Yonkers, Philly Power Plays; Buckeye-Bred Stakes At Miami; Dexter Cup Elims Launch Glamour-Boy Trot Season

There is no official start to Sires Stakes season so consider it starting as our weekly preview’s major features include a few high-purse affairs for older Ohio-breds on April 29 at Miami Valley among our features.

There are over 70 colt-and-filly trotters eligible for the Dexter Cup and Lady Suffolk, two stakes that launch the Hambletonian Trail and there are a pair of elims for the colts at Freehold on April 29, featuring a sextet that look to make it all the way to the first Saturday in August for the classic. The fillies will go straight to a final next week.

We will include some personal features on Thursday and Friday, including April 27’s Philly “Power Plays” for common wagers (win, place, show) and single-race exotics. We leave you to pursue which wagering types to make based on our four major contenders (four because the main exotic is a superfecta). Pay close attention to our suggested contenders in Power Plays races, as well as those simply listed in the weekly H2W (the horses-to-watch) list. Do your own handicapping, and then compare and consider our selections when betting.

POWER PLAYS

Philadelphia/ Race 5
Thursday, April 27

In this afternoon conditioned pace with a $9,000 purse, three single-race exotics are offered. Here are the reasons for our suggested contenders (in post-position order).

God Forbid N should have won already, having dropped, but he only took second and third at this level. She was off five months between seasons and looks to be supported even more this time off of two excused trips.

You Canbeanangel has no excuse for losing to God Forbid N so badly last out, considering her drop from much higher classes at Dover. The drop alone should have given her a boost, even though she added one turn to her journey from the change of venue. She has some speed and may find it useful here to get in the mix.

The two farthest outside posts definitely have good shots and could have good odds considering theyare in posts 7 and 8 respectively. Alwaysafirsttime has been collecting checks since coming from Freehold and continues to earn her way into this class. She has a good mid-mile kick and her Morning Line (ML) of 8-1 would be a good addition to any of the exotics.

So would 12-1 for Smart Zone, whose last race can be tossed since it was her first race since last August at Pocono. Before that, she campaigned at Philly at a higher level with competent performances. That back class can kick in at the right moment to put her in the exotic mix and, at best, she can do it with a win.

POWER PLAYS

Yonkers/ Race 3
Friday, April 28

A conditioned pace offers an exacta, triple and superfecta along with the common spots on the toteboard. Here are our suggested contenders in post-position order.

Wagon Master was hanged on the outside too long on the half-mile and tanked in his return to Yonkers, where in March he won around this level, where he is usually respected.

Spinarama lost two straight looking nothing like the horse that raced at this level three back when he was coming off of a claim. He is popular with trainers, changing conditioners from claims three times since January and is in a good spot here for his latest boss.

Have A Parodi steps up from races at Pocono where he picked up some checks with competent performances. His last Yonkers performance was against better and he was best of the rest going second all around. Hope for a good trip, always possible from Yonkers’ cherished 5 hole.

Ronny Bugatti could deal with the 7 hole and has early-season experience racing well at Yonkers. He won at Pocono on the mud but is much better on the half-mile, especially Yonkers, where he has made most of his money over the past few years.

DEXTER ELIMINATIONS

The strangest thing about the two eliminations for the Dexter Cup Final is that none of the frosh stars of last year’s colt trotting division are present. Southwind Cobra received a bye and will show up for the final while 16 others go in the April 29 splits at Freehold. Still, in the pair of $24,000 contests for soph-colt trotters, not one of the seven Hambletonian-eligible colts appears on the top 50 list of the highest earners for that year.

Round one of the elims brings eight students of top trainers to the gate and no doubt the crowd will be honing in on them for handicapping purposes. Certainly, Jimmy Takter’s Sir John F, who has won one from a single start at three, will get a lot of support. Ron Burke’s Southwind Woody won’t get as much attention from post 8. Ake Svanstedt’s Explosive is one of four launching their soph seasons with this event.

