Features Heat Up In Winter’s Blast; Action Betting Below Zero

A tougher winter than has appeared in more than a decade is sweeping across the U.S.A. with an actual parade of storms of snow and ice. Harness racing and harness bettors have barely been affected, In fact, our readers should have already profited from many of our selected feature winners and those from our TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W). So here we go into week three of February, 2021 with suggestions that enhance exotic combinations and produce fair win, place and show targeting.
 
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Monticello / Race 34
Thursday, / Feb. 18

Last week, Dr Snow was on the H2W list. The Dawn Devaux-trained pacer went off at 10-1 from the 1 post, left with a good spot in third to take on the half-mile track but was buried on the inside for each turn and left with nowhere to close. In this race Dr Snow leaves from post 6 (at the same conditioned level) and picks up Jim Devaux for the ride. Those are two positives that support the chances of the only 2021 winner in this field.

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Yonkers / Race 10
Thursday / Feb. 18

The second half of the late Daily Double certainly can belong to Wishy Washy Girl. Last week she was on our H2W list and pumped up an exacta with the winning race favorite by finishing second at 14-1. It was raced from post 7, the penultimate curse, say some handicappers, for leaving the gate at Yonkers. Wishy Washy Girl, defying her name, left quickly, sat in second and chased the favorite with minor pressure to get the place.

All things being Yonkers-equal, Feelin Red Hot, who has loved this track for a few seasons, could easily follow Wishy Washy Girl home to complete the exacta.
 
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Meadows / Race 11
Friday / Feb. 19

Magicshore, James Rothfuss’s conditioned pacer, was the third element of a triple last week, where we endorsed him, having the winner as well. This week he is on the also-eligible list of this race and we need to keep an eye on his getting into the field via a scratch because we do not want to miss his most recent race. Last week he made up a battlefield of ground from the half to three-quarters, where he safely slid into third. He could easily win this event with that or any easier trip.

If he does or doesn’t make it into this field, scheduled 5 horse, Sleepin In The Sun is definitely one to trust hitting the toteboard.

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Yonkers / Race 6
Friday / Feb. 19

Last Friday at Yonkers, Solo Leviathan A had a lot going for him. The Rock N Roll Heaven eight-year-old would be stepping down into the same conditioner as tonight but scratched. Before that, in a class one tick higher, he finished fourth by a mere ½ length as a dead-on favorite. He was not well measured by the track handicapper but 9-1 was more than fair. He went off at 10-1. Only the worse start could stop “Solo” from being deeply involved in this race—and that is exactly what stopped him. As the gate unfolded, Solo stepped back and was distanced well before the :28 first quarter. He galloped to finish behind the other six.

Shaun Vallee brings the gelding right back and we have to hope Solo gets stepping right so he could do what he was supposed to do—race and race well. If that normality is in play he will be far from a favorite and we will be backing him to make amends at the best price. 

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Pocono / Race 1
Saturday / Feb. 20

Trainer Chris McGuire scratched Shane Adam from a series at Miami Valley and the next we hear of the pacer he is entered in a series at Pocono (second leg of the Game of Claims) on Saturday. The extra-added attraction is the trainer on the new racing grounds—Ron Burke. Shane Adam has raced four times and finished second twice. Burke’s association and Shane Adam’s current record out-performs the rest of this field, so don’t expect any bloated odds, just a sharp performance.

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Pocono / Race 4
Saturday / Feb. 20

Also from last week’s features, Bye Bye John returns in the Game of Claims series. He sports one big move in the Feb. 13 division that could win this one for him. Susan Marshall’s pacer picked up live cover at the half in search of an attack on the lead. Aggressively, Bye Bye John went three-wide, a move that found him second on the outside. It was costly, as the leader improved his lead and others having better trips used their saved ground to pass him. New trainer Neil Balcerak may want “John” to fire off the gate from post 1 or draft behind another to save ground and take advantage of the brush that lost it for him, turning it into a strong and winning stretch drive.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and confirm the wagers available at the prescribed track. H2W offers possible contenders researched from reviewing races. Horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track with the date of their race and the race number (R6 ) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name, it appears on the list for the second time (horses are listed twice only if, at first, they failed to win. An “ae” signals also-eligible. Types of wagers to make are based on your judgment.

H2W LIST

Buffalo
2/20/21, +Way To Go Fabieo R2; +Rebel Voyager R3; +Love The Dragon R4; +Bugatti R 7

Cal-Expo
2/20/21, Souldust R3; Mystery Dragon R11
2/21/21, Arnies Army R4; Gordy Again R9; Selma O’brien R12

Freehold
2/20/21, Justa Camilion R2; Allindotime R3; Dance Life Well R7; Hes Gratis N R12

Meadowlands
2/20/21, Starznheaven R1; Actor Hanover R8; Duddies Lor R9; +American Boy N R11

Meadows
2/18/21, +Carolina Beach R8; Salty Robyn N R9

Miami
2/20/21, Crimson And Chrome R8; +Western Boots R9

Monticello
2/22/21, Bonzai Beach R2; +Wynnfrith R5; Gracie G R9

Northfield
2/20/21, +Schemin Friskie R5; Vibrent Kally R8; +Skyway Ballet R15

Pocono
2/20/21, +Mississippi Rabbit R4; +Just N Ace R4; +President R6; +Blow A Cloud N R7; +Janaid R12; +Texas Terror N R13; Iammrbrightside N R13
2/21/21, +Narina Hanover R7
 
Yonkers
2/18/21, J Rockin B R1