Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for April 23 - 29, 2012
BALMORAL
4/29: 2w, + closers, sloppy track
4/28: 2w, + closers
4/25: 5w, no bias
SHARP@BALMORAL
BP’S BIG GIRL – Raced over her conditions, followed weak cover, made a nice move on the turn and continued strongly to the wire for a sharp win
PARK LANE DEPUTY*** – Power-brushed to the lead with a snappy :27 3/5 second quarter, drew off sharply
CHINA GAL*** – Raced off the pace from post 7, paced a powerful :26 3/5 final quarter for a sharp win
MAYWOOD
4/27: 7w, + speed
4/26: 7w, + speed
SHARP@MAYWOOD
FOX VALLEY SEE YA – Had post 7 in a race with a dull outside flow, rallied wide and finished gamely
SCOOT IN THE PARK – Had a tough parked-the-mile uncovered trip from post 6 and held gamely
SPIRTUAL KING N*** – Left and was parked out, finally put away the leader late on the final turn and drew off impressively
FREEHOLD
4/28: 5w, + speed
4/27: 6w, + speed
4/26: 5w, + speed
SHARP@FREEHOLD
STARGLOW HALL – Was parked the mile from post 8 and uncovered most of the way, held okay
ANNIE RUSS*** - Four claimer left from post 8 and was parked to the lead in a hot opening quarter of :27 3/5, set the pace and held the place gamely
STAR STUDDED GUN – Had post 6, left and was three wide the opening quarter and parked the mile without cover pressing a quick pace; dangerous next time out if he clears
AMAZING STAND – Left from post 5 directly outside of a sharp leaver from post 4 and was parked hard to get the lead then hounded to a :55 4/5 half, yielded to the winner at the three quarters and excusably tired
BIG PUFF DOGGIE*** – Made a long move in the second quarter, powered to command with a strong third quarter and drew off to a sharp win
SECTIONLINECRUISER – Was under the gun from the rail and parked a horse to a fast half, game win
MONTICELLO
4/26: 8w, + speed
4/25: 6w, no bias
4/24: 3w, no bias
4/23: 8w, + speed, sloppy track
SHARP@MONTICELLO
MCDONNA – Left from post 6 and was parked the mile without cover, held gamely for the show
PHARM REVIEW – Was first over a long way, made up a lot of ground through the second quarter, pressed the pace and held okay
THINGS LEFT UNSAID*** - Set a blistering pace over the sloppy surface and drew off to a sharp win
MOONLIT TORI*** - Left and was parked the mile without cover forcing a fast pace and held gamely
MATT’S BOY – Had post 8, made a bold wide backside brush to reach contention but flattened out in a quick final quarter over a track that appeared to favor speed
BETTERTHANICECREAM – Was 6th at the half, grinded first over from a tough spot and held okay
NORTHFIELD PARK
4/28: 5w, no bias
4/27: 4w, no bias
4/24: 8w, + speed
4/23: 8w, + speed
SHARP @ NORTHFIELD
JUSTIN’S LEGACY – Left and was used hard parked two turns before finding a tuck, held gamely
GINA MARIE P – Had a tough parked-out uncovered trip and held okay for the show
TOPVILLE DIAMOND – Had a tough parked-out trip forcing a fast pace, paced a respectable :29 4/5 final quarter
RAMBLING RANDY – Left from post 6 and had an impossible parked-out trip in a fast-paced race then was impeded by a breaker
HARRINGTON
4/29: 9w, ++ speed
4/26: 5w, + speed
4/25: 4w, no bias
4/24: 11w, ++ speed
4/23: 6w, + speed
SHARP@HARRINGTON
VINCENT FRA – 3-5 from post 6, got looped leaving and parked two turns, held okay considering
BRITEOLIVE – Had post 7, was 4th over behind dull cover, rallied wide and finished well against a severe speed bias in a solid effort
SCOOTNDOWNTHERIVER*** - Had post 7, made a strong move on the turn and continued with sharp pace to get up gamely against the bias in a big effort
I’MGOODBADNSTRANGE*** – Was 7th at the half and behind weak cover, stormed wide and finished strongly to just miss
LEVRIER – Left from post 8 and was used hard to get the lead past the half, held well considering
QUICK BELL*** – Had post 8 and poor cover, made a bold wide backside brush and held gamely
HARRAH’S PHILADELPHIA
4/29: 3w, no real bias but 8 horses won off a first over trip
