Striking $33, $29 Winners Top List; Matchmaker, Levy Additions Come Through; 55-Percent In-The-Money Bets

More favorites swept through the Grand Circuit in leg three of the Matchmaker and “Levy” series at Yonkers. Our best results came through the horses-to-watch list (H2W).

On March 30 we went north as Rideau-Carleton began racing on Thursdays. In one of the two races we supported, we complemented the exacta with a second to the favorite, Poppys Bucky Boy ($13.60, $6.80). The combo paid $46.40. We had no chance in the other event, as EL Wild Spirit (4-1) galloped to finish seventh. 

On Friday, March 31, there were three Matchmaker divisions with six-horse fields and two of the three were taken by the second public choices, while the other was won by the top choice of the masses.

We had a second and a third. Betabcool N ($6.00, $3.70) followed the public’s second choice home, while Medusa ($2.10) was third to the other second choice. Meanwhile, Tessa Seelster (26-1) was fourth, a total disappointment, losing to the race’s top choice. Other choices involved in division exotics failed, including Change The Rulz N (28-1), fifth and Divas Image (7-1), fifth.

So far this season, the “Levy” series has been less than kind to our outside contenders and round three acquiesced. Of course we had one of the top choices, since Missile J ($2.70, $2.10, n/s) was, as we said, impossible to beat. Also in that race we were third with our second choice, Clear Vision, but there was no show betting.

We had two other thirds and two other fourths in two other divisions. PH Supercam ($5.90) and Aleays At My Place ($4.00) finished third, while Caviart Luca (5-2) and Guantanamo Bay (2-1) finished fourth.

On various Wednesday nights we tweet for TwinSpires Twitter members from @FrankCotolo –retweeted by @twinspires—and the raceway involved. Losers from each week will appear on the next week’s horses-to-watch (H2W) list unless they race before that blog is published, so watch for them returning to the races on days in between blogs. Watch for special tweets from raceways on various Wednesdays.

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 40 active horses (a 15-percent win hit rate and a 55-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

Swingin Jenny, $33.00, $20.90, $9.20, Miami
My Caroline, $29.00, $6.20, $4.40, Northfield
Espoir Go, $11.70, $6.60, $2.10, Rideau-Carleton
Big Jer, $6.50, $3.90, $2.20, Yonkers
Tataria, $5.90, $3.00, $2.30, Saratoga
Lyonssomewhere, $3.20, $3.10, $2.20, Flamboro
 
Seconds

Hes Done It All, $16.60, $6.40, Meadows
MG Kid, $8.00, $3.60, Miami
Stronski, $7.80, $4.00, Pompano
Lord Of Misrule, $5.70, $3.00 (Exacta $19.60), Yonkers
Gold Star Lovebug, $3.60, $3.60 ok (Exacta $10.60), Pompano
 
Thirds

Mikeleh, $6.20, Cal-Expo
Skyway Sonama, $5.20, Northfield
Lastchancelilly, $4.60, Monticello
Metajka Road, $3.50, Century
Rock My World, $3.00, Yonkers
Lutetia Semalu, $2.60, Rideau-Carleton
Nobles Grand Slam, $2.60, Buffalo
Queen Of Racing, $2.60, Northville
Stache, $2.60, Pompano
JK Will Power, $2.20, Meadows
Oh Yeah, $2.20, Cal-Expo

News & Notes

Freaky Feet Pete shall return, according to his connections, having to overcome a significant injurywhich prematurely ended his 2016 campaign. The pacer “broke a splint bone in his right front leg and pieces entered his suspensory,” says Marty Rheinheimer, who is responsible for conditioning the Breeders Crown and Indiana champion he co-owns with his mother.. “He essentially finished his last race [the Dayton Pacing Derby on Sept. 30] and still was third behind [Wiggle It Jiggleit and Always B Miki]. We think the injury actually began the night of the Dan Patch when he raced so poorly [finishing sixth.]” Mark says the horse been jogging well every day. “Pete” is staked to everything, so the plan is to “qualify him at Hoosier in the coming weeks and if he’s ready, the Ben Franklin June 24 at Pocono.”

Pete’s home track is Hoosier Park, which opened its 24th harness season on Saturday, April 1. With a new, daily post time of 6:30 p.m., the 163-day season offers the most lucrative stakes program in the track’s history, including the Breeders Crown events in October. Watch for Hoosier features and H2W spot plays on our blogs throughout the season.

Racing for the 2017 summer harness meet at Hawthorne Race Course, the lone venue for standardbred racing in Illinois, is calling all horsemen to commit by April 1. Hawthorne management is asking trainers, regardless of whether they will be shipping in or stabling on-site, to submit the required stall application. Racing will kick off on Thursday, May 11, and will be conducted four nights a week on a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule with closing day on Sunday, Sept. 24.

Extraordinary Extras

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

For Thom Pye cartoons, informative harness history and more, click here ~