Harness Players Newsletter presented by nahupicks.com Vol. 26
August 23, 2024
Last week’s Sun Stakes Day at Pocono Downs was predictable if you watched/listened to the Harness Players Podcast. There were prices to be had with Odds on Platinum paying a solid 4/1 winning the Lynch Final by an inch over a stubborn Rocket Deo who was going for four straight. Caviart Belle bounced back to be third after a perfect trip loss on Hambo Day. Oaks Champ Warrawee Michelle got a late driver switch and went down the road at a sweet 9/2. Buy a Round was hammered on the board at 7/5 getting first lasix but was an even fifth the whole way around. Elista Hanover has fallen back to earth after that long winning streak and was a nonthreatening sixth. Legendary Hanover got some new circumstances this week and eventually was caught late by the “Ray Cotolo pocket horse” Captain Albano. Late money taking ‘Legendary to 1/9 odds made the price on ‘Captain to nearly 11-1. There is still much to be decided this year with the three-year-olds, who have taken turns beating each other. Sig Sauer finished up the big races with a front-end win. McCarthy wasn’t allowing him to get boxed in this week. I can’t wait to see him match up with Karl later this season. He looks primed to have a monster second half of the year.
There are plenty of Stakes at Mohawk this weekend, and the Harness Players Pod has you covered. There are some different voices this week as Edison Hatter is back, and he brought Kevin Plowcha and Derick Giwner with him. I will have my picks up on nahupicks.com for those interested. I want to thank Doug Henwood, Kevin Plowcha, and the guest handicappers who have been helping this summer with the Mohawk picks. It is hard to believe I used to do full writeups for every card there for years on the site. My duties in other areas have limited my ability to do it full-time anymore, but I’m still here picking winners a few nights out of the week. Enjoy the weekend.
~Mikee P.
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Spot plays for the Weekend of 8/23-8/24
Friday The Meadows Race 9 - (1) Heist (7-1) ML is in great form right now and gets a big driver change to Palone. A couple Open droppers that need things to their way should take most of the money. Has a big chance IMO.
~Kevin Plowcha
Friday The Meadows Race 9 - (3) Killer Instinct is back in NW9500 where it last won and now has a better post. Typically in the Open and should have no problem here.
~Matt Presto
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 4 - (3) Mikron - 2nd start from the Auciello barn after a claim, raced well last time pacing three sub - 28 quarters, might get rewarded for a similiar or better effort here.
~Murray Slough
Friday Woodbine Mohawk (5) Ms Quick Sand - Louis Roy. Is sharp and her confidence is high. Let’s try her on the class rise at a decent price.
~Brad A.
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 7 - (3) Chapercraz fits well with these and rarely runs a bad one. Often overlooked so likely at a price too.
~Doug Henwood
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 10 - Sticking with (6) Nordic Catcher S. who will be a much better price after getting nailed in his elim. He is back on a 7 day cycle and Ake is deadly in Stakes Finals.
~Garnet Barnsdale
Saturday Northside Downs Race 8 - (2) Hugh Heff debuts for the Getto barn after a recent purchase from the Copley barn in Ottawa. It will be interesting to see how he fits in the Open 1st start may get sneaky Win $$$.
~Peter McGuigan
Sunday Clinton Raceway Race 10 - (4) Shanghai Ky (7/2 ML) for the drop and pop + He’ll reunite with driver Lorne House in this non-jackpot Hi5 finale that does feature a carryover this week!
~Sugar Doyle
Harness Players’ Podcast | 8/24/24 | Woodbine Mohawk Park
On this episode of the Harness Players’ Podcast, host Edison Hatter is joined by Derick Giwner (DRF Harness) and Kevin Plowcha (NAHU Picks) to discuss the Stakes action this Saturday, August 24 on the 13-race card at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The trio gives out Pick 5 tickets for the Middle Pick 5 (Races 6-10) while discussing Stakes including the Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation for two-year-old pacers, the Peaceful Way for two-year-old filly trotters, and the $575,000 William Wellwood Memorial Final for two-year-old open trotters. Edison, Derick, and Kevin also spent a bit of time discussing this week’s Top 10 poll and the ongoing battle in the poll between TWIN B JOE FRESH and KARL.
The Week(end) Ahead with Kevin Plowcha
I've got an abbreviated version of the weekly column this time around because... there's not too much going on outside of the weekend.
