Trotting And Pacing Series Ensue

The Meadowlands takes the early highlight mid-January as our blog begins with Thursday races again this week. Jan. 15 features the second round of the Super Bowl Series for three-and-four-year-old conditioned trotters. This week the splits are worth $15,000 each. Friday, more divisions of the Worldly Beauty series for pacing sophs and mares continues.

Our exclusive, popular horses-to-watch list (H2W) cuts through the bitter winds of winter with more suggested contenders for your win, place, show and exotic considerations. Once again we will keep the list going through the year, covering overnights all over North America in 2015.
 
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Super Bowl II

In the second leg, division one of evening’s three, we will go again with last week’s 77-1 monster, Charleston Springs. The gelding races great against the die-hard public choice that won by many lengths (all four miles in the opening leg of the series were won by favorites). He picked up the third-place check and paid a huge $15.40). This field will have the public leaning toward Blocking The Way off of his win in the first round. Charleston Springs, who is enjoying the Meadowlands oval after a campaign in Pennsylvania, should strongly challenge Blocking The Way.

Division two centers on the popularity of Propulsion, a huge winning favorite in round one. He won that while Jewels In Hock was busy making a big move that ended in a gallop. At 6-1 Jewels In Hock would have gone on to be a major threat in a race where his break played a role in making Propulsion look great. Staying flat is the only way Jewels In Hock could lose this week, as well as we can expect a better mile from Annapolis.

The last split for the week also has a full field and features two first-round winners, Opulent Yankee and JL Cruze. This should leave less money for wagers on Teach Me To Bucky. We thought he would be the favorite in his division last week but he went off at almost 7-1 and finished second to Propulsion. Although he came from behind in that mile, it would not be surprising if he takes control early here, as the aforementioned public choices will be leaving from outside of him. We hope for the kind of odds he gave us in round one.

Beauty Duty

There are two divisions for the second leg of the Worldly Beauty at the Meadowlands on Friday, Jan. 16, each worth $15,000.

In the first split we come right back to support Hex. There is no reason not to back her with last week’s strong performance an overture for how good this gal may become. Last week’s 8-1 may be in trouble here, with only six in the mix and none of last week’s winners. Burke’s horse and Givens’ horse will get some action, hopefully more than Hex, who can still win at a good price.

Witch Dali takes center stage again and continues to head for a sweep of the event. We won’t bet on that, though, because she can be beaten here. The public’s probable second choice is Donttellruss, the other division winner in leg one. But our contender deserves to be in the picture—Just Fine. Nifty Norman’s mare was a few steps too far behind early on against Witch Dali last out. We expect her to negotiate a better trip than her Dec. 19 race and that could win it here. She has been freshened and likes the Meadowlands and will offer a price here. 

Feature Race
Jan. 16, Yonkers
Race 10

UF Rockin Dragon returns to Yonkers after a marred B-2 experience across at the Big M. His first B-2 there was marvelous at 12-1. He steps down from his fairly successful conditioners at Yonkers for trainer Mark Ford, who is very good at placing his conditioned stock. The morning line has “UF” at 9-1 and that could be delicious.

Feature Race
Jan. 16, Meadows
Race 11

Shucked scratched from one of our feature races last week but is scheduled to return in this nine-horse field of conditioned pacers (all ages). We reiterate our analysis from last week, as we endorse him once more.

Shucked raced very well last week at 9-1, gaining ground all the way after a slow start. It was his second race after a qualifier he needed after being off a month. He was doing well at the Meadows coming far off the pace late. From post 3 in this field, he should offer a decent price over the obvious public choices.

 
Feature Race
Jan. 17, Charlottetown
Race 9

Tyron My Gigalo comes down one level and may be foolishly punished by the public for the three races at the level from which he drops. All three races are excused by us for posts and tough outside trips. In late December he was racing well in “winners-of” conditioners, one in which he beat this race’s morning-line favorite. The price should be more than just right on him. To his right starts Talk Back, who fits well against this group, especially tossing out his Dec. 31 race. He should be in the hunt and would make for a great exactor with “Gigalo.”


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

Buffalo
1/16/15, SBM Innocentoutlaw R1; Calorscross R2; Ophiuchus R3; Ramblin Rick R4; Raschabec R8

Cal Expo
1/16/15, +Firstforthegirls R2; +Lexi’s Delight R5
1/17/15, King Of The Crop R3; Lil Stevie Oneder R3; +Twentyoneguns R11
1/18/15, +Ahh Panama R8

Charlottetown
1/17/15, Wealth Of Nations R3; Trustmeonemoretime R5; Jamantha R5; +Libertys Gig R8

Dover
1/15/15, Elite Awards R9
 
Flamboro
1/15/15, Pictorian Caper R5
1/17/15 +CR Amigo R3

Freehold
1/15/15, +Wygant Princess R3
1/16/15, Now The Fun Starts R2; +Twin B Bikini R4; +Rocketpedia R5; Catalyst R5; Gaslight R7; +Rules Little Man R9 

Meadowlands
1/17/15, +Rockstar Stride R6; Kings Barns R6
 
Miami
1/17/15, Woo Shark R2; Jack Attack Boom R7

Pompano
1/17/15, Blended Whiskey R8

Woodbine
1/15/15, Beach Hero R9
1/17/15, Monte Cristo R4; Order By Commander R5

Yonkers
1/16/15, +Know It All R9
1/17/15, Brookstone R5; Casimir Jitterbug R8

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.