Is there a "Best Bet" in Harness Racing? Can certain criteria identify a horse that is a consistently good bet? Here are my basic rules for coming up with a “Best Bet” type of spot play for Harness Racing.
Garnet Barnsdale's analysis of the Friday 2/13 card at Woodbine Harness.
Brewster Smith's analysis of the Friday 2/13 card at Yonkers Raceway.
Trainer Ron Burke expects a bounce back effort from both of his mares, Southwind Serenity and Donttellruss, in the second leg of the Burning Point Series on Friday night (February 13). The entry has been installed as the 8/5 favorite on Darin Zoccali’s morning line.
Hillbilly Royalty, undefeated in two starts after winning a first-level allowance Feb. 6 at Oaklawn Park, could see stakes action in the near future, said Donnie Von Hemel, who trains the horse for his Oklahoma-based breeder, the Dream Walkin’ Farms operation of country music artist Toby Keith and his family.
The Texas Thoroughbred Association is bringing the owners and trainers of ready-to-retire racehorses together with a number of re-homing organizations at an event March 8 at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, the organization announced. The inaugural Roses to Ribbons Old Fashioned Horse Fair is being put on by The Paddock Foundation, a nonprofit for Thoroughbred aftercare launched by the Texas Thoroughbred Association. It will start at 11 a.m. Central.
The eighth race Friday at Oaklawn could give some insight into the Essex Handicap on Saturday. Ali’s Birthday is the horse to beat in a second-level optional $35,000 claiming sprint after he was overtaken on the wire last out by Ride On Curlin, the starting highweight for the Essex.
Grade 2 winner Wired Bryan will begin his stallion career in Uruguay after being purchased privately for $30,000 on Monday at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale.
Ride On Curlin is the 119-pound starting highweight for the $100,000 Essex Handicap, which drew eight older horses for Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
Larry Jones has trained good horses for a long time, but it’s possible he’s never looked down his shed row and seen quite the depth of talent that exists right now at Fair Grounds.