Friday evening at The Meadows sees another jam-packed stakes card that features 2YO filly pacers. Two divisions of the "Meadow Cheer" PA Sire Stake ($89,000+) and four divisions of the PA Stallion Series ($20,000) will be contested. The horses to watch in the first division of PASS action (race 6) are Beach Rules and Lily White Hanover. Beach Rules had no chance to make up ground on the top pair with the fractions being slow. I expect her to be up close with Dave Palone in the bike. Lily White Hanover is 2-for-2 and comes off a blowout qualifier win at Tioga to keep her sharp. She's clearly a top contender in this spot.
Division two (race 8) features the #10 ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society Top 10 poll, the unbeaten Papi Grad who is listed as the 8-5 second choice on the computer generated Meadows morning line. The ML favorite is Rose (3-2) who comes off two fast wins at the Red Mile. She could become another Burke filly to stamp her name in the debate for top 2YO filly if she's able to put a winning race together here. It sets up to be a ding-dong battle between the two.
Elsewhere, Woodbine Mohawk Park provides an appetizer to their weekend with their Friday card. It features the $140,000 Casual Breeze for 3YO filly trotters, as well as two eliminations for the Maple Leaf Trot for 3YO & Up Open trotters, and the 4th leg of a Gold which sees Its A Love Thing try to keep her win streak alive. (Make sure you listen to this week's pod for a look at Saturday's card.)
Drawn Impression and Emoji Hanover return to action after racing on Hambletonian Day (with two very different results), but both have tricky posts here. The rail can be more of a disadvantage on bigger tracks, and you have Mohawk's staggered starting gate. And obviously, post ten is an added challenge for any horse. Hard to see both not being major contenders despite that, though. A sneaky horse in that field could be R Liza who has a great local record and picks up Scott Zeron. It wouldn't shock me if she was right there as well.
In the first Maple Leaf Trot elimination, it appears difficult to get past Southwind Tyrion. He raced huge on Hambo Day to be second to Jiggy Jog S. There's always a chance Ake gives him the "elimination drive", which opens this race wide open. Your call. Winners Bet pretty much has no choice but to blast off the car with Dexter Dunn hopping back in the bike and drawing the worst post, which could work to his advantage if others get conservative drives.
The second elimination features M Ms Dream who will look to tackle the boys again. They pulled the shoes on Hambo Day and she exploded late to win. However, she's only the second choice (5-2) on the morning line. Favoritism goes to local dominator Logan Park (8-5) who will try his luck again in Grand Circuit competition. He was seemingly never winning the Spirit of Mass trot after setting a vicious opening half, but raced well to hold third, and most recently won the Earl Rowe at Georgian Downs. It will be another test for him, but he loves the racetrack and will almost certainly not be the favorite.
Other than that, it's your usual suspects for the rest of the week. Harrah's Philly has PASS action for 2YO male pacers, including last week's winners Go Go Grasshopper and TH Colby. And when does The Red Mile ever not have exciting racing happening? Most cards of late have neared 20 races. There's plenty of stakes action there this week. One of the featured races is the lid-lifter on Sunday (August 25) which includes the fastest 2YO in the history of the sport, Sippinonsearoc, and his stablemate Louprint. They could make history again if the conditions are right.
A MUCH bigger week is coming up next week. A few big money finals and plenty of local top-level Sire Stakes to see who is the best in every jurisdiction. That's all for this week, though. Maybe I'll FINALLY give out a Spot Play winner.
Swedish Horse Racing
Upcoming Races for The Stable Horses
Check out thestable.ca YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TheStableCanada
Check out Contestjockey.com this Friday for a $1,000 Seat to the Woodbine Mile Contest - Free entry
Prize Structure:
1st place: $1,000 Buy-In for the Woodbine Mile Contest on Saturday September 14th.
2nd Place & 3rd Place: Entry to an invitational contest on September 7th with top prize being a $1,000 Buy-In for the Woodbine Mile Contest.
Must be available for a livestream during the contest to be eligible
4th Place-8th Place players receive a free copy of A Bettor Way of Thinking, by Matt Miller.
Top 10% receive a month of In The Money Plus, a $20 value.
The ITM YouTube Channel has a Harness Racing Section that archives all our video podcasts.
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