Red Mile Grand Circuit Rules Weekend; Indiana Sires Stakes Present Finals; Addendum Blog For Lexington Stakes

Harness racing’s Autumn Almanac continues in Kentucky as The Red Mile hosts the second week of its traditional Grand Circuit meet. The finale is heavy with big features on Sunday, Oct. 8.

BLOG ADDENDUM—Due to press time to post this blog, covering Thursday—Saturday racing, THE SUNDAY, OCT. 8 STAKES AT THE RED MILE WILL BE COVERED IN AN UPDATE POSTED THURSDAY NIGHT—FRIDAY MORNING. WATCH FOR THE SPECIAL BLOG, then, look for our UPDATE BLOG after that program on Sunday.

On the agenda as well is state-bred action at Hoosier, where the Indiana Sires Stakes (INSS) program continues with lucrative finals Thursday and Friday.

We are also covering Red Mile stakes in our Breeders Crown Countdown blog. As usual, all of our contenders can play important roles in all of your wagers. Of course, there’s also our regular feature—the H2W (the horses-to-watch) list, located in its usual spot at the bottom of this blog. Boost the payoffs betting in any pari-mutuel pool. Do your own handicapping and then consider our H2W selections when playing your bets. Of course, remember to be fully armed with a plentiful TwinSpires betting account.

INDIANARAMA

On Oct. 5 and Oct. 6, INSS finals, worth $75,000 each, highlight the Hoosier Park programs. Sophomores go on Friday and freshmen on Saturday.

The colt trotters on Oct. 5 are led by Swan Chase, who has won 11 of 17 starts and the most money of this batch this year, and Bluebird Rambo (seven for 17). Perhaps the third choice will be Ideal Jesse and the Verlin Yoder pacer will be worth the wager as the crowd concentrates its support on the two aforementioned.

The top two filly pacers in that division’s final—JD’s Chancey Gal and Carol’s Z Tam—should get a major challenge from Rockin N Runnin. The lightly raced girl could improve as she nears four and should offer a great price against these busy-season participants.

COLTS RETURN

At The Red Mile on Oct. 5, The International Stallion Stakes (INTSS) take over where the Bluegrass Stakes left off. Four of five $50,000-plus frosh-colt trot miles will include some of our Bluegrass picks from the first Grand Circuit week. We want to give the quartet another shot, since they each raced well in the Bluegrasses. These four are (in the order of their INTSS appearance on the program):Night Rhythm; Hill Street; Dawson Springs; and Can’t Afford It.

INDIANA FINALS

Freshmen abound in a trio of INSS finals at Hoosier on Friday, Oct. 6. It begins with a frosh-filly trot, where Verlin Yoder’s O So Easy will probably rule the win pool from his earnings and eight-of-10 win record. Next, and probably worth it as a second choice, is Custom Cantab. Chris Beaver’s filly picked up a lot of place checks but has been, like Yoder’s gal, in the money each time in 10 starts.

Colt pacers go next, also for $75,000, and there are 10 aboard for the mile, eight of which are sons of Rockin Image. On the far outside, leaving from the second-tier post 10, you will find Always Bet De Grey, a Brian Brown trainee that could escape the win bettors and deliver an easy win.

The nightcap, $75,000 for soph-filly pacers, could offer a great price from Voom Or Bang, as the bulk of win money will go to the obvious Dee Rocks, who is 11 wins for 12 starts. Voom Or Bang has not been off the board in only nine starts and in this high-profile event should more than entertain a careful trip from post 8 that nails the common choice.

ALLERAGE ARRANGEMENTS

The $136,000 Allerage Open Trot and the $116,000 Open Pace are on the agenda Oct. 7. First, let’s check out the trot.

Nine good ole trotters from this season meet again looking for more dough. The most intriguing thing about this race for us is Pinkman, who has been second in two of his recent three appearances. He came into the season very late and this freshness could put him in a great spot for a mild upset. Mild? Perhaps the best price that will be available for him yet will be offered here, as Hannelore Hanover, Crazy Wow and Homicide Hunter will take some heavy bills. Every entry here has been pushing all season but Pinkman may be in the pink on the red clay at a price.

The pace is a fast but usual nine except for Split The House, who, like Pinkman, returned to the races very late this season and has only three starts. One good scenario here is the one where Mel Mara gets to the top and never gives up, something he did on the Meadowlands mile earlier this year, producing a great price. The crowd will rally around the Burke horses and the ever-disappointing McWicked, so Mel Mara will be safe producing a great price with any kind of win, though we prefer the predicted pace scenario.


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

Batavia
10/7/17, +Chickenwithabanjo R6; +Fox Valley Iliad R9; +Skyway Priss R10

Charlottetown
10/5/17, Lisburn R2; Royal Native R6

Dayton
10/7/17, Speed Lane R3; Dallenbach Hanover R14

Freehold
10/6/17, Forbetter Or Worse R1; Bootswiththefur R9
10/7/17, Orange Biji R5

Harrington
10/5/17, My Sugar Daddy R2; Rocking River R4; On Her Tippytoes R8; Cool Reward R11

Meadows
10/7/17, +Venier Hanover R3

Northfield
10/7/17, +Apach Of Luck R15
10/8/17, A Dandy Bryer R13

Northlands
10/7/17, Gray Zee R3; Moon Struct R6

Northville
10/6/17, Hard To Rock This R4; High Finance R5; +White Shark R10
10/7/17,

Philadelphia
10/5/17, Iron Mine Bucky R8

Plainridge
10/6/17, +Camco Titan R7

Red Mile
10/5/17, Carlos Superstar R1; Mean Lean R2; Newsday R3
10/6/17, +Roc Royal R1
10/7/17, +Aims Whisper R7

Rideau Carleton
10/5/17, Miss Rockadali R1; Little Macabee R4; Brown Dirt Cowboy R6

Rosecroft
10/7/17, Broadway Lady R3; Cape Marj R6; Real Passing Lady R11

Saratoga
10/5/17, The Cuse Is Loose R1; Save The Date R5

Yonkers
10/6/17, Sues Night Out R7; +Mach It A Par R11; +Carobbean Pacetry R12