Harness Players Newsletter presented by TheStable.ca Vol. 17
June 14, 2024
Well the Triple Crown is over for Thoroughbreds but we haven’t started yet on the harness side. The three year old pacing males take center stage this week for the 1 Million dollar Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario. The Eliminations last week showed plenty of Canadian dominance with Nijinsky (told ya), Captains Quarters and Funtime Bayama all winning eliminations.
Can the US contingent turn the tables in the Final? Also a pending question is what will Legendary Hanover do with this draw? Total Stranger drawn right next to him has shown nothing but fire away from the gate in every start. YG isn’t one to sit and that will put pressure on everyone early notably ‘Legendary who will have to decide how to play the start. All three elimination winners are drawn side by side as a result of winning eliminations and being able to pick from post 2-6 after a random draw. They all have proven capable off many types of trips but I would expect JJ to blast here with Captians Quarters and Funtime Bayama usually isn’t far from the front early. Nijinsky has a prime starting spot because he can float for position early then try to setup a trip as the others fly up front. Can’t count out Captain’s Albano and Luke. Both raced well in the eliminations and have the ability to win off a trip. What an edition of the NA Cup. Money will be spread out here and the favorite could end up 3/1 or higher. Who is the favorite now? I think Captains Quarters will be off his impressive elimination win plus his Metro triumph last year. Nijinsky and Funtime won’t be too far behind but then its a jumble. Albano and Luke are sure to take $ and Total Stranger will get connection’s play. That leaves Legendary Hanover. The true key to the race. A total enigma as far as odds, trip and overall chance to win. Catch the podcast this week to find out more…..
Enjoy the other Stakes this week and the big night. Spot plays have been hot so lets keep those coming.
Watch a little Sweden Saturday afternoon from the top of the Earth in Boden.
~Mikee P
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Check out last week’s Newsletter and Podcast for a full recap of TheStable.ca’s Open House at Northfield Park in Ohio.
Best of Luck to Pick Pocket Racing the $225,000 Goodtimes Final and Tactical Mounds racing in the $233,000 Armbo Flight Final Saturday Night at Mohawk!
There will be another Open House coming soon for the Stable.ca in Ontario. Stay tuned for dates.
Check out thestable.ca YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStableCanada
Harness Players’ Podcast | June 12, 2024 | Sweden and the North America Cup
This week on the Harness Players’ Podcast, Edison Hatter hosts a bicontinental discussion focusing on stakes action from Boden, Sweden and Woodbine Mohawk Park in Canada for Saturday (June 15). Mike Pribozie and Thomas Svensen join the conversation for the Swedish action and then later in the show Ray Cotolo and Garnet Barnsdale join to discuss the many big-money races on Saturday at Mohawk leading to the $1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup.
The Week Ahead with Kevin Plowcha
The North America Cup is here and highlights the biggest weekend of the year so far in Harness Racing. After last week's awesome racing which included a ton of eliminations, the big money is on the line and everyone is ready to leave it all out there for some of the biggest races that the sport has to offer. Here's what's coming up.
There is no better place to start than with the $1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup. The 41st edition looks to be one of the deepest in the history of the race. Elimination winners Nijinsky, Captains Quarters, and Funtime Bayama drew posts four, five, and six respectively. They have all come out of the provincial program in Ontario, giving the local fans plenty to cheer for on Saturday night. There are about a million different pace scenarios and trips that could be played out in this race, proving just how deep and talented the field is, and here is that field:
#1 - Storm Shadow
#2 - Captain Albano
#3 - Captain Luke
#4 - Nijinsky
#5 - Captains Quarters
#6 - Funtime Bayama
#7 - Ivy Park
#8 - Legendary Hanover
#9 - Total Stranger
#10 - Janelle Granny
It's hard not to start with (#5) Captains Quarters, who was the fastest elimination winner, posting a time of 1:49.1. He got an awesome drive from Jody Jamieson which resulted in a perfect second-over trip. With all of the chaos that these big races can provide, it's difficult to imagine he gets it that good again. Although, if he's outsprinted early and can find live cover, then history may just repeat itself from last week.
What has (#4) Nijinsky done wrong? The answer is simple: absolutely nothing. He is 4-for-4 this season after not even making $100,000 last year and took advantage of an elimination that had some question marks surrounding its contenders. Two of his wins this year have come against the aforementioned other elimination winners. He, and driver Louis-Philippe Roy, will have every chance to strike.
If you're looking for a gap in (#6) Funtime Bayama's armor, I guess it's that he lost by a head to Nijinsky on May 25th. That's it. This 3YO son of He's Watching has gotten the better of (#8) Legendary Hanover in back-to-back races and is another main contender with a lot of early speed, which helped It's My Show win last year's race.
(#8) Legendary Hanover is in an interesting spot. It's hard to imagine Mohawk's leading driver, James Macdonald, taking back slightly and looking for a spot in mid-pack. It cost him on June 1st when he was outsprinted by Funtime Bayama, but it might just be what he has to do. They could stack up six wide going into the first turn with him being a part of it, but that doesn't appear to be his best route for success. He might be the fastest horse in this field, and it's hard to count out J-Mac who finds ways to win a lot of Mohawk races.
I haven't even mentioned (#2) Captain Albano yet who was 2-5 in last year's Breeders Crown Final. He made his Mohawk debut last week in the elimination. If this talented son of Captaintreacherous has anything working against him, it's the post position. It's easy to see him getting fully outsprinted by a BUNCH of horses, leaving him to fight for the scraps of a trip in mid-pack. This is why these races can be so difficult to handicap. Who knows where any of these horses get away? Is there a track bias that favors closers? Albano certainly has the speed, as many of these other horses do. That's a deeper look at half the field, including most of the main contenders for this year's Pepsi North America Cup.
