Monday Harness Preview for 4/28/2014

While handicappers might have to adjust their tactics accordingly this evening as rain showers are forecasted for much of the Mid-Atlantic region on Monday night, two half-mile harness tracks in the region are offering solid, playable cards.

At Harrington Raceway in Delaware on Monday, the half-mile track will present its best card of the week, one that highlights its top male pacers, young and old, in various classes.

In the third race, the non-winners of $50,000 lifetime class, expect Attack The Land to rule as the odds-on favorite again from post four after winning this condition last week as the 1-5 choice. But two rivals who drew inside of him could be poised for an upset and a healthy exacta.

Bettor Not Miss, who will start from post two and Terror Date, who leave from post three, have both been good throughout the Dover Downs meet and raced well last week in their first outing at Harrington. Both also drew much better this week - half the battle on a half-mile oval - and both could be worth playing at 4-1 or so with Attack The Land looming as the odds-on choice again.

One race later on the card in a non-winners of $10,501 last five starts condition, give Main A Dieu Too an immediate chance at redemption from the coveted rail. Last week he faded after being used hard early and then locked in behind a tiring foe, but look for Main A Dieu Too to control the fractions from the outset this evening.

Poker Hat will likely be the solid choice in the third race, but he did not race in Harrington's opening week. Full of Sand, who will start from post three after being burdened with the seven-hole at Yonkers Raceway last week, figures to be a serious player in this event as well.

One race later in the fifth, a non-winners of $10,501 last five starts/optional $25,000 claiming race, give As Bad As Thunder a chance to redeem himself as well. Last week he settled for second as the 4-5 favorite in this class after sitting a pocket trip. This week he will likely cut the fractions early and then seek to outlast All Stienam, who drew post two and drops out of the non-winners of $12,501 last five class.

Then one race later in the Open, look for Lollipop Kid (Corey Callahan) to also redeem himself after finishing second as the even-money choice in this event a week ago. Just A Jolt (Victor Kirby) makes the jump into the top class following a sharp, 1:51.3 score in the non-winners of $12,501 last five starts condition for trainer Jim King, Jr. in the fastest mile of the night. But he may have to overcome a tougher trip this evening in the Open.

Two races later in the first half of the non-winners of $80,000 or non-winners of eight races lifetime class, expect Ahdoughnolum and Southwind Amazon to complete the exacta in an interesting affair. Ahdoughnolum steps up off a win against non-winners of $50,000 lifetime class for trainer Ron Dixon, Jr., while Southwind Amazon makes his second start for trainer Josh Green since arriving from Woodbine Raceway in Canada and was the beaten favorite in his local debut after a tough trip.

Then much later on the card in the 14th, a non-winners of three races lifetime event, give Rock My Life (Ben Stafford, Jr.) a look as the 4-1 third choice. He sports a 2-4-2 slate from 12 starts and was second in this class last week and had earlier posted impressive wins in the non-winners of two class at Dover. He will start from post five this evening and looms a serious upset threat.

That same evening at Yonkers Raceway in New York, quartet of races on the latter half of the card all look playable.

In the sixth, a non-winners of four races or $40,000 lifetime class for pacing fillies and mares, look for Susie's Delight to attain her first win of the year from three starts. She was handled conservatively in her first two outings from post four and seven, respectively, but should be driven aggressively this evening while starting from the rail, with likely favorite Cam Funny starting alongside her.

One race later in the non-winners of six races or $60,000 lifetime class for pacing fillies and mares, give R Marie Hanover a chance to prevail. A winner twice in nine starts already this year, R Marie Hanover will start from the rail this evening and should be in ideal position throughout and then able to overtake favored Let Her Rock in the lane.

Several races later in the 10th, look for the well-traveled Michaels Power to reign supreme in the first half of the split non-winners of $12,000 last six starts conditioned event. A winner two starts back against much tougher at Pocono Downs, Michael's Power has already won 21 of 39 starts and earned nearly $1.6 million and his previous two outings at Yonkers were in the Preferred and the Open Handicap. This group is very soft by comparison.

Then one race later in the 11th, the second half of the non-winners of $12,000 last six condition, look for River Run For Ryan to atone for last week's fourth-place finish in his local debut. Last week in this same class, River Run For Ryan delivered an effort that was much better than it looks on paper, grinding first over into a 56.1 back half before fading to fourth as the 2-1 second choice. Like Michael's Power one race earlier, River Run For Ryan should handle this group.