Harness Racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for Nov. 15-18, 2012

BALMORAL

11/18: 0w, ++ closers

11/17: 1w, ++ closers

SCHERZO – Left from post 9 directly outside of the post 8 leaver and was parked to the half for the lead, didn’t tire that badly while racing against the bias

FIRSTCLASSALLTHWAY – Had post 9 and paced a :54 last half to finish third

MAJOR MONET*** - Left from post 9 and was parked to the half for the lead, yielded to strong pressure through a fast third quarter and didn’t tire that badly over a closer’s track

SERGEANT STRYKER*** – Had post 10 and was far back early off an average pace, made up 9 lengths in the final quarter to miss by a neck against the 4-5 winner

BIG CHOCOLATE*** – Trotter worked his way to the lead from post 8, set the pace over a track that strongly favored closers and held okay for the show

REVY REVRAC*** – First off a layoff and first start for new barn, made two moves to the lead, set the pace against the bias and held well for the show in an improved effort

STICKS*** – Had post 9 and was 9 lengths behind at the quarter, power-brushed to the lead over a track that strongly favored closers and weakened but only lost by 2 lengths

MAYWOOD

11/16: 5w, no bias

11/15: 3w, no bias

DESERT COWBOY – Was parked the mile without cover from post 8 and held well for the show

TWILIGHT DELIGHT – Left from post 7 and was parked behind cover, brushed around tiring cover and went up first over against the 2-5 favorite, held okay

MONTICELLO

11/15: 5w, no bias

IDEALPOKEHER*** – Broke on the first turn, recovered, rushed out on the second turn and charged up to the leader, pressed hard and didn’t tire until the final sixteenth in a game effort

DOVER

11/18: 4w, no bias

11/15: 6w, + speed

MANHATTAN RUSTY N*** - Left and was used hard to clear in :26 3/5, set a fast pace under pressure and didn’t tire badly in a good effort

APACHE RENEGADE – Had the rail and paced a :26 4/5 first quarter, went first over and didn’t tire that badly in an effort that is better than it looks on paper; price factor in exotics

JEREMY’S SUCCESSOR – Left from post 8 and was parked the mile without cover forcing a quick pace, held okay

WAMBAM SAM – Had weak cover from post 8 and finished solidly to just miss

SAVE ME A PLACE – Left and was parked to the lead in :26 3/5, set a quick pace under pressure and gave way grudgingly late

FREEHOLD

11/17: 3w, no bias, this track was not as speed favoring as usual this week

11/16: 1w, + closers

11/15: 2w, no bias

CR FIXED ASSET*** – Had the rail and left strongly, set a fast pace under fire from three different horses, finally yielded on turn four but only lost by 3 lengths

NORTHFIELD

11/17: 4w, no bias

11/16: 5w, no bias

THE SWEET DION*** – Left and was three deep to a :27 2/5 opener but unable to clear as the rail horse refused to yield, remained parked and dropped back but gamely beat four horses home

CUSTOM MADE*** – 6th at the half, roared four wide at the three quarters, swept to the lead late on the turn and drew off powerfully in a ‘good-old-days’ big three-quarter move off the pace win

PHILADELPHIA

11/16: 3w, no bias

11/15: 5w, no bias

DRIVE ALL NIGHT – Had a tough parked-out trip from post 7 stalking a quick pace and held okay

HIGHLY THOUGHT OF – Was parked the mile without cover from post 8 and held okay

R CAAN – Left from post 6 and was parked to the lead in :27, yielded to the sharp 2-5 winner and was 2nd best in a nice try

MR HASANI N – Brushed first over and drew clear with a nice :55 last half; looks like a peaking 4yo on the way up

POCONO

11/17: 3w, no bias

11/16: 3w, no bias

ELUSIVE REWARD – Was looped leaving and used hard to clear, set a fast pace and just missed to the 6-5 favorite in a game placing

ASTOUNDING HANOVER – Had post 8, blasted to the lead in :26 3/5, yielded and chased a hot pace, faded out of it late at 54-1 but could be dangerous at a price, especially with a drop

MEADOWS

11/16: 1w, no bias

FOX VALLEY BREEZE – Left well for the pocket, had to wait for clearance along the inside and had a lot of late pace to draw clear under confident handling

                                                             SARATOGA         

11/18: 6w, + speed

11/17: 6w, + speed

11/16: 4w, no bias

DON’T BLAME HER*** - Had post 7, followed cover and drew off full of pace

YONKERS

11/17: 6w, no real bias, slight edge to speed

11/16: 7w, + speed

11/15: 2w, no bias

INDIAN GIVER N*** – Left well from post 8 and was parked to the quarter for the lead, set the pace under second-half pressure and held okay

HOT LIST*** - Double jumped in class in second start for new barn and romped on the front end drawing clear in 1:53 3/5 impressively

KISSED BY THE SUN – Left and was used hard in a three way early pace battle, got the lead past a :26 2/5 opener, yielded and was shuffled back

SUCROSE HANOVER – Had horrible cover from post 6 and finished well too late

TRIPLE MAJOR – Paced a :27 2/5 third quarter first over and held gamely for the place

PUT ON A SHOW – Had post 8 and weak cover from 4th over, finished fast in the stretch

WHAT’SITTOYOUGRANT*** – Left strongly from post 8 and pressed a :26 2/5 first quarter, could not clear and remained parked the mile, only lost by 7 lengths

SILENT SWING – Shot to the lead in :26 1/5, yielded, was shuffled on the final turn, found clearance along the inside in the lane, finished steadily but had already lost valuable position

GREYSTONE CASH – Was third over and finished fast in the stretch, home in :27 3/5; price factor in exotics

*** = extra-sharp preferred plays

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