Harness Players Newsletter Vol. 25 presented by nahupicks.com
August 16, 2024
It’s been quite the Week in Harness Racing, as we had a World Record performance by Sippinonsearoc at the Red Mile on Tuesday. The two-year-old pacer went 1:48 2/5 in the KYSS event to kick off a 20-race card easily. If a two-year-old can produce this type of speed this early in their career, how fast will he ultimately be able to go? It is common in thoroughbred handicapping to assume that horses will improve as they age and will have the ability to go faster and improve. It is rare, if not impossible, to see a two-year-old go faster than older horses, let alone against the clock. Standardbred racing is typically the same, but this horse breathes different air. Ron Burke is loaded with two-year-old pacers this season. Swingtown won the Next Generation Stakes at Scioto in early July and could even be better than this Sippinonsearoc. Lou Print finished second to Sippinonsearoc on 8/4 at The Red Mile in a 1:50 1/5 mile. The fall Grand Circuit is approaching, and hopefully, these horses can all stay healthy and roll in the Breeders Crown together. That will be quite the race, given the ability they have all shown so far.
Two-year-old trotters are displayed this Saturday at Mohawk with the Peaceful Way and William Wellwood Eliminations. John Rallis and I discussed them this Week on the Harness Players Podcast. He is high on Lasting Dream for the Luc Blais stable after she won the Pure Ivory Final in upset fashion. Shippers R Charm and Royal Mission look to improve, as each has one win in four starts. 2-1 Morning Line favorite in the first division, Monalishi has won three straight in the OSS program and will have something to say about the outcome. The second elimination brings Champagne Problems shipping up from New Jersey, coming off a dominant NJSS Final win on Hambletonian Day to face the talented Southwind Milk. ‘Milk has been heavily favored at every start of her career but was upended in her latest by Lasting Dream. Margaretta Hanover and her stellar breading (half to Jiggy Jog) also show up here looking to improve for top connections. The William Wellwood Eliminations will be contested Saturday night as well. Tactical Dynasty will be favored in elimination one but is coming off a break in stride in the NJSS Final that led to a third-place finish. He was off the screen in that Final and looked hopelessly out of it but rallied to be third. Maryland is another shipper that looks live after solid races in the Kindergarten at the Meadowlands. Local horses Lookatmegoamigo and Extended Session have shown ability and can win this wide-open affair. The second elimination features the NJSS champ, Nordic Catcher, who was dominant in victory on Hambo day. He faces the well-bred Emoticon Legacy, who has just one start so far, but it was a stellar four-length win. The Finals of both will be contested Next Saturday night at Mohawk.
Mike, John, and Ray Cotolo covered The Sun Stakes Finals for three-year-olds this Week on the Harness Players Podcast. We added Ray and had a lengthy discussion on races 10-13. Sun Stakes Day is filled with high pursed Consolations and 100k Invitationals. Jump in on Saturday afternoon and catch what figures to be some great racing with big money on the line.
Kevin has more coverage in the Week Ahead this Week. Catch the spot plays, which continue to be live every Week. Look for some new harness racing contests on the horizon. If you are familiar with Contest Jockey (contestjockey.com), it can be configured for harness racing as well. Stay tuned.
~Mikee P.
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Spot plays for the Weekend of 8/16-8/17
Friday Century Downs Race 9 - (1) Roulette Hanover (3-1 ML) - Hudon barn has been on fire and this mare has been closing well. With the 2 and 5 struggling, appears she has Metaki to beat.
~Murray Slough
Friday The Meadows Race 5 - (2) Drebin - in the second start here since coming in from Canada for Twaddle barn. Raced fairly well last week but came up short. Counting on having more left in the stretch this week without having to deal with an outside post for the first time in weeks.
Friday The Meadows Race 9 - (4) Houdini Hanover (12-1 ML) has shown sneaky good late ability in his last two. Would like to see some aggression early from Miller. I think he can pop at a price.
~Kevin Plowcha
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 9 - (3) Tyga Hanover - crushed at this level last time. Here comes a repeat performance.
~Doug Henwood
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 11 - (5) Ms. Quick Sand - Jason Ryan. Trevor Henry opts off to drive the Barrington horse (2) so trainer DuPont calls on the other regular driver of the mare who drives her at the B tracks. She’s in sharp form and her price will be right.
~Brad A.
Saturday Pocono Downs Race 10 - (3) Odds on Platinum is improving and draws perfect here. This race features some of the best fillies in the division. She can win with any trip and will be a fair price.
~Mike Pribozie
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 10 - (2) Nordic Catcher S - exceptional colt is a solid single for your multi-race bets.
