Public Choices Swarm Elims In Canada; Hambo Trail Picks Across The Board; $36 Cold Buffalo Exacta; 46% ‘Watch’ Rate

We will catch up where we left of last week in the Hambletonian Trail (HT) section, since there were multiple HT blogs; otherwise, we report the rundown of successes and failures from our preview TwinSpires harness reports. Friday, June 7 Mohawk presented mare trotters with two elims for next week’s Armbro Flight final. In the first contest, super-favorite Atlanta won for fun and we completed the $4.20 exacta with Plunge Blue Chip ($2.80, n/s). The second choice took the second elim. Ice Attraction (10-1) disappointed us by finishing off the grid, sixth. Saturday, June 8 Mohawk’s program of eliminations was testimony to the sharpness of harness bettors everywhere. Not so much for us. We did win one with a little luck added to talent, as we took the first North America Cup elim with Bettor’s Wish ($8.60, $4.80, $5.70 ok). The luck involved was a break by huge-favorite Captain Crunch, who came back to make the final, finishing fifth. In the second “Cup” elim, the public choice won easily, while our choice, Caviart Rockland (9-1), finished sixth. Both Fan Hanover elims went to the public choices. Our choices did not make the final. Summer Charm (46-1) and Sunny Dee (5-1) finished seventh and sixth, respectively in their miles. The Roses Are Red prep found us second with Caviart Ally ($ Northfield’s Battle of Lake Erie was also a crowd-pleasing mile, with the public choice in the winner’s circle. Our pick, Rodeo Rock (4-1), had a tough trip on the outside, finishing seventh. HAMBLETONIAN TRAIL We began covering soph-trotters early in the week, on June 3, at Monticello, where three New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) for colts offered $37,000-plus each. In the first split we were third with Livinonthedash (n/s) while the favorite won and our exacta partner finished second. One White Knight ($5.50) completed the $33.40 exacta. JNR Express (13-1) was fourth. We won the second NYSS mile with the favorite, Mr Vickto ($2.30, $2.10, $2.10 ok), while we missed the exotics when Captain Krupnik ($2.80) finished third and Skyway Kon Man (8-1) broke stride, finishing sixth. In the last split we were third to the favorite with Cavill Hanover (n/s). At Mohawk in the Goodtimes elims we won with Pilot Discretion ($3.20, $2.40, $2.10). In the other elim a 5-1 upset defeated the highly regarded favorite Swandre The Giant, while our 5-2 shot, Super Schissel, finished fourth. 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 70 active horses (a 17-percent win hit rate and a 46-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 Dojea Rita, $20.80, $6.40, $5.60, Hoosier Explosiveafternoon, $18.20, $3.80, $3.00, Scarborough Winbak Willy T, $13.40, $4.20, $3.80, Philly Getoffofmycloud, $12.80, $4.80, $2.10, Northfield Ideal Gemini, $11.00, $4.20, $3.80, Monticello Karefree Kara, $6.00, $4.20, $2.60, Hoosier Shezza Grip N, $5.90, $3.60, $3.50, Yonkers JJ Mystic Storm, $4.20, $2.60, $2.30, Buffalo Prairie Easter, $4.00, $2.90, $2.20, Tioga Proof, $4.00, $3.00, $2.80, Meadows Annie Hill, $2.40, $2.20, $2.10, Meadows Louzotic, $2.20, $2.10, $2.10 ok, Hawthorne Seconds Hedges Lane, $12.00, $5.60, Scarborough Always Flash-n, $7.00, $4.60, Vernon This Peach Rocks, $6.80, $5.00, Hoosier *Panalytical, $6.20, $8.90 ok (Exacta $36.40), Buffalo Major Marcus, $5.60, $2.60 (Exacta $27.20), Ocean Naturalle Muscle, $5.60, $4.20, Northville Sesame, $5.40, $3.20, Scioto Ramblintime, $3.40, $2.80 (Exacta $29.80), Scarborough Jersey Boy, $3.20, $2.60, Vernon Come Get The Cash, $2.70, $2.30, Vernon Bullvilleblast, $2.10, $2.10, Monticello Thirds Electrofire, $5.80, Vernon Adorabella, $5.20, Northfield Lady Capulet, $4.20, Hoosier Spirit Of Truth, $4.20, Meadowlands World On Edge, $4.00, Meadowlands Explosive Jet, $3.50, Mohawk Hypnotico, $3.40, Monticello Parklane Official, $3.40, Hawthorne Prairie Easter, $2.60, Pocono News & Notes Yonkers’ Pick-5 guarantee goes into effect Monday night, June 10. As part of the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program and with the approval of the New York State Gaming Commission, a minimum $10,000 pot is available on the programs every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Should the sequence not be cashed, the current instant guarantee remains leading to the next racing program. The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising either Races 6 through 10 on 10-race card or 7 through 11 (on a program of more than 10 races). It has no consolation payoff, obviously, per the guarantee. Batavia Downs’ 73^rd season of harness racing at America’s oldest lighted harness track features 65 race dates, including eight matinee cards. The meet opens on Wednesday, July 24 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 14. Racing will be presented on Sunday afternoons at 1:15 p.m. (through August), Wednesdays at 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. There will also be racing on four Mondays: July 29 (5 p.m.) and Aug. 5 (5 p.m.), Sept. 2 (1:15 p.m.) and Oct. 14 (1:15 p.m.). There will be a special 3:15 p.m. post on Saturday, Nov. 2, which is Breeders Cup Day. The Jim Campbell Stable did well during the first set of two-year-old qualifying races at Philly. The trainer won six races during the June 4 trials, five of which were trots. Among the trotting colts, Campbell won with Real Cool Sam (by Muscle Hill) in 1:59.2 and Steel Schooner (by Possess the Will) in 2:01.2. Campbell also scored with Saxon (Father Patrick) in 2:04.3. Among fillies, Campbell won with Sherry Lyns Lady (by Father Patrick) and Impressive Fashion (by Father Patrick) in 2:03. Extraordinary Extras Indulge in my monthly columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet at Harness Racing Update