Ariana G Golden Again; Yonkers Trot Choice Fades; Downbytheseaside’s Wave Of Wins Ensues; Triple Partner Pumps $280 Ticket

NOTE: Sunday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 4 races were covered in the Aug. 31 blog. Please refer to it for more suggestions to play on this Labor Day weekend


We began on Friday, Sept. 1 with a pair of New York Sires Stakes for frosh-colt pacers at Batavia Downs. Both splits found our contenders up against such huge choices (in small fields) that show racing was banned. We wound up third in both miles with Aces In Heaven (9-1) and Silver Arrow (30-1).

Then it was north to Mohawk that same night for a Simcoe and two Champlain Grand Circuit stakes. In the Simcoe we went with the obvious Ariana G ($2.90, $2.20, n/s), failing to pair her with an exacta partner, using Dream Together (5-2), who finished fourth.

The first Champlain found us fourth with Winning American (13-1). The second gave us a strong-paying second with Kinda Lucky Lindy ($8.70, $3.80), as the race was won by the third public choice.

At Yonkers on Sept. 2, the favorite won the Hudson Filly Trot and our choice chased her home, leaving us with a second, Chapter Too ($4.70, $3.50), the partner in an exacta worth $21.40.

In the Yonkers Trot we would up with the favorite, as Devious Man ($2.10) tried to wire the field but was short in the stretch, finishing third to 7-1 Top Flight Angel (a two-time loser in previous weeks on the H2W list).

At Mohawk that same night the Canadian Pacing Derby launched a surprise in the wagering and for the win, as hometown Sintra—which we expected to be played heavily—went off at 12-1 and nosed out the favorite Rockin Ron. In our assessment, made three days before any betting, of course, we looked for elim beaten-favorite Dealt A Winner (33-1) to come back with an avenging mile but he was hanged early and picked up dead cover, finishing well behind the top two.

A 9-1 defeated our choice, Color Envy (62-1) in a filly Champlain on that same program.

In the two colt Champlains we helped complete a $281.80 trifecta by presenting the third element—Torrin Hanover ($14.10), who with the top two choices made the result official. In theother Champlain we were seventh with Albergo Hanover (46-1).

BREEDERS CROWN COUNTDOWN

Aside from a soph-colt trot Simcoe stakes Grand Circuit event at Mohawk on Sept. 2, the “Countdown” took a shot at beating the mega-favorite Downbytheseaside in the Messenger at Yonkers. We looked for a duel that would slow the colt and open up a close for Mac’s Jackpot (41-1) but it did not happen as Downbytheseaside held sway from some late challenges that were close all around the mile. Mac’s Jackpot made one big brush but wound up seventh.

Also at Yonkers, the Countdown offered the Lady Maude Final, where we finished third with Robin J ($4.00), beaten by a 6-1.

The Simcoe for glamour-boy trotters at Mohawk Saturday was easily nailed though lightly rewarded as our choice International Moni ($3.20, $2.30, $2.30 ok). Our hope for an exacta with Seven And Seven was quashed when that one broke, galloped and finished 10^th. 


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 24 active horses (an 13-percent win hit rate and a 38-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 is posted.

Winners

Cherry Bliss, $8.10, $2.80, $2.40, Yonkers
Thesharksbackintown, $4.60, $2.60, $2.40, Monticello
Mr Liven N, $3.50, $2.90, $2.30, Batavia

Seconds

Auckland Flyer, $7.80, $4.50, Saratoga
Count On Cody, $5.00, $3.40, Scioto
Chelseas Chance, $2.90, $2.70, Batavia

Thirds

Fox Valley Arctic, $7.40, Plainridge
Jaipur, $2.50, Vernon
Don’t Forget, $2.10


News & Notes

Here is the fourth week of our exclusive TwinSpires top 10 contenders list for the 2017 “Jug” on Sept. 21 (not any or all in this list are guaranteed to race in the Jug but they are all eligible).

1-Fear The Dragon
2-Downbytheseaside
3-Funknwaffles
4-Miso Fast
5-Classic Pro
6-Filibuster Hanover
7-Blood Line
8-Heaven’s Gair
9-Ocean Colony
10-R J P

Dayton Raceway opens its fourth harness racing season Monday afternoon, Sept. 11, running five days a week through Dec. 30. The 76-day meet features matinees at 2:15 p.m. each Monday and Tuesday and evening programs at 6:15 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The exceptions come in week two, when the track will be dark from Sept. 18-21 due to Little Brown Jug week at the Delaware, Ohio, fairgrounds; and dark days on Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving) and Dec. 25 (Christmas). A program will be offered on Nov. 22 at 6:15 p.m. The highlight of the four-month meet will be the Grand Circuit action on Sept. 29 with the fourth editions of both the $150,000 (est.) Dayton Pacing Derby and the $160,000 (est.) Dayton Trotting Derby. The five-eighths-mile oval also presents a new 20-cent High Five wager in Race 7 each program.

Harness racing returns to the Meadowlands for an abbreviated September meet, a. four-day stint from Friday (Sept. 8) and Saturday, (Sept. 9) and the following Friday and Saturday. Post time for all four nights is 7:15 p.m. Players should note there will be a few changes to the wagering format. The pair of Pick Fours and the Pick-Five will still carry their same low 15 percent takeout rate and occupy their same places on the race card. However, they will not offer their regular guaranteed pool size. In addition, the 20-cent Jackpot Super High Five will only be offered on the final race of the evening. As usual, if there is no single winning ticket, 25 percent of the net pool will be carried over while 75 percent of the net pool will be paid for winning tickets. Should there be no single winning ticket on the final day of the abbreviated meet, the jackpot will be carried to Nov. 4, the first day of the Fall/Winter Meet. Exactas and trifectas will continue to be offered on all races. Ten-cent superfectas will be offered on all races with the exception of those that begin the Pick-Four wagers and the Pick-Five.


Extraordinary Extras

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

For Thom Pye cartoons, informative harness history and more, click here ~