Wednesday Harness Preview for 2/12/2014

With yet another severe winter storm headed through the Mid-Atlantic region this week, harness racing fans will have limited chances to get to a local venue this weekend if impressive snowfall amounts arrive, so Wednesday evening might be the last chance - for a while, anyway - to cash a few tickets on some pricey trotters.

Both the Dover Downs and Pompano Park Wednesday evening cards tend to highlight the trotters and both offer some interesting plays this week. Of course, race goers at Pompano Park probably won't be all that concerned about a pending storm, while those at Dover Downs will be keeping at least one eye on the sky this evening.

In the sixth race at Dover, a $15/20,000 claiming handicap for trotters, look for Good Feeling to emerge with his first victory of the campaign. Second twice and third once in four previous outings for trainer William "Doc" Moffett, Good Feeling was a decent third last week and displayed good late trot. He gets the rail this evening and should be forwardly placed throughout and in ideal striking range for the stretch drive.

Two races later on the card, give Looking Hanover another chance at redemption and also expect Spunky Jack to be right there at the wire. Looking Hanover, the classy, durable millionaire was third after a first over journey as the 1-2 choice against non-winners of $12,000 last six company last week and does make a modest climb into the winners over category. Spunky Jack was second, beaten just a neck in this group last week and figures to be prominent throughout and an exacta box seems in order.

Then in the 10th, the featured $20,000 Open Handicap for the top trotters on the circuit, all eyes will certainly be on Traverse Seelster, who returns after sitting out last week. Traverse Seelster has won both of his starts in sharp fashion while being assigned the outside slot and gets the assignment again this week, while his main rival, Modern Family, last week's winner, gets the week off. Jersey Boy, Enrico As, Green Day and Awsome Valley all have runner-up possibilities.

Then in the 13th, keep tabs on Pounce Hanover (Vic Kirby) although he also missed last week. Listed at 6-1 on the morning line while starting from post nine in the second tier, Pounce Hanover might not be at his sharpest arriving off the week layoff but he has already won twice in three starts this year and looms as one of the budding stars among the local trotting ranks this winter and spring.

That same evening at Pompano Park, a quartet of trotters look poised for their best efforts. Two of them happened to draw into the same event, however.

While She's All In was close to the pace throughout and lasted for third in that event. Both figure to be prominent in the lane and either could reach the wire first and both figure to be in the 5-2 to 3-1 range.

In the seventh, a non-winners of $3251 last five event for trotters, look for Naughty Not Nice to handle the modest class hike. A good second last week against slightly lesser, Naughty Not Nice raced well second over despite dull cover and still rallied to get within a lenght of the winner. Listed at 6-1 on the morning line, Naughty Not Nice will get overlooked because of the slight class jump but his effort last week indicates he should be able to handle it.

Then in the secondary Open, take another shot at My Revenuer. Like Naughty Not Nice, My Revenuer has to make a modest class jump - he was third against non-winners of $6001 last five company last week - but the lower Open does not look much different from an upper conditioned event. My Revenuer is 4-1 on the morning line and he might dip slightly below that this evening, but he should be able to flaunt his late kick in this affair.