Harness Players Newsletter Volume 15
May 31, 2024
Quite the week in racing with the best in the world slugging it out in the Elitloppet on Sunday morning. I know I was up and watching all weekend and the racing did not disappoint. Horsy Dream went one of the fastest miles ever (1:49 2/5) to defeat a stellar field in his second race of the day. To put this in perspective the fastest trotting mile ever on a 5/8 mile track in the US was by Sebastian K S back in 2014 at Pocono for Ake Svenstedt (1:49). I think most harness fans know that Pocono can be a drag strip at times and that horse was a freak producing that mile. But there is no other miles on record faster in the history of the sport in the US on the 5/8s track, that is how insanely fast Horsy Dream went Sunday.
I took a picture of the crowd when watching intentionally to show it in this space:
This is the pinnacle of harness racing. Just a sample of the crowd overflowing Solvalla on the big day prior to the second elimination. What was I thinking when I saw this? Well for one I just had this overwhelming desire to be there. Not just for the race itself but for the atmosphere. I love watching sports on TV but there is nothing like being at an event when the crowd is buzzing. Sadly harness racing in the US provides very few opportunities for this type of experience. Hambo Day produces a nice crowd but nothing along these lines. Racing is truly a top sport in Scandinavia, but instead of trying to replicate it here, I say just expose more people here to the product. We did a ton of coverage this week and will be doing more as the year goes on with the Major Races and the podcasts. If one caught the pods this past week there were plenty of winners dished out with great information to get fans jumpstarted wagering into large commingled pools. Our man Edison Hatter was there all weekend providing excellent coverage with his social media plus his analysis Saturday on the broadcast. Anyone listening to Edison and his interviews got significant clues into the horses prior to many of the events. The Sweden broadcast for the event was fantastic. Constant analysis, interviews, warm up videos, replays. Everything a fan could want all day. I am always impressed with the level of coverage that is provided. I think this is another area that US feeds can take note when putting together coverage not only for big race days, but coverage on the day to day cards.
In other news, Ray Cotolo had some buzz on social media wearing a Hot Dog suit while covering Oak Grove on Memorial Day. Apparently people were paying attention as Horse Racing X (twitter) was lit up. Go get em’ Ray, now you have their attention.
Harness Players Podcast gets back on the Mohawk train this weekend. I for one am happy to see it back.
Enjoy the week,
~Mikee P
P.S. I will be Live all night on Western Fair’s feed with Sugar Doyle for Camluck Classic Night so check that out!
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Ohio Open House & Breakfast
Current clients of TheStable.ca and their guests are invited to attend our annual Ohio Open House Breakfast.
• Date & Location: Sunday, June 2 at Northfield Park
• Training & Broadcast starts: 11am
• Breakfast: Lady Luck Restaurant at 10am
• Breakfast tickets: $0.00 USD
• Breakfast ticket sales close: May 26 at 9pm
DETAILS:
Dining Room opens at 10:00. Breakfast and training starts at 11:00. (You may arrive any time between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.)
MENU:
Fresh Fruit
Sausage Links
Scrambled Eggs
Breakfast Potatoes
Assorted Muffins
Yogurt Cups
Coffee & Juice
The restaurant overlooks the track where our US-based two-year-olds will be training in sets.
Seats are limited; if you RVSP and are later unable to attend, please contact kelly@thestable.ca so we can extend the offer to another client.
If you have any questions, please contact kelly@thestable.ca
Upcoming Races for The Stable Horses
Check out thestable.ca YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStableCanada
Harness Players Podcast Live 9 am Friday 5/31 on ITM YouTube
The Week Ahead from Kevin Plowcha
Where did May go? That's the question I'll ponder for a few seconds before I start looking forward to this week ahead in harness racing. The weekend is still filled despite being a "lighter week", and it's sure to be a good one with yet another trotting star returning to action.
It's going to be a heck of an evening tonight (Friday, May 31) with stakes action at The Meadowlands, Meadows, and Western Fair.
We'll begin at The Meadows, where two divisions of the PA Sire Stakes for 3YO C&G trotters are taking place (races 4 & 6). Race 4 has multiple contenders including (#7) Security Protected, who nearly completed a sweep of the PASS last season before running into T C I. He flew home in his return to action at Pocono and appears to be coming back ready to win. You've also got (#1) MemoryNImagination in that race for TheStable who comes off a very nice second place finish in the Bunker Hill. He does like it here, but can he step up and take down a Sire Stake? It wouldn't shock me.
