Tuesday Harness Preview for 4/29/2014
by Ted Black
Once again bad weather might force bettors and harness drivers to alter their tactics this evening as sloppy tracks could be the rule Tuesday when Harrington, Rosecroft and Yonkers Raceways all offer standardbred cards.
Tuesday evening's card at Harrington Raceway in Delaware highlights the pacing fillies and mares and while most of the events look competitive, only two distaffers look like genuine value plays on the 14-race program.
In the opening race on the card, a non-winners of $4501 last five starts for fillies and mares, give I Know Nothing a good chance to prevail while starting from the coveted rail. Last week in her local debut, I Know Nothing raced first over into a 56.3 back half in the non-winners of $6501 last five class and finished a sharp second, beaten just a neck. She could attain her first win in eight starts on the season this evening.
Much of the support in the opener will get steered toward No Bad Luck and Bluffs Real Deal, who were one-two and only a neck apart in 1:55.3 in this class last week. Both will be formidable again this evening right back in the same class and having drawn well, but both will also likely get overbet and that should make I Know Nothing worthy of plays across the board and the key in exotics.
Then much later on the card in the 11th, a non-winners of $2501 last five class for fillies and mares, look for Mom's Toy to post the mild upset. A durable homebred for trainer George "Ronnie" Leager, Mom's Toy finished third behind No Bad Luck and Bluffs Real Deal in the tougher non-winners of $4501 last five group last week. This looks like the ideal spot for the Badlands Hanover mare.
The latter portion of the Yonkers Raceway card on Tuesday offers a quartet of intriguing events.
In the eighth, a non-winners of four races or $40,000 lifetime class for three- and four-year-old pacers, OK Fantastic looks poised for his win in 11 tries this year. Last week, after having missed a start, OK Fantastic set the early tempo and then faded to fifth. But he draws the rail tonight and should be a decent price thanks to the presence of Exit Cam and Design Guru.
One race later in the ninth, the $30,000 SOA of NY Bonus trotting series consolation, expect Monroe County and Pounce Hanover to complete the exacta. Last week in their respective preliminary rounds, both Monroe County and Pounce Hanover failed as the post-time favorite. Monroe County will be the favorite again this evening, but Pounce Hanover has often displayed Open ability and merits play here in this spot.
Then one race later in the $73,500 SOA of NY Bonus trotting series final, all eyes will be on Bambino Glide, who won all three of his preliminary legs handily as the odds-on choice each time. Bambino Glide, the beaten favorite in the Horse & Groom Series final at The Meadowlands last month, has won five of eight starts this year for trainer Julie Miller and boasts the two fastest miles in the series.
On paper, Bambino Glide looks like a cinch but if duplicates his early misbehavior in the Horse & Groom then he will prove vulnerable. Three rivals who drew inside of him, Born To Fight, Itzaziam and Wisenheimer, all have a chance at the upset and all three will be generous prices if Bambino Glide again dips below even-money. Born To Fight was the beaten favorite at 1-4 last week and will be a big price this evening, as will Wisenheimer, who was second to Bambino Glide in three prelims.
Tuesday's card at Rosecroft Raceway gets very interesting from the middle to the end.
In the sixth, an $8/10,000 claiming handicap, Osceola Gold seeks his sixth straight tally for trainer Jeanmarie Kurowski and catch driver Tony Morgan and will again get tested by No Foreign Exchange, who delivered a gritty, first over performance last week and provided the live cover for 'Gold' down the backside and through the far turn.
Two races later on the card, look for Megs Breeze (Jonathan Roberts) to make amends for last week's second-place finish as the 3-5 choice in the Filly-Mare Open. Owned and trained by William "Bib" Roberts, Megs Breeze saw her four-race win streak come to an end when Together Again N (Morgan) rallied first over to score in 1:53. But look for Megs Breeze to get redemption this evening despite her eight-hole draw.
One race later in the Open Handicap for male pacers, give Varsity Hanover another chance to prevail in this top class. Second in each of his two starts in this event behind repeat winner Winbak Carl, Varsity Hanover has shown glimpses of his earlier days when he thrived on the local strip for owner-trainer James Whalen, Jr. He has enough gate speed to overcome the seven-hole and overtake Winbak Carl and Bad Man Sam late.
Then in the finale, a non-winners of $5000 last five starts class for pacing fillies and mares, there appears to be no time like the present for Heres My Ticket to finally garner her first win of the season. The five-year-old Three Olives mare has been second six times and third once in 10 winless starts this year for owner-trainer-breeder Eli Scott, Jr., but she is worthy of backing at an upset price against Scarlet Pandemic who will be the formidable favorite in here.
