Older Pacers Soar In Series At Yonkers

Spring is in the forecast as we pass mid-March and TwinSpires Harness Blog’s selected features and the Yonkers pacing series—the Matchmaker and Borgata—roll into round two on Friday and Monday, respectively.

More also from the never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W), with suggestions enhancing exotic combinations and fair win, place and show finishes.
 
FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadows / Race 5
Thursday / March 18

The melodic-named Jigtime Jones comes off of a sharp race in which he brushed first-over to come into contention late. The overland journey cost him a seventh-place finish, but there were only 4 ½ lengths from winner to “Jones.”

Leaving from post 9 is All About Heaven, the winner of that race and second choice for favorite. The race favorite, Touch Of The West also returns and will get action, but Jones and “Heaven” should bring in the best prices. 

MATCHMAKER MOVES

Three more $35k divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Pacing Series for older mares are featured in round two of the 2021 version at Yonkers.

Race 2
The season’s debut for Keep Rockin A is going to be tough as Alexa Skye retuns after a head-spinning victory in last week’s first leg. She was faster with four turns than many were on mile tracks and it is difficult to bet against her in a large field, no less this six-horse division. Siesta Beach can do it but most likely will finish best of the rest again, so you should pass or share pennies. 

Race 3
Lady Dela Renta A worked harder last week than she should in this leg but from the wood she may command this field—and not as the favorite. Monica Gallagher raced very well against a better bunch last week and should be in the exotic mix.

Race 4
Machnhope will be gunning for a second win in the series and is revved up for it in Noel Daley’s quest for a Matchmaker title. Macaffair N, who can cook from the farthest post 6 in another squeaky six to post, will pressure her.

ALOTTA BORGATA 

A quartet of $40k divisions for the Borgata Pacing Series for males at Yonkers is on the bill on Monday, March 22, two days after Spring has sprung.

Race 3
Seven go the gate, none of which won in the first round. In that race, however, our top choice in the first event of the series, Rodeo Rock (59-1) took the show spot after closing 8 lengths from leaving the gate. The first two finishers were separated by ½ length. Do not expect any similar state of odds here but neither do we expect a favorite price’

Backstreet Shadow never raced to par last season, mostly at the Meadowlands, but he faces lesser types here and was buoyant in his first start of this season and the series, finishing second.

Race 4
We nailed a fine place bet with Tyga Hanover last week as he chased home huge favorite San Domino A. He leaves from the wood this week and may be too much for the other six.

In the first round, Aflame Hanover gave one big move but could not stay in contention from his 8-hole start going against s fast three-quarters. A better start puts him in the path of the top three to hit the board.

Race 6
Another longshot we brought home second last week was Semi Tough (23-1). He out-paced favorite Shnitzledosomethin, who was hanged for most of the three-quarters. This week Semi Tough leaves to the right of two of last week’s division winners—Leonidas A and San Domino A. The former goes for three straight and looked well enough in his recent two wins to stretch the skein. As well, the latter is sharp now. If the cancel one another out, Semi Tough could be tougher than both.

Race 7
Let It Ride N drew post 8, yet he may have impressed so many bettors last week that he will be expected to overcome the adversity of this post. This Is The Plan will take advantage of the extra real estate “Ride” must travel by going for an early lead. This pacer sucked along behind early leader American History, who went wide straining for that lead.

Shane Tritton’s Bronx Seelster was dull in the first leg leaving from post 7 against the all-out Let It Ride N, but the race before that he won confidently at Yonkers, earning him a shot in the series. With Ride on the outside, Bronx Seelster could get a perfect trip and pay a perfectly trippy price to win. 

H2W Legend

Review our choices and confirm the wagers available at the prescribed track. H2W offers possible contenders researched from reviewing races. Horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track with the date of their race and the race number (R6 ) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name, it appears on the list for the second time (horses are listed twice only if, at first, they failed to win. An “ae” signals also-eligible. Types of wagers to make are based on your judgment.

H2W LIST

Buffalo
3/20/21, Americanexpression R5; Atlantis R5

Cal-Expo
3/20/21, Glen R1; +Devils Brother R2; Witch Hunter R4

Dover
3/18/21, +Sonny At The Beach R6; +OK Kudo R6

Freehold
3/19/21, Windmeupwatchmego R5; Maydaymaverickhope R8
3/20/21, +Alberto Contador N R12

Meadowlands
3/20/21, +Meadowbranch Ricky R4; +Duddies Lor R7

Meadows
3/19/21, +Aime Hanover R1; +Barbados R10; Brave World R10; +Like A Cowboy R12

Miami
3/19/21, +Newsday R8; +DGs Elsa R10
3/20/21, +Beach Pro R7

Monticello
3/18/21, +My Last Chance R4

Northfield
3/20/21, Jeannies Terror R2; Shady Madam R4; Schemin Friskie R8

Pocono
3/20/21, JK Musician R3; Salty Robyn N R4

Pompano
3/18/21, +Wild Country R1; +Saulsbrook Lanny R6
3/21/21, +Big Bad George R9; +Just N Berlander R9
 
Yonkers
3/18/21, Banzai AS R2; Beltane A ae R5
3/19/21, Beltane A R6

Western Fair
3/19/21, Kinda Like Her R3; KD Roses R7; Kevndan Fraudsters R9

WoMo
3/18/21, Spun From Magic R6
3/19/21, +Fern Hill Bella R1; +Kounnis R7; +Jimbelina R11