Harness Weekly Update: NYSS Harness Sweep Highlighted

The TwinSpires Harness Blog Weekly Update covers our successes and failures from selected features and the horses-to-watch list (H2W).

Friday, July 9

We pulled a sweep of the New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) at Vernon, offering the winners of the three frosh-colt trot divisions, including a cold exacta.

In round one of the NYSS we nabbed first with Grand Spa ($8.90, $4.20, $2.90) and second with Chapheart ($4.20, $2.70) for a cold exacta worth $29.20.

The middle division was a near single-race exotic-triple score but for the favorite, Distance Learning, breaking and finishing last. Meanwhile, we hit with Cool Papa Bell ($7.80, $4.70, $3.20) and took third with Quincy Market ($3.70).

The NYSS conclusion was won by our only selection, Molotov Cocktail ($6.40, $4.50, $2.70).

Saturday, July 10

A sheet of rain clouded the Meadowlands before the program began, and the track was labeled sloppy for the rest of the evening.

The Meadowlands Pace elims were both longshots out of our reach, but we did get the place spot in the second elim with Lawless Shadow ($12.60, $4.40), beaten by a 10-1.

The first elim was won by a monstrous 81-1 shot while we made the final finishing fifth with Rockyroad Hanover (7-1).

In the Graduate Final for trotters, Get Legs (37-1) was not a factor while a 6-1 won.

In the Graduate Final for pacers, a 7-1 won in the final strides as our 3-1 Allywag Hanover finished fourth.

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 38 active horses (an 11% win hit rate and a 37% ATB [across-the-board] hit). Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Rock The Devil, $4.80, $3.00, $2.40, Pocono
Everything Z Tam, $3.60, $2.80, $2.40, Hoosier
Wisenheimer, $3.00, $2.20, $2.20 OK, Pocono
Century Heineken, $2.90, $2.50, $2.10, WoMo

Seconds

Jericho Diva, $13.20, $7.00 (Exacta $35.80), Tioga
Spoxys Girl, $11.20, $7.20, Hawthorne
Dojea Rock, $3.40, $3.80, Hoosier
Rojo Caliente, $3.20, $2.20, Running Aces
Electric Western, $2.90, $2.50, Yonkers
Big Oil, $2.40, $2.10 (Exacta $4.80), Philly

Thirds

Treasure Mach, $4.20, Yonkers
Heid, $3.10, Vernon
Island Beach Boy, $2.50, WoMo
Dazzling Reign, $2.20, Meadows

NEWS & NOTES

TwinSpires is making Thursdays bigger for bettors. On the day the TwinSpires harness blog preview drops, and every Thursday through Aug. 5, the early Pick 4 at Hoosier Park is a $2,000 Hit It and Split It exclusive deal. Click here for details. 

The Meadowlands is reacting to unfavorable comments from customers about the lack of competitiveness in many of the races. Track president Jeff Gural called for a mandatory meeting on July 16 with all drivers racing at the track. It will be held in the paddock drivers’ lounge at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

“I'd like to talk about how we might improve the product...to do some things differently," Gural said, "evaluate the results during the break between the Hambletonian and when we reopen on Sept. 3, and decide if, in fact, these changes helped or hurt. Our goal is to have the best Standardbred racing product in the world, as it is our belief that we have the finest drivers in the world competing at The Meadowlands.”

For Ken Warkentin’s 2021 Hambletonian top 10 contenders, we compare top fives.

1. In Range / Venerate
2. Sonofamistery / Sonofamistery
3. Venerate / Johan Palema
4. Lindysmusclemania / On A Streak
5. Johan Palema / In Range

The North America Cup for glamour-boy pacers at Mohawk is posting its top 10 contenders (on the left) and we are comparing their top five with our top five:

1. American Courage / Rockyroad Hanover
2. Perfect Sting / Lawless Shadow
3. Bulldog Hanover / American Courage
4. Southwind Gentry / Perfect Sting
5. Lawless Shadow / Abuckabett Hanover

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in our columns, Alternative Actions and Bettors Banquet, at Harness Racing Update