Seasons’ Handoff For Harness New Year Has Seamless Action

HAPPY NEW YEAR, safely and soundly, from the TwinSpires harness blog. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to racehorses of all breeds as New Year arrives.

The ultimate day of 2020 harness racing is covered and then we take on 2021, beginning with our selected features and so on. More wagering opportunities emerge at the dawn of 2021. Below are suggested feature races and contenders from our never-ending TwinSpires’ horses-to-watch (H2W) list.
 
WATCH FOR 2020 HARNESS REVIEW BLOG ON JAN. 1.

POWER PLAYS

Freehold / Races 2, 3, 4, 5
Thursday / Dec. 31

A Pick 4 and a Pick 3 at Freehold cover these races, which all include the usual sets of exotics and, of course, win, place and show.

Race 2
Droppers into this low-level conditioned event will attract bettors, but one pacer stepping up has a good shot of getting better than settling for past losses at higher levels. That’s Yer So Bad, who comes off a win on the precipice of turning four. The Roll For Joe product does nothing but compete and may benefit from cheap past-class speed.

Race 3
This is the beginning of a Pick 3, so the multi-race action is in play even if leg one of the Pick 4 is moot.

Bad Day Black Rock not only meets this awkward condition, he has a better resume than most here, including some honest speed. Saydence gets the rail after finishing best of the rest at Dover in a state-bred. That sign of life could mean he hits the board to contribute in exotics one way or another.

Race 4
The most recent race for Dalton Did It is a toss out, while the two before that are the responsibility of a claim by Ted Suleski that, along with fine stats for ’20, make him a major contender here. I’m Sid The Kid is obviously in the mix, though he will be backed a bit better than his less-than-sterling foes.

Race 5
Form-wise, Charlie Ona Harley seems to have a far better shot than the top morning-line (ML) choices. As well, he has been supported well most of the year. Trainer Brandon Mongello has earned a 14-percent win rate, owing some of it to this Glidemaster product. If I Must leaves to the right of “Charlie” and may take off early to cut some fractions and be at the wire with a few of these.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadowlands / Race 5
Saturday / Jan. 2

Benhope Rulz N comes from a 9-2 Yonkers win for productive trainer Darran Cassar. Keeping the horse in action as Yonkers takes its annual hiatus is a good sign that the horse is in fine form now and could take his second straight at a cool price.

Fizzing N takes his second trip around the Meadowlands after also showing well at Yonkers. He was trapped on the inside from overland foes while gaining ground but stuffed tight as freer ones passed him in the stretch.

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES

Meadowlands / Race 10
Saturday / Jan. 2

Certainly Springsteen should have another shot and getting the inside will surely help to prove whether or not Brett Pelling has him in top shape to get a good start on the older-pacers’ season. We think Pelling is serious with this guy and if he is correct we should catch him while he pays as a strong overlay.

He will have to deal with Highalator, though. This is the horse that has made the Meadowlands his territory over the past few

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

Charlottetown
12/31/20, +Ten Mile Beach R10; +The Time To Watch R12

Freehold
12/31/20, Pirates Alley R9
1/1/21, Thaneeya R5; Sumatra R6; Alexa Skye R9
1/2/21, +Te Kawau N R6

Meadowlands
1/2/21, +Justin Credible R15

Miami
1/3/21, Fort Kent R7; Cyclone Kiwi N R12
1/4/21, Blissful Pansy R5; +Always Windy R8

Monticello
1/4/21, +Clara Bea R7

Northfield
1/2/21, +Look Kimbo R13; +My Hearts Rockin R14

Pompano
12/31/20, +Fitzie Pic Up Man R4