Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

Freehold Raceway’s Lou Babic finals for frosh colt and filly pacers delivered our best strike for the weekend. We gave you the filly winner, Strut My Stuff ($12.20, $2.60, n/s) and our colt choice, Mitt Jagger was second ($9, $3.40) in an exacta worth $12.60 with the favorite.

The southern comfort of Lexington, Kentucky and the historic-laden Red Mile didn’t give us much to work with in week one. We were only successful in the winner’s circle with Limelight Beach ($4.80, $2.60, $2.10), Gettingreadytoroll ($3.60, $2.40, $2.10) and Artspeak ($2.10, $2.10, $2.10 ok).

In other Bluegrass action we had Act Now second ($2.60, $2.10, Exacta $9) and Penji Hanover third ($4.40).

A few weeks back we were hot at Northfield’s Ohio Sires Stakes but on closing night at Scioto we were zero for seven with one scratch. We had one second with Kick A Lot ($3, $3, ok, Exacta $8.40) and two thirds with Ollie Pop ($3.20) and Diamondkeeper ($2.10).

The Breeders Crown Countdown blog, located at Blogspot, handled the Bluegrass Stakes at The Red Mile for Friday, Sept. 26. The public was sharp for these and we agreed with them, catching winners Sassa Hanover ($4.20, $2.20, $2.10). Habitat ($2.60, $2.10, $2.10) and Bettor Be Steppin ($2.20, $2.10, $2.10). Our sole second was Centurion Atm ($2.10, $2.10 ok).

The “Countdown” blog will continue coverage of races connected to “Crown” eligibles leading to the championship events in November (where we will cover the finals live from the Meadowlands). Don’t miss one episode on Blogspot, linked from here, and look for archived race reviews at the Hambletonian Society site.

HARNESS OCTOBER – During the month of October, TwinSpires is offering harness bettors some great deals when you wager on standardbreds at any racetrack we carry.
Check out the details by clicking here.

TwinSpires and Hoosier continue a three-pronged power-packed program for harness players. Tuesdays, wager all you want and earn 10 TSC Elite Points per dollar bet. Click here for details. Every Thursday night, there is a 20-percent bonus on hitting the Pick 4 starting at Race 3. Click here for details. And the ongoing 10-percent Pick-4 bonus every racing night on Pick-4 hits continues through the meet. Click here for details.

In between published harness blogs, follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get tips on Hoosier contenders you can use in your tickets. Other possibilities appear in exclusive H2W list.

H2W RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas are included when a H2W horse finishing first or second completes the result with a race favorite or another H2W horse listed in the same race (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete the exacta). This week, there were 28 active horses on the H2W list.

Winners
Natural Herbie, $7.40, $3.20, $3.20 ok, Scioto
Turbulence Force, $6.80, $4.20, $3.80, Colonial
Taste Of Paradise, $5.40, $4.20, $3.40 (*Exacta $10.20), Colonial
Victom As, $4.70, $3.10, $2.10 ok, Saratoga

Seconds

Violet Eyes, $7.20, $3.60, Meadows
Doc’s Zippy, $5.20, $2.80, Colonial
Riviera, $4.40, $3.40, Yonkers
Bet On Roulette, $3.80, $2.60, Saratoga
Forturne James, $3.60, $2.60 (*Exacta $10.20), Colonial
When In Rome, $3.40, n/s, Plainridge
Cooken Your Goose, $3, $2.60, Rosecroft
Feel Like Dancin, $2.40, $2.40 ok, Maywood

Thirds

Just Fine, $2.60, Red Mile
Mcardles Lightning, n/s, Meadows

News & Notes

The racing career of glamour-boy trotting star Trixton may be, as sadly expected, over. “Right now I'm not sure what will happen,” said trainer Jimmy Takter. “His back ankles have been an issue for him and it may be over for racing. It pretty much comes down to what I decide his future will be. My partner Brixton Medical AB in Sweden will go along with what I suggest.” The son of Muscle Hill was a $360,000 yearling purchase from Hunterton Farm. The colt struggled with injuries at two but did manage a record of 1:54.4 while earning $53,000. At three he still banked $915,009, winning eight of 11 appearances. His last start was an unsuccessful effort in the Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack. He earned a 1:50.3 record in an elimination of the Hambletonian and won the final over his stable mate Father Patrick, who broke uncharacteristically at the start.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved an amended schedule requested by Plainridge Racecourse. The new arrangement finds Plainridge closing its 2014 season on Oct. 22. Live racing takes place at the Massachusetts track each Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with a 1 p.m. post. The schedule change was granted with the consent of the Harness Horsemen’s Association of New England. Earlier this year, Penn National Gaming, which owns Plainridge, was granted the first expanded gaming license in Massachusetts. Work continues at a feverish pace on the Plainridge Park Casino, which is scheduled to open in mid-2015.

Two additional nights of live racing have been added to the 2014-racing schedule at Pocono Downs. Friday, Oct. 10 and Friday, Oct. 17 have been added, both with the regular Post Time of 6:30 p.m. The 2014 season continues until Saturday, Nov. 22, with regular race nights of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Plans are in the works for the 2015 season, which will be the track’s 50^th anniversary.

Western Fair District in London, Ont. opens its 2014-‘15 live racing season Friday, Oct. 3. Raceway Manager Greg Blanchard said he can’t wait to get the meet started. “We’ve gone through a turbulent couple of years but I think we’ve weathered the storm well and we’re really excited to be back in action this year,” Blanchard said. The Raceway at The Western Fair District will race on Mondays and Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. and Fridays at 7:05 p.m. this fall and will add Wednesdays to the schedule in 2015. Track announcer Shannon “Sugar” Doyle is back calling the races. New this year is a Pick-3 wager on the first three races of every card in addition to two, Pick-4 wagers guaranteed at $5,000 apiece and two Super Hi-5 bets. All of those wagers have a takeout rate of 15 percent.

Extraordinary Extras

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

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

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