Yonkers Series Tighten, ‘Levy’ Foes Battling Evenly; Philly Power Plays Posted

April’s first weekend brings us closer to the conclusion of the Grand Circuit’s George Morton Levy Pacing Series and the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers Raceway. So far the “Levy” divisions have displayed more favorites than outsiders and the Matchmakers have been dominated by public choices. We attack them again with an eye for prices from outside contenders.

We begin the weekend, however, with “Power Plays” at the recently opened Philadelphia harness track with the common wagers (win, place, show), as well as single-race exotics. We leave you to pursue which wagering types to make. Power Plays report suggested contenders that keep in mind the exotics involved. We encourage multiple plays per minimum exotic wager in a pursuit of a big score. So 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

FEATURES~FEATURES~FEATURES 

Philadelphia/ Race 2
Thursday, April 6

This $10,000 claimer presents a 50-cent Superfecta, and Exacta and Trifecta wagering. We offer in the mixes, the 8-hole 20-1 Morning Line (ML) shot Driven. This well-bred five-year-old broke at Pocono en route to a big mile on March 28. It was a step-down move as he shipped east from the Meadows. He raced well, though short, in two races with $17,000 tags after great races in conditionals. Staying flat may be all he has to do to upset this field. His outside post just helps his odds.

ML-choice Giant Muscles comes to Philly from a win at Pocono where he stepped down and took advantage of the break by Driven, though he won as the favorite. He will weigh down exotic prices but should be there, as his recent win came as a shipper from Woodbine for trainer Rene Allard, proving he likes this side of the border.

The crowd will also be engaged with the chances of Bluenose Gal, who was recently taken over by trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera. In December, this mare won at this level at Philly, just before heading to Florida. Since Herrera uses fan-loving-driver George Napolitano, his mare will get a lot of support (she is the second ML choice) and is dangerous in a “super.”

The key to pumping up the exotics is Creampuff Macdaddy (ML 7-1). He appears with a trainer change and is bound to show some of his Pompano speed here, which may not win it for him but could thwart the ML choices’ victories if he makes them work too hard. All he has to do is nose out but one of them to boost exotics; to be second or win it, along with Driven and any of the top-choice pair will inflate all positions involved in each exotic.

MORE MATCHMAKER MARES

Only two divisions make up round four of the series. There are fewer divisions but more mares, as eight go in each field.

An outside contender in division one, Hidden Land deserves a shot against the ML favorites, even though the public has been extra sharp during the first three legs of the series. Last week, Hidden Land was burned with an outside trip though she still lost no ground, just positions, to the closers around her. In round one at 22-1 she was steady and strategic, which is what we expect from her here.

Giving her the prime spot means going off of our three-time contender, Betabecool N, because she just doesn’t get the winning job done and if she did here she would be worth far less to win than when we nabbed her at second, third and third. Also, Tessa Seelster, though she draws better than when we appointed her chances, needs some luck and won’t be at our kind of price if she gets luckier than her recent efforts. The best ML choices of the rest are all on the outside, so we go for the upset.

Division two puts one of the ML faves far off the gate and another midway but best of all it disregards one of the better trips from last week by Medusa. Can she go off a distant choice (9-1 ML)? Last week as the dead-on favorite she wasted precious time dueling with an early-lick foe ad wound up third. One of her enemies from that division has to negotiate post 8 and may lose the number of steps needed to allow Medusa to avenge her loss and do so at a price. 
 
LEVY LEXICON, PART FOUR

There is one fewer division in round four. Seven from the other three legs go in division one, Race 6. Also, the series’ dominator, Missile J, has the week off after three wins. The first division offers some short speed and most likely favorites sans strength, leaving space for late pacing. Clear Vision, with a 6-1 ML, could be offered the best trip from post 2, though the public will see this scenario as a path to victory for the ML choice, Wakizashi Hanover. The field splits into speed and off-the-pace types and it seems the best price for the chances here is Clear Vision. Santa Fe Beachboy and Long Live Rock could also take advantage of a soft leader and make some exotic noise.

The seven involved in division two present a lone attraction to the public, Keystone Velocity (2-1 ML), who has won a pair of divisions to date. The question of PH Supercam’s current shape remains an issue, at least with us, since his two thirds in the series remain inexplicable—they both should have had better results, perhaps wins. “PG” can’t seem to start his charges soon enough, though his second show finish was closer than his first. PH is certainly a notch above Blood Brother (3-1 ML) and will offer a far better price. We would hate to miss a win from the former Levy champ at a great price, which is almost guaranteed here, so we will support him one more time.

The Levy nightcap is more like division one, with speed looking to dominate but almost sure to be short. That scenario sets up for another win by Bit Of A Legend N, who took that route from the same 6 post to win last week. Soto, though, is in a perfect spot to save ground, as he has in all three legs of the series, winning twice. He has not impressed the public enough to become a favorite in either win and it looks like here he may offer some value, too.

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
4/7/17, +Pier Ho Exotic R4
4/8/17, +Steuben Patriot R5; +Littlebitofabrat R6; +Nobles Grand Slam R8; +Elite R9; Box Car Johnnie R9; +Penneys Spirit R11

Cal Expo
4/7/17, Fly Away R9
4/8/17, _Luvuthemostest R1; Mar Dream R9

Century
4/9/17, +Regina Beach R3; +Barossa Blue Genes R5; Captain Hazardous R9

Freehold
4/8/17, Seeking Nirvana R3; Cheyenne Oxe R7

Hoosier
4/8/17, Sunset Mike R3; Sadies Art R4; Carols Z Tam R7; Stable Eyes R11

Meadowlands
4/8/17, +Jacksrluckytoo R6; +Dontcallmefrancis R9

Meadows
4/8/17, Albionkinginfinito R3; Southwind Yukon R9
4/10/17, +Im Feelin Good R3

Miami
4/7/17, Whoyacallingafool R10; Cruise Queen R12

Monticello
4/6/17, +Gaelic Thunder R3

Northfield
4/8/17, +Skyway Sonoma R1; Richerthanrayno R6

Northville
4/7/17, +KD Bella R3
4/8/17, +DCN Make My Day R6

Philadelphia
4/6/17, +Amora Beach R9
4/9/17, +Cashendash Hanover R5

Pocono
4/8/17, Cane Ridge R3; +Reigningblackswan R7

Pompano
4/9/17, +Regalanthropist R6

Rideau-Carleton
4/6/17, +Lutetia Semalu R4; +EL Wildspirit R6

Saratoga
4/6/17, Moonlight Spin R3

Scarborough
4/8/17, +Corky Baran R3; +Aberarder Smitty R5; Classy Kyle R5
4/9/17, Reagans Revenge R2; Secret Renegade R2; +Wolfs Milan R3

Yonkers
4/7/17, Manwithamission R4; For The Ladies N R6; +Raise The Curtain R9; +Perfect Road R10