Soft Results As Favorites Clobber Yonkers’ Series; Meadowlands’ Partner Brings $70 Exacta; Place, Show Prices Rule

 

The weekend’s features at Yonkers, now in their fourth week, have so far resulted, per race, unkindly to our offerings. Of course, the one huge hit in a Matchmaker division a few weeks back that culminated in a $4,101 triple still keeps both series in the black for us. As for the poor horses-to-watch (H2W) results, be reminded that the list posted below does not include all of the April 5 blog choices—there are more to attack on April 8 and April 9.

Here are the contributions from our week of contenders in chronological order.

Friday, April 6

This week’s Matchmaker series round offered only three divisions but it presented some of the series’ lackluster mares. Thus, only one of the public’s second choices won. Three of four of our selected outsiders hit the board.

In division one, our 9-1 shot, Miss Irish Rose A ($7.00, n/s) completed the exacta with a 7-1 shot winning.

Our next two top contenders finished third.

In division two we had Call Me Queen Be ($2.50) to a 5-1 winner. The second contender we proposed, Gina Grace N (10-1) finished fourth.

Finally division three was won by the public’s second choice while we were third with Dudesalady (9-1).


Saturday, April 7

Leg four of the G.M. Levy series added three divisions to Yonkers’ evening program, as well as pleasing the wagering crowd with three of their choices.

In division one our warning that favorite Bit Of A Legend would be strong came true but we tried to defeat him with 8-1 Chumlee A ($3.50, $2.40) who followed him to the finish line and completed a miserable exacta worth $4.10.

The second division gave us a good price on Missile J (7-2) but he was dull, finishing fourth to the favorite.

The same scenario as division one developed for us in the third division. We warned of Mach It So’s high probability from the rail to wire the field as the public choice and that is what happened. Our 7-2 choice, Keystone Velocity ($3.30, $2.50) completed the $13.60 exacta.


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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 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 50 active horses (a 14-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 week) It is up to you to follow horses that have not performed before this weekly review


Winners

Triumphants Chip, $5.60, $3.60, $2.80, Meadowlands
Elite Awards, $5.40, $3.60, $2.20, Hoosier
Jack Vernon, $4.60, $3.40, $2.40, Meadowlands
Cougar Creek, $4.00, $2.10, $2.10 ok, Scarborough
Blue Grotto, $3.30, $2.70, $2.50, Fraser
Princess Baby Ella, $3.20, $2.40, $2.10, Miami
Little Point Sable, $2.60, $2.40, $2.10, Northville


Seconds

Painite, $9.60, $7.80 (Exacta $70.20), Meadowlands
Rebel Soul, $8.80, $4.20, Meadows
Schwarzkopf, $8.50, $5.60, Monticello
Soap Suds, $3.80, $3.60, Northville
Longlive Rocknroll, $2.80, $2.30 (Exacta$5.60), Monticello
Te Kawau N, $2.20, $2.10, Pocono


Thirds

Under The Bus, $16.00, Saratoga
Rockinthepines, $6.60, Miami
Back On Board N, $4.10, $3.80, Buffalo
Courageous Colors, $3.60, Hoosier
Bonfire Bliss, $3.40, Pocono
Muscolo, $3.20, Scarborough
Shezgotdawoogies, $3.00, Fraser
Lotsa Juice, $2.40, Northfield
Deepfave Hanover, $2.30, Woodbine
Real Kits, $2.20, Saratoga

 

News & Notes

Hazel Park is defunct. Harness racing ended at Hazel Park a few seasons back but the runners continued with a modest schedule. On April 5, however, all pari-mutuel racing ended at the Michigan raceway. The 69-year-old track began by hosting harness racing in the spring of 1953. It thrived as one of Michigan’s many harness venues—including Saginaw, Quad City Downs, Jackson, Sports Creek and Northville. Harness racing was popular enough to add the sport to the racing docke, which was once only thoroughbred meets. In 2014, Hazel converted to thoroughbred racing only. Michigan is left with one harness or thoroughbred facility, Northville Downs.

The race card on April 9 at Woodbine marks the end of harness racing at the Toronto plant. The Ontatio harness circuit shifts full-time to the former Mohawk Racetrack, now known as Woodbine, Mohawk Park (the only racetrack with a comma in its title), which will be devoted to harness racing. Horsemen have commented for and against the new plan. Some say the $10 million spent to renovate Mohawk’s facility should have gone into expanding the track to a full one-mile oval. Some are happy about the move because they feel Mohawk is a better track for fans and the harness community. Jessica Buckley is the president of Woodbine, Mohawk Park (or, Woodbine Comma Mohawk Park [sic] said that the only racetrack with a comma in its name is “dedicated to growing standardbred racing by positioning Mohawk as an entertainment destination for the rapidly-growing Milton area.”

Charlottetown Driving Park is scheduled to begin its of harness racing season on Saturday, April 28 at 6 p.m. Charlottetown, a popular track on TwinSpires’ exclusive harness H2W list, becomes a feature in the harness blog with it presents its signature races, a series of miles for older pacers called the Gold Cup & Saucer. Charlottetown winners have been prominent in the H2W over the last few seasons from overnights and with the main event.

Speaking of summer in Canada, four horses dropped off the eligibility list for this year’s $1-million North America Cup (soph pacers) on March 15. A total of 79 three-year-olds pacers were nominated to this year’s edition of the “Cup,” now 75 remain. Top public choices Stay Hungry and Lost In Time headline the group. Other notable Cup eligibles include Shnitzledosomethin, Pedro Hanover,  Hayden Hanover and Closing Statement. The $1 million North America Cup (sponsored by Pepsi) is scheduled for Saturday, June 16 at the new Woodbine Comma Mohawk Park [sic].


Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.

And check my monthly column, Alternative Actions, at Harness Racing Update