Last year, this weekend, I made the trek to NJ for Meadowlands Pace Night. I was interested in the Pace but was there to see one of my favorite horses compete, the venerable Charlie May. He figured to be a longshot in the Haughton Memorial with another 9-hole draw and a campaign that saw him struggle to find wins around Ohio. He was second in the Battle of Lake Erie despite being parked the mile behind the red hot at the time Lochinvar Art from the eight post. Four other Open/Invite races in Ohio produced strong efforts but three seconds and a third. His effort in the July 8th race was outstanding, considering an awful trip and his moving forward late. I remember conversing with his owner (and my good friend), Don Tiger, during the week leading up to the race.
I said Don, I like him this weekend. He’s had awful trips from tough posts, and he was especially good last time. He wasn’t as optimistic, given the horse was now going in a 400-thousand-dollar race vs. some of the top pacers in the sport and drew his typical nine post. He said, “I hope you are right but I am staying home.” I said (and he will tell anyone asking him, no BS), “I’ll be there, and I’ll wave to you from the winners’ circle.” I proceeded to tout him hard on the Roundtable during the week despite the laughter from Derrick and Ray et al. Now, anyone who knows me knows I can get attached to horses, I am blinded by faith. But I truly believed he was very live in this race. His prowess over The Meadowlands racetrack is well documented, his class is unquestioned despite his schedule so far during the year leading up to this race, and John Q. handicapper wouldn’t pick up his hidden trips. Without reservation, I also put him on top of my selections for the DRF. Notice the horse isn’t mentioned on anyone else’s sheet.
(Note: This is obviously from last year)
The rest is history as the pace was supersonic, Charlie was put into the race early, and was ready to pounce up the inside through the stretch. He was up to win at 30-1 odds as I screamed my head off standing next the rail. The euphoria that followed was amazing as I was standing there in the Meadowlands winners circle waving for the TV cameras and to my friend Don. Jessica Otten saw me there and she knew I was on him for the podcast and gave me a quick Congrats. What an amazing night at the track. Notice the smile on my face standing for the picture. Having Cori there with me also contributed, she got quite the introduction to harness racing that night.
I have a huge 16 x 20 Winners Circle photo at home thanks to Don so I will never forget that night. How could I anyway? I love this horse and this game so much. Charlie is back this year in a field that does not seem as tough. Plenty of four year olds in the mix but I’m thinking Charlie will be on the top of my sheet again…..
Big weekend ahead. Catch the pod with Ray Cotolo and I covering some Mohawk action and this week’s Meadowlands Pace. That card Saturday night at M1 is loaded per usual. I won’t be there this year due to my work obligations but will be rooting hard for Charlie per usual and of course my other favorite horse Nijinsky. If they offered a double on those two races I would be in big trouble…..
Spot plays…..get your spot plays….
~Mikee P.
Thanks for reading In the Money Media Harness Players Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Spot Plays for the Weekend of 7/12-7/14 presented by Nahupicks.com
Friday Century Downs Race 4 - (4) Crown Princess (3/1) ML Serge saw fit to claim this one and moves her up a level. My Pick 5 single in a competitive dash.
~Murray Slough
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 5 - (7) Powder Play - outside all the way in last, drops in class here. Best closing quarter. Should beat these.
~Doug Henwood
(Editors note- Doug lost his mom recently, our condolences Doug)
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 8 - (7) Premier First Star - held his own racing first up into a 26/4 kicker. Wins this time with a better trip.
~Garnet Barnsdale
Saturday Meadowlands Race 9 - (7) Special Way sure looked to be back last week. I think she wins easy.
-Also Side note Kismet gonna beat TCI in Race 8
~Bobby Pezzulo
(Editor’s Note- I love Special Way this weekend too….MP)
Saturday Meadowlands Race 5 - (2) Pass Line - added lasix in her most recent try at Scioto and looked like her usual self. I love her in this spot tonight.
Mike Pribozie hosts this week’s episode of the Harness Players’ Podcast and is joined by Ray Cotolo (Oak Grove) to breakdown the Early Pick 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Saturday (July 10), which features a $100,000 guaranteed pool. Mike and Ray later preview the highlight race of Saturday night, the $650,000 Meadowlands Pace Final.
The Week Ahead with Kevin Plowcha
I don't usually like to keep this column focused on one track, but with The Meadowlands playing host to such a stacked card this Saturday night (7/13), it's difficult to avoid that this week. There is a ton to preview on that card (mainly focusing on the Meadowlands Pace), so we'll start there and throw some loose ends in at the bottom, including some two year olds that you should absolutely be watching.
Let's begin with the star of the show: the $650,000 Meadowlands Pace. I've heard the same opinion from many respected figures in this game: that this is one of the deepest and most talented divisions of Glamour Boys that we've seen in a while. I agree, which is what helps make this race so exciting and intriguing from a betting and handicapping standpoint. Although, all of the handicapping you do could be immediately thrown into disarray if everyone blasts and they get to the first quarter in :25.1.
