I want to lead off this week with big Congrats on 9000 wins for Mike Wilder who applies his craft at the Meadows in Washington, Pa. (Thanks to Chris Gooden for the photo) I can honestly say Mike is one of the nicest guys that I am privileged to know in the sport of harness racing. I was introduced to Mike and his wife Heather many years ago after inquiring about owning horses at the Meadows. He was great from the first minute and made me want to be involved in ownership. He drove the first winner for the newly formed Up Anchor Stables and many followed. Anytime I saw him or Heather around the racetrack they knew me by name and were very eager to know how things were going for me and my family. His recent accident was scary, but it’s great to see him doing what he does best, surrounded by the people who love him. Cheers, Mike.
A new week a new month and new Stakes races on the calendar to look forward to in the world of harness racing. Meadowlands Pace Eliminations are upon us with 2 divisions of the race this Saturday night:
First Elimination (Race 7)
1. Mirage Hanover (Tim Tetrick, Jake Leamon) 2. Gem Quality (Dexter Dunn, Chris Ryder) 3. Legendary Hanover (James MacDonald, Anthony Beaton) 4. Captain’s Quarters (Jody Jamieson, Herbert Holland) 5. Number Cruncher (Scott Zeron, Erv Miller) 6. Ivy Park (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter) 7. Better Is Nice (Andy McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 8. Miki Ray (Yannick Gingras, Andrew Harris) 9. Remember The Alamo (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna)
Second Elimination (Race 8)
1. Nuclear (Andy Miller, Joe Holloway) 2. McCrunch (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter) 3. Its Saturday Night (Dexter Dunn, Richard “Nifty” Norman) 4. Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy, Noel Daley) 5. Nijinsky (Louis-Philippe Roy, Anthony Beaton) 6. Funtime Bayama (Dexter Dunn, Andrew Harris) 7. Huntingforchrome (Matt Kakaley, Travis Alexander) 8. Captain Luke (Scott Zeron, Tony Alagna)
Many return from the North America Cup which was won by the streaking Nijinsky over Captain’s Quarters and Funtime Bayama. All three are here along with the well fancied Legendary Hanover and the troubled trip Captain Albano. Captain Luke and Mirage Hanover are well prepped with a 1-2 finish in the Open this past weekend at M1. It’s shaping up to be another stellar event.
Will Nijinsky continue his dominance shipping out of Canada or will someone else come to the fore? It’s hard for one to maintain top form all year and with the time in between races and it’s also difficult to determine how horses will respond after a top effort. Last year It’s My Show won the NA Cup but passed on the M1 Pace as he would have had to supplement over 75k to enter the race and the ownership said he would lose money even if he was third. The race was dominated by Confederate on his way to securing champion honors by the end of the year.
The first leg of the Triple Crown was last week with the MGM Messenger Stakes won by a closing Sweet Beach Life. The main players of the division are here targeting the top races with the biggest purses. We wondered last week on the Harness Players Podcast about harness racing’s Triple Crown and its overall place the minds of people in the Sport. Even the people following the sport on the daily can struggle to come up with the races that encompass the Triple Crown. Would a harness Triple Crown that resembles the Thoroughbred Triple Crown be useful? The years of marketing and pushing all in on the Triple Crown on the thoroughbred side makes it an unfair bar to reach. With more TV coverage coming for horse racing in general maybe the powers that be could organize a similar series that the sport could piggy back off the thoroughbred popularity and notoriety to make it more meaningful. While we share the commonality of the horse and the wagering the sports are separate entities with different schedules, goals and leadership.
Spot plays were very solid again this week. Two harness players podcasts one looking at Sweden and this week’s SPRINTERMÄSTAREN which is the top race for 4 year olds in Sweden (This race was Thursday and the Final was won by Crown). Another two heat race in Sweden for some of the toughest horses in the sport. Another covering the Mohawk Early Pick 5 Saturday with a little Meadows action and some M1 pace mention as well. Bonus Scioto coverage of the Next Gen races for Saturday.
Enjoy the holiday week.
~Mikee P.
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Spot Plays for the Weekend of 7/5-7/7 presented by Nahupicks.com
Friday Century Downs Race 1 - (5) Living to the Max (8/1 ML) - Gets Brandon for the first time, faces a field of maidens that have struggled. Looking for the Brandon down the road drive.
~Murray Slough
Friday Hippodrome 3R - Race 2 - Classic Jim at 8/1 is the longest shot on the ML, yet to hit the board in four career starts - parked out in 2 of his last 3 + he’s the only horse on the page with a 29/1 kicker. Picks up ‘King James’ #HitMe!
~Sugar Doyle
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 1 - (1) Rich Girl - want at least 5/1 odds. Showed enough early foot in qualifier to stay in range from the rail. Took a trip around the oval first PM start from the ten hole. 57/1 back half and I dont think there are any killers in here.
~ChrisCooz (@killccdie on X)
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 3 - (4) Southind Milk was a 50k Lexington buy who looked good chasing down a loose leader that was trotting strong to the wire in her lone qualifier. She seems well advanced for this debut, and she gets top billing.
~Garnet Barnsdale
Saturday Northside Downs Race 7 - (1) Brother John - Absolutely no bias here whatsoever the 14 year old 60x winner draws the rail where he does his best work. Right off the engine. Takes a drop after a test spin last week after hooking wheels the start prior. Go Time! (Pick 4 carryover as well)
~Peter McGuigan
Saturday The Meadows Race 8 - (2) Guido Di has been right there against Open types. Pace could get hot which would play right into his hands. Gets big post relief too.
