Monday Harness Preview for 5/19/2014
by Ted Black
When the dust settled after Saturday's Preakness Stakes and racing fans realized the sport of kings could be on the verge of crowning its 12th Triple Crown winner, standardbred enthusiasts are going to have to take a deep breath and try to pad their Belmont bankroll through weekday cards like those at Harrington raceway, Pompano Park and Yonkers tonight.
Oddly enough, while the Monday cards at Harrington and Pompano are usually strong and competitive, a scanning of the programs at those tracks offered only a few plays. In fact, there appear to be two plays at each of those three ovals this evening.
In the opener at Harrington tonight, play Wahine (Jim Morand) with a good sense of confidence in this non-winners of $8501 last five starts class. Last week in this same group, Wahine left from post seven and was parked three-wide down the backside before gaining command in a sharp opener and a 55.1 half. He settled for third, beaten just a length, but it was an effort that was better than it looks on paper and he is worth playing despite having post six.
Much later in the ninth, a non-winners of $80,001 lifetime class for pacers, give Ilikethetrashy (Morand) a chance to atone here. The beaten favorite in this group last week when he was forced to race first over into a solid back half, Ilikethemtrashy should benefit from a lively tempo up front and he should be a decent price thanks to the presence of Ahdougnalim who won the other half of this split condition in faster clocking.
Tonight at Pompano Park, a pair of pacing mares look like solid plays in the various Open classes.
In the second race, the $7000 F-M Open, look for Windows Online to get immediate revenge for last week's narrow setback. In this same class a week ago, Windows Online set wicked fractions for the first three calls and was nailed late in 1:54.2. She should be able to control the tempo in reasonable fashion this evening and that will enable Windows Online to edge clear from her rivals in the lane.
Three races later in the top $10,000 F-M Open, give Head First a chance to atone for last week's second-place effort. In a race that includes defending champion Bombadilla Hanover, look for Head First to control the tempo from the outset and hold safe her main rival in the lane. She needs a second quarter breather, but Head First will live up to her name at the wire this evening.
At Yonkers Raceway, look for a pair of upsets on the latter portion of the card.
In the eighth, a non-winners of four races lifetime event for pacers, give Faster Faster a chance at the upset despite drawing post eight on the far outside. Last week in this class he raced first over from midpack to finish third into a good back half. He figures to improve off that effort, but the eight-hole draw obviously works against him this evening. Nevertheless, that will also enable Faster Faster to be a generous price and seems worthwhile backing.
Then several races later in the finale, look for One More Laugh to prevail in this non-winners of $8000 last six class. Loaded with tons of back class, One More Laugh was unlucky last week when locked in and buried past the half and was able to get third although two rivals in front of him has nothing to offer in the lane. One More Laugh should be able to work out a decent trip from post two this evening and could reward backers with a 5-1 price.
When the dust settled after Saturday's Preakness Stakes and racing fans realized the sport of kings could be on the verge of crowning its 12th Triple Crown winner, standardbred enthusiasts are going to have to take a deep breath and try to pad their Belmont bankroll through weekday cards like those at Harrington raceway, Pompano Park and Yonkers tonight.
Oddly enough, while the Monday cards at Harrington and Pompano are usually strong and competitive, a scanning of the programs at those tracks offered only a few plays. In fact, there appear to be two plays at each of those three ovals this evening.
In the opener at Harrington tonight, play Wahine (Jim Morand) with a good sense of confidence in this non-winners of $8501 last five starts class. Last week in this same group, Wahine left from post seven and was parked three-wide down the backside before gaining command in a sharp opener and a 55.1 half. He settled for third, beaten just a length, but it was an effort that was better than it looks on paper and he is worth playing despite having post six.
Much later in the ninth, a non-winners of $80,001 lifetime class for pacers, give Ilikethetrashy (Morand) a chance to atone here. The beaten favorite in this group last week when he was forced to race first over into a solid back half, Ilikethemtrashy should benefit from a lively tempo up front and he should be a decent price thanks to the presence of Ahdougnalim who won the other half of this split condition in faster clocking.
Tonight at Pompano Park, a pair of pacing mares look like solid plays in the various Open classes.
In the second race, the $7000 F-M Open, look for Windows Online to get immediate revenge for last week's narrow setback. In this same class a week ago, Windows Online set wicked fractions for the first three calls and was nailed late in 1:54.2. She should be able to control the tempo in reasonable fashion this evening and that will enable Windows Online to edge clear from her rivals in the lane.
Three races later in the top $10,000 F-M Open, give Head First a chance to atone for last week's second-place effort. In a race that includes defending champion Bombadilla Hanover, look for Head First to control the tempo from the outset and hold safe her main rival in the lane. She needs a second quarter breather, but Head First will live up to her name at the wire this evening.
At Yonkers Raceway, look for a pair of upsets on the latter portion of the card.
In the eighth, a non-winners of four races lifetime event for pacers, give Faster Faster a chance at the upset despite drawing post eight on the far outside. Last week in this class he raced first over from midpack to finish third into a good back half. He figures to improve off that effort, but the eight-hole draw obviously works against him this evening. Nevertheless, that will also enable Faster Faster to be a generous price and seems worthwhile backing.
Then several races later in the finale, look for One More Laugh to prevail in this non-winners of $8000 last six class. Loaded with tons of back class, One More Laugh was unlucky last week when locked in and buried past the half and was able to get third although two rivals in front of him has nothing to offer in the lane. One More Laugh should be able to work out a decent trip from post two this evening and could reward backers with a 5-1 price.
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