Monday Harness Preview for 8/11/2014
by Ted Black
Over the next month once Labor Day passes, Monday nights will be all about professional football for many fans but right now standardbred enthusiasts can still focus on the harness tracks, especially two half-mile ovals about five hours apart.
Monday evening at Yonkers Raceway in New York, a trio of races toward the end of the card all offer more than a hint of value plays.
In the eighth, a non-winners of four races or $40,000 lifetime condition for two- and three-year-old filly pacers, Cut A Deal (George Brennan) will garner most of the support following a fourth-place effort in the $100,000 Miss New Jersey stakes on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands, but the value play is Expose (Brian Sears). This Linda Toscano trainee owns a 3-3-3 slate from 15 starts and won a NY Excel A event two starts back at Saratoga.
Two races later in a tougher non-winners of six races or $60,000 lifetime for two-, three- and four-year-old fillies and mares, Beach Granny (Brennan) will get most of the support from post two following a sharp score at Harrah's Philadelphia, but Seafood Annie (Eric Carlson) draws the rail after being the beaten favorite in this class on July 28 and merits respect and a chance to atone.
Then two races later in the finale and the other half of that same, split condition, Sentimental Lady (Brennan) is the logical choice from post two following a pair of second-place efforts in this class while well backed, but don't overlook Bets Draggin Fly (Steve Smith). This four-year-old mare finally draws an inside slot (post three) after three outside posts and could complete a healthy exacta.
That same evening at Ocean Downs in Berlin, Maryland, five miles west of Ocean City, a quartet of overnight races look very playable.
In the fourth, a C-2 class for pacing fillies and mares, Caviart Lindy (Kim Vincent) draws the rail and should prevail as the second or third choice. She raced first over in this class last week, finishing second to Grace Of An Angel, who came right back to win on Thursday evening. The six-year-old mare gets the nod over All On My Own, Love That Badlands and A Mean Hurricane.
Two races later in the weekly feature, the B-1/A-3/A-2 handicap for older pacers, give Varsity Hanover (Kim Vincent) a chance to prevail despite his 8-1 morning line. A gritty second in this class last out, Varsity Hanover looks poised to attain his first victory at the seaside oval at a generous price, while the sharp Come On Ridge (Jim Morand) gets most of the play following two straight scores against slightly lesser.
Two races later in the eighth, a non-winners of one event for two- and three-year-old pacers of both genders, give Sams Lucky Lady (David Hill, III) a good chance to prevail from an inside slot. A solid third in her career debut last week as the 3-1 second choice behind odds-on winner, Theresa, Sams Lucky Lady should be able to overcome her lack of experience and score at a nice price for owner-trainer Jay Shores.
Then two races later in the finale, a C-3 class for older pacers, give Evil Mind (Justin Vincent) a chance to atone for last week's seventh-place effort as the tepid 2-1 favorite. Parked while looking to gain command against similar foes last out, Evil Mind should make the front without much of a struggle this evening and then hold off the late charges of Curb Your Z Tam and Mister Love for the upset score.
Over the next month once Labor Day passes, Monday nights will be all about professional football for many fans but right now standardbred enthusiasts can still focus on the harness tracks, especially two half-mile ovals about five hours apart.
Monday evening at Yonkers Raceway in New York, a trio of races toward the end of the card all offer more than a hint of value plays.
In the eighth, a non-winners of four races or $40,000 lifetime condition for two- and three-year-old filly pacers, Cut A Deal (George Brennan) will garner most of the support following a fourth-place effort in the $100,000 Miss New Jersey stakes on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands, but the value play is Expose (Brian Sears). This Linda Toscano trainee owns a 3-3-3 slate from 15 starts and won a NY Excel A event two starts back at Saratoga.
Two races later in a tougher non-winners of six races or $60,000 lifetime for two-, three- and four-year-old fillies and mares, Beach Granny (Brennan) will get most of the support from post two following a sharp score at Harrah's Philadelphia, but Seafood Annie (Eric Carlson) draws the rail after being the beaten favorite in this class on July 28 and merits respect and a chance to atone.
Then two races later in the finale and the other half of that same, split condition, Sentimental Lady (Brennan) is the logical choice from post two following a pair of second-place efforts in this class while well backed, but don't overlook Bets Draggin Fly (Steve Smith). This four-year-old mare finally draws an inside slot (post three) after three outside posts and could complete a healthy exacta.
That same evening at Ocean Downs in Berlin, Maryland, five miles west of Ocean City, a quartet of overnight races look very playable.
In the fourth, a C-2 class for pacing fillies and mares, Caviart Lindy (Kim Vincent) draws the rail and should prevail as the second or third choice. She raced first over in this class last week, finishing second to Grace Of An Angel, who came right back to win on Thursday evening. The six-year-old mare gets the nod over All On My Own, Love That Badlands and A Mean Hurricane.
Two races later in the weekly feature, the B-1/A-3/A-2 handicap for older pacers, give Varsity Hanover (Kim Vincent) a chance to prevail despite his 8-1 morning line. A gritty second in this class last out, Varsity Hanover looks poised to attain his first victory at the seaside oval at a generous price, while the sharp Come On Ridge (Jim Morand) gets most of the play following two straight scores against slightly lesser.
Two races later in the eighth, a non-winners of one event for two- and three-year-old pacers of both genders, give Sams Lucky Lady (David Hill, III) a good chance to prevail from an inside slot. A solid third in her career debut last week as the 3-1 second choice behind odds-on winner, Theresa, Sams Lucky Lady should be able to overcome her lack of experience and score at a nice price for owner-trainer Jay Shores.
Then two races later in the finale, a C-3 class for older pacers, give Evil Mind (Justin Vincent) a chance to atone for last week's seventh-place effort as the tepid 2-1 favorite. Parked while looking to gain command against similar foes last out, Evil Mind should make the front without much of a struggle this evening and then hold off the late charges of Curb Your Z Tam and Mister Love for the upset score.
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