We suggest taking notice of Trond Smedshammer’s Texican. Trond is a fierce competitor and he sends out his best, many times, as they appear to him to be improving. Texican starts at three in this event and Trond takes the reigns with an expected price worthy of support. Texican is not a Hambo-elegible. Takter’s Sir John F is eyeing the big dance, so he will be all out to make the final and there you have a decent exacta as well.

Of the eight on the gate in elim two, only three are Hambo-eligible and they are lead by EI EI O, who is two wins for two starts and should be strongly supported. However, another eligible, Jonas Czernyson’s Madison Muscle, is in a great spot to win from post 2. Czernyson must be aiming for the big race with this one, a son of the great Muscle Hill, and this is a great place to start the campaign. Well-bred, if the colt is anywhere near as good as his sire (Yankee Glide) or dam (Grace Happens) this could be the best price you get on him all season.

BUCKEYE-SIRED CONTESTS

Three events worth $25,000 each for Ohio-sired four-year-olds and up ready for the Sires Stakes season in their new skin at Miami Valley on April 29. The first of the Lucky Buckeye trio tests seven mare trotters, two with debuts. The fans should be supporting Honey B strongly but we like Christopher Beaver’s Kestrel because Beaver’s decision to start the season for this mare in this event is a positive sign. Besides, Honey B has a few things to worry about here, including Sandys Victory on the rail, which happens to be Honey B’s stable mate in the Dan Ater barn.

The Horse Pace has nine in battle and it is a tight affair with a few arguments for all but Mr Wiggle Pants, the lone pacer in the field to debut at four. It’s difficult at press time to call a public choice, especially even the popular drivers have not made their steering decisions but Over Friskie could be worth something here and has a good shot from post 4. He ties with the rail horse, Crosswinds Dodger, with four wins this season but won’t be getting the services of well-bet drivers and is as well bred as any here, so the public may miss him.

Finally, the Horse Trot sees nine sail off the gate and two from Beaver that are dangerous but bound to be bet upon with a strong grasp. Of the top earners, the fourth, Another Breath, has embraced his maturity and comes into this with only five starts that include two wins, a place and a show. The win money may be spread out considerably and that would make Another Breath a worthy price to win.

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 LIST

Buffalo
4/28/17, Jim Dandy R3; Limitless R5; V I P R7

Cal Expo
4/28/17, Smiling Major R11
4/29/17, +Cheryls Surprise R4; Soul Diva R4; The Lehigh Legend R5; One Chief R7

Charlottetown
4/29/17, Textually Active R2; Smiley Bayama R5; Beechwood Tiger R6; Cabo Pan Lucas R6

Flamboro
4/27/17, Bella Palazzo R2; Leonardo Da Lindy R5; Olivias Way R9

Harrington
4/27/17, Diva Demands R5

Hoosier
4/29/17, Glorious Delight R5

Meadowlands
4/28/17, +Creampuff Mcdaddy R1
4/29/17, JK Will Power R7; Western Fame R8

Miami
4/28/17, +Colossal Casanova R7

Mohawk
4/27/17, Roll With Sparky R3
4/29/17, Big Yellow R5
 
Monticello
4/27/17, Mercurio N R7

Northville
4/28/17, +Black Water Road R9
4/29/17, Charlie B R2; PL Adder R5

Philadelphia
4/27/17, +Alligator Falls R10
4/28/17, +Moments Of Joy R1; +Fidanas Fastbreeze R4

Plainridge
4/27/17, Kennel Browser R1; +’cuda Hall R2; +Mergatroid R4; Bas J R4

Pocono
4/29/17, Go Daddy Go R6; VIP Bayama R12; +Mr Censi R13

Saratoga
4/27/17, +KZ Crazee R3
4/29/17, +Italian Rebel R6; The Green Knight R12

Scarborough
4/29/17, +Rockinalltheway R2; Lucksgottachange R5
4/30/17, +Catizzy R2; +Selena R3; Color Palette K R7

Yonkers
4/28/17, Know It All R11
4/29/17, +Twin B Speedo R3; +Polak A R6; +Te Kawau N R9
5/1/17, +Freakonomics ae R7