Power Plays, Fiery Features For Profit On The Precipice Of Season’s Big Series

This week we present the last parade of personal features and exotic Power Plays because our official stakes-and-series features begin next week with “Levy” and Matchmaker series at Yonkers (March 17 and 18^th).

The Power Plays concept will appear here and there through the year with our stakes features, so watch for them. Be aware, of course, that you can mix and match and take advantage of our choices in win, place, show, single- and multi-race exotic events no matter how many horses we support and in which order we support them. Always, we try to deliver outsiders that complement favorites to produce combos in which a player can wager more than the base price so as to result in a huge score. We are always trying to, as they say, “bury the number.” So consider our suggested contenders in these Power Play features as well as others listed on the H2W list. Do your own handicapping, and then compare and consider our selections when betting.

And watch for the Jackpot Hi-5 Players Pool this weekend, exclusively on TwinSpires.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Freehold/ Pick 3/ Races 3,4,5
Thursday, March 9

This Pick 3 begins with a leg that includes a pair of ponies supported recently, one in a personal feature and another that was two weeks in a row on our H2W list. So, we take them off the list and make them our two prime contenders. The first, Soapy Sap, looks like he may be one of the top three public choices, which is all right, since the Morning Line (ML) of each of the top two appear highly over-rated. The other is Flowing James, who got a week off after finishing fifth in a personal feature on Feb. 16. He scratched the next week and shows up in this race as a clear outsider. Our two numbers on the first leg of this Pick 3, then, are 4,6.

In leg two, Race 4, ML second-choice Santanna Sam may be a sound second choice and easy winner here. He drops a notch after a not-so-dull recent race and before that a 7-2 place finish—those his first two of the new season. From the rail, Modern Look has a good chance to be in the thick of this. With a ML of 4-1 he is under-rated.

Leg three makes a case for investing in this Pick 3. If we are alive into the final episode and Italian Rebel is anywhere near his 8-1 ML, this could wind up a very large payoff. The gelding comes back to his winning condition and only post 7 should be blamed if he goes off outside of the top three choices. The ML choice, Heaven Rocks, has a big knock against him in that he dropped into this level on March 2 and was short with no excuse. Indeed, a single of Italian Rebel (as well as a win bet whether the ticket is alive or dead), is a smart move aiming for a big profit on this combo.

POWER PLAYS

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Saratoga/ Race 6
Friday, March 10

Here are our four contenders (analyzed in post-position order) to consider in your superfecta, exacta, trifecta and single pools. Cabo San Lukas comes back up a notch after dropping and finishing second at 2-1. He has a much better post than he did when he had to work very hard last season about $12G claimers. Coin Collector has been game in this class, though his most recent start was dull, mostly due to a slow start and too much chasing to make up for it.

Barryscourt is a beaten favorite dropping from a claimer where he was a beaten favorite due to an stressful early duel. He drops from his previous conditioned race and looks super here. Just to his right is Full Grown Man, who was well supported last out in a conditioned and was on the board for two before that, going back to December of ’16.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadowlands/ Race 6
Friday, March 10

Blush Hanover tossed in one bad race two back, though it was still performed in his off-the-pace style. In this event he may be overlooked as a top choice because he is in post 7 and because a few others here seem to have a classier past. In fact, this is an even field and Blush Hanover is in a perfect spot to use his grinding style for a win. Two posts to his left, Sheeza Shark N returns to the Meadowlands in her new season at seven after a fine return to racing at Freehold. She should be in the mix, though perhaps offering less of a price than Blush Hanover.

POWER PLAYS

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadowlands/ Race 6
Saturday, March 11

This 10-cent superfecta could produce a strong reward since this field offers many arguments for contenders. In post-position order, here are the four we would use for the forecasted best price.

Dontcallmefrancis had a few difficult races at Yonkers before storming into Saratoga and commanding cheaper fields. He fits firmly here, especially from the inside, where he can get a speedy start and find a good spot if not on the lead. Somesizesomestyle deserves a good look to be in the top four at the finish line, especially if the crowd dismisses him based upon his recent race and scratch before that.

On the outside, Bettor Memories qualified at the Meadowlands and is ready to begin his four-year-old season. Last November he did best drawing inside at Yonkers and was competent carrying the burden of outside posts. Ron Burke’s Rockin Ron was an easy winner at Yonkers in his second start at five. It’s difficult to imagine that he won’t be firing here and picking up one of the spots in the super, while offering a decent price from post 9.

Our superfecta numbers are 3,4,7,9.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadows/ Race 7
Saturday, March 11

The members of this field of 10 show little desire to win while they hover over similar classes, none so classy that any stand out. With only two races so far this season, however, Bombay Away returns for his third race a beaten favorite that is poised to make amends for the loss. He rested well between seasons and his first two of the year were raced well, though tiring from outside trips. A good brush can win this, especially given cover from some of the pseudo-speedballs around him.

POWER PLAYS

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Northfield/ Race 4
Saturday, March 11

An exacta, trifecta and a super are available in this race, which brings together a very motley crew and with that, probable big exotic prices. Here are our four contenders (analyzed in post-position order) to consider in exotic and single pools.

KJ’s Foxy Lady has been under our watch for a few races and recently, dropping a notch, she was short as a huge choice. This is her best level and she is in a spot to control the pace and go wire to wire and if short should still be in the thick of the exotics. To her right, the next two, Hillary’s Style and Delightful Syd, are apt to perform well with reasonable odds (we expect the crowd to go strongly with ML choice Richlyn Ombretta, who we want to leave out completely). Hillary’s Style has been over her head and returns to her best territorial class. Delightful Syd just won a level below this after breaking as the favorite at this level before. Finally, on the inside 9 post, Star Studded Gun could raise the payoff of any three exotics with a late surge and has the class to do even better with the right trip, so beware of this one.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W LIST

Buffalo
3/10/17, High Resolution R5; May Day Jojo R5

Cal Expo
3/11/17, +Be My Lucky Lady R3; Allmyx’sliveintexas R5; Lincoln R7; Manifique R8
 
Dover
3/9/17, Power To Perform R2; Big Place R5; Remember Me VK, R10

Flamboro
3/11/17, Skyflex R8

Fraser
3/10/17, +Millbanksdontell R3

Freehold
3/9/17, +Camwiser R6; Justa Camilion R9

Meadowlands
3/9/17, +Fraternity R1
3/10/17, +DWs NY Yank R1; +Marion Millionair R1

Miami
3/10/17, Togetherforever R5
3/13/17, Ols Whatasurprise R6

Northfield
3/11/17, +St Lads Maggie Mae R6; +DC Uprising R12; +Ms Solongbyebye R16

Northville
3/10/17, Denver Deal R8; Keep The Cash R9; Alliart R11

Pompano
3/11/17, +J Black R2

Saratoga
3/9/17, +Kesons Avaia R3

Western Fair
3/10/17, +Runway Model R7; +Jinglejanglejingle R10

Woodbine
3/11/17, +Big Yellow R5

Yonkers
3/9/17, +I’m Gorgeous R3
3/10/17, Dublin Rose R9