Power Plays Plus Promising Harness Features Line Weekend

January, 2021 opened at the TwinSpires Harness Blog with a sharp eye on feature and horses-to-watch list (H2W) winners. Lacking in high prices, the hit list was productively fair nonetheless. We continue selecting features for bettors from the bevy of North American overnights that promise fair prices.

Our never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch list (H2W) continues to suggest horses that enhance exotic combinations with their finishes, as well as produce fair win, place and show targeting.
 
POWER PLAYS

Freehold / Races 2, 3. 4. 5
Thursday, Jan. 14

More afternoon harness action, again on the $1 Pick 4-sequence on the half-mile, Consider the following horses for any wager combination and exotic combos.

Race 2
Last week in the second leg of the Pick 4 we endorsed the shipping Flamboro pacer Brightside Kelvin, who changed trainers to Edwin Quevedo. He shows up this week in leg one of the stream and is the morning-line (ML) favorite. He is certainly deserving of another chance here.

In such a poor field, chaos could screw things up but on paper, Nameisonthehalter seems to be a serious contender and will most certainly be in the exotic mix, while Intrigued Intended is an outsider apt to surprise.
 
Race 3
Brett and son Jack Pelling team up with Issa Horse, the ML favorite who failed his first time at Freehold (after taking on tougher in Pennslyvania last year). Brett already sports a 21-percent win tab at Freehold and although Issa Horse has eluded a win in 17 starts, he cannot be dismissed in this non-winners event.

Vergeofgreatness, so far redefining the word “verge,” has been aggressive cashing checks while well supported compared to some of his foes. Bettors may make him a valid overlay with a provisional driver at the reins.

Race 4
Exuberance returns from last week’s sequence for Taylor Gower trotter. He should get more respect than he did last week and should race better from the 3 hole than the 7 and a definite bet-back in this group.

Rare Muscle has rendered some classier types challenges and, at 3-1 in his most recent event, dropping considerably, the three-year-old broke early. Toss that race out and worry about an upset with him. They all have to calm Caviar Star, who won’t do anything to help the exotic prices if he is in shape after having to qualify thrice this winter.

Race 5
Here is a chance to add an outsider with Runaround Sue from post 8. Her last five starts were all check-cashing miles launched from the three outside posts. She and the others are hoping to stop the 1 horse, Twin B Friendly, who disappointed bettors twice before this mile.

Toss out last week’s attempt by Foolish Virgin; ruined by first-over weariness at 7-2. Expect something much more like the previous race.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES
Yonkers / Race 4
Friday, Jan. 15

Foul weather cancelled Yonkers last 2020 program. In the Open/Handicap, Stormy Kromer was supposed to return. On this program he is back for a fair shot at being the best in the five-trotter Open. We wrote in our blog before the cancellation that “Clearly, Paul Stafford’s trotter had no chance to win when breaking badly right off the gate from post 7 (in his Dec. 11 race). At the end, the trotter regained stride though the entire field was within 2 lengths of the finish line. ‘Stormy’ gained over 9 lengths once back on stride).

Stormy hit the board 14 of 21 times, with nine wins. The competition, including Mississippi Storm and 20-1 winning Lean Hanover, may allow Stormy to go off higher this time. 

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES
Yonkers / Race 8
Friday, Jan. 15

Carl Tirella’s Griffon Hanover was unable to handle the outside post at Yonkers on Dec. 21, but before the race his backers dismissed the factor, sending him off at 3-1. He returns leaving from post 2 in this conditioned pace, the same level as his miserably disappointing final mile of 2020. How will his supporters react to a post he might enjoy using for a winning mile? Maybe they won’t be loyal. Tirella’s best stock goes at Yonkers, where his success goes under the radar most seasons.
 
THE SHORT LIST

We continue our special attention to entries from trainer Adam Short, though due to only one entry from his stable, this could be called The Shorter List. Please note that American Empress N changed barns to Virgil Morgan, Jr. and appears in the H2W below. The high-win-percentage trainer who gets many of his wins in Miami’s first few weeks, sends only one horse out from Jan. 10—Jan. 17.

Franzo, 1/15 R1 – Went the overland route at 7-2, beaten by a 33-1 shot with a better trip.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadowlands / Race 3
Saturday / Jan. 16

We’re in for Dealers Table. We warned exotic players that Jeff Cullipher’s pacer surely had a role in, at least, the exotics, from post 10. He raced third at 8-1, contributing to the triple and superfecta. Another of our choices, Dakota Jack (13-1) completed the superfecta, finishing fourth (see H2W for his return this week). The week before, Dealers Table was a beaten favorite; he finished second. He launches from post 2 in a field of 10.

Beaten-favorite Albergo Hanover is in the mix to finish with him. Effronte A, who won at 29-1 last week, is no true danger, since he rode in the catbird seat relaxing before his drafting partner tanked.

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

Cal-Expo
1/16/21, +Ticket To Roll R5; +Pecorino R8; Friskies Angel R12
1/17/21, +In For The Chase R1; +Brownielicious R4; +Along Came Jane R7; +Getter Queen Flush R11

Dover
1/14/21, +Lets Have Another R7

Freehold
1/14/21, +Macjestic Toddy N R1
1/15/21, +Im Sid The Kid R2; +Saydence R3; +Hashtagmadeyalook R 9; +Charlie Ona Harley R12

Meadowlands
1/16/21, Acting Out R2; +Dakota Jack R7

Meadows
1/14/21, +Cotton To You R4; +Whats The Word R6

Miami
1/15/21, Prince Bayard R7; DGs Elsa R10; Pull The Shade R12; +American Empress N R12
1/17/21, Sunday Afternoon R10
1/18/21, Bombeck R10

Monticello
1/14/21, Sedona Seelster R4; Burning Desire R6

Northfield
1/16/21, Beamer N Bud R7; Fox Valley Sierra R8

Pompano
1/14/21, +Starcasim R6; +Captain Keen R9

Yonkers
1/14/21, Father Figure R3; Kandy Sweet R3
1/15/21, Dark Energy N R5; Galactic Galleon N R7; Silas Seelster R10