Harness Players Newsletter Vol. 24 presented by Nahupicks.com
August 9, 2024
Hambletonian 99 is in the books, and the horse that was the winter book Favorite Karl delivered on the hype with a perfect drive win in a driving rainstorm on Saturday, August 3, at the Meadowlands. Congrats to Yannick Gingras, who finally grabbed his elusive Hambo Win. I met and interviewed him last year at the Adios, and he was a fantastic guy. Since then, I find myself rooting for him, just feeling like I got some insight into the man after a brief conversation. It's a challenging job performing at the top level worldwide daily. He handles himself at the highest level with extreme grace. I am very happy for him and his family.
It was a tremendous day of racing that provided excellent competition, with the best of the best showing up in every division. The day's most impressive performance came early, with new Meadowlands lover Legendary Hanover crushing the Cane Pace with a 1:46 2/5 tour de force. Twin B Joe Fresh established herself as the top horse in the sport right now, with a blowout win in Lady Liberty after a tremendous move heading to three quarters. Past champion Sylvia Hanover could only watch as she was overhauled with ease. The Hambletonian Oaks was a return to form from Warrawee Michelle at an inflated price after Elista Hanover was bet to even money with her ten-race win streak. Many things went against her, as the track, post, and pace compromised her chances. Date Night Hanover was very live in the stretch, but hooked wheels moving inside and lost all chance. It will be fun to see the second half of the season in the glamor boy division. Jiggy Jog did her thing in the Cashman, continuing the Dexter Dunn/Ake Svenstedt highlight. What's next for her? Another go in the International Trot at Yonkers vs. the Boys?
Rocknroll Runa provided the upset of the day with a 68-1 tripped-out win in the Sam McKee Memorial. He returns this week for the weekend highlight as the Grand Circuit heads to Hoosier for the $300K Dan Patch. 'Runa has had an excellent season with his early upsets of the Borgata Legs and now this win. Can he keep the ball rolling and hit the road versus a lineup with local hopes, such as Buzzsaw Russ and Coach Stefanos? Charlie May is also waiting for him, looking to improve on his second place in the 'Patch last year. Join the coverage on the ITM network this week, I also have analysis of the Late Pick 4 and 5 at nahupicks.com.
There is also substantial international action with the Aby World Grand Prix on Saturday from Sweden. The top horse in the sport right now, Horsy Dream, coming off his tremendous Elitloppet win returns. He will be the favorite for the new race to be trotted every four years. The concept is to attract the top horses in the world for over a million-dollar purse. Post time for the first of 11 Races is 8:20 Eastern. The Grand Prix should go to post at 12:35. Tune in to ADWs and bet into big pools all day long.
Check out this week's ATG promo video for the Aby World Grand Prix and our pods with Edison and Thomas. Visit our spot plays again, ripping winners every week.
-Mikee P.
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Spot plays for the Weekend of 8/9-8/10
Friday Century Downs Race 3 (2) Ima Fast Fight (7/2 ML) - won very easily on the front end last time and it seems Brandon may have her figured out now.
~Murray Slough
Friday The Meadows Race 4 (4) Loxahatchee - wasn’t able to show if he could hold off Splendid in his latest after making a break at the top of the stretch. He’s had great success lately when staying flat and gets Scott Zeron in the bike now. Counting on a bounce back.
~Kevin Plowcha
Friday The Meadows Race 7 (8) Bjornsson (6/1 ML) - Just missed last time out in this class and was sent to the front weeks ago in an easy win in this class. If forwardly placed should have every shot to win. Recently raced multiple weeks in NW 9.5-10K prior to the drop.
~Matt Presto
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 3 (7) Darlenes Angel - Good speed and generally comes home well. Easier here.
~Doug Henwood
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 10 (7) Fabrizio - hasn’t been very good, but we all know what he’s capable of when he is put in play early and he gets Borth so could see a very aggressive steer in a soft spot. Auciello barn has been better as of late. Price will be big enough to take a shot.
~Mr. B (@Mr_B_Harness on X)
Friday Woodbine Mohawk (9) Forefather - horse is in form, Drury back in the bike. Post might help out the price. He’s fast when he’s right.
~Brad A.
Saturday Century Downs Race 9 - (1) Kootenay Cocoa at 3/1 in a $122,000 Final - gets a big shot to top a nice unch of fillies for trainer/driver Phil Giesbrecht. In from BC it’s her first start ever in Alberta - she carries an 11-1-0 record from 12 career starts!
~Sugar Doyle
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 1 (8) Wednesday - produced a big kicker last time in Grassroots action. I think Cullen gets more aggressive with her in this spot.
~Garnet Barnsdale
-note The Sweden Portion of this Podcast is available above on Video
Harness Players’ Podcast | 8/8/24 | Åby World Grand Prix & Mohawk Pick 5
Join Edison Hatter, Mike Pribozie, and Thomas Svensen as they journey to Åby in Sweden to discuss the 2024 Åby World Grand Prix, a prestigious race only held once every four years. The race will go as Race 11 of 11 this Saturday (Aug. 10) at Åby Racecourse with an approximate post time of 12:35 p.m. (EDT). The trio also discuss several other high profile races on the card.
Later in the show, Edison Hatter is joined by Nicholas Barnsdale (Harnesslink) to break down the Early Pick 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Saturday (Aug. 10). They also preview the Saturday night feature at Mohawk, a $36,000 Preferred Pace carded as Race 9.
