Monday Harness Preview for 5/12/2014
by Ted Black
The Monday evening cards at Harrington Raceway in Delaware and Yonkers Raceway in New York may not have much more in common than the simple fact that both offer entire programs on half-mile tracks, but both appear to have several playable races.
In the opening race on the Harrington card on Monday, the first half of the split, non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class for pacers in addition to being the first half of the early daily double, look for Crusher Man to prevail. Although only sporting one win from 11 starts this year and a mark of 1:53, Crusher Man has been a model of consistency this spring and from post three in the opener he shuld be in position to control the tempo throughout.
In the second race on the night, take a shot on Something Blue. Granted, he's winless in 17 starts this year but last week Something Blue raced second over into a solid back half and finished a good third. With an honest tempo up front in this event, Something Blue should be able to unleash his late kick in the lane and finally garner his long overdue first victory of the season.
One race later in the third, give Ooh Dear Sam a chance to prevail in this conditioned event. Last week Ooh Dear Sam raced first over into a serious back half and finished second, beaten just a length. Like Something Blue one race earlier, Ooh Dear Sam should benefit from an honest tempo up front this evening and even if he has to endure another first over journey he should be able to find another gear in the lane.
Then in the fourth, take a shot at Alexis Style despite his outside post draw. Last week in this class, Alexis Style raced first over into a very good back half and settled for third, beaten four lengths. But that margin of defeat was deceptive since Alexis Style attempted to close into a 56.3 back half. Despite having post seven this evening, Alexis Style should be able to work out a decent trip and reach the wire first.
Then two races later in the Open, easily the deepest, toughest event of the brief meet to date, give EZ Noah a chance for the upset in a group that includes railbound Lollipop Kid, the razor sharp Just A Jolt, who is well on his way to being horse of the meet and the future book favorite for the Governor's Cup here on Governor's Day and the return of Adventure Bound, who drew the outside eight hole. Last week against lesser, EZ Noah overcame a first over trip to prevail and he will be worth an upset play at 8-1 from post two.
Monday evening at Yonkers Raceway the first serious play is in the eighth race, a non-winners of four races lifetime event for three- and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares. Super Soph has been extremely unlucky in her last two starts, attempting to rally into some serious back halfs. Super Sophs has also had to overcome some outside posts and has been the beaten favorite in each of her last two outings. She may finally be a decent price this evening.
Two races later on the card in a non-winners of $8000 last six class for older pacers, look for Sand Summerfield and Tidewater Teddy to benefit from some class relief and complete the exacta. Two starts back Sand Summerfield was the beaten favorite against tougher, while Tidewater Teddy was the second choice in that event. Both should clearly benefit from the class drop and expect them to be one-two at the wire.
Then one race later in the non-winners of six races lifetime class for pacing fillies and mares, look for Hilarious Hayley to prevail at a decent price. In race in which Panera Hanover and Let Her Rock return after finishing one-two in 1:55, Hilarious Hayley finally draws inside and should finally benefit from both the post switch and a legitimate pace scenario. Either Let Her Rock or Panera Hanover will be favored, but Hilarious Hayley could post a 10-1 upset on Monday night.
The Monday evening cards at Harrington Raceway in Delaware and Yonkers Raceway in New York may not have much more in common than the simple fact that both offer entire programs on half-mile tracks, but both appear to have several playable races.
In the opening race on the Harrington card on Monday, the first half of the split, non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class for pacers in addition to being the first half of the early daily double, look for Crusher Man to prevail. Although only sporting one win from 11 starts this year and a mark of 1:53, Crusher Man has been a model of consistency this spring and from post three in the opener he shuld be in position to control the tempo throughout.
In the second race on the night, take a shot on Something Blue. Granted, he's winless in 17 starts this year but last week Something Blue raced second over into a solid back half and finished a good third. With an honest tempo up front in this event, Something Blue should be able to unleash his late kick in the lane and finally garner his long overdue first victory of the season.
One race later in the third, give Ooh Dear Sam a chance to prevail in this conditioned event. Last week Ooh Dear Sam raced first over into a serious back half and finished second, beaten just a length. Like Something Blue one race earlier, Ooh Dear Sam should benefit from an honest tempo up front this evening and even if he has to endure another first over journey he should be able to find another gear in the lane.
Then in the fourth, take a shot at Alexis Style despite his outside post draw. Last week in this class, Alexis Style raced first over into a very good back half and settled for third, beaten four lengths. But that margin of defeat was deceptive since Alexis Style attempted to close into a 56.3 back half. Despite having post seven this evening, Alexis Style should be able to work out a decent trip and reach the wire first.
Then two races later in the Open, easily the deepest, toughest event of the brief meet to date, give EZ Noah a chance for the upset in a group that includes railbound Lollipop Kid, the razor sharp Just A Jolt, who is well on his way to being horse of the meet and the future book favorite for the Governor's Cup here on Governor's Day and the return of Adventure Bound, who drew the outside eight hole. Last week against lesser, EZ Noah overcame a first over trip to prevail and he will be worth an upset play at 8-1 from post two.
Monday evening at Yonkers Raceway the first serious play is in the eighth race, a non-winners of four races lifetime event for three- and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares. Super Soph has been extremely unlucky in her last two starts, attempting to rally into some serious back halfs. Super Sophs has also had to overcome some outside posts and has been the beaten favorite in each of her last two outings. She may finally be a decent price this evening.
Two races later on the card in a non-winners of $8000 last six class for older pacers, look for Sand Summerfield and Tidewater Teddy to benefit from some class relief and complete the exacta. Two starts back Sand Summerfield was the beaten favorite against tougher, while Tidewater Teddy was the second choice in that event. Both should clearly benefit from the class drop and expect them to be one-two at the wire.
Then one race later in the non-winners of six races lifetime class for pacing fillies and mares, look for Hilarious Hayley to prevail at a decent price. In race in which Panera Hanover and Let Her Rock return after finishing one-two in 1:55, Hilarious Hayley finally draws inside and should finally benefit from both the post switch and a legitimate pace scenario. Either Let Her Rock or Panera Hanover will be favored, but Hilarious Hayley could post a 10-1 upset on Monday night.
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