Harness Racing: Single- And Multi-Race Action Set

Pennsylvania All Stars will present sophomores at Pocono this weekend, along with some other top features. Your TwinSpires Harness Blog presents the best betting propositions and handicapping opinions in the sport. And, our never-ending TwinSpires H2W (horses-to-watch list), with suggestions enhancing exotic combinations and fair-priced win, place and show finishes.

POWER PLAYS

Thursday, May 20
Philly / Races 1, 2, 3, 4

Let’s take a swing at the Pick 4 on this afternoon’s first four races. Remember the horse decisions should not be ignored for the individual exotics and win, place and show pools.

Race 1
ER Room has made the most money in this field simply by hitting the board 10 of 14 times. He could pay best on top considering he is the second choice in the morning line (how is that?). Keystone Maxim is usually in the finishing trio and should be counted upon for exotics.

Race 2
Here, the morning line (ML) favorite is a non-winner of 10 in as many starts this year. Amazing, because this is a perfect spot for Go Byem to score. This is not as tight as the morning line suggests. Izoh should race better at this level; he did not lose ground last time finishing sixth and might suck along leaving from post 2 and have something left when it counts.

Race 3
Pep up the Pick 4 with outsider Mass Flow. It’s only his second race this year and forgiving him for a miserable first start is acceptable—certainly to David Miller, who doesn’t need the work but picks up this drive (?). Torn To Pieces AS may not be worth the ML price; it is another ML mystery.

Race 4
If we are still alive here, we’ll be shouting for Spee Club to keep up his great percentage of in-the-money finishes, perhaps adding to his win. Para Glider is also a good earner, and he comes off a 10-1 win at Philly.

CAREY ON

Friday, May 21
Hawthorne

The Robert Carey Jr. Memorial, leg one, starts the Illinois-bred series for soph-colt pacers. It’s only a $12.5k leg but the series is a Night of Champions event of classic proportions. There are 10 going. The oldest state sire represented, and by only a singe entry—Sportsmadness—is Sportsmaster. This is his second race at three. Last week in another series, Sportsmadness went off at 95-1, finishing sixth. Yet, he stayed afloat while others in this field have raced greenly in the few 2021 starts they have made. Mr. Carroll Hays sends out the best-blooded equine of the group with Sportsmadness and we go as far as to say he will have to disappoint us if he does not win the series.

Beyond that, Bombay Bobby need only have a good trip from post 10 to make some noise but surely he will hit the board as he is showing signs of being very sharp at three.

PA ALL STARS

Saturday, May 22
Pocono

The Pennsylvania All Stars series is not by any (racetrack) stretch races that feature all stars. These three divisions ($30k each) offer sophomore-colt trotters, some of which may achieve stardom.

Race 5
The seven on board have already won a race at three or not. With little effort, one can see that Mister Boinga has the speed badge and Ceffyl DWR has the bankroll. It could be that simple. Mister Boinga comes from a third at the Meadows in a race where he was clearly best of the rest. A possible upset but surely an exotic addition is Spunkin’srocketman. He was steady to start and finish third at Philly, good enough to improve.

Race 8
Eight go in this mile. Two starting their season are Jack Fire and Type A, the latter for Nancy Takter. Ron Burke’s Whiskey Blue will share the favorite slot with Top Me Off, but we will aim at Truffles Too. The outsider broke in a sires stakes, only his third start. He is fast enough to surprise the top two even if they behave. Still, Type A is coming from a good qualifier and to debut with a win is not out of the question.

Race 10
Of the seven in motion here, we like Marcus Melander’s Tart Tongue. A forgiving break took him out of a sires stakes division but it should not scare you off. Melander’s students rough gait their ways to handsome finishes and big earnings. This one has hit the board three of five times—trotting, not galloping. The obvious other contender is Julie Miller’s Sunny Crockett. He could take it all but the price may not be right.

GRADUATED TROTS

Saturday, May 22
Meadowlands

Another pair of $50k Graduate fields, this for four-year-old trotters, is on tap with division regulars. The 3-for-3 Ab’sattitudeexpress leads the pack from Canada but we are looking for the trotter to stop his streak. That means also going against Its Academic but all right, we will do that with Hillexotic. Trond Smedshammer’s trotter is getting better against good competition and we want to be on him when he beats that likes of the two aforementioned hotties.

In the second division we hope to dismiss Lovedbythemasses, who surprised a similar bunch last week. Although last week Get Legs was halted by a bad break, Julie Miller’s trotter is one hell of racehorse and we are not about to give up on her for one mishap. She may be better than Amigo Volo, who has not been prepping with any sign of his late three-year-old season form and may not be so bright at four, as well as she is surely better than Lovedbythemasses on her next-to-best day.

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. Some repeating horses may not appear due to our deadline to post.

H2W LIST

Buffalo
5/22/21, Gallant Major R1; One Step Up R11

Freehold
5/21/21, Massive Talent R9

Hawthorne
5/22/21, +OK Jewel R5

Hoosier
5/20/21, +Dontustopbelivn N R14
5/21/21, +Righthererightnow R6

Meadowlands
5/21/21, +Kaitlyn N R4; Jula Shines On R7; +Rose Run Vantage R9; Resita R11

Meadows
5/21/21, +Slew Foot R3; +Willow Mill Mark R11
5/22/21, Pembroke Wildcat R5; Zanetti R7; +Thruway R12

Monticello
5/20/21, Rebel Jet R4

Northville
5/21/21, Skyway Toxic R2
5/22/21, Midnight Day R5; +Up Towns Legacy R11

Philly
5/20/21, Feeling Cam Lucky R7
5/21/21, KJ Kyra R2; +Victoriana R5; Ineffable R6; +Alpine R7; +Piper Hanover R10
5/23/21, Late Night Date A R11

Plainridge
5/20/21, Cornerd Beach R4
5/21/21, +Lindy On Stage R1; Motown Hall R3; Goorilla R6

Running Aces
5/20/21, Zipper Flipper R3; Always Close R5; Oneida Blue Chip R6

Scioto
5/20/21, +Margin Of Error R6; +Cruisin Thru Time R11
5/21/21, +Susie D R14
5/22/21, JM Jet Set R1; +Rose Run Ulysses R6

Vernon
5/21/21, +Kenzie Hanover R3; +Iwillmakeyousaywow R4; +Barn Hall R8
5/22/21, Jericho Willie R7

Yonkers
5/20/21, Drop The Mic R3; Golden Quest N R7; Ann Hill R9
5/24/21, Flaming Flutter N R3