Slick $82 Win Pacer Strikes Back; Success Cashing Canadians

Though the weekend was slim pickings in the features department, two of two sophomore fillies suggested in a sires stakes finished one-three, with the best in odds (40-1 versus 14-1) winning. The Show Returns was totally ignored by a crowd that was lacking the respect for a two-turned-three gal that had every reason to be a strong contender. So, just as we forecasted, the crowd leaned into the brand, a filly from the Ron Burke barn, for a favorite and let The Show Returns go off $40.10 to the dollar, paying $82.80, $16.80, $6.60, while Wicked Little Minx also shunned the favorite, getting third ($4.00).

That was the shining point of our features campaign; the rest of the attacks were uneventful losses. 

The worst thing about having a slow week of wagering success is that the sense of loss comes over you even though it is not entirely a true feeling. A set of races lost, especially at the hands of mostly dead-on favorites can make an immediate impression upon a betting campaign when in reality it is only a glitch in the stream of successes (we have had some very good weeks in spring).

Meanwhile, our horses-to-watch list (H2W) trumped our choices in features, not counting a 40-1 shot, again presenting some double-digit winners in Canada, with the addition of Charlottetown Drivers Park.

With high-profile pacers and trotters in action this weekend, it was hard to bet with them or against them. We offered suggestions if you wished to try to beat them but this year’s anointed sophomore stars were out winging with super success.

Mission Brief, the uneven-appearing filly trotter with a gait that betrayed her a few times at two, didn’t miss a step in a sires-stakes final at the Meadowlands and won with odds-on dignity. So did the glamour-boy pacer Artspeak, with flying power-pace steps and pauper prices.

The season’s current superstar colt sophomore, Wiggle It Jiggleit won at Hoosier and brought his 2015-winning streak to nine for nine. In The Arsenal, another glamour-boy headliner, paid pocket change taking the Art Rooney. The only surprise was the defeat of Sassa Hanover in the Lismore by an 11-1 shot that headed her late (oddly enough, Sassa Hanover was our contender before the public made her an odds-on choice in a short field that had gone straight to a final).

The other sires stakes at Hoosier were won by first- or second-choice public choices. Our contenders did best with Rockin Ron, who was third in the “Wiggle” race, which banned show betting.

The Molson Pace worked out again for local-hero State Treasurer. He won the stake for the third time. Our choice, PH Supercam was off the board after a zig-zag trip at 10-1. We have our eye on him for a win soon at around that price.
 
All Hambletonian Trail race stories are archived at the Hambletonian Society website.
 
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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 the 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 40 active horses (an 18-percent win hit rate and a 43-percent in-the-money return).

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

Youshouldseemenow, $22.60, $11.20, $4.20, Century
Kabu, $16.20, $6.20, $5.00, Hoosier
First Art Down, $15.30, $3.70, $2.40, Charlottetown
Melodie Hotspur, $9.80, $4.80, $2.80, Hoosier
Benns Clearout, $8.00, $3.40, $4.40 ok, Northville
Curlys Son, $3.60, $3.20, $2.60, Vernon
Frau Blucher, $3.40, $2.40, $2.10, Pocono

Seconds

Tropical Trice, $7.60, $3.80, Plainridge
Fox Valley Norman, $4.60, $3.20, Maywood
Frankies Dragon, $4.00, $3.90 (Exacta $25.20)
Jamantha, $3.30, $3.90 ok, Charlottetown

Thirds

Cb Sammy Suit, $7.40, Northfield
Perfectly Clear, $5.40, Maywood
Uncle Ben, $5.20, Bangor
Im A Princess, $4.60, Plainridge
Truly Kissed, $4.40, Hoosier
Money Show, $3.30, Charlotteton
Aubsession, $2.80, Maywood

News & Notes

The live racing schedule at Mohawk Racetrack increases to five nights a week beginning next week. Tuesday night racing will be held for the balance of the 2015 Mohawk summer meet starting June 2. The first Tuesday card of the meet will feature Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Horsemen are on the track as Running Aces opened the barn area for its eighth season, which kicks off on June 6. A total of 53 nights of racing will be conducted at the Minnesota harness raceway, offering total purses in excess of $2 million.

Philadelphia’s leading driver, George Napolitano Jr., steered eight winners to victory during the track’s 14-dash card on Monday, May 25. We made our usual calculations and came to the most common results: the driver did not matter as a handicapping element for the bettor. George’s top price in eight wins was $8.60 and he had two winners paying less than $3.00. He drove in all 14 races that day and lost with six. In five of the races he lost, he was the favorite; in one he lost he was a close second choice. You will not read these facts about streaking drivers anywhere else in the sport but in the TwinSpires harness blogs, where we congratulate drivers for their raw numbers but break the raw numbers down into positive or negative elements for the bettor. Meanwhile, Napolitano is once again in first place in the local driving standings, with Corey Callahan currently second.

There are now 47 three-year-old pacing colts and geldings eligible to the 2015 Pepsi North America Cup. The $1-million race will be contested on Saturday, June 20 at Mohawk Racetrack. The “Cup” is the richest event for three-year-old pacers in North America. The list includes last year’s two-year-old champion Artspeak and the rage of the division, Wiggle It Jiggleit. Also on tap are Edward Teach, Go Daddy Go, Hurrikane Ali, In The Arsenal, Lyons Levi Lewis, Paparazzi Hanover and Wakizashi Hanover. This Cup will be the 32nd edition. Eliminations for the Cup will be held on Saturday, June 13 at Mohawk.

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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