Season Sizzling With Somebeachsomewhere Stakes And Graduate Giants

We’re into the sixth month of the season, half way through 2015, and the second half is stakes-heavy. This coming weekend the stakes begin to rise for glamour-boy pacers with two lucrative Somebeachsomewhere divisions in Canada, which preps the division leaders for the $1-million North America Cup in mid-June.

The early sensation, Wiggle It Jiggleit, will be at the “Cup,” according to his owner George Teague. The colt will go straight to the Cup elims, skipping the lucrative splits at Mohawk this weekend and making at least one of the trio a great betting opportunity.

State-bred soph colts are involved with high stakes at the Meadows on Belmont Stakes day as the Meadows program complements the afternoon’s betting possibilities. Then, that night, some of the older pacers and trotters kick up the limestone at the Meadowlands and Scioto offers a big stakes event for the older trotters.

The sophomore trotters racing on the Hambletonian Trail have their own blog presence here at TwinSpires. There are great betting races for the classic divisions—soph-colt-and-filly trotters. It’s exclusive, extended coverage from TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society.

Overnight racing continues to present profits and our exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list publishes serious contenders for winning in across-the-board/exotic action. Please peruse the list and don’t miss out on exciting probabilities from our personal files.

TwinSpires also continues to team with Hoosier Park for another season of player perks. Click here to check it out. A spring special offers free harness past performances through June. Click here to take advantage of the deal.

Glamour Guys Gunning

A pair of $78,767 Somebeachsomewhere divisions are the features June 6 at Mohawk. In the first division there is one well-known pacer, Traceur Hanover, who has only raced in a qualifier this year, a soaring 1:52.4 practice mile. His debut will get plenty of betting attention since he comes to his soph season having won a ton and the Breeders Crown at two. “Traceur” is one of the few colts that were top frosh pacers to enter. Aside from Wiggle It Jiggleit, Artspeak and In The Arsenal are passing on this event.

He will still have to work for the win, though he is seen to have an advantage leaving from post 1 while a sturdy Pierce Hanover, competing well this season, has to leave from post 9. The other recognizable name is Penji Hanover, who gets post 8 and is still developing—which is a plus. The other seven are fresh to races of this caliber and difficult to measure. They also assist in making Traceur a huge favorite. We will take Penji Hanover in an upset, looking for his improvement to come with big money on the line and big odds for us.

The second division will see the Bob McIntosh-trained Go Daddy Go leave from post 10 off of his 7-length victory at Western Fair in last an Ontario Sires Stakes mile. Aside from Go Daddy Go, the second division also introduces some new faces. “Daddy” is such a huge Canadian favorite he may not gain much in probable price from the post. Other previous freshman with any note against him include Rockin N Heaven and The Wayfaring Man, which may make up the triactor with Daddy. 

Graduates On Gait

The Graduate Series presents a set of divisions featuring four-year-old pacers and a set for trotters at the Meadowlands on June 6. Each field goes for $56,250 and the stars are all here, with mares against horses.

Shake It Cerry is back against her own age after having some trouble with older trotters. She will offer a good price in this short field, especially since Muscles Network is the probable choice and the others have still to show much at four. Watch out for Sumatra, however, he has been on the board three of four times already and could pose in a late challenge that could win it for him.

Next is the first pacing Graduate. Three former soph stars are on the bill—Jk Endofanera, Luck Be Withyou and Limelight Beach. “Jk” has won his first older pace, “Luck” has been better than most thought (but only based on a competitive soph season) and only “Limelight” has been having a rough go at four. Steve Elliot’s Rockeyed Optimist has been a bear so far, with eight wins in nine starts and a speed badge that will attract many bucks. But the “now” horse is Luck, who is going very well and may once again win under the radar here, at a price.

The next pace follows the first one. Doo Wop Hanover has been very good at four so far and from post 1, coming off a mile that speed-loving handicappers will cherish, he is bound to be the favorite. His toteboard foe will be All Bets Off, now two for four and a Burke product. Two former soph players—Lyonssomewhere and Somewhere In LA—have been dull in their first pairs of races. The silent contender is Chris Ryder’s Bushwacker, four for six and raring to take advantage of the stars to put money in our pockets. .

The second trot features race two as a four-year-old for the magnificent Father Patrick. Until proven not to be a special trotter—and it will take a lot to do that, maybe more than the talent of this field can bring to the mile—there is no way to go against him. There will be considerable backing, however, for JL Cruze but aside from the fact that he is a few notches below “Patrick” in class and style, he has already raced 13 times. Although 11 of those were wins, they were not contested against the likes of Patrick or any near his ilk.

