Harness Weekly Update: Public Sharp in Features

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

Thursday, May 20

Our attempt at the Pick 4 from Philly was a mistake. Not because we missed all of the winners but because there was no Pick 4 on Races 1 through 4 on this day. There were, of course, other wagers involved in each of the races, so here is a review of those results to go along with the apology.

We had one winner in the four races, which was Spee Club ($5.20, $3, $2.20) in Race 4. Our other choice, Paraglider (62-1), finished seventh.

In Race 1 ER Room (6-1) finished fifth as a 13-1 upset the field. Keystone Maxim was scratched.

In Race 2 the favorite beat both of our contenders—Go Byem (6-1) and Izoh (2-1)—that finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

In Race 3 we finished second to the favorite with Torn To Pieces AS ($3, $2.80), completing a $14.80 exacta. Mass Flow (48-1) finished fifth.

Friday, May 21

The Robert Carey Jr. Memorial Series at Hawthorne was one of many races we endorsed last week where horses broke stride, eliminating them from competition. We had the winner, Bombay Bobby ($11.80, $6.40, $4), though we were much more hoping for 12-1 Sportsmadness but he galloped after lagging badly behind from the start, finishing 10th.

Saturday, May 22

PA All Stars divisions for soph-colt trotters went in three divisions; we took two. First, there was Mister Boinga ($5.40, $3.80, $3.20), with Spunkin’srocket (9-1) getting fourth.

The other winner was another favorite, Sunny Crockett ($3.20, $2.20, $2.10), with Tart Tongue (5-1) getting fifth.

The remaining division was won by the second choice, who beat the favorite, our choice, Type A ($2.20, $2.20). Truffles Too (10-1) broke badly and finished eighth.

At the Meadowlands, four-year-old Graduates trotters went in two splits. The hot favorite won the first division, leaving us with the show finisher Hillexotic ($6.60). In the second split another choice suffered from breaking stride. Get Legs (8-1) skipped home eighth.

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 for a 13% win hit rate and a 37% across-the-board hit. Horses with asterisks before their names were tweets @FrankCotolo. Follow for late choices.

Winners

Massive Talent, $12.20, $4.20, $2.20, Freehold
Oneida Blue Chip, $8.60, $3, $2.10, Running Aces
Resita, $4.60, $3, $2.80, Meadowlands
Alii Nui, $3.20, $2.20, $2.10, Pocono
Piper Hanover, $2.60, $2.10, $2.10 OK, Philly

Seconds

Up Towns Legacy, $16.20, $6.20, Northville
Victoriana, $12.40, $6.20, Philly
Gallant Major, $11.40, $5.20 (Exacta $37.60), Buffalo
Always Close, $5.20, $3.20 (Exacta $15.90), Running Aces
Midnight Day, $3.40, $3.20, Northville
Iwillmakeyousaywow, $2.50, $2.30, Vernon

Thirds

Slew Foot, $3.80, Meadows
Ann Hill, $3.30, Yonkers
Kenzie Hanover, $2.50, Vernon

NEWS & NOTES

The Government of Ontario announced provincial horse racing is included in a three-step process to open tracks. Step one is estimated to begin on June 14. Woodbine Entertainment said the 2021 harness racing season at Woodbine Mohawk (WoMo) resumes on that date and continues its regular five race days per week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday). WoMo also says it is prepared to accelerate the start of live racing sooner if the plans begin earlier than expected.

For the first time in more than 10 years, Hoosier Park added Sundays to the racing calendar; the change began May 23. Hoosier hosts racing Wednesday through Sunday with a 6:30 p.m. (ET) first post through Sep. 24 before dropping back down to a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule through Dec. 4. In addition to Wednesday through Friday, Sunday cards will also feature a $10,000 guaranteed pool in the Hoosier High Five wager, which features a low 12 per cent takeout and a 20-cent minimum.

Extraordinary Extras

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