Once again bad weather might force bettors and harness drivers to alter their tactics this evening as sloppy tracks could be the rule Tuesday when Harrington, Rosecroft and Yonkers Raceways all offer standardbred cards.
Tuesday evening's card at Harrington Raceway in Delaware highlights the pacing fillies and mares and while most of the events look competitive, only two distaffers look like genuine value plays on the 14-race program.
In the opening race on the card, a non-winners of $4501 last five starts for fillies and mares, give I Know Nothing a good chance to prevail while starting from the coveted rail. Last week in her local debut, I Know Nothing raced first over into a 56.3 back half in the non-winners of $6501 last five class and finished a sharp second, beaten just a neck. She could attain her first win in eight starts on the season this evening.
Much of the support in the opener will get steered toward No Bad Luck and Bluffs Real Deal, who were one-two and only a neck apart in 1:55.3 in this class last week. Both will be formidable again this evening right back in the same class and having drawn well, but both will also likely get overbet and that should make I Know Nothing worthy of plays across the board and the key in exotics.
Then much later on the card in the 11th, a non-winners of $2501 last five class for fillies and mares, look for Mom's Toy to post the mild upset. A durable homebred for trainer George "Ronnie" Leager, Mom's Toy finished third behind No Bad Luck and Bluffs Real Deal in the tougher non-winners of $4501 last five group last week. This looks like the ideal spot for the Badlands Hanover mare.
The latter portion of the Yonkers Raceway card on Tuesday offers a quartet of intriguing events.
In the eighth, a non-winners of four races or $40,000 lifetime class for three- and four-year-old pacers, OK Fantastic looks poised for his win in 11 tries this year. Last week, after having missed a start, OK Fantastic set the early tempo and then faded to fifth. But he draws the rail tonight and should be a decent price thanks to the presence of Exit Cam and Design Guru.
One race later in the ninth, the $30,000 SOA of NY Bonus trotting series consolation, expect Monroe County and Pounce Hanover to complete the exacta. Last week in their respective preliminary rounds, both Monroe County and Pounce Hanover failed as the post-time favorite. Monroe County will be the favorite again this evening, but Pounce Hanover has often displayed Open ability and merits play here in this spot.
Then one race later in the $73,500 SOA of NY Bonus trotting series final, all eyes will be on Bambino Glide, who won all three of his preliminary legs handily as the odds-on choice each time. Bambino Glide, the beaten favorite in the Horse & Groom Series final at The Meadowlands last month, has won five of eight starts this year for trainer Julie Miller and boasts the two fastest miles in the series.
On paper, Bambino Glide looks like a cinch but if duplicates his early misbehavior in the Horse & Groom then he will prove vulnerable. Three rivals who drew inside of him, Born To Fight, Itzaziam and Wisenheimer, all have a chance at the upset and all three will be generous prices if Bambino Glide again dips below even-money. Born To Fight was the beaten favorite at 1-4 last week and will be a big price this evening, as will Wisenheimer, who was second to Bambino Glide in three prelims.
Tuesday's card at Rosecroft Raceway gets very interesting from the middle to the end.
In the sixth, an $8/10,000 claiming handicap, Osceola Gold seeks his sixth straight tally for trainer Jeanmarie Kurowski and catch driver Tony Morgan and will again get tested by No Foreign Exchange, who delivered a gritty, first over performance last week and provided the live cover for 'Gold' down the backside and through the far turn.
Two races later on the card, look for Megs Breeze (Jonathan Roberts) to make amends for last week's second-place finish as the 3-5 choice in the Filly-Mare Open. Owned and trained by William "Bib" Roberts, Megs Breeze saw her four-race win streak come to an end when Together Again N (Morgan) rallied first over to score in 1:53. But look for Megs Breeze to get redemption this evening despite her eight-hole draw.
One race later in the Open Handicap for male pacers, give Varsity Hanover another chance to prevail in this top class. Second in each of his two starts in this event behind repeat winner Winbak Carl, Varsity Hanover has shown glimpses of his earlier days when he thrived on the local strip for owner-trainer James Whalen, Jr. He has enough gate speed to overcome the seven-hole and overtake Winbak Carl and Bad Man Sam late.
Then in the finale, a non-winners of $5000 last five starts class for pacing fillies and mares, there appears to be no time like the present for Heres My Ticket to finally garner her first win of the season. The five-year-old Three Olives mare has been second six times and third once in 10 winless starts this year for owner-trainer-breeder Eli Scott, Jr., but she is worthy of backing at an upset price against Scarlet Pandemic who will be the formidable favorite in here.
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