Race 6 features the return of T C I (post three), the richest 2YO male trotter of all time, who made $1,238,870 last season and gave us some all-time highlights, whether it was his win in the Mohawk Million after making an early break or his fierce battles with Karl. A decent price that could round out the exacta in that race is (#6) Bird And Grenade for the local connections. He's been improving in every start.
Speaking of Karl, he's back again in race 10 tonight at The Meadowlands for the 3YO C&G trotters New Jersey Sire Stakes Final, leaving from post seven. He's an unbelievable animal and you should do what you can to watch him tonight. He's 1-5 and, although it's a horse race and anything can happen, probably wins by as many as he wants. Race 8 is for the fillies and features 3-1 ML favorite (#8) Buy A Round, who was upset by (#1) Glamorous Hanover last week.
It's the biggest night of the year at Western Fair in London, Ontario. They've got their $150,000 Camluck Classic Invitational Pace, featuring horses like (#1) Hellabalou and (#6) Linedrive Hanover. They race 'em at London, so I wouldn't expect a cheap middle half for any of these. The Borgata champ appears tough to beat from the rail, and it's hard to imagine Louis-Philippe Roy trying to let anyone complete the "killer crossover" while he has the rail. It's sure to be an exciting race.
Elsewhere this week, Woodbine Mohawk Park has a nice Saturday card with eliminations for the Somebeachsomewhere, featuring some North America Cup hopefuls including Legendary Hanover and Captains Quarters. They also have a singular second leg of the Miss Versatility featuring very nice older trotting mares such as M&M's Dream and Tactical Mounds.
Northfield, Tioga, and Oak Grove continue their respective Sire Stakes programs this week, all racing for some very nice money.
See you next week!
Spot Plays for the Weekend of 5/31 and 6/1 presented by Nahupicks.com
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 10 - (4) Ms Quick Sand drops to a logical spot and Henry will likely send her right down the road here.
~Garnet Barnsdale
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 3 - (3) Gravitational - I’m attracted to this one, its not physics, its the 26/4 closing quarter three starts back.
~Doug Henwood
Friday Western Fair Race 11 - (4) Lakers Bank (3-1) - His first sire stakes test, but he appears to be a strong player in the “Late” multi-leg sequences to cap off CAMLUCK CLASSIC NIGHT. *First-time James MacDonald in the bike after an easy romp over Flamboro in 1:55/3.
~Sugar Doyle
Friday Western Fair Race 9 - (4) So Much More - Shes the Queen of the pacing mares but hasn’t been so far this year. Easiest spot in awhile and she won this last year.
~Mike Pribozie
Friday The Meadows Race 5 - (1) U Going - was a bomb I tried last week from post nine who could never get into the race after insane fractions up top. The inside post allows him to get away closer to the action and potentially pounce on another hot pace.
~Kevin Plowcha
Friday Woodbine Mohawk Race 2 - (7) Kiss My Cheek - Should be able to use her tactical speed to secure good early position, especially considering that 1, 4, 5, 6 all show breaks on the program. Expect Kiss My Cheek to be in the pocket or sitting 3rd looking for room late.
~Mark Duncan
Saturday The Meadows Race 7 - (2) Okie From Muskogee - took some interesting early play from a bad post last week and ended up racing well to be 4th. He’s drawn inside now with an aggressive driver, was doing well earlier this year when put into the race.
~Kevin Plowcha
Saturday Woodbine Mohawk Race 4 - (8) Combustion - adds lasix after two nice efforts in KY. He is in peak form coming into this, and the price is right against these.
~Rod Allums, Jr.
Monday Oak Grove Race 5 - (6) Take Your Pick has been getting sharper with each mile but got a little too keen in her most recent and went harder on the lead than she should. Luna gets back in the bike and can possibly work a solid trip at a solid price.
~Ray Cotolo
Swedish Horse Racing
www.swedishhorseracing.comis the place for replays, odds, news and much much more for all tracks in Sweden More podcasts coming this year for all the major races with Edison Hatter, Mike Pribozie and Thomas Svensen!
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