Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Harness Stakes Races

May 24th, 2013

Hoosier, Scioto, The Meadowlands and The Meadows all have sire stakes running this weekend, but that's not all that's on the schedule. Hoosier has the Dan Patch and The Gregg Haston Memorial Invitational on Saturday. Also on Saturday, Yonkers has the $355,000 Art Rooney Elimination. On Sunday, Harrah's Philadelphia has the Betsey Ross and the Maxie Lee Memorial.

Here's a listing of the many stakes races this weekend with a preview of the Dan Patch.

Friday May 24th

Meadowlands - Race 2 - NJ Sire Stakes 2nd Leg - Purse $30K - 3YO Colts and Geldings Trot Meadowlands Race 3 - NJ Sire Stakes 2nd Leg - Purse $30K - 3YO Fillies Trot

Mohawk Raceway - Race 3 - Ontario SBOA Final - Purse$160K - 3YO Fillies Pace Mohawk Raceway - Race 5 - Ontario SBOA Final - Purse $160K - 3YO Fillites Trot

The Meadows - Races 1,3,4,6 and 8 - PA Sire Stakes- Purse $225K - 3YO Colts and Geldings Trot

Saturday May 25th

Hoosier Park - Race 11 - Dan Patch - Purse $200K - 4YO and Up Open Hoosier Park - Races 1,4, and 6 - Indiana Sire Stakes 1st Leg - Purse $30K - 3YO Colts and Geldings Pace Hoosier Park - Race 8 - The Gregg Haston Memorial Invitational - Purse $30K

Meadowlands - Race 2 - NJ Sire Stakes 2nd Leg - Purse $40K - 3YO - Fillies Pace Meadowlands - Races 5 and 11 - NJ Sire Stakes 2nd Leg - Purse $40K - Colts and Geldings Pace

Yonkers - Races 2 and 6 - Art Rooney Eliminations - Purse $40K - 3YO Open

Sunday May 26th

Harrah's Philadelphia - Race 10 - Betsy Ross - Purse $250K - 3YO and Up Fillies and Mares Pace Harrah's Philadelphia - Race 12 - Maxie Lee Memorial - Purse $250K - 3YO and Up Open Trot

Scioto Downs - Races 2,5 and 8 - Ohio Sire Stakes 2nd Leg - Purse $30K - 3YO Colts and Geldings Trot Scioto Downs - Race 7 - Ohio Sire Stakes 2nd Leg - Purse $30K - 3YO Colts and Geldings Pace

 

Race Preview: Dan Patch - Saturday May 25th at Hoosier Downs - Race 11

1 - Hurrikane King Cole (3-1) Brett Miller/John McDermott 2 - Paco Labrook (8-1) Brad Hanners/Brad Hanners 3 - Versado - (15-1) Tyler Smith/Nick Surick 4 - Rockincam (7-2) Jason Dillander/R. Nifty Norman 5 - Fred and Ginger (5-1) Ricky Macomber/Ron Burke 6 - Dancin Yankee (6-1) Ed Hensley/Gary Green 7 - Bolt The Duer (4-1) Mark MacDonald/Peter Foley 8 - A Rocknroll Dance (9-2) John Campbell/Jim Mulinex 9 - Up The Credit (10-1) Trace Tetrick/Carl Jamieson 10-Arache Hanover (10-1) Douglas McNair/Gregg McNair

The morning line favorite, #1 Hurrikane King Cole, looks formidable. But my favorite is the #5 Fred and Ginger. That's assuming he likes the track. Only two of the entrants, #4 Rockincam and #2 Paco Labrook, has raced at Hoosier and both have won on the track.

However, Paco Labrook, has won 10 out of 18 races here and has been in the exacta all but one of those times. True, his finish may not be as fast as some of the other horses, and he may be outclassed, but I'm still putting a win bet on him and playing him in exotics due to the home court advantage. I like the way he's been in there, in spite of having less than advantageous posts in his last 3 races. If the track is off, I like him even more.

My picks: 5-1-6-7 and I'll be using the 2 also in exotics.