PASS Soph Pacers

More sophomores are battling for big money on June 6 at the Meadows in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS). There are two divisions, each worth a whopping $90,883.

Nine leave the gate in the first division and three-for-three winner Lost For Words leaves from post 9 against four Burke colts, one from Takter and a few others rather unknown. Again, we are at the Meadows and Palone gets Blood Brother, the Takter colt, so expect money going that way. In the shadow of these obvious players is Jim Campbell’s Paparazzi Hanover, who may overcome the 8 hole by taking advantage of a late charge against speed that may have burned too hot in the first three quarters.

Another Burke quartet rolls in the second division but six-for-six Rise Up Now should be the choice, though he gets post 8. Nine are on board and they should all be winging for control. Last time around in a PASS split, we took Gallic Beach. He lost that but came off of that mile with a win and he is in a perfect spot as an outside contender, fresh and ready. Palone is listed on two colts at press time; let’s hope he takes Cardiac Fashion and gives bettors the benefit of his absence steering Gallic Beach.

Ohio Hijinx

On Saturday, June 6, Scioto Downs hosts stakes with the $200,000 Charlie Hill Memorial Trot. Ten older star trotters will go to the gate, including Bee A Magician. She is shipping into Ohio after losing to Father Patrick in his first race at four, the Maxie Lee at Philadelphia.

Also shipping are DW’s NY Yank, Lindy’s Tru Grit and Obrigado. And, Verlin Yoder brings Indiana-bred Natural Herbie to tackle the group. Also involved are Count Me In, Final Breath, Fusion Man, Il Sogno Dream and Southwind Pepino, who are Scioto regulars in the track’s top trot races.

It’s hard to believe Bee A Magician won’t conquer this crew and it’s odds on she will be the odds-on favorite. Still, you would not be a fool to go against her. All the shippers are in great shape and Lindy’s Tru Grit competed the triple with “Bee” and “Patrick” last week at 60-1. “Grit” may be in position for the perfect upset, considering only Bee is in the way this time around.

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

Bangor
6/6/15, Uncle Ben R7

Buffalo
6/3/15, +Im Notbad Hanover R12
6/5/15, A Sharks Life R11
6/6/15, +Southwind Whiski R3
 
Century
6/6/15, +Beauty Of Nature R1

Charlottetown
6/4/15, +Money Show R1
6/6/15, +The Queens Jubilee R1; +Jamantha R12

Hoosier
6/3/15, +They Call Me Gordy R6
6/4/15, Goldengear R12
6/5/15, Dazzling Diana R8

Maywood
6/4/15, Too Tall Tamarac R2; +Outspoken R9
6/5/15, +Fox Valley Norman R10; Mcgroots R12

Meadowlands
6/5/15, Americanautomation R6; +Jk Patriot R10 
6/6/15, +Crocadile Canyon R13

Meadows
6/5/15, +Bad Glamour Girl R3; +Joe Hill R5; Sew Psyched R6; Well Well Well R9
6/6/15, Magic Will Work R13; Jesses Story R13

Monticello
6/3/15, +Valcyon Days R2
6/8/15, +Tarport Andy R12

Northfield
6/4/15, +Doowrah Double R10; Get Your Armor R10; +Cb Sammy Suit R14

Philadelphia
6/3/15, +Ashlees Wedding R10
6/4/15, +Worth The Money As R2
6/5/15, +Deli Beach R3
 
Plainridge
6/4/15, +Im A Princess R2; Leihla Seelster R7

Pocono
6/3/15, +Chocolate Xplosion ae R11
6/4/15, Venus Delight R4; +Possessed Fashion R5
6/7/15, FF Big Show R10

Rosecroft
6/6/15, Gold Star Smokin R11

Running Aces
6/6/15, Boom Boom Shaboon R3; Donna Letsgo R4; Dark Prince R6; Mattoxs Spencer R9

Saratoga,
6/5/15, Blueridge Jezebel R5
6/6/15, +Insane In Spain R1

Scarborough
6/5/15, +Don’t Desert Me R5
6/6/15, Daydream Lynx R6
6/7/15, +Ridin Solo R1; +Fox Valley Shannon R6

Scioto
6/4/15, +American Ginger R1

Vernon
6/5/15, +Kylers Valentine R8

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.