Winter Wins Loom Boldly In Selected Features; Power Plays, Exotics Aim At Triple-Digit Prices

In the first few months of 2019, bettors could be pumping up their TwinSpires account bankrolls with overnight races every bit as valuable as the season’s later stakes. The TwinSpires harness blog selects overnight races on various weekend programs at North American tracks to assist you cashing in for profitable play as the winter months ensue. Our selected features and of Power Plays races open opportunities for bettors to sensationalize from any betting pool of the players’ choice. Also, the weekly H2W (horses-to-watch) list remains available in the preview blog, always offering valuable favorites and outsiders to complement your wagers. Consult the H2W for all of your harness action. POWER PLAYS Yonkers / R3 Thursday, Jan. 10 A hefty exotic package is part of this race (exacta, triple, superfecta and start of Pick 4) and it looks good for an outside contender to contribute for some chunky prices. There are a few horses dropping into this condition. They will attract bettors on that element, but in the class itself, the morning line (ML) does not give enough chances to Velocity Layla. She was hanged at the Meadowlands, more the reason for her miserable finish than a slight bump up in class and change of track. At Philly she was holding her on at this level, even with long journeys. She could get a perfect trip here. The ML favorite from the wood is Batavia-dropping A Crafty Lady. On momentum alone she should be in the exotic mix. Another ML choice is Big Lis, who may try to get the top early but could be short but in the mix. Finally, superfecta-eligible Keystone Nikki has the capacity to pick up a lower spot in the top four and may offer a better price than the other left-over entries. FEATURES^FEATURES^FEATURES Flamboro / Race 7 Thursday, Jan. 10 Third last week in our multiple-exotic strike Power Plays, Mervs Tru Legacy returns with new connections, including a new trainer, Wayne MacLean. A small step-up in class is required but considering the claim and last week’s fine performance at 7-2, Mervs Tru Legacy should go well enough to win this over the public’s probable favorites. Neither of them is coming off of a win; neither of them is dropping in class. The winner of last week’s score, Dabunka, was also claimed in that race and steps up. He will get some action, though his 7 post and the hike in class will turn off a few bettors. It is more than likely Dabunka will share in the top three public accounts with Gotameeting and Heartland Eclipse. So, the value plays should include the two claimed horses, with the better price in exactas going with them in higher-odds order, as usual. FEATURES^FEATURES^FEATURES Meadows / Race 2 Friday, Jan. 11 From the “other side of the tracks,” so to speak, come the three- to six-year-olds that have not made the ranks of headliners. This conditioned pace is one of those great chances to bet on some tough steeds that will rough it through the overnights for earnings. Golden Rock allows us to back an overlay for price and purpose while the crowd hurls their money at a Dave Palone-driven favorite. Toss out Golden Rock’s recent two efforts since turning four, though they do have some merit, and you have the Dec. 26 race and a few before that display rugged racing, even with “poor” posts. All of his competitors are inconsistent or, at best, unreliable based on performances of a lesser quality than Golden Rock, making for greater chances to win than the odds will reflect. FEATURES^FEATURES^FEATURES Meadows / Race 9 Friday, Jan. 11 From the H2W list comes Nathan Feelsgood for his second chance. We elevated his status to that of a feature because this event, a claiming handicap, puts him in a good spot—according to us. His ML is 8-1, which just adds to our decision to back him. His recent two races at the Meadows deserve attention. At 7-1 last week he raced evenly from post 10 and may have done better had he not found interference in the stretch. That race, like the one before it, is forgivable. On Dec. 31 he had little business being in a Meadows Open Pace. He was claimed for 10Gs and stepped up to win immediately and nab a place after that. Those two races display more of his talent than the recent two. The 8-1 odds could be somewhat damaged if popular driver Aaron Merriman takes the trip. FEATURES^FEATURES^FEATURES Miami / Race 8, 10 Saturday , Jan. 12 It is still early in the Miami Valley meet, so our spotlight on the Adam Short barn is still a valuable endeavor. From last week’s list of three, two return and should definitely be considered serious contenders. In Race 8, Vintage Guard is back, this time as a beaten favorite. He was eliminated at the starting gate when he galloped and was not able to regain his gait and continue to compete. Hopefully, that will turn off bettors and Vintage Guard will be worth much more this time and if he stays on gait and lives up to last week’s promise, we will have us a cool overlay. Also returning is Ahdoughnolum. At 11-1 last week, Aldoughnolum raced evenly but not aggressively and finished fifth. That was not bad enough to toss a Short-trained from the contenders’ list so in Race 10 we will support him over two probable favorites that won their first races this year. POWER PLAYS Northfield / Races 5, 6, 7 Saturday, Jan. 12 We focus upon the Pick 3 in this Power Plays assignment, though we remind you not to pass up offerings in the individual legs, which have single-race exotics and may be worthy of playing on their own as well. Race 5, Leg 1 Two outside contenders (from the ML) that could start the Pick 3 with strong prices demand attention. Miss Meeko steps up after two wins for a lower tag and is not likely to distinguish the $3,000 added to her claiming price. Ida Sofia comes off of two marvelous attempts in which she dueled and survived to pick up checks. Race 6, Leg 2 Derek Delight coasted home at 12-1 for this tag last out but gets no respect in the ML. He has been tough around this price since being claimed. Race 7, Leg 3 Shakeitformegear may overcome the dreaded Northfield 8 hole without speed. She can weave her way through with a second-over trip at a big price. From deep inside, Wonderful World can redeem herself from a loss as the favorite at this level with careful aim at the inside flow during the stretch. 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 Cal Expo 1/11/19, Awesome World R8 1/12/19, Hagginatthebeach R7; +Last Dragon R9; +Hi Ho’s Little Rey R9; +Melodies That Rock R10 Dover 1/13/19, +Mars Man ae R13 Flamboro 1/10/19, Showdown Seelster R2; Rockabilly Charm R3 1/13/19, +Open Water R8; +Asterism R9; +Montana Ben R9 Freehold 1/11/19, Victorias Munky R6; Whatnblazes R9; +Jacinta Hanover R11 1/12/19, Idle Bones N R3; River Runs Deep R4; Rollin About R7; Ville Valo R9 Meadowlands 1/11/19, Hammer Creek R1 1/12/19, +McArdles Lightning R6 Meadows 1/11/19, Four Card Major R3; Superficial R4; 1/14/19, +Imasharktoo R8 Miami 1/13/19, EL Flight R5; +Swapportunity R6; Dancin Doug R11 1/14/19, +Nohillforaclimber R3 Mohawk 1/10/19, +Blue Eyed Cowboy R4; Stan The Man R5 1/12/19, +Isitfridayyet R9 Pompano 1/13/19, +Sgt Papa Daddy R6 Western Fair 1/11/19, The Red Baron R6 Yonkers 1/11/19, Burning Shore R2