Winter Finals Fire Across The Borders

Bitter cold ensues but we look over the schedule to put on the heat for playing this weekend. Some winter-series finals at the Meadowlands and Woodbine take center stage Saturday.

Also, we check out overnight races with opportunities, including a Pick 3 at the Meadowlands on Friday, Feb. 20 and a feature that night at Yonkers. Hoping for some cooperation from Mother Nature, there are more to explore in our popular horses-to-watch (H2W) list.

Arm your TwinSpires accounts and ready for some great harness action with win, place, show and exotics in play, so that along with your handicapping skills and our suggested contenders, we get all of the bang for our bucks. To start the weekend, we look at the three legs from the Early Pick 3 at the Meadows and give you plenty of time if you want to indulge in the Pick 5 at Buffalo. All of the horses suggested can be used as additions to your Pick-3 and Pick-5 tickets. As well, judge each of the go-to-post odds for win or across-the-board wagering.

Meadowlands Pick 3
Fri. Feb. 20

The following horses are recommended in your Pick-3 combos. At odds you judge worthy, consider them as win wagers or across-the-board wagers.

Race 2

Four Starz Roe was just behind Marty Party at this level last week when Inittowinafortune paced away with the mile as the favorite. “Roe” looks to be the more worthy addition to a ticket because she is in a sharp cycle now and the other two mentioned will most likely be top choices.  

Race 3

Looking closely at the most recent pair of races from Wikedwitchothewest we see a propensity for getting to the front early. The mare rushed to take the front both times from outside posts but was not entirely put off at the end, getting some purse monies each time. From post 6 in this race she may do more like she did three back, when at 34-1 she lost a bit of steam late to get second. That was also from post 6. Being zero for five she should be a good price and addition to the ticket.

Race 4

The crowd will find plenty of reasons to dismiss Fox Valley Legend but the trotter has early-season credentials that should transcend any problem leaving from post 9. The price should be right, too, even better than the win he is sporting as his recent race at the Meadowlands. If you look at that race you may be previewing how he can win this one, sitting cold to the half and weaving his way into a big brush to catch tired foes in the stretch.

Feature Race
Feb. 20, Yonkers
Race 8

Why a morning line of 20-1 is assigned to Electric Cruiser goes unanswered. Is it the month between his two most recent efforts? Neither of them are poor, both are at Yonkers and each show a strong support, as well as they have excuses for being overland journeys. Plus, the morning-line favorite is the 8 horse and when an 8 horse at Yonkers is predicted as the fans’ choice, the benefit of all doubts will go to the horse being tossed aside, as we expect will happen to Electric Cruiser.

Saturday Night Specials

The Meadowlands offers three finals on Saturday, Feb. 22. The first on the program is the Charles Singer Memorial ($49,000) for three- and four-year-old trotters, where there are some arguments for a few, including from the three-horse entry. You should get a good price, however, on Walk The Walk, because the money should be spread out a bit. This one comes from a “Singer”-leg win and is fine fettle right now.

The $59,000 Sonsam Final for older males is next and it is hard to zero in on a public choice. However, Bettorever was hanged early in last week’s leg while well supported, coming off a monster second at 44-1 in leg one and he could have a major say here at a higher price than his chances should allow.

The $50,600 Burning Point Final may wind up with a good price for Witch Dali, who has been beaten in two legs after coming into the series looking like she could sweep it. Even with those that have beaten her going for the big money here, Witch Dali should be expected to put in a big mile for the biggest purse and it is not a stretch of the imagination to see the crowd dismiss her when she can pay her best.

At Woodbine, the $44,600 Ontario Girls looks like an easy go for Artistic Fusion, who has nearly dominated the series. She should be a low-priced as a prohibitive favorite, while PL Hurricane is worth a stab off of a very big mile last week when “Fusion” was defeated. PL Hurricane made a strong move from the half to three-quarters and doing it on the outside tired him—but at 36-1.

The $45,000 Ontario Boys should give you a chance for a mild upset with Regal Babe. His two moves in last week’s leg cost him some ground. This week he may find an easier path.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W

Buffalo
2/20/15, Real Bravo R10; +Here Comes Thunder R10
2/21/15, Shaolin Master R2; Bakken R4; Mach Stockn Barrel R5; Elite R8; +Burton Blue Chip R10; Enzo Seelster R11; Freaky Flyer R12

Cal Expo
2/20/15, R1; +Early Boy R3; Emery Vern R5
2/21/15, +Hello Sevens R4; +La Madawna DeRosa R9
2/22/15, Bit Player R5

Dover
2/19/15, +Ballinrobe R6

Flamboro
2/21/22, Incredible Frank R11
2/22/15, +Charmbro Orbit R1; Solano Beach R3

Maywood
2/19/15, +Playgirl Interlude R9   
2/20/15, +Yes Indeedee R2; Cuatro Cinco R12

Meadowlands
2/19/15, +Just Fine R7
2/20/15, +Rolls Blue Chip R13
2/21/15, +Capozzo R3

Meadows
2/20/15, +R Marie Hanover R1; +Nutmegs Yankee R10; Tough Call R11; Delmary R11
2/23/15, Sweet Talia R8; +Style N Soul R10

Miami
2/19/15, Oyster Bay R7
2/20/15, +Jettin Jamie R12
2/21/15, Paco Labrook R4; Comicbook Hero R7; Doctor Carter R11; Master Stroke R11; Defective Sham R14

Monticello
2/18/15, +EZ Go Lavec R8
2/19/15, +Swift Blizzard R3; Lcb Artist R6

Northfield
2/19/15, Playa Del Rylee R2; +Tsm Soul Sister R3; Flight Seelster R5; +Nirvana Gear R8; Threefold Breanna R10

Northville
2/20/15, Royal Assassin R4; Lansdowne Road R7; Little Amos R8; Dragon Town R9; Hot Cycle R10

Pompano
2/21/15, Rick’s Sign R7

Western Fair
2/20/15, Carsons Cashin R2; Gramps Girly R6

Woodbine
2/20/15, +Mappos Moenhay R4; +Call It Courage R10

Yonkers
2/19/15, Babes Chip R1; Tashia R3; Hoosier Chatter R10; Mandys Mattjesty R11
2/20/15, Grand Master R10
2/22/15, +Orange Bigi R1; +Keenan R6; Teach Me To Be Bucky R6 +Lauxmont Capri R12

Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.