Thursday Harness Preview for 1/30/2014
While most standardbred tracks opt to use their best cards on Saturday, Dover Downs will present its best older pacers this evening as part of a 15-race card that will provide bettors with a quartet of upset plays.
In the evening's opener, a non-winners of four event for pacers, look for Ballinrobe to overcome post eight and emerge victorious in this event. This Wayne Givens trainee was used hard in the opening three-eighths to gain command last week and lasted for second in a sharp effort. Despite the outside draw this evening, Ballinrobe should kick off the Thursday card with a mild upset.
Several races later on the card, give Portrait (Tony Morgan) a chance to prevail at a nice price in this non-winners of $9001 last six condition. Reserved well off the pace in a race that offered little pace last week, Portrait never seriously reached contention while following dull cover. The tempo early should be honest this evening and Portrait should be able to pick up live cover before the half and then deliver a solid kick late to score.
Several races later in the $28,500 Delaware Special, take a shot on People Are Crazy who should go postward at double-digit odds. Last week People Are Crazy raced first over through more than the last half-mile and finished a solid second. Tonight he will start from post nine in the second tier and should be able to be in good position early, possibly make a brush bid before the half and then have plenty in reserve late to prevail in this group.
Then in the very next race on the card, the featured $30,000 Open/Preferred Handicap for the top pacers on the circuit, give Dancin Yankee a chance to continue his winning ways despite a double jump in class. A winner of each of his first two starts this year for trainer Josh Green, Dancin Yankee vaults into the Open/Prf against some genuine buzzsaws like Special Forces and Nova Artist, but he has been a regular in the tough George Morton Levy Memorial Series at Yonkers each spring and actually fits right in with this bunch.
Speaking of Yonkers, there could be a trio of plays on the Thursday card there. In the ninth, a non-winners of $12,000 last six starts/optional $30,000 claiming race for pacing fillies and mares, give Apach of Luck a chance to score at a decent price. She was second in this class last week, but was better than her line looks on paper having been stuck behind a tiring leader and finding room belatedly to earn the place spot.
Then two races later in the 11th, a $20/30,000 claiming handicap for trotters, play Live Jazz and Ivana Hanover flat, in exactas and in the late daily double. Live Jazz was a very good second despite a long, first over bid last week in one split for this group, while Ivanna Hanover endured a very wide trip down the backside and far turn last week in the other split for this class and still finished second, nine lengths clear of the show horse. Would recommend both equally, although Ivana Hanover will be the better price.
In the evening's opener, a non-winners of four event for pacers, look for Ballinrobe to overcome post eight and emerge victorious in this event. This Wayne Givens trainee was used hard in the opening three-eighths to gain command last week and lasted for second in a sharp effort. Despite the outside draw this evening, Ballinrobe should kick off the Thursday card with a mild upset.
Several races later on the card, give Portrait (Tony Morgan) a chance to prevail at a nice price in this non-winners of $9001 last six condition. Reserved well off the pace in a race that offered little pace last week, Portrait never seriously reached contention while following dull cover. The tempo early should be honest this evening and Portrait should be able to pick up live cover before the half and then deliver a solid kick late to score.
Several races later in the $28,500 Delaware Special, take a shot on People Are Crazy who should go postward at double-digit odds. Last week People Are Crazy raced first over through more than the last half-mile and finished a solid second. Tonight he will start from post nine in the second tier and should be able to be in good position early, possibly make a brush bid before the half and then have plenty in reserve late to prevail in this group.
Then in the very next race on the card, the featured $30,000 Open/Preferred Handicap for the top pacers on the circuit, give Dancin Yankee a chance to continue his winning ways despite a double jump in class. A winner of each of his first two starts this year for trainer Josh Green, Dancin Yankee vaults into the Open/Prf against some genuine buzzsaws like Special Forces and Nova Artist, but he has been a regular in the tough George Morton Levy Memorial Series at Yonkers each spring and actually fits right in with this bunch.
Speaking of Yonkers, there could be a trio of plays on the Thursday card there. In the ninth, a non-winners of $12,000 last six starts/optional $30,000 claiming race for pacing fillies and mares, give Apach of Luck a chance to score at a decent price. She was second in this class last week, but was better than her line looks on paper having been stuck behind a tiring leader and finding room belatedly to earn the place spot.
Then two races later in the 11th, a $20/30,000 claiming handicap for trotters, play Live Jazz and Ivana Hanover flat, in exactas and in the late daily double. Live Jazz was a very good second despite a long, first over bid last week in one split for this group, while Ivanna Hanover endured a very wide trip down the backside and far turn last week in the other split for this class and still finished second, nine lengths clear of the show horse. Would recommend both equally, although Ivana Hanover will be the better price.
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