The first horse we should talk about is 2-1 morning line favorite Nijinsky. He had to answer some questions last week, as this was his first start outside of Canada. The trip wasn't ideal, but he answered the bell and somewhat handily put away Funtime Bayama. Nijinsky is 6-for-6 this year now, but the massive unpredictability of the race combined with his likely short price (Is he even money? Shorter?) makes me want to take a stand against. I may be biased since I played against him in the NA Cup and thought Funtime could get the better of him in their elim, but from a pure value standpoint, it will not be good enough unless you REALLY like him (like Mike Pribozie does).
Do you take the second or third choice value with Funtime Bayama? He went a similar big mile in his first start in the Andrew Harris barn (He had a lot of success after purchasing Seven Colors last season) and should get an aggressive steer from Dexter Dunn to protect position. I can't imagine he wants to be mired mid-pack, but it's a lot to ask him to be on the lead unless he double moves early.
Does Legendary Hanover blast? I think he almost has to, but we saw what happened in the NA Cup final where he gave a perfect tow to Nijinsky, his stablemate. In his elimination, it lined up to where the best four horses were in the top four spots, and it was a sprint home from there which Legendary won. DRF Harness's Jay Bergman said he wasn't sure how much he could take away from that elimination since it was kind of a merry-go-round, and I agree with him. Legendary Hanover holds a lot of keys to this race in my opinion, and may hold at his 3-1 morning line, which could make him enticing.
How does Captains Quarters get bet??? He basically used the elimination as a prep. He had a slight foot injury coming into the race after kicking a stall, but was good enough to race and will likely be more torqued this weekend. His problem? Post nine. Jamieson can't take him back. Could he float out and methodically grind towards the front? Yes. Could he completely blast and get to the quarter in :24.4? Yes. These are the scenarios which make this race so tough.
I haven't even mentioned Captain Luke who had a nightmare trip after blasting to the lead and still rallied well. He'll be a big price. Mirage Hanover hasn't been mentioned, but if he doesn't trip out, I see him getting shuffled. Same story with Captain Albano. I loved him in the NA Cup Final, and he was probably winning if he found room. Now? He's got questions to answer. He put in steps in his elimination and didn't look his best. Trainer Noel Daley did say they would take no prisoners if they got the lead, so maybe that's what happens, but I have a hard time seeing him hold off the pack for the front. My official final thoughts and picks for the Pace will be posted on my X (@Plowcha_Harness) at some point before the card.
As is the case with most huge stakes cards, there are a couple of standout horses, but also plenty of good "undercard" races with big money on the line. Let's quickly run through them. M Ms Dream will be very tough in race 3 as she faces a short field and gets away from Jiggy Jog S. All nine horses in race 4 are Hambletonian Oaks eligible. Warrawee Michelle could be ready to roll in her second start of the year despite the wide post. The race 5 division of the Jerry Silverman Memorial features a group of 3YO filly pacers who have seemingly done nothing but play second fiddle to It's A Love Thing and My Girl EJ.
Karl looks to make it 5-for-5 in 2024 in the first division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial (race 6). Can anyone catch Twin B Joe Fresh in the race 7 Dorothy Haughton Memorial? These mares have been taking their shots and getting closer each week. In the other division of the Stanley Dancer (race 8), it shapes up to be a two horse throw down between T C I and Highland Kismet. There is lots of love for Special Way in the Hambletonian Maturity (race 9). Her hype was through the roof last season before her unfortunate injury and it appears she is rounding back into that previous special form. The extra eighth of a mile also caters to her style. Her nose will be on the gate unlike Winner's Bet who will start from the second tier and is off Lasix.
I mentioned earlier how this year's Glamour Boys are a stacked bunch, but some of last year's crop (now four) are mixing it up in the race 10 Open Pace. I'm curious to see how they fare against the proven Open types. Race 12 features the aforementioned It's A Love Thing and My Girl EJ. Can Flawless or Rocket Deo step up? What will Geocentric do from the far outside? She certainly needs to show more.
All in all, this is what we always wait for as Harness Racing fans. The big money is here and so are the stars of the sport. Let's enjoy it.
Taking a quick step back to today (Friday, 7/12) sees lots of future stars in action. The Meadows, Scioto, Hoosier, The Meadowlands, and Woodbine Mohawk Park all have stakes action for the freshmen. It will be hard to keep track of them all, but I know one person who will certainly try.
Wrapping up this week sees a big Sunday card at Oak Grove featuring eight Kentucky Sire Stakes finals which all go for $100,000 each. One last note to keep in mind if you've made it this far is Papi Grad, the 2YO filly by Papi Rob Hanover is back in to go Sunday night at Pocono Downs in race 9. Why is this important? She won by over TEN lengths in her debut, pacing a back half of :53 and change and did it mostly on her own. There's no telling how good this filly could be.
That's what we've got for this star studded week ahead in Harness Racing. Adios eliminations are next week already! Make sure you check out those Spot Plays.
Sign up for ITM Plus with Tons of fresh content every week including Podcasts, written content, and notes from the Handicappers on the Free Podcasts to help with ticket structure.
The ITM YouTube Channel has a Harness Racing Section that archives all of our video podcasts.
Thanks for reading In the Money Media Harness Players Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