Also on that Saturday night card at Woodbine Mohawk Park is five sets of stakes finals. In order, they go Armbro Flight Final (race 5, $233,000), Goodtimes Final (race 7, $225,000), Mohawk Gold Cup (race 8, $100,000), Fan Hanover Final (race 9, $425,000), and the Roses Are Red Final (race 10, $305,000). Over $1.2 million dollars in purses being run for in the leadup to the NA Cup.
Can they beat (#6) M Ms Dream in the Armbro Flight? Her elimination win in 1:52.4 was nothing short of spectacular and she'll be the one that the nine others, including other elimination winner (#5) Call Me Goo, will be aiming for.
Can they beat (#6) Highland Kismet in the Goodtimes Final? The least experienced horse in the field blew by his foes in his elimination for a measured score in 1:54. That was his first true test, and he passed. This is another step up. How much more speed does he have? If you beat him, you'll get paid.
The Mohawk Gold Cup is one of the best races of the entire year and likely one of the best betting races of the year. An absolutely stacked field of 10 that could have more hypothetical pace scenarios and trip predictions than the NA Cup. There's not enough time (or likely space) to break down the field, but, for my money, it's a must-watch race on Saturday night.
Is the Fan Hanover a two horse race? (#6) My Girl EJ found the line to hold off a hard-charging (#5) Geocentric in their elimination. They are two clear contenders, and it's hard not to think Geocentric won't be fully primed for this race. (#1) It's A Love Thing may have something to say about that, though. She'll undoubtedly be closer to the leaders and has as big of a late kick as any in this race. Her could be inflated, too, if Geocentric takes the amount of money that I expect.
Finally, can they beat Twin B Joe Fresh in the Roses Are Red? Don't let the final quarter deceive you. She was a wrapped up winner and has shown no signs of stopping this weekend. Always B Naughty jumps out immediately after her 1:49.3 win. The second quarter breather helped, but she still was able to hold off Sylvia Hanover, who I think makes this race incredibly interesting. After Sylvia found her footing, we saw just how good she was last year. Even when she showed her quirks, she still won anyway. However, in a big race like this with a full field, that stuff doesn't tend to fly. That's all happening Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A stacked card that is sure to be a great one.
Taking a quick step back in time, we see that Friday (6/14) has a few stake races to sink your teeth into. The Meadowlands has two divisions each for the second legs of the Graduate Series for 4YO Open pacers and trotters. We saw it last year with the Glamour Boys; That division is deep and stacked with talent. Also on Friday is Sire Stakes action from Scioto Downs, Hoosier Park, and Vernon Downs.
We move back to Saturday (6/15) for stakes action from The Meadows in the afternoon. There are two divisions of the Currier & Ives trot, both going for $48,927. It's the 50th edition of this stakes race and features Bunkerhill winner Spaaaanzano.
Pocono Downs has stakes races on Sunday (6/16) for the 3YO filly trotters, and Oak Grove takes us into the start of next week with Kentucky Sire Stakes on Monday (6/17).
As I've already said, this is an absolutely incredible weekend in Harness Racing. You have to get involved. There's big pools, lots of opinions, and plenty of chances to make money if you're right. That's why we love this game so much. KP out, we'll catch you next week.
Spot Plays for the Weekend of 6/14-6/16 presented by Nahupicks.com
Friday The Meadows Race 5 - (4) Tennessee Strong was hard used early in his first start since November and still struck around for third. A better post and being his second start back is a big recipe for success.
~Kevin Plowcha
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 1 - (2) Saddlebags was the day's most impressive winner at the baby qualifiers on 6/8; Early Pick 5 single.
~Garnet Barnsdale
Friday Grand River Raceway Race 5 - (8) LA Sun Control - (7/2) has never been better after his City of London sweep. We haven’t seen his best and the outside post 8 may boost his value. A must-play on the end of the pick 5 that starts in Race 1.
~Sugar Doyle
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 1 (4) Control Heaven - Racing well against the same group for the most part. Does his best work when being high-tailed out of there and now picks up 3x driver of the year for the first time while in the Smith barn. Big Trip Incoming!
~Peter McGuigan
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 2 - (6) Gaines Hanover - gets a huge setup here with all the speed signed up. Another 26/1 rolls past these.
~Mikee P
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 3 - (7) Huntress - was conservatively handled from an outside draw after being harassed on the engine the week prior. It’s go time here.
~John Rallis
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 3 - (6) Bluemea Kiss - Jody has fled the scene like a bank robber during the day but trainer Nick Boyd has called on a man named Dexter Dunn as the replacement. Some of y’all might’ve heard of him. Price should be good again. Horse is hot.
~Brad A. (Chicago Guy)
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 4 - (9) Trophy Taker - two good efforts since shipping in from PA. Expect close to the speed and no Nijinsky to beat here.
~Doug Henwood
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 12 - (4) Mappos Lion - may need a start but if he is a decent price you gotta take a swing, he has thrown down some big miles in Ontario in years past.
~Mr. B (Mr_B_Harness) on X
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 12 - (5) Rockme Rollme - James took Rocky and he’s in a class he’s done well before. They can be a dangerous duo.
~Lisa Rogers
Check out the HorsePlayer Happy Hour Tour Returning this week featuring ITM personalities benefitting Thoroughbred Horses of Saratoga with a top prize of a BCBC Seat worth $10,000!
Swedish Horse Racing
www.swedishhorseracing.com is the place for replays, odds, news and much much more for all tracks in Sweden More podcasts coming this year for all the major races with Edison Hatter, Mike Pribozie and Thomas Svensen!
Huge Week to sign up for ITM Plus with Summer Meets just around the corner! Tons of fresh content every week including Podcasts, written content, and notes from the Handicappers on the Free Podcasts to help with ticket structure.
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