Overnight Overtures With A Pair Of $30-Plus Winners And More Double-Digit Scores, Including Win And Place

The Western Pacing Derby was the main event at Northlands Park on Dec. 3. As we warned, the king of Alberta harness, Keith Clark, won with his even-money colt, Appellate. We gave readers the place horse, which was our second choice, Blue Star Jet ($7.70, $4.70), who completed the exacta, worth $29.30.

Our main “Derby” contender was Wrangler Cash (5-1), who may have pulled off an upset but for the fact that be began to gallop around the first turn and was eliminated from the rest of the race.

The Northlands Filly Pace at Northlands on Dec. 3, was won by a 12-1 shot, with a 9-1 place horse and our contender, Lucky Lucka ($11.40) at 20-1 third. The favorite was miserable, finishing off the board at 4-5. The over-charged triactor, which included our choice, paid $1,833.30.

Our personal weekend features began on Thursday, Dec. 1 at Freehold in Race 2. The second favorite won it and our contender, Lemon Drop Hall ($5.40) was third at 20-1, contributing to a triple worth $88.20.

Friday, Dec. 2, we were fourth in Saratoga’s seventh race with Analyze (8-1), finishing third with our second choice, Bye Bye Michelle ($2.80). The triple, headed by a public-choice winner, with their second choice finishing second and our choice third, paid $32.60.

Our choice at Yonkers in Race 5 that night, Cariart Caterina, scratched.

Saturday, Dec. 3, we headed north to Charlottetown Driving Park where in Race 5 we finished seventh with Montana Ben (25-1) and our second choice, Ideal Lifestyle, scratched.

H2W LIST RESULTS

The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas listed are included when a H2W horse finishes second with a race favorite or the first two finishers making up the exacta are H2W horses (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete a cold exacta). The note “ok” determines that prices published are correct even when a show price exceeds a place price or any or all of the prices are the same. This week, there were 38 active horses (an 18-percent win hit rate and a 42-percent ATB [across-the-board] hit rate).

Please note that some H2W results reflect win, place, show and exotic results occurring by press time but some horses race after the blog is posted (we list them the following week) It is up to you to follow horses that have not performed before this weekly review is posted.

Winners

Bangbangkisskiss, $34.60, $16.00, $6.60, Monticello
Avogadro Hanover, $32.80, $14.40, $5.60, Saratoga
Clear View Hanover, $25.40, $11.60, $8.60, Meadowlands
Civic Duty, $14.40, $3.80, $2.80, Freehold
Windy City Diane, $6.20, $3.80, $3.00, Cal-Expo
Total Rhythm, $4.20, $2.80, $2.20, Northlands
Kissed By A Dragon, $3.60, $2.20, $2.10, Dover

Seconds

No Bad Dreams, $13.60, $7.00 (Exacta $54.20), Pompano
CJs Last Storm, $11.80, $7.80, Monticello
That’s My Girl, $6.20, $5.20 (Exacta $21.40), Northfield
Game Of Dreamers, $4.00, $3.20 (Exacta $13.20), Cal-Expo
Bedroomconfessions, $3.50, $2.80, Yonkers
Goldstar Bugsy, $2.20, n/s, Pompano

Thirds

Real Nice Girl, $5.60, Northfield
Lord Of Winterfell, $3.80, Meadows
Clintons Memory, $3.70, Fraser

News & Notes

Closing day of the 2016 Philadelphia harness meet is Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, with a first post of 12:40 p.m. The suburban Philadelphia oval saw plenty of highlights in 2016, which culminated with the track's 10th anniversary celebration, a rare night card on Sept. 9. Bettors witnessed pacing superstar Wiggle It Jiggleit shatter the all-age track record, pacing the mile in a stunning 1:47.3. The two-year-old colt and two-year-old gelding track records for trotters were broken as well. Don Dream set the mark for colts in 1:55.2 in September, while Muscles Jared set the mark for geldings (1:55.2). 

This year's Breeders Crown winner Racing Hill, a winner of $1,727,69, has been retired and will stand as a stallion next year. Connections announce standing Racing Hill at Ohio's Hickory Lane Farm in 2017.Racing Hill retires from competition with great credentials. At two, while establishing his 1:51.2 mark on a “sloppy” track, Racing Hill won the Bluegrass Stakes, International Stallion Stakes and an elimination of the Breeders Crown. At three, Racing Hill is currently the third leading money winner among all pacers. He recorded the fastest winning time in Breeders Crown history (1:48) for three-year-old colt pacers at the Meadowlands, three ticks faster than the “Crown” win by Somebeachsomewhere. In addition, Racing Hill won the $500,000 Max Hempt final at Pocono, the $500,000 Messenger Stakes at Yonkers and the $400,000 Adios at The Meadows.

The Meadowlands announced there will be 91 harness dates in 2017. Racing will begin with a Friday and Saturday schedule until Thursdays are added (January through March 9). The weekend schedule resumes from March through the Aug. 5 Hambletonian weekend. The fall meet opens on Nov. 17 and expands to a three-day schedule in December. Post times are 7:15 p.m. except July 8 and July 15 when they will be at 6:30 p.m. Hambletonian day will be the usual afternoon program beginning at noon.

Extraordinary Extras

Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

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