Monday Harness Preview for 6/2/2014
by Ted Black
While tracks such as Pompano Park and Yonkers Raceway are on a brief hiatus, harness racing fans can focus their attention this evening on the Monday card at Harrington Raceway. Among the 14 races, more than half are playable and several tougher events are still worth watching.
In the opening race on the card, a non-winners of $83,001 lifetime class for three- and four-year-old pacers, several of which are prepping for the upcoming Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund eliminations, this event should develop into a showdown late between Something Blue and Lewiebyalength, one of the contenders for the DSBF final here on Governor's Day.
Lewiebyalength (Jim Morand) has won three of six starts for trainer John Wilkerson and owner-breeder Joan Hampstead and he should be primed for a good effort this evening. In his latest outing, Lewiebyalength finished fifth after missing the two previous weeks and that race should have tightened him up for this outing. Something Blue (Jonathan Roberts) has only won once in 20 starts this year, but is a legitimate contender here.
In the second race, a non-winners of $4501 last five starts class for older pacers, Pt Storm (Tony Morgan) has only prevailed once in 12 starts this year for trainer Charlene Sharpe, but last week he raced first over into a good back half in a tougher non-winners of $6501 last five class. His last appearance in this class was back on April 27 and Pt Storm won that night and should duplicate that effort this evening.
One race later in the third, a non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class for younger pacers, look for Drover (Vince Copeland) to notch his second win in 15 tries this year for owner-trainer Robin Callahan. Drover has finished second five times this season, including last week when he chased the talented Ballinrobe in this class, but with the rail and a good trip he should finally garner his second win of the campaign.
Then in the fourth, a non-winners of $12,501 last five starts class for older pacers, look for As Bad As Thunder (Bret Brittingham) and Ahdoughnolum (Ross Wolfenden) to settle the issue in this tough group. As Bas As Thunder has won three straight and is the lone pacer in for the $30,000 claiming price, while Ahdoughnolum gets a hint of class relief after racing in the Open last week following two straight tallies against the non-winners of $83,001 lifetime group.
In the fifth, the other half of the split, non-winners of $83,001 lifetime class, this six-horse field is so wide open that Shopping With Art (Allan Davis) is listed as the 2-1 morning line favorite, while Stonebridge Comet (Montrell Teague) is the longest shot on the board at 5-1. Elite Awards (George Dennis) and Framed Art (Art Stafford, Jr.) are both prepping for the DSBF elims and potential spot in the final.
One race later in the five-horse Open Handicap, an early prep for the Governor's Cup here on Governor's Day, is also very wide open. Teresa's Beach has the rail but is the longest price on the morning line at 7-2, while Just A Jolt (Victor Kirby) is 8-5 and last week's winner, Rock On Moe, is 9-5. Malaak Uswaad N, a regular in the Levy series at Yonkers and last year's Governor's Cup champion despite the eight-hole, is much better than his 0-for-12 record indicates.
Then in the seventh, the second part of the three-way split non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class, Steady Pulse (Kirby) has the rail and is the likely favorite, but both Tug River Prince (Morgan) and Show Stopping (Wolfenden) may have a fitness edge on him. Both raced last week and Tug River Prince moves inside from post seven to the three-hole and that should enable him to outlast Show Stopping in this event.
Several races later in the 10th, a non-winners of $6501 last five class for older pacers, look for Wee Brother N (Wolfenden) and Ourea Nourrir (Copeland) to dominate this event. Both exit the same race and move way inside and Wee Brother N raced first over into a wicked 55.2 back half against non-winners of $8501 last five foes and gets a drop, the rail and should enjoy a better trip.
Then in the finale, the third part of the non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class split, expect Attack The Land (Wolfenden) to outlast Heart Breaking (Robert Shahan) to the wire. Attack The Land owns a solid 5-4-2 slate and $35,000 bankroll from 13 starts this year for trainer Joe Hundertpfund, Jr. and raced well last week after missing the week before. Heart Breaking has yet to win in 21 starts this year, but draws the rail and figures to get a good trip for his trainer-driver.
