‘Levy’ Series Chapter Three; Mares On The Move; Targeting Miami Pick 4 Profits

Round three of the George Levy Memorial Pacing Series is the highlight April 2 at Yonkers Raceway as April begins for the senior pacers and their backers. The night before the pacing mares continue with the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series. We’ve had two big hits so far in the “Levy” and approach the series midway with the promise of more great-paying winners. Along with the rest of the betting public, we take on the challenge of the Miami Valley Pick 4 on Friday.

As well, our TwinSpires horses-to-watch list (H2W) continues to offer participants in all pools, refreshed weekly with outside contenders you don’t find from any other handicapping source. Week after week the H2W features valued win, place, show and exotics’ payoffs so take these horses seriously when constructing your wagers.

As usual this time of the season, we launch the weekend on Thursday. Our chosen “features,” again this week from Saratoga Harness. 

FEATURE
Saratoga /March 31
Race 5

This conditioned trot will hoist the hopes of those betting on morning-line choice Tarot, who starts his four-year-old career shipping from Woodbine after two powerful qualifiers locally. As well, the obvious second choice will be Fox Valley Veto, who drops after strong support at the windows that ended in disappointment. The outside contender, however, is Overgrown. He broke last week in a claimer with more expensive stock than he faces here—but he finished fourth by 1 ½ lengths (making up 10 lengths from the jump to the finish line) as the 6-5 favorite. That was after he was second as the public choice in a class much the same as this one. He should offer the kind of win money that opens a good bettor’s eyes. As well, he will pump up the exotics this race offers (triple, exacta, superfecta).

FEATURE
Saratoga /March 31
Race 6

It’s about time American Force made those few extra steps winning ones and this is the spot where he may do that while paying well. At 7-2 last week he raced a steady mile, getting onto the purse grid with three at the wire by ½ length. Both of the morning-line choices, predicted based on back class, are lacking recent credentials worthy of support. Inspecting American Force’s performances from mid-January reveals the well-bred pacer has played an important role in higher classes.

THREE ON A MATCHMAKER

Three more divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker highlight the April 1 program at Yonkers, each split worth $40,000 again. With only six going in Race 5, division one, Krispy Apple, on the outside, and Ron Burke’s Cinamony from the inside, get the morning calls. Also in contention, though the morning line does not agree, is Jungle Genie N, from post 3. She raced well in both of her series appearances, picking up ground late and checks for the efforts. She may not be in the class of Krispy Apple but has an edge here, being in a better spot than “Krispy” and having a pair of better races recently than Burke’s offering.

Another sextet goes in Race 6, division two, and Venus Delight, the defending champion, gets the morning call and surely must prove herself worthy of it after two disappointing series miles. There is no visible excuse for either of her losses and that vulnerability makes us shy away from backing her again at a low price. Sell A Bit has to negotiate post 6 and another Burke entry, Skippin By, will get support from post 5. The bargain here could be Gallie Bythe Beach, who was close in a round-one mile as the favorite. She will offer a bit more here and could very well steal the race from top to bottom.

Race 7 sends six more to post in division three, arguably the most contested mile of round three. With two wins in the series, Al Raza N appears as the morning choice but he has not faced the best of this group, including, from the inside out, Yagonnakissmeornot, Mach It Par and old-timer/fan favorite Anndrovette. “Ann” may blast out and try to control the pace but that is not going to suit any mare here except “Raza,” who has won twice from off the pace. Yagonnakissmeornot and “Mach” will be sitting close to Ann and that can only benefit Raza if there is dueling or shuffling. Mach could be the value of the four and certainly can find a good spot early and use a strong kick late.

MIAMI VICE

Miami Valley’s Pick 4 on Friday, April 1 is featured in Races 9-12.

Conditioned filly and mare pacers start the sequence. To the inside, Abida Hanover should be involved in the mile. She draws better off an aggressive effort against this level last week, launching for the top to then be shuffled out of the mix. This improving mare will be up against another strong contender to the outside of the gate, Arts Jem. In her first start in a month, Arts Jem followed cover from post 10 and kicked home to finish second as the favorite. While she draws poorly this time around, if she can catch herself in the center of the pack with a similar trip, she’s competing with a field she could sling by in the stretch.

A weak grouping of trotters race in the second leg, Race 10. The probable favorite and horse to beat is Rose Run Quasar, a speedster, shipping in from the Meadows, who has hit the board in six of her last outings. However, MM’s Roanie to the outside could defeat the favorite despite her unfavorable draw. She raced from different positions in each of her last three efforts, parking the mile, going first over, and sweeping from off cover respectively. If she can muster some speed, she could obtain a stalking spot behind a vulnerable pace.

Leg three, Race 11, is the second division of a late-closing series for filly-and-mare pacers with a potential for big payoffs. The favorite, Ginger Tree Alexis, starts from the rail in her first start since coming from Yonkers, where she beat similar competition. Her miles from outside posts make her appear a stand out but a trio of pacers could catch this gal at the wire. Jackie’s Rocket, Miss Princess Leah and Townlinedaliscard have all shown they can race well from off the pace, with Jackie’s Rocket leading this group. She won a late closer for a lower class after sweeping off cover and catching the leader by 1/2 length. Miss Princess Leah comes out of the same race, flying from farther out of the mix to finish fifth by 1/2 length. Townlinedaliscard is dropping in class, making her second start of the season, with her debut being a sharp mile from off cover. She should race better this time.

