race we are willing to support his 2020 season start, which we hope ends up in a winning trot.


Meadowlands / Race 8
Friday / June 9

Last season, Rich And Miserable was a successful trotter in the aged pacing division. He won the $30,000 Great Northeast Final at Pocono during a six-race win streak, beating some tough cookies. On a “sloppy” track he scored the fastest mile of the year at the Pennsylvania track. Todd Buter trained him at four and continues to campaign him at five.

Leaving from post 10, Rich And Miserable, who has won at The Meadowlands before, will be a huge price considering some of the competition. Homicide Hunter is the obvious fan favorite on the wood, with JL Cruze to his right. Ron Burke’s Mission Accepted will suck in some bucks, as will The Last Chapter, so Rich And Miserable (probably named after the Kenny Chesney song about hopes turning sour) should offer a grand price.

POWER PLAYS

Northfield / Races 5—7
Saturday / June 13

Here are some suggested contenders for the Pick 3 and any other bets associated with the multi-race exotic’s three legs.

Race 5

Shadows Mystery has been in waiting on our watch list through the hiatus. Her return on June 6 is easily dismissed; she had no chance but certainly needed the race. She’s apt to rebound into form and will do so at a price. If that’s tonight, you will get a price. Your obvious favorites, topped by Foolish Terror, fit in to the exotic mixes.

Race 6

A better path awaits Celebrity Lopez after two unimpressive Northfield races, but neither reflects what the mare can do when applied to the proper class. Here, you may see early foot and a heavy contribution to exotic combos.

Tartufo Lady is in a terrific spot, similar to where she almost beat the other public choice, Lima Moonstone, who challenges her again in here—but Tartufo Lady can leave her behind here with a smoother trip.

Race 7

Another drop for Timeless Virgin and a spot leaving from the second tier may be the two factors that matter most for another shot at winning this season.

Lucille Amarone could suck along behind tepid speed for three panels and have saved up enough ground to pull and fly late. Hard to see her out of the single-race exotics, at the least.


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

Buffalo
6/13/20, Manceiver R2; Red Roll R4; Keystone Keen R6; +Raylan Givens R11

Charlottetown
6/11/20, +Windmerenoharmdone R1; +Fear The Storm R2
6/12/20, +Still Owing R8

Grand River
6/12/20, +Oseemylucky Bo R2

Hawthorne
6/12/20, +Et Tu Brute R5; BR Flying Dali R11
6/13/20, Its Chocolate Time R1; Canadian Mountie R5

Meadowlands
6/12/20, Cartier Zette R4; Saylor R5; +Don’t Think Twice A R10
6/13/20, Trolley R11; May I Cruise West R13

Northfield
6/13/20, Merciless R2; +Official Treasure R15

Scarborough
6/12/20, No Humble Jumble R3; +Letsgetintotrouble R5

Scioto
6/11/20, Infrontandforgetit R2; Fortify R5; Homer Hall R6; Dragonfly R7; Chasin Dreams R10; Elysium Seelster R14
6/12/20, Queen Of The Pride R9

Vernon
6/11/20, Spoiler Alert R8

Woodbine/Mohawk
6/11/20, +Arcane Seelster R7
6/12/20, +Cracklin Rosie R7
6/13/20, +PL Idaho R2; +Kingofthejungle R2; +Sin City Boogie R2; +Super Shissel R6; +Easy Lover Hanover R7