Harness Players’ Podcast | 8/7/24 | Dan Patch Invitational Roundtable
On this special edition of the Harness Players’ Podcast, Ray Cotolo hosts a roundtable discussion for the big Dan Patch Invitational Stakes night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday night (Aug. 9). The 15-race card for Friday comes to a climax in Race 13, the Dan Patch Invitational Pace (scheduled to go at 10:38 p.m. [EDT]).
Joining Ray Cotolo to breakdown the evening’s races are Mike Pribozie (ITM), Jenna Otten (Scioto Downs), Jacob Rheinheimer (Harrah’s Hoosier Park) and Peter Kleinhans (Oak Grove).
The Week Ahead with Kevin Plowcha
We'll kick things off with action from The Meadows where they feature a stakes-laden 13-race card on Friday evening. PA Sire Stakes are on tap for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters as well as the 3YO filly pacers. There are some notable names shipping back in after racing on Hambletonian Day last weekend.
On the trot side, that includes Security Protected (who most recently raced in the Hambletonian), Supernova Hanover, and Smart Schooner. The latter two exit the Muscle Hill where Supernova rushed by at 16-1 after a hot pace developed up front. All three are in spots where they should excel.
For the pacers, it's the return of superstar My Girl EJ who set a track record of 1:48.4 in the Adioo Volo just two weeks ago. She'll look to take the rubber match against Shady Daisy winner Rocket Deo. You also have the return of three horses who raced huge behind Rocket Deo: Canigetalouploup (who just missed), Lou Lou (who also just missed and got an insanely good drive from Scott Zeron), and Sweet Gal (kicked :26.2 to be fourth). No locks in either race despite the towering presence of EJ.
It's a big Saturday night card at Northfield Park featuring four six-figure invitationals. The night is highlighted by the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial for three-year-old pacers. Race 8 begins the featured action and includes a $25,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 pool that leads up to the Milstein.
The Tom Aldrich President's Trot kicks off the sequence and could begin with a logical single. Defending champion It's Academic towers over this group on paper. He most recently raced in the Cashman on Hambletonian Day. He was 1-9 last year in this race and is likely to be that short of a price again. I've got some bias towards Guido Di who has been racing at The Meadows. He's looked the best he ever has in his career and could be a main player behind It's Academic if the trip works out from the second tier.
The Myron Charna President's Pace is the most wide open race of the four. You have two logical Grand Circuit fringe types in Act Fast and Seafire, while on the other end you have fringe Open types like Liteningonthebeach, Burnout, and Nashing Hill who could surprise if the pace gets wicked. The wild card is Racing Rampage. He's been dominant at Yonkers as of late and draws inside for connections that have no choice but to blast. It is likely to be a spread race for many, so if you can get an edge on a horse here, it should be a huge benefit for you.
The Courageous Lady has a similar story to the Myron Charna. Two fringe Grand Circuit types who don't do much winning in Sarasota Hanover and Odds On Platinum taking on emerging local OHSS fillies Wasted On You and Seaside Diva. The post edge is the main factor here. We have another wild card in this race in Soft Shot. She came out of nowhere this year and vaulted into the F&M Open where she is a main contender. We'll find out what she's made of here.
This takes us to the feature on Saturday night's Northfield card: the Milstein. As expected, the inside three are likely to take the bulk of the money. Wish You Well is your lukewarm 5-2 morning line favorite after his two impressive performances at The Meadows for the Adios. He showed early gate speed in the final which will absolutely be needed here. If he can add that element to his game, he could really emerge as a Grand Circuit contender. Sabonis has been absolutely crushing it in Indiana, but has to face a tougher group and the track shrinks from a huge stretch to a short one. He's likely the biggest wild card on this entire card. Timeisonmyside raced great in the Adios Final and will look to parlay that into another solid finish here. There's no doubt Anthony Macdonald will be blasting from the rail, but there also may not be a doubt that Storm Shadow is sent. Dr. Ian Moore usually likes to have his horses pressing the pace early and being up close. Wish You Well is getting hot at the right time, so a potential hot pace for him to follow makes him that much more dangerous.
We'll close things out with a quick preview of the Gold Cup and Saucer Trials at Charlottetown Raceway. They have three solid eliminations with the top three from each advancing to next Saturday's $100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer Final. Trial #1 features a horse that was specifically purchased for this race: Save America. TheStable will look to repeat their 2022 GC&S where they won with Sintra. American History is likely to show some wicked early speed again from the rail. Trial #2 features speedy defending champion Covered Bridge as well as Blue Hunt who has been holding her own in the Mohawk preferred. There are also two very classy horses on the outside in Twin B Tuffenuff and Roll Em, but they may be very hard used early if they want early position.
Trial #3 takes place on Monday and is quite a mixed bag. Rocks Shining Star is another horse for TheStable who draws well and just won an Open at The Meadows. He appears very logical in this spot. You also have Canadian favorite Bob Loblaw and some other Canadian shippers such as Southwind Sambucca and Larry Karr.
That just about covers this upcoming week in Harness Racing. Make sure you check out all of the content this week and stay up to date so you don't miss any of the featured stakes action. There are plenty of stakes races happening at tracks all throughout the week. We're already into August, which means we inch closer to the Breeders Crown.
Upcoming Races for The Stable Horses
Check out thestable.ca YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheStableCanada
The ITM YouTube Channel has a Harness Racing Section that archives all of our video podcasts.
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