Woodbine Harness: Horses to watch from Jan. 2 - Jan. 4
Horses to watch from Woodbine Harness.
Ken WaltersJan 06, 2016
Horses to watch from Woodbine Harness.
Derick Giwner's analysis of the Friday 1/8 card at The Meadowlands.
Garnet Barnsdale's analysis of the Friday 1/8 card at Woodbine Harness.
Brewster Smith's analysis of the Friday 1/8 card at Yonkers Raceway.
I've corresponded with many harness fans/bettors and professional harness handicappers over the years. Not surprisingly, there are some interesting differences between the two groups.
Aaron Merriman focuses on one day at a time, which has led to some pretty good years. The 37-year-old Ohio native is coming off a career-best harness racing season in 2015, capturing his first North American driving title and earning a personal-high $7.40 million in purses.
Darin Zoccali, who has worked at the Meadowlands since 2006 and as its director of racing operations since 2012, has resigned his position and will be leaving the New Jersey racetrack upon the conclusion of the race card on Saturday, Jan. 9.
The total wagering on harness racing at U.S. tracks in 2015 surpassed $1.5 billion, a 1.02 percent increase compared to 2014 according to statistics announced by the U.S. Trotting Association on Wednesday.
Baublette, an impressive entry-level allowance winner in her 3-year-old finale last fall at Aqueduct, makes the jump to the next level when she faces eight rivals in Friday's $46,000 allowance feature at 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track.
Dirt or grass? Donn or Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap? Those are the questions trainer Todd Pletcher is hoping to get answered here Saturday when he sends out Mshawish among a strong field in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope.