Hoosier’s Dan Patch Invites Top Pacers; Northfield Offers Stakes Cash; Meadows Presents Moni Maker Mares

As the second half of the harness-racing season begins, we leave New Jersey to find our features spread into four states. Many of the big names in a few divisions travel to Indiana, New York, Ohio or Pennsylvania, chasing big purses in state-bred and Grand Circuit stakes.

As well, our TwinSpires horses-to-watch list (H2W) continues to offer participants in all pools, refreshed weekly with outside contenders you don’t find from any other handicapping source. Week after week the H2W features valued win, place, show and exotics’ payoffs so take these horses seriously when constructing your wagers.

DAN PATCH PERFORMERS

Here’s the $325,000 Dan Patch, a free-for-all signature race of Hoosier Park, which this year is almost a mirror image of last week’s U.S. Pacing Championship (USPC). Out for revenge is Always B Miki, who was off the board at the Meadowlands while stubbornly demanding the lead early, forcing fast fractions, shuffling and a duel.

Some additions join the fray. Remember Wakizashi Hanover? He’s here after making the Midwest his new home. Also new in this cast is Luck Be Withyou. All Bets Off, Dealt A Winner,Mel Mara and Freaky Feet Pete will also perform, as will the winner of the USPC winner, Shamballa.

”Miki” has post 9 and it is safe to imagine he will gun it from the gate. Of course, Wiggle It Jiggleit will fire from post 1 and that could immediately set up an early duel, though perhaps not as dire as last week. Miki could win off the top, even with some stress to start, but “Wiggle” could press the issue instead of sitting cold in the second spot. Once again, Freaky Feet Pete will have to settle for a first-over spot, one which could be beneficial to Shamballa and “Wakizashi.”

Odds-wise, Shamballa’s price will probably hover around 8-1, like last week. Certainly Wakizashi will be long odds and Wiggle will nearly match Miki, who should be the favorite regardless of last week’s dulled effort. But Shambala’s win scenario may not develop because Miki could command the mile and unless the USPC took something out of him that disallows winning a duel with Wiggle or just coming up short, he should beat these guys like he did before last week.

If Miki wins, however, don’t count out Shamballa to be beat Wiggle to the wire for second and to bump up a trifecta price, toss out Wiggle and use Wakizashi, who may recall he belonged with this ilk and close to push the exotics (for second, too, perhaps?). 

MONI MAKER CASH

A few soph-trotting fillies from last week’s stakes line up at the Meadows on Aug. 13 for the $147,500 Moni Maker, the afternoon’s feature. In the thick of the “Oaks” at the wire on Asug. 6 was Celebrity Eventsy. She draws the wood for trainer Steffan Lind, with John Campbell driving again. The money should pour into the win pools for her and she may command this less-classier field with ease.

Last week, we liked Pink Pistol in one of last week’s Dueanna splits, the one won by Synonymous Hanover, who is stepping into the Moni Maker. Pink Pistol was not impressive last week at 22-1 and should not be a factor here, either. Also figuring to do well here is the 8 horse, Flowers N Songs. She may get significant action. The leap-of-faith entry is Jimmy Takter’s Haughty, who is only racing her fourth start. Takter’s Unica Steed has won one of four and leaves from post 4. All of this should be considered but it’s Celebrity Eventsy’s race to lose. Takter’s duo could pump up prices for exotics.

PASS COLTS

Also at the Meadows on Aug. 13, there are two $80,000-plus Pennsyvania Sires Stakes (PASS) divisions for glamour-boy pacers, with six in each split.

Half of the first field comes from the Ron Burke barn, including the probable favorite, Check Six. However, we will take Adrian Hanover right back from a Cane Pace loss last week.

In round two, Manhattan Beach upset the place spot last week and here is another of three from Burke. We’ll give Another Daily Copy another stakes shot at an upset here, hoping he uses his speed better than his poor 78-1 effort in the boring Adios Final two weeks back.

PASS FILLIES

At Pocono’s Aug. 13 program, a pair of PASS splits for $70,000-plus each will highlight the evening action.

Division one has only five aboard, featuring probable favorite Newborn Sassy. But I Said Diamonds will be close behind in the odds. Outsider Kiss Me Onthebeach could do them both in at a good price for a small field.

Round two sends six to the gate and certainly Darlinonthebeach will take the lead and the most win money. Last week she showed she had recovered fully from her heart mishap and wired the Shady Daisy field. Unexpectedly, at least to bettors, Call Me Queen Be got second in that, nipping the favorite and killing a lot of exactas. It is not unlikely that “Queen” could take this, though as the second favorite.

