Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for April 16-22, 2012

BALMORAL

4/22: 2w, + closers

4/21: 2w, + closers

4/18: 1w, + closers

SHARP@BALMORAL

KATIE RYAN – Had weak cover, rallied wide and finished fast

CLANCY – Had dull cover and finished fast in :26 4/5

MYSTICAL VICTRESS – Had post 8 and a long way to come, got there with a :54 2/5 last half

ROSERAIRE NZ*** - Left alertly and tucked in the pocket, was shuffled back, angled between horses in the stretch and was hopelessly boxed in

L T’S BIG JAKE – Five-year-old late bloomer has finally figured things out, had post 9 and was 11 lengths back at the three quarters, finished powerfully for the win

MAYWOOD

4/13: 6w, + speed

4/19: 4w, + speed, leavers did well

SHARP@MAYWOOD

WINDY CITY JOANN – Was parked to the half from post 8, tough trip

STARDOM BOUND – Was first over a long way in a quick middle-half, held okay considering

FREEHOLD

4/21: 6w, + speed

4/20: 6w, + speed

4/19: 5w, + speed

SHARP@FREEHOLD

CR FIXED ASSET – Put a hood on and left strongly to the lead on the first turn, set a fast pace under constant pressure and held the place gamely

KIASMA – Left strongly from post 6 and was parked to the lead in :27 1/5, set a well rated pace under pressure and held the place gamely

MONTICELLO

4/19: 7w + speed

4/18: 3w, no bias

4/17: 4w, no bias

4/16: 3w, no bias

SHARP@MONTICELLO

SPACE CHALET – Had post 7 and was unable to flush cover, grinded into contention gaining at every call and just missed in a three way photo

ISN’T SHE LOVELY – Was first over a long way pushing a quick third quarter and didn’t tire that badly

BASSO HANOVER – Was uncovered a long way and held okay

BREAK DANCER – Had post 8, followed poor cover and finished fast from a tough spot

S F EXPOSED – Left from post 8 and was parked to the lead in :29, yielded and didn’t tire that badly; threat at that level from a better post

NORTHFIELD PARK

4/21: 12w, +++ speed, golden rail, track very speed favoring all week

4/20: 7w, + speed

4/17: 7w, + speed

4/16: 9w, ++ speed

SHARP @ NORTHFIELD

WANNA WIN – Third over, charged wide down the back and finished gamely for the place

GETHERDONE SUE – Was first over a long way against the sharp 1-2 winner and held well

CRUSH*** – Had post 7 and was parked most of the mile, brushed around cover down the back to engage the leader on the final turn and got up gamely against a severe speed bias

HARRINGTON

4/22: 5w, no real bias but horses racing on the outside with cover did poorly, sloppy track

SHARP@HARRINGTON

RACING NAKED – Quarter-moved and was parked out pushing a quick pace in the slop, tough trip

CHESTER

4/22: 7w, no bias, sloppy track, outside closers did much better than usual over wet track that slowed the races down

4/20: 7w, + speed

4/19: 2w, no bias

4/18: 7w, + speed

SHARP@CHESTER

LIGHTNING MOON – Blasted to the lead from post 8, set a fast pace and held the place on a day where speed didn’t hold as well as it usually does here

ASHES N DUST***– Left from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27 3/5, yielded to the 1-10 winner at the three quarters and finished gamely to be clearly 2nd best

I TOLD GORDY – Left and was parked to the quarter for the lead, set a quick pace under pressure and held sway rather easily

ROYAL CAM-HALL – Rushed up approaching the half and pressed the sharp 2-5 winner, held gamely

OR – Finished sharply from 4th over in a solid placing

VERTICAL HORIZON – Classy horse had post 8, got moving early, followed cover and finished fast to win

MEADOWS

4/20: 6w, no bias

4/18: 5w, no bias

4/17: 3w, no bias

4/16: 1w, + closers

SHARP@MEADOWS

ODDS ON B P – Set the pace under second half pressure against the bias and was the only wire to wire winner on the card

THE BIBLE MAN – Left strongly and yielded, was shuffled back when the leader stopped

WOODWAY – Trotter left and was parked to the lead in :27 2/5, yielded to the 2-5 favorite and was shuffled, trotted willingly for the show

OBJECT OF ART – Left strongly and was parked to the lead in :26 3/5, yielded to the 2-5 winner, held okay

I’M JUST CRUISIN’ – Left and was parked to the lead in :26 4/5, yielded and was shuffled with pace

MEGA HALL – Left and was parked to the quarter for the lead, yielded to a quick half, chased a quick pace and was shuffled

TSM RYANS DRAGON – Left from post 9 and followed cover, brushed wide approaching the three quarters to clear cover and go after the leader; weakened after the tough trip

CAM VAN GO – Left from post 9 and was parked to the lead in :26 4/5, set a fast pace and won gamely

POCONO DOWNS

4/21: 3w, no bias, sloppy track

4/20: 4w, no bias

4/18: 7w, + speed

4/17: 6w, no bias

SHARP@POCONO

JERSEY BOY – Broke before the start, recovered and followed cover, lost cover, finished gamely

BIG BOY LLOYD – Classy trotter was used hard to clear the lead from post 8, set a quick pace and only lost by 2 lengths

P L EUREKA – Left from post 8 and was used hard to clear the lead, set a quick pace and held okay

DINNERATARTSPLACE – Worked his way to the lead from post 6, set a fast pace and drew clear

SARATOGA

4/22: 4w, no bias

4/21: 5w, no bias, sloppy track

4/20: 6w, no bias

4/18: 6w, no bias

SHARP@SARATOGA

DRIVING IN STYLE – Had post 6, left and was three deep to the lead in :28 2/5, set a pressured pace and held well in an improved effort

YONKERS

4/21: 7w, + speed,

4/20: 7w, ++ speed

4/19: 2w, no bias

4/17: 4w, no bias

4/16: 4w, + speed

SHARP@YONKERS

DRAGON ISLAND*** – Made up a lot of ground on a long uncovered bid from post 8, held staunchly for the place in a big effort in a fast race for the level

MILITARY STRATCOM*** – Left strongly from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27 1/5, yielded to the favorite and was clearly 2nd best in a quick mile

SPARKY – Had post 7, left, tucked, slipped out second over and finished strongly for the win

SILENT PARTNER – Had post 8 and finished with solid pace late

GRAIN OF TRUTH – Classy trotter made a sharp first over brush and held well

HIGH OCTANE N*** - Had post 7 in second U.S. start and was far back, finished strongly

WAYNE THE LEFTY – Had post 6 and finished strongly against the bias

REAL FLIGHT – Had post 7 and was 4th over in no-man’s land, finished strongly against the bias

*** = extra-sharp preferred plays