While tracks such as Pompano Park and Yonkers Raceway are on a brief hiatus, harness racing fans can focus their attention this evening on the Monday card at Harrington Raceway. Among the 14 races, more than half are playable and several tougher events are still worth watching.
In the opening race on the card, a non-winners of $83,001 lifetime class for three- and four-year-old pacers, several of which are prepping for the upcoming Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund eliminations, this event should develop into a showdown late between Something Blue and Lewiebyalength, one of the contenders for the DSBF final here on Governor's Day.
Lewiebyalength (Jim Morand) has won three of six starts for trainer John Wilkerson and owner-breeder Joan Hampstead and he should be primed for a good effort this evening. In his latest outing, Lewiebyalength finished fifth after missing the two previous weeks and that race should have tightened him up for this outing. Something Blue (Jonathan Roberts) has only won once in 20 starts this year, but is a legitimate contender here.
In the second race, a non-winners of $4501 last five starts class for older pacers, Pt Storm (Tony Morgan) has only prevailed once in 12 starts this year for trainer Charlene Sharpe, but last week he raced first over into a good back half in a tougher non-winners of $6501 last five class. His last appearance in this class was back on April 27 and Pt Storm won that night and should duplicate that effort this evening.
One race later in the third, a non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class for younger pacers, look for Drover (Vince Copeland) to notch his second win in 15 tries this year for owner-trainer Robin Callahan. Drover has finished second five times this season, including last week when he chased the talented Ballinrobe in this class, but with the rail and a good trip he should finally garner his second win of the campaign.
Then in the fourth, a non-winners of $12,501 last five starts class for older pacers, look for As Bad As Thunder (Bret Brittingham) and Ahdoughnolum (Ross Wolfenden) to settle the issue in this tough group. As Bas As Thunder has won three straight and is the lone pacer in for the $30,000 claiming price, while Ahdoughnolum gets a hint of class relief after racing in the Open last week following two straight tallies against the non-winners of $83,001 lifetime group.
In the fifth, the other half of the split, non-winners of $83,001 lifetime class, this six-horse field is so wide open that Shopping With Art (Allan Davis) is listed as the 2-1 morning line favorite, while Stonebridge Comet (Montrell Teague) is the longest shot on the board at 5-1. Elite Awards (George Dennis) and Framed Art (Art Stafford, Jr.) are both prepping for the DSBF elims and potential spot in the final.
One race later in the five-horse Open Handicap, an early prep for the Governor's Cup here on Governor's Day, is also very wide open. Teresa's Beach has the rail but is the longest price on the morning line at 7-2, while Just A Jolt (Victor Kirby) is 8-5 and last week's winner, Rock On Moe, is 9-5. Malaak Uswaad N, a regular in the Levy series at Yonkers and last year's Governor's Cup champion despite the eight-hole, is much better than his 0-for-12 record indicates.
Then in the seventh, the second part of the three-way split non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class, Steady Pulse (Kirby) has the rail and is the likely favorite, but both Tug River Prince (Morgan) and Show Stopping (Wolfenden) may have a fitness edge on him. Both raced last week and Tug River Prince moves inside from post seven to the three-hole and that should enable him to outlast Show Stopping in this event.
Several races later in the 10th, a non-winners of $6501 last five class for older pacers, look for Wee Brother N (Wolfenden) and Ourea Nourrir (Copeland) to dominate this event. Both exit the same race and move way inside and Wee Brother N raced first over into a wicked 55.2 back half against non-winners of $8501 last five foes and gets a drop, the rail and should enjoy a better trip.
Then in the finale, the third part of the non-winners of $50,001 lifetime class split, expect Attack The Land (Wolfenden) to outlast Heart Breaking (Robert Shahan) to the wire. Attack The Land owns a solid 5-4-2 slate and $35,000 bankroll from 13 starts this year for trainer Joe Hundertpfund, Jr. and raced well last week after missing the week before. Heart Breaking has yet to win in 21 starts this year, but draws the rail and figures to get a good trip for his trainer-driver.
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