Frosh-Stakes Parade Chalky With Breeders Crown Champs Redux
TwinSpires Harness Blog now reports success and failure on the post-Breeders Crown weekend at Hoosier Park, Dover Downs and the Meadowlands. Plus we share the shape of our horses-to-watch list (H2W) from last week’s choices. Check our News & Notes section for reporting and remarking on the states of our sport.
Thursday, Nov. 5
The Matrons at Dover, four two-year-old finals, found us involved but not in the winner’s circle. Two stakes were won by favorites. In one, we were second with Paula Bet Hanover ($3.20, $2.20), completing a $6.40 exacta. In another, we finished seventh with Exploit (7-1).
In the third of four, a 22-1 shot got by us as we finished third with Pub Crawl ($2.20). And finally, we were third to the public’s second choice with Ethan T Hanover ($2.10).
Friday, Nov. 6
At Hoosier, Breeders Crown horses with losses came back to win. One of them was endorsed by us: Play Trix On Me ($8.40, $3.80, $3.20) was not the favorite, but was also not the 27-1 he offered last week when he lost by a breath.
Three other attempts to thwart the public choices failed for us. Marloe Hanover (93-1) finished sixth with little effort; Tattoo Artist (6-1) was a disappointing sixth; and Sweet Shirley Mae (16-1) brought nothing to the race and finished 10th, last.
Saturday, Nov. 7
Four Kindergarten Classics for the frosh divisions turned into three betting interests, as our colt-trot choice, Sonofamistery, scratched sick.
In the filly trot we were third with Mazzarati ($2.40), beaten by the favorite. We were knocked out of the filly pace early when Dresden galloped and never recovered.
In the colt pace, Summa Cum Laude ($4.00, $2.80, $2.40) won easily, but Simon Says Hanover (3-1) finished fifth.
H2W LIST RESULTS
The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Exactas listed include a H2W horse finishing second to a race-favorite or if the first two finishers are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses are listed—a cold exacta). The note “ok” determines that prices are correct (even when a show price exceeds a place price or all prices are the same).
Please note that some results reflect horses racing after the blog posts (they appear the following week).
This week, there were 30 active horses (a 10-percent win hit rate and a 30-percent ATB [across-the-board] hit rate).
Winners
Alexa Skye, $6.20, $3.00, $2.40, Meadowlands
American Mercury, $4.50, $3.00, $2.60, Yonkers
Always Relentless, $3.60, $2.20, $2.10, Oak Grove
Seconds
Carolina Beach, $8.20, $4.80, Meadows
Ladys Big Stormont, $3.00, $2.50 (Exacta, $6.20), Monticello
Simply Sunsational, $3.00, $2.80, Plainridge
Thirds
Fox Valley Gemini, $4.00, Hoosier
Proper One, $2.40, Dover
Skyway Leda, $2.10, Monticello
NEWS & NOTES
Additional harness-racing programs at Philly reset the originally scheduled closing day of Dec. 20. The additional dates are: Dec. 23, 24, 27 and 31, all afternoon programs except the latter an evening New Year’s Eve feature. The administration says due to the loss of programs early in the season—a COVID-19 source—the track will now give horsemen and bettors additional opportunities before the end of the year.
Pompano Park kicked off its 57th racing season on Nov. 8. It is a 126-night meet ending on May 19, 2021. Besides the usual menu of wagering features offered, Pompano adds a late Pick 3 on the final three races of the program.
In 2019, TwinSpires harness blog profited from its unending support for Gimpanzee, the sophomore trotter from Marcus Melander’s barn that came back at four to beat older trotters and glide to a third-straight Breeders Crown victory. At two and three, we supported and endorsed Gimpanzee as the best of Melander’s three soph trotters. We covered his 2020 Breeders Crown win live. Read about the great trotter exclusively at Harness Racing Update.
Trainer Brett Pelling took a hiatus from North American harness racing after a hugely successful career and returned to his native New Zealand. He has returned to competition and continues to supply his new stable with competitive stock. Jack Pelling, his son, launched a driving career and won his first race at Freehold. Pelling, 25, got his provisional license earlier in the yearand began driving in qualifiers last June.
Extraordinary Extras
Indulge in our columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet at Harness Racing Update
ADVERTISEMENT