Closing out the Pick 4 is Race 12,  another conditioned pacing race for fillies and mares. Addys Way scratched from this group last week but remains one of the top contenders to win off her resume of aggressive efforts in the Open ranks. Two other mares from the Open ranks could claim the prize here: Aqua Artist and Betterluvnexttime. If she can leave the gate, Aqua Artist could end up sitting the pocket for the whole mile and make a slingshot move to the top. Betterluvnexttime, though, lacks gate speed according to her miles in the Open. But, if she’s more aggressive in lower-level races, expect her to launch into contention and try to capitalize off a stalking trip

LEVY LOG #3

A quartet of Levy divisions are on the April 2 docket at Yonkers this week, with a definite focus on division three, where Wiggle It Jiggleit takes on the hard elders in his greatest challenge. First things first, however.

Race 6, division one, has a full field of eight, including our major score from last week, Melmerby Beach. Don’t expect 12-1 on him this time around; we took advantage of that and now it is obvious he could be best here, especially after that win, where he displayed a stubborn outside brush to win. Foiled Again returns and could once again be bet too heavily. Jimmy Takter’s Great Vintage could attract some support but we are going to back Santa Fe Beachboy again. Although last week he was dull, he picked up fourth in a crowded stretch drive at 7-1 and could be dangerous late. Along with Melmerby Beach and Great Vintage, you may have the triple.

Race 7, division three, is undeniably the property of PH Supercam. He was not so far off in his trip from post 8 at the wire, where the lucky Domethatagain won with the best trip. PH Supercam is “squared” better than Domethatagain and, for that matter, better than the rest in this group. Though we have cooled on Roland N Rock (he may not be classy enough for this bunch), he could be a strong exacta partner if he can pass tired ones late.

Wiggle It Jiggleit will be pounded in the win pool throughout the betting in Race 8, division three on the night but his advantage of commanding the pace after leaving from post 7 could cost him more than his supporters care to imagine. Oddly enough, All Bets Off leaves one post left of “Wiggle” and that could mean another rip-roaring duel like the one between those two in the 2015 Cane Pace. Certainly there is a possibility these two could cancel one another out and a surprise winner could pick up the speed-battered pieces. That one could be Bettor Rock On N. Let’s go with that scenario, since it should offer a much better price than Bettor Rock On N deserves under those circumstances.

Race 9 is the Levy nightcap and the public will empty their pockets for Take It Back Terry. That is fine with us, since we can easily take Mach It So from post 2. We hope to count on Lucan Hanover to put “Terry” in his place with a strong challenge that burns them both out. Mach It So, a speedball himself, could also steal the race but he may let either of the aforementioned go at it and sit quietly for a kill in the stretch.

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
4/2/16, +In The Clear R1; +Catch The Wave R2; +B Evas Lucky Lad R4; +Just Frank R6; +The Dominate One R10

Cal Expo
4/2/16, +Willey Bite R5; +Lislea Bonita R7
4/3/16, +One And Only R5; Who Dat Love R9

Century
4/2/16, Shark Festival R2; Warrawee Rap R5; Come On Kathryn R6; Witch Doctor R9; Mothers Melody R10

Dover
4/4/16, Shiretown Pittbull R9

Fraser
4/1/16, Prime Time Bliss R8; Homesick Angel R9; Hanalei Bay R10; Cenalta Wizard R11
4/2/16, Thats Allthatiyam R2; Givemeaminute R3; Promise To Lynette R10
4/3/16, Luvinajiffy R6; +Homesick Angel R7; +Prime Time Bliss R9; Kokanee Seelster R10

Freehold
3/31/16, +Factor J R4; His Open Waters R5
4/1/16, +Mias First Time R4
4/2/16, Elles Boy R4; Bobjacks Angle A R10

Hoosier
4/1/16, Without A Clue R3; Lovethewayoulook R6; Addie Rose R10; All Pink R12

Meadowlands
4/1/16, The Show Returns R11

Meadows
4/2/16, +Major Monet R4; Sharkeys Way R5; Davids Dream R9; Wire Me Cash R11

Miami
3/31/16, +Team Zordin R5
4/1/16, Gran Gabriel R3; +Sallee Ride R11; +Paige Moon Dancer R12
4/3/16, Blind Spot Hanover R3

Northfield
4/2/16, +Umygeorgia Hanover R4; +Common Creed R14; Doowah Double R15

Northville
4/1/16, Bobarhetta R7
4/2/16, +My Fleet Three R8

Philadelphia
4/1/16, +Sandbetweenurtoes R3; Incognito R5; Top Gear R9; Raven Victory R10; Tigers Too Good R13

Pocono
4/2/16, Wishforaheachouse R3; +Meadowbranch Lulu R14
4/3/16, Go Daddy Go R10

Pompano
4/2/16, Rel Cash Clown R1
4/3/16, +Lyons Josephjr R10

Rosecroft
4/3/16, Romantic Escape R2; Scootin Woody R4

Saratoga
3/31/16, +Under The Stars R3; +ABC Banker R7
4/2/16, +JK Panache R7
4/3/16, +Psyched R3; +My Friend Charlie R3

Scarborough
4/2/16, Cruize Commander R2

Woodbine
4/1/16, +Lady Ping R1; Ostinato R2; +Justcallmeronald R3; +Sports Expert R4; Regally Ready R7; I Jasmin R8; Arrivista Hanover R10
4/2/16, Dazzle N Delight R1; +Ainsleynoelle

Yonkers
3/31/16, Big Bambu R3
4/2/16, +Lets Drink On It R3
4/4/16, +Cheyenne Jeffrey ae R4
 

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition