Four Tracks Host Harness Features, Power Plays As March Comes In Like A Lion

At March’s launch we are poised for the start of the “Levy” and Matchmaker series at Yonkers (March 17 and 18^th), which will roll through the month and paves the way for the year’s stakes season. The overture to major divisional events is also at Yonkers, with the Petticoat and Sagamore series starting mid-week on March 6 for three- and four-year-old pacers.

So, we will continue with our “Power Plays,” where players get top picks for all wagers available in certain races. Mix and match, so to speak, to take advantage of our choices in win, place, show, single- and multi-race exotic events. We try to deliver outsiders that complement favorites to produce combos a player can wager more than the base price in pursuit of a huge score. Seriously consider our suggested contenders in these Power Play features as well as others listed on the H2W list. Do your own handicapping, and then compare and consider our selections when betting.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Freehold/ Race 1
Thursday, March 2

This low-conditioned event puts the Thursday program in gear and it looks perfect for Max Profit. Toss his recent race away and bank on his Feb. 4 event, a step down where he finished second at 24-1 after a strong overland journey. The track Morning Line (ML) lists Max Profit at 8-1, somewhat more than seems fair for the four-year-old gelding. The ML choice is Tossies Flash, making his second race after a drop that presented a grueling duel that lasted three calls. Dropping into this class, “Flash” went off 19-1. Staying in this class, his ML is 3-2. Unfair. The best other choice here should be CC Jermey, who leaves the claiming ranks to take on this group. It’s about the same level and “CC” comes from two races where he paced far better than his odds. This is the start of the Daily Double.

POWER PLAYS

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Saratoga/ Race 3
Thursday, March 2

An exacta, trifecta and superfecta are offered in this conditioned race, one written to get some horses back on the track for the new season. Forever Effie leaves from post 6 with an 8-1 ML, which demands attention in the top four making up the exotics here. She shipped in from Monticello and raced well, drafting to a place finish in this company at 17-1. She has raced here against better at Saratoga last summer.

The ML choice (7-5) Moonlight Spin just won at this level coming in from Yonkers and will be dangerous again, though returning under the earnings condition. Northern BB should be in the mix, dropping into the race from a step above at Saratoga in December. Her qualifier was very good. As well, Island Adventure sucked along well in a qualifier here and looks to continue cashing checks as the Roll With Joe filly debuts as a sophomore under the third condition prepping for a promising season.

POWER PLAYS

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadowlands/ Race 6
Friday, March 3

Our Power Plays are in motion in this event, with an exacta, a trifecta and a super. Here we have veteran trotters under conditions that fit them this early in the season, certainly those returning to the races in their new age group. One of them, Madman Hall, is a trifecta on his own, trained, driven and owned by Ray Schnittker, who directed the gelding’s sire Deweycheatumnhowe to a championship season at three. Campaigning most of his frosh season at Yonkers, a switch to only two turns with the speed he has shown on four, makes him look very good here.

DW’s NY Yank is largely the class of the field and coming back at eight for Ron Burke, off of a Meadowlands qualifier, puts him in the mix and even branded with the Burke team including driver Yannick Gingras, he may not be a heavy favorite. Marion Millionair just won in this company and from post 3 could manufacture the exact trip as that victory and at a price (which we need in any quartet for a decently priced 10-cent super). Wind Of The North has raced with the best and comes off a Dover race where he as 4-1, a bargain though he finished second, and he may add some wealth to scores in exotics.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Saratoga/ Race 8
Friday, March 3

This midrange conditioner offers a competitive field that will have bettors spreading out their wagers with this and that argument about what appears to be a contentious field. That being written, the post dreaded by most players of a half-mile track holds the key to a price worth cashing. It’s Band Winsome from post 8. She has shown that posts don’t bother her, cashing checks from inside and outside trips at Saratoga. She returns at five after a strong qualifying prep and to get a price on her like her 6-1 ML could be the buy of the night. 

POWER PLAYS

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Northfield/ Race x
Saturday, March 4

With all three single-race exotics on the line, here are four Power Plays contenders with good-enough credentials to bring about big prices. ML outsider Barbra Carol Lynn raced very well last time out, brushing big time early but burning out while hanged. To be a part of any exotic here is possible and will be profitable. DC Uprising fared well as the favorite, finishing second in a drop-down class. In a similar situation, there’s Lyric Of Life. Toss out the recent two, both well-supported but disappointing, and rely on her performance when she came to Ohio from Canada on Feb. 4. The ML favorite, Esteemed Members, is a dropper that seems over rated at 9-5 but in a group of three or four (trifecta or super) you have to respect the crowd and add her.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Northfield/ Race 8
Saturday, March 4

It’s unusual for us to stick with a horse that has failed twice on the H2W but this is an exception that should pay off. Rolling Going Gone is in the perfect spot to win and to pay decently. Coming back as a beaten favorite after a tough, dueling start hurt her, this four-year-old daughter of super-stud Roll With Joe may demolish this group. This race is the start of a Pick 4 and she is a solid single in our book. It’s also an exacta and trifecta with her name as the key written all over them.

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

Buffalo
3/4/17, +Keystone Dalton R5; +Bahama Boy R6

Cal Expo
3/3/17, +Duet R4; +Rockinaroundheaven R10; +Quality Sport R12
3/4/17, Be My Lucky Lady R3; +Lodi Machette Man R9
 
Dover
3/2/17, +Jet Blue Miracle R2

Flamboro
3/2/17, Funny Three R1
3/4/17, Kirktons Credit R7

Fraser
3/5/17, Millbanks Dontell R3

Freehold
3/2/17, +Duneside Life R2; +Soapy Sap R3; Camwiser R6
3/3/17, +Flowing James R2

Meadowlands
3/2/17, +Amped Up R5

Meadows
3/4/17, +Mister Chaos R5; +Armbro Hall R7; +Keystone Wonder R7; +Upfront Charlieboy R11

Miami
3/3/17, +JJs Six Pack Attack R12
3/4/17, +Mikes Hope R6
3/5/17, +Goose For All R1; +Petite Courageuse R6; +Cladslastimpression R14
3/6/17, Pine Dream R12

Monticello
3/2/17, Terrorize The Moon R3

Northfield
3/4/17, +McArdle Direct R7; +Tango Bayama R12; Friskie Town R15; +Sign Of A Queen R15

Northville
3/3/17, KD Bella R2; +Britannia Seelster R3; +ER Maria R10

Pompano
3/4/17, Roll With Faith R4; J Black R6; Jade Mountain R8

Saratoga
3/2/17, +Hillb illysweetshrk R2; Ella V Horse R6; +Keene Olivia R9; +Bye Bye Michelle R9
3/5/17, Kesons Avaia R5

Woodbine
3/5/17, Alexas Jackpot R8; Big Yellow R10

Yonkers
3/6/17, +Derecho R9