~Kevin Plowcha
Saturday Scioto Downs Race 8 - (2) Rose’s Destiny made up some solid ground in the back half of her lone qualifier and now adds lassie. Absolutely worth a win bet, a definite use underneath.
~Kevin Plowcha
Saturday Meadowlands Race 8 - (5) Nijinsky - C’mon man…..He’s #1 on the poll for a reason……
~Mikee P.
Saturday Meadowlands Race 10 - (5) Coach Stefanos gets J Mac back after an unusual front-end mission last time where he went way too Fast. This pace could get wicked again which plays to his preferred style.
On this special show of the Harness Players’ Podcast, host Edison Hatter is joined by Thomas Svensen and Swedish TV host Julian McLaren to discuss the 14-race Sprintermästaren card that will take place this Thursday at Halmstad, Sweden. The race is known as “Sweden’s Hambletonian” and is one of the major races for four-year-old trotters. Elimination heats will take place in Races 6, 7, and 8 and the final will be raced on the card as well as Race 13. Edison, Thomas, and Julian discuss the Sprintermästaren Eliminations and Final as well as Races 4, 5, and 11.
Mike Pribozie hosts this week’s episode of the Harness Players’ Podcast which showcases several racetracks on this holiday weekend in America. Ray Cotolo (Oak Grove) and Kevin Plowcha (NAHUPicks) join this week’s discussion which includes a look at racing action from The Meadows for Saturday (July 6) as well as a glance at The Meadowlands for the Meadowlands Pace eliminations. The three later breakdown the Early Pick 5 sequence at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Saturday and preview stakes at Scioto Downs on Saturday, which includes four $150,000 divisions of the Next Generation for each sex and gait of 2-year-old.
The Week Ahead with Kevin Plowcha
The main focus of this week is the Saturday action at Scioto Downs and The Meadowlands. We'll start at Scioto who plays host to four Next Generation events (races 7-10) for two year olds ($150,000 purses each). These are always full, competitive fields, with horses that are nominated to these races. Of course, they are two year olds, which throws a seed of unpredictability as most of these have only been behind a starting gate just a couple of times.
Here are some horses to watch out for in the four races.
Race 7: (#1) Spinal Cracker - Has shown gate speed in all three charted lines.
(#3) Playonplayer - Showed an eye-catching back half when she won last week.
(#5) Prolific Fire - Most recently paced in 1:55.2 in the slop at Hoosier.
(#8) Gorgeous Package - Comes off a win at 1-5. Should be put in play.
Race 8: (#2) Rose's Destiny - Made up solid ground in the back half, adds Lasix.
(#4) Mega Money - High percentage connections, moves to a 5/8s.
(#6) Aunt Lilly - One of two with a non-fair win, hopples didn't bother her.
(#9) Up - The other with a win, has raced on the lead and off the pace.
Race 9: (#2) De Dragon - Comes off a blowout win, your likely favorite.
(#5) OhOhOh Im On Fire - Another improving Luther trainee, adds Lasix.
(#8) Swingtown - Paced a :55.0 back half in his last quali. Could blast and wire them.
(#9) Rose Run Ajay - Another who paced a big back half.
Race 10: (#1) Whats Shakin - Trotted home strong and stayed flat in only quali.
(#2) Pink Panther - 4-for-4 at fairs, could be faster.
(#4) Cadeau - Just missed in his debut.
(#6) Memory Vault - Wire-to-wire winner on debut, draws a good post.
Of course, these are all just observations. Paying attention to track bias, will pays, broadcast tips, and how these races are being bet could be huge indicators into helping you figure out these two year olds.
As if that wasn't enough, the Saturday Scioto card also features two $100,000 stakes for three year old fillies: The Moni Maker and Nadia Lobell. The Moni Maker appears fairly chalky on paper. This is a perfect spot for (#3) Jurassic Hattie to continue her march through 2024. She is 5-for-5 and likely to extend that streak in this race. The Nadia Lobell isn't so clear cut. You have a three horse entry (1, 1A, 1B) for trainer Ron Burke, as well as Rose Run Zoey who comes off a career best 1:49.4 win after adding Lasix, and you can't forget about Geocentric. It's slightly odd that she appears in this spot, but this may be a "Prove It" moment for her to see where she's at.
Mike touched on the Meadowlands Pace eliminations, so I'll touch on the two Graduate Finals taking place just after. In race 9, the other nine trotters will all likely be chasing (#5) Winner's Bet, who is 2-for-2 in 2024, including last week's 1:49.3 smokeshow. It will be hard to ignore the price you likely get on others, including (#3) Hasty Bid, who has resurged after shipping from Mohawk. He was a winner most recently in 1:50.2. However, Winner's Bet may just be too good.
The Graduate Pace Final is about as wide open as it gets. This group of four year olds have been taking turns beating each other. It's hard to predict who will be next on the list for the big money. Trip will mean everything here. Huntinthelastdollar has been the most consistent as of late, pairing 1:48 miles in his last two starts and now draws the rail. What will the price be on Coach Stefanos, and how much did last week's effort take out of him? We knew him as a closer until he blasted and got to the half in :53.3. Can Voukefalas jump up and win? He's been right there, and has kind of been an afterthought in this group ever since his incident at last year's NA Cup. Does David Miller have no choice but to blast with Ken Hanover? He has been awesome in his last two starts, including last week where he had a second tier starting spot, but now he draws wide. Can the pace get so wicked to where Christchurch or Act Fast pounce again? I can see it. This is how wide open this race is. All I'm doing is asking questions. It helps the story, of course, but this is bar none the best betting race of the night.
That's your featured action to kick off July. Make sure to keep your eyes on these two year olds!
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