Top Scores At $27, $25, And $33 Show Payoff; H2W Nabs 44-Percent Across-The-Board Average

Generally, the public was in fine fettle this weekend playing our features, which produced results that made chalk players happy. However, some popular choices certainly deserved to deliver mere pennies to winning players. We nailed one solid-cold exactor in a feature where we agreed with the majority, but we scored our best prices in overnights (see the horses-to-watch [H2W] list.

Friday, June 3, we did no damage in the New York Sires Stakes for soph-filly pacers at Saratoga. In order, our outside contenders were fifth in each of the miles with Ideal Fantasy (23-1), Wishy Washy (8-1) and Major Millie (17-1). 

Saturday, June 4, began in the afternoon at the Meadows with Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) for soph-colt pacers. These races also produced fifth-place finishes for our choices, with I’m Some Graduate (7-1) and Western Dynasty (9-1).

New Jersey Sires Stakes finals offered six-digit purses to soph-colt and-filly pacers that night. In the colt division, Our choice for the past two weeks in the series’ legs, Katies Rocker, as he beat the huge public choice, Boston Red Rocks, while our outside contender, Ideal Rocky (7-1), finished third (n/s). If you took Katies Rocker and the favorite and our choice, you may have had the $45.80 trifecta.

The fillies’ favorite won the filly final while we were second with our second choice, JK Fannie ($4.60 n/s/). Our first choice, Mymegarichmothrinlo (94-1) was seventh.

More successful public support presented winners in the two Somebeachsomewhere divisions for soph-colt pacers at Mohawk. Our choices could barely have performed worse. Voracity (27-1), finished 10^th in the first split, while Highlandbeachycove (4-1) finished ninth.

The Graduates’ legs at Mohawk were the kindest affairs of all. With the pacers we went for the obvious winner Freaky Feet Pete ($2.20, $2.10, $2.10) and our second choice, the 13-1 Rockin In Heaven ($3.40, $2.40) was second for a paltry exactor worth $5.30.

The trotting Graduate also produced a public-choice payoff while we were third with our second choice, Honor And Serve ($4.20). Our top pick, Canepa Hanover (4-1), closed well for fifth, far below our expectations.

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.

HAMBLETONIAN TRAIL

On Thursday, June 2 at Philadelphia, four PASS colt trots were on the program. In the first split we were second to the favorite with Taco Tuesday ($7.00, $2.80) for an exacta worth $22.80. The second division found us fifth with Marion Gondolier (31-1). The third division found us third with Iron Mine Bucky ($2.60) and in the nightcap we were third with Alexander Hanover ($6.00).

New Jersey Sires Stakes colt-and-filly sophomore finals on June 4 at the Meadowlands presented 2016’s promised Hambletonian favorite colt Southwind Frank, while our choice, Jack Vernon broke and was eliminated. We were fifth in the filly final with Glad All Over (28-1), as an 11-1 was first over the public choice.

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 63 active horses (a 13-percent win hit rate and a 44-percent in-the-money 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

SB On My Honor, $27.40, $7.40, $3.80, Running Aces
Glow Boat, $25.20, $2.60, $3.80 ok, Saratoga
Shawnee Magic, $16.20, $7.80, $4.20, Tioga
Magic Spice, $8.60, $3.80, $2.60, Plainridge
Mel Mara, $6.80, $2.60, $2.10, Meadowlands
Phantom Rusty, $6.20, $2.80, $2.20, Philadelphia
Gold Star Spike, $5.40, $5.10, $2.60, Tioga
American Terror, $3.60, $2.60, $2.10, Bangor
 
Seconds

Chillinlikeavillin, $8.10, $2.80, Century
Thunderaway, $6.70, $3.90 (Exacta $9.20), Charlottetown
Auf Wiedersehen, $4.80, $2.20, Northfield
Phoenician Gal, $4.10, $2.60, Century
Smokinmombo, $3.60, $2.60, Meadows
 Double Miles, $3.20, $2.10 (Exacta $4.60), Harrington
Yankee Artillery, $3.00, $2.60, Meadows
Electric Mayhem, $2.60, $2.10, Bangor
JJ Flynn, $2.40, $2.10, Meadows

Thirds

Tys A Big Star, $33.40, Buffalo
Sounion, $5.40, Running Aces
His Boy Elroy, $4.10, Mohawk
One Way To Win, $3.50, Tioga
Arsenal, $3.40, Pocono
Lets Go Places, $3.40, Running Aces
Female Finesse, $3.00, Charlottetown
Caulfield, $2.60, Mohawk
Four Feathers, $2.60, Century
Sweet Ashley T, $2.30, Vernon
Tormented Princess, $2.20, Philadelphia

News & Notes

Real Artist, winner of the 1997 Woodrow Wilson Pace, died at the age of 21 on June 1, according to owner/breeder Jules Siegel of Fashion Farms in Pennsylvania. This son of Artsplace made his presence shown on the racetrack from his early races, following in the hoof beats of his sire, who was a huge success at two and through four, when he posted an undefeated season.

Real Artist won two of nine starts and $424,947 for trainer Jim Campbell. Brother John drove the youngster to the “Wilson” win in 1:52 when that event was The Meadowlands’ biggest stakes for juveniles. As a stallion, Real Artist sired 744 starters who’ve collectively won $80.4 million. Among them was Southwind Lynx, winner of the 2007 Meadowlands Pace.

Bee A Magician was scratched from last week’s Maxie Lee Trot due to an injury, according to sources. Bee A Magician has been sidelined for the time being and will not race in the upcoming Armbro Flight Stakes on June 10 at Mohawk Racetrack.

Trainer Richard Norman said the championship mare has “minor soft tissue damage” in her left front leg from a paddock injury. Norman said she “will probably be out about a month” and that the recovery time could be more or less depending on how quickly the injury heals. Unbeaten in three starts thi season, Bee A Magician is on the brink of earning $4 million.

Extraordinary Extras

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

Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

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