~Garnet Barnsdale
Saturday Charlottetown Race 14 - (4) Covered Bridge wowed thousands with his performance last season in the Gold Cup and Saucer - will reuite with Jordan Stratton to try for a repeat - leaving right behind the car… This edition may have his name written all over it!
~Sugar Doyle
Harness Players Podcast Mohawk Eliminations and Sun Stakes Day from Pocono
Mike Pribozie hosts John Rallis (Meadowlands/Mohawk TV) and Ray Cotolo (NAHU, Oak Grove) to discuss the Stake’s cards from Mohawk (Peaceful Way/William Wellwood) and Sun Stakes Saturday at Pocono Downs.
Harness Players Podcast – Special Episode Sweden Jublieum Spokalen (Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Pokal) 5 Year olds
Mike Pribozie is joined by Swedish Harness Experts Thomas Svensen and Kirsten Petersen to discuss this Wednesday’s next Major Race Jublieum Spokalen (Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Pokal) for 5-year-old trotters going for $299,210 at Solvalla. They also recap the Aby World Grand Prix and the dominant Horsy Dream. Races 7-11 from Solvalla are discussed and analyzed fully by all.
~Editor’s Note-these races occurred this past week on Wednesday
The Week(end) Ahead with Kevin Plowcha
Three divisions of the "Tyler B" PA Sire Stake for 2YO male pacers take place Friday evening at The Meadows and kick off this week's edition of The Week Ahead. Each division goes for over $62,000. It's always a fun challenge keeping up with 2YOs across any division, but the pacing groups always seem to have a little extra competition.
Division one (race 6) features a horse who has looked like a star from day one: Louprint. His first two starts were easy wins at The Meadows before racing HUGE at Lexington. He made up four lengths on Sippinonsearoc in the stretch and kicked :25.1. Sippinonsearoc came back to win a few days ago in 1:48.2 and became the fastest 2YO horse in the history of the sport. Not a bad frame of reference.
Division two (race 8) gives us a much-anticipated round two between Railroad Station and Prince Hal Hanover. Those two put on a show nearly a month ago, but a new challenger approaches this time... Wedlock Blue Chip. He's worked his way up the ranks and comes off a PASS win with a first over move. He's hard to ignore at this point. The wildcard is Go Go Grasshopper. What do you do with him? He was a solid second to Louprint on debut, then was 3-5 in a PASS race but made a break with broken equipment. How does he rebound? This sets up, on paper, to be the best race of the night.
Division three (race 10) is another good one. Like I said, it's fun to follow this crop. Will Nikola J get another aggressive steer? It almost feels certain. As long as Tetrick doesn't get to the half in :55.0, he's likely to be there at the end. As is TH Colby who hasn't been worse than second in his four career starts. What caught my eye is Ronnie Wrenn Jr chose Papi's Rocket over him. Rocket was in a tough spot last time but rallied very well late to finish second. If that pace catches any kind of spark, he could pounce. Don't forget about TH Kay C Crunch who was 1-2 on July 20th when racing here, but got fumbly gaited around the final turn and broke. He came back to win at Pocono and keeps David Miller. Watch the tote board with this one, I can easily see him drifting up to 7-1.
There's plenty of major stakes action happening outside of the states. I would be remiss if I didn't discuss Saturday night's $100,000 Gold Cup & Saucer at Charlottetown. In my opinion, the draw couldn't have come out any better. Save America looked like the best of the three trial winners, but he drew post eight. Let's talk about the potential pace dynamic. What is the PEI equivalent of a Georgia BBQ? Call it that. Remember what happened last year, American History set a lightning fast half of :53.4 and it set up for the closers. Do we see the same thing here? Larry Karr has to blast from the rail to protect position. Covered Bridge should be put in play early as he looks to repeat as GC&S champ. He may have been saving for this week, but I didn't love how easily Fortify went by him. Save America? We all know what Anthony MacDonald likes to do, and for him to avoid having to rely on a super lucky trip, I see no world where he isn't blasting either. Someone could swoop them all. A second over trip for Heaven On HIgh N or American History could see them vault by late. Speaking of American History, he gets the second tier for this race. Before you immediately toss him, know that the last two Cup & Saucers were won from post nine (Sintra and Covered Bridge). The crowd is always electric for the end of Old Home Week. It's a must-watch race.
Elsewhere, you have the usual suspects. PASS and Stallion Series action at Pocono, KYSS action at The Red Mile, and OHSS and Buckeye Stallion Series action at Northfield. Always something going on and a chance to make some money. Make sure you check out the Harness Players Podcast this week. Lots of great analysis about the big Pocono Saturday card and Mohawk stakes elims. Tread lightly, and if you have an opinion, never be scared of it.
Swedish Horse Racing
Upcoming Races for The Stable Horses
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https://www.youtube.com/@TheStableCanada
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Thanks for reading In the Money Media Harness Players Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.