Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for July 19-22, 2012

BALMORAL

7/22: 2w, no bias

7/21: 3w, no bias

7/18: 3w, no bias

FOX VALLEY CADBURY – Finished well from post 10

ICE SCRAPER*** – Paced a :53 1/5 last half from off the pace, just missed

POWER OF TARA N – Left and was used hard to clear to a :54 2/5 half, weakened but held okay

JO JO SPUR*** – Paced a :55 2/5 middle-half first over, couldn’t clear but kept on battling right to the wire in a game placing behind the 3-5 winner

MJ’S BID – Was 8th at the three quarters, stormed wide around the final turn and finished fast to just miss

BP GIANT FOOL – Had post 8, followed poor cover and finished solidly in :27

MAYWOOD

7/20: 6w, no bias

7/19: 8w, + speed

BUTTERFLY KISSER – Had post 8 and was 11 lengths behind early in a slow-paced race, stormed wide down the back, engaged the leader on the final turn and drew clear full of pace

JOEZEHRLOVESJOHNNY – Had post 8 and dull cover, rallied wide down the back and around the final turn and finished willingly from a tough spot

ALLAMERICAN BOMBER – Set a fast pace under pressure as he refused to yield and faded; misleading pp line looks like a pocket trip on paper; price factor in exotics

NASH GRAM – Was first over a long way and paced a strong last half to win gamely

MONTICELLO

7/19: 5w, + speed, slight edge to speed and inside path

ART MAKER – Classy claimer, now a 13-year-old, went first over from post 7 and won

NORTHFIELD PARK

7/21: 5w, no bias

7/20: 3w, no bias

COSMETICIAN – Had post 7 and was far back early, made up 17 lengths to lose by two necks

FOREVER LUCKY – Had a brutal parked-out trip forcing a lively pace and held okay

PUTNAMPACINGMACHIN – Was parked the mile without cover, took the lead on the final turn and just missed

HARRAH’S PHILADELHIA

7/22: 4w, no bias, but this track is speed favoring and favors horses that leave the gate or race first over

7/20: 8w, + speed

7/19: 5w, no bias

KISS MY ART – Was outside a long way from post 7 while fourth over, finished fast for the place

MACH LADY – Was 7th at the half and stuck behind poor cover, finished fast against the bias

MALAK USWAAD N – Classy grinder keeps overcoming the speed bias; this time he paced a :53 2/5 last half to win from second over

ALBERT CHIEF A – Left from post 8 and was hung out uncovered chasing a :25 4/5 and :54 4/5 pace, held okay until the three quarters then understandably tired

NINE INNINGS – Left, tucked, went first over against classy Western Shore and held okay for the hot Fraley barn

POCONO

7/22: 5w, + speed, not that biased this week, although leavers and first over horses did well overall and winners were close to the pace

7/21: 3w, no bias

7/20: 2w, no bias

MICKEY HANOVER – Had post 7, left, tucked, grinded first over into a :54 4/5 last half and held okay

MEADOWS

7/21: 5w, + speed, tactical speed was good all week

7/20: 5w, + speed

A ROCKNROLL DANCE – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over against Sweet Lou pushing a :26 2/5 third quarter and dug in gamely to be 2nd best in the first Adios elimination

DAPPER DUDE – Had a tough parked-out trip from post 8 and held gamely in the 2nd division of the Adios eliminations

MEADOWLANDS

7/21: 7w, + speed, although all 5 of the speed winners were favorites and the other two were second choices, so it’s hard to say with certainty if the track was truly biased

7/20: 2w, + closers

7/19: 2w, + closers

CAPTAINTREACHEROUS – Followed cover in a slow-paced race and finished in :26 1/5 to just miss in a sharp debut

TOO MUCH PEPPER – Had post 7, was parked the mile without cover and held well

                                                       SARATOGA          

7/21: 3w, no bias

7/20: 10w, ++ speed

7/19: 1w, no bias

TIOGA

7/22: 4w, no bias

7/21: 4w, no bias

7/20: 1w, no bias

7/19: 6w, no bias

CREATING A DREAM – Paced a :27 third quarter first over and held the place behind sharp winner

LATIN LYRIC*** – Left from post 8 and was three wide early and parked out forcing a fast pace, appeared beaten on the final turn but continued gamely to the wire to save the show in a big effort

PENNY PINCHER – Left from post 9 and was parked to the early lead in :26 4/5 in a three way, set a fast pace under pressure and gave way in the final sixteenth, nice try

YONKERS

7/21: 6w, + speed

7/20: 3w, no real bias but 12 out of the 13 winners either left or went first over

7/19: 3w, no bias

RED STAR HOTTIE – Went first over from turn three, paced a :27 2/5 third quarter to take the lead into the final turn in a sharp win

GODDESS’S JUSTINE – Had post 7 and poor cover, rallied wide and finished sharply

ALFREDSSON – Left from post 6 and was used hard when parked out by the 1-2 favorite through torrid fractions; tired badly but was eased off by the driver