CARL MILSTEIN MILE

Saturday, Aug. 13 at Northfield Park, eight glamour-boy pacers will compete in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial. Alongside the card’s marquee race is the $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace, which gathers a group of eight aged pacers

Shipping into the Myron Charna Pace is Dancin Yankee, whose resume and form instantly outclasses this field. However, his talent is evident, which means he’ll probably take a large portion of the public’s money.

Hare Craft, starting from post 2 may provide value in this field given his price reflects the heavy play on Dancin Yankee. Of course, with Northfield’s golden son Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. in the bike he could still receive some play but he’s the obvious contender to beat Dancin Yankee.

The Carl Milstein Memorial could be another stage for Betting Line to perform with excellence. Entered as the 3-5 morning-line favorite, the North America Cup champion should go off as a heavy odds-on favorite.

With a resounding favorite, we have the choice of either attempting to beat him or key him on top of some higher-priced contenders, these contenders being Duel Of Truth and Boston Red Rocks. Duel Of Truth, coming from the Indiana Sires Stakes, doesn’t display the same level of class as Betting Line but he does demonstrate ability to at least hit the board here.

Boston Red Rocks has the class; he has raced in the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace but hasn’t shown ability to race at the top level. From post 8 he’ll definitely go off a high price but will need to be sucked into the race by some kind of speed battle.

FROSH ‘GEERS’

On Friday, Aug. 12 at Tioga, freshman colt-and-filly pacers are featured in six divisions of the Tomkins-Geers Stakes, each split worth in excess of $25,000.

In round one, with seven at the gate, there could be value backing Lordbullville. Though he only has one third in five starts his sire, Roll With Joe, is doing best with progeny this season so far.

Another seven go in division two, where you must respect Ocean Colony, a Somebeachsomewhere colt from the Jimmy Takter barn. However, Takter’s brand may attract dollars, so give consideration to Joe Joe Joe, also from the aforementioned top sire.

The last of the colts’ contests presents seven more, with Every Way Out a definite standout. He is four for four, helping to put his sire, If I Can Dream, atop the bloodline list this week. A good exacta partner and possible upset will be Southwind Diablo, who could lose maiden status with a good trip and pay a pretty penny.

The filly divisions in the stakes sextet feature seven fillies in their first episode. Honest Gambler won her maiden at first try and may be better than the obvious favorite, Robin J.

Eight go in round two for the gals, with undefeated-in-four Planet Rock bound to be the top choice. Kiss Kiss could make Planet Rock taste defeat; she is in a perfect spot to take advantage of a perfect trip in her third outing.

Eight more fillies file behind the gate for the last featured stakes of the program. Pleasant Roll is as good as World Apart, a probable choice, yet may not be supported so well by the crowd. Julie Miller’s pacer has a big shot and her odds could exceed her chances.

H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W LIST

Batavia
8/12/16, +Canadian Overall R9; +Here Comes Ally R5; Keeping Optomistic R10
8/13/16

Century
8/13/16, +Golden Echo R1; +Jennas Lass R5; Mozelle Hanover R10

Harrington
8/15/16, Sniper Hall R5; Millenium Wheel R8

Hawthorne
8/11/16, +Stirling Emissary R8

Hoosier
8/11/16, +Bluebird Image R8
8/12/16, +Velocity Reign R10

Meadows
8/15/16, +Skippin By R4

Mohawk
8/12/16, Dontbruisecarrie R1; +American Rock R2; +Moonwriter R7

Monticello
8/11/16, +Watch Me Too R1; Clooney Drummond R10

Northfield
8/13/16, Canadia’s Bakin R3; Hustling Charley R5; +Devil Child R9; Friskie Cruiser R13
8/15/16, +Nominal Hanover R9

Northville
8/13/16, +Easternder R6

Ocean
8/11/16, Kounty Blues R11
8/14/16, +One Bad Shot R7

Philadelphia
8/12/16, Gallie ByThe Beach R8; +Benjaminbanneker R3

Plainridge
8/11/16, +Silvio Dante R1; +Best Escape Route R7; +Markup Hanover R7
 
Pocono
8/13/16, +Shady City R1
8/14/16, Homicide Hunter R10

Red Mile
8/11/16, Veto Hanover R7; Loony Dunes R10
8/13/16, Sammy’s Cool Win R3

Running Aces
8/13/16, Lo Rail Crossing R3; Hot Fudge Sundae R5; +Tame The Dice R7; Look Again Eda R8

Saratoga
8/12/16, +First Girl R5

Scarborough
8/12/16, +Cal Me Hal R4
8/13/16, +Alliegetty R7
8/14/16, Maras World R7

Scioto
8/12/16, Lionbacker Kidd R5; Penn R7

Tioga
8/12/16, Waldorf Hall R2; Cashco R11

Vernon
8/11/16, Pier Ho Exotic R6
8/13/16, I Do Hanover R4

Yonkers
8/13/16, Melodys Monet R7

 
Ray Cotolo contributes to this blog