Last Chances For Pacers In Yonkers Series; Philly Power Plays Persist; Host Of Hot Harness Spots

Mid-April finds the George Morton Levy Pacing Series and the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers Raceway on their last legs, so to speak. Aprill 22 will present the finals of these older-pacer events which have launched this season’s Grand Circuit.

We begin the weekend, however, with “Power Plays” at the recently opened Philadelphia harness track with the common wagers (win, place, show), as well as single-race exotics. We leave you to pursue which wagering types to make. Power Plays report suggested contenders that keep in mind the exotics involved. We encourage multiple plays per minimum exotic wager in a pursuit of a big score. So pay close attention to our suggested contenders in Power Plays races, as well as those simply listed in the weekly H2W (the horses-to-watch) list. Do your own handicapping, and then compare and consider our selections when betting.

POWER PLAYS

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Philadelphia/ Race 5
Thursday, April 13

There’s a bit of movement up and down in companies from this field, offering exacta, trifecta and superfecta exotics. Here are the four contenders we choose for use in the exotics.

Alligator Falls receives a Morning Line (ML) of 10-1 after shipping from Dover. He was very competitive there a few levels higher and his first effort at Philly saw him hanging in an early duel in a $16G claimer. He is every bit as qualified as the ML choice, American Rage, who raced about the same a notch or two up at Yonkers and was strong at Pocono the race before that. Mr Censi was hanged for two calls here last week at this level, going off the favorite. He held to be second and should be in the mix here. Northern Assassin A comes to Philly from tougher miles at Pocono and could help pump any of the exotic prices, as the crowd is not likely to see his ultimate potential.

PENULTIMATE MARES

The last leg of the mares’ series offers a pair of divisions, both with only sextets of performers. The main money will land in the win pool for Bedroomconfessions, with enough for Mach It A Par to be the second choice, exactly as the ML predicts. So, there will be a third choice, Divas Image, to offer a significant challenge.

Two legs back we were all four Divas Image but she could not find the room to do any damage late against the closing factions. Last week she was an astounding 36-1 and she was all out late to get second and boost the exotics. She is in a great spot here to shake loose on the speed of the aforementioned and will be lightly supported compared to them.

Last week we supported Hidden Land and this week from post 1 she may have a better shot, though supported more than last week’s 10-1. If she can team with Divas Image for a one-two punch over the top choices the exotics will deliver handsomely.

Division two finds ML choice Regil Elektra on the wood, an especially fine launching spot for her fourth victory in as many division starts. A winner last week, Medusa draws the outside 6 post and will have a hard time clearing to the top from there, because on top she will do her best. Medusa can only cause a speed duel if challenging “Regil,” as may Krispy Apple. Under stressful speed conditions, saving ground could be the key to a win for Mackenzie A, who appears best to take advantage of such a scenario and who will go off far from her last two efforts, both promising 2-1 after she won a Matchmaker leg.
 
LAST LEVY LEG

Three divisions make up the fifth leg, beginning with Race 5 on Saturday, April 15. Six fill division one and from the inside, the Ron Burke-trained Caviart Luca gets his best chance to take a division. Track-star-driver George Brennan will help get more support for “Luca” and he will go off less than his other attempts, when he was truly worth backing and lost. Will he get more support than Provocativeprincen? As well, the Mcwicked fans will be out in full array, knocking down some odds. In the short field, all you can hope for is a trip from Long Live Rock exactly like the one that gave him his only Levy-division win. A second-over journey could do it for him and again at a decent price, perhaps better than can be expected in a six-horse field.

Race 6 may appear more competitive because the 7 horse in the seven-horse field is Missile J, arguably the best performer in the Levy this year. He has won three divisions in as many tries and here he may still be well supported but split with the rail horse, Bit Of A Legend N and to his right, Rockin Ron. Getting any decent price on Missile J makes him a bet and it looks like here the 1 and 2 could compromise his odds. Missile J is on target to sweep his divisions in the series and win the final, so his draw here could be a pleasant gift for supporters, as he is the best of this lot by far.

Race 7 is the last division in the 2017 series. We have been correct about a few horses that were in over their heads this season. Mcwicked and, here in post 1, Wakizashi Hanover. He received so much wasted support last week and was still unable to pick up his first win of the year. The rail won’t do him much good here, as Clear Vision looks to win his second straight and may do so not being the favorite (our kind of play). That makes him a bet, though he could still wind up the top choice by more than a dollar if the crowd returns to support “Wakizashi” and has further faith in Guantanamo Bay, as well as Somewhere In LA will be applauded.

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
4/14/17, +Box Car Johnnie R3

Cal Expo
4/14/17, Cantoria R6; Musician R7; Cheryls Surprise R9
4/15/17, +Fly Away R8; +Mar Dream R9; Nutmegs Desire R11

Dover
4/13/17, Te Kawau N R11

Flamboro
4/13/17, +Funny Three R4

Fraser
4/13/17, Key To The Moon R2; Sugar Shark R5; Gable Blue Chip R7; Flak Jacket R13

Hoosier
4/13/17, +Sadies Art R4
4/14/17, Musashi R3; Scary Harry R4; Boys Round Here R7; +Vance Bayama R7
4/15/17, +Sunset Mike R3; +Carols Z Tam R8; +Stable Eyes R11

Meadows
4/15/17, +Southwind Yukon R4; +Albionkinginfinito R10
4/17/17, Doctor Lily R2

Miami
4/16/17, +MJs Victory Wish R5

Mohawk
4/15/17, +Daylight Rush R5; Nirvana Seelster R8

Monticello
4/13/17, Vinnies Valentine R5

Northville
4/14/17, Nirvana Gear R1; Cajon Jubilee R7

Philadelphia
4/13/17, +Driven R1

Plainridge
4/13/17, Cuda Hall R1; Ugly Stik R3; Kennel Browser R6; Moms Crossroads R10

Pocono
4/15/17, In Commando R4; +Preparty R5; +Cane Ridge R7

Saratoga
4/13/17, Knockout Rosie R2; KZ Crazee R7
4/14/17, +Moonlight Spin R2; +Fox Valley Bailey R4; House Always Wins R11
4/15/17, Star Studded Cast R9

Scarborough
4/15/17, +Classy Kyle R7
4/16/17, +Reagans Revenge R8; +Secret Renegade R8

Yonkers
4/13/17, +Western Dynasty R4