4/27: 2w, no bias
4/26: 6w, + speed
4/25: 3w, no bias
SHARP@PHILADELPHIA
BEST AROUND – Had post 7 and finished well against the bias from 4th over
BUSHWOOD Z TAM – Had post 8 and finished strongly for the place over a speed favoring track
UNCLE PAT – Was first over into a quick last half and held well
OOH BAD SHARK – Was looped leaving and used hard to clear past a :26 4/5 opener, set a pressured pace and didn’t tire that badly
SPECIAL T ROCKS – Was first over into a :26 3/5 third quarter, finished in :27 1/5 for a sharp win
MEADOWS
4/27: 6w, no bias
4/25: 7w, + speed
4/24: 5w, no bias
4/23: 6w, sloppy track
SHARP@MEADOWS
TSM RYANS DRAGON*** - Left from post 8 and was parked to the lead in :27 3/5 over the sloppy strip, set the fastest pace on the 16-race card under some pressure and held well for the show
GOYA CHIEF – Left from post 6 and was parked the mile without cover, held well
POCONO DOWNS
4/28: 4w, no bias
4/27: 5w, no bias
4/25: 9w, + speed
4/24: 5w, no bias
SHARP@POCONO
MARION MISS JULIE*** - Trotter left and was used hard to clear the lead, set a fast pace under pressure and held okay for the show
EMJAYEM GRAND A*** – Had a brutal parked-out trip forcing a blazing pace and held well
CAM B ZIPPER*** – Left and was used hard to clear the rail horse, set a torrid pace under constant pressure and held well
BET THE TOWN*** – Had post 9, rocketed to the lead in :26 2/5, set a fast clip and jogged
SARATOGA
4/29: 11w, + speed
4/28: 6w, + speed
4/27: 4w, no bias
4/25: 8w, ++ speed
SHARP@SARATOGA
MARINADE HANOVER*** – Was 12 lengths back early, stormed wide and finished powerfully for the win
UP FRONT SHARON*** – Had post 8, was parked the mile without cover and held gamely for the show
GALLANT YANKEE – Left, tucked, went first over into a :27 4/5 third quarter and held okay
SISYPHUS – Had post 8 and weak cover, rallied wide and finished well
YONKERS
4/28: 2w, no bias, much fairer conditions than earlier in the month, probably due to the cooler, more seasonable temperatures this week
4/27: 4w, no bias
4/26: 3w, no bias
4/24: 5w, slightly speed favoring, leavers and first over horses won all the races
4/23: 4w, no bias
SHARP@YONKERS
SAPPHIRE CITY*** – Came off a 3 week layoff, left from post 5 directly outside of two inside leavers including the four horse, was used hard to clear, shook off a stiff third quarter bid then held sway by a length over the hard-charging 4-5 favorite
DEAR MAC – Left strongly and was used hard to clear in :27, set a hot pace and dug in for a game win
COSMICPEDIA – Followed a late developing flow third over while chasing a sharp loose-on-lead winner, angled wide and finished strongly in :27 3/5 to just miss
TO TELL THE TRUTH – Followed cover and finished strongly, a rare third over winner
MATTJESTIC ART – Had weak cover, rallied wide around the final bend and finished sharply
FOX VALLEY TYRESE – Grinded first over and paced a :55 2/5 last half for a sharp win
STONEBRIDGE TONIC – Had post 7, left very fast to the lead in :26 4/5, set a fast clip and drew off impressively
WHOGOESFIRST*** – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over into a fast last half and just missed in a fast mile
FOILED AGAIN – Great pacer had post 8 and left directly outside of the post 7 leaver, was used hard to clear the lead midway through the second turn, set the pace over a track that was much less speed favoring than it’s been the past few weeks and gave way grudgingly late
MEANT TO BE ME*** - Had post 8, saved ground, angled wide for the drive and was flying in the stretch, paced a scorching :53 4/5 last half
NOB HILL HIGH – Slipped out 4th over down the back, angled wide for the drive and finished fast
SOLD OUT – Had post 7 and finished sharply for the place
ARTIC STRETCH*** – Left from post 6 and got caught in a wicked speed duel, finally wore down the leader in the stretch, weakened but held well considering
SPACE WALK – Third over behind a modest pace, followed cover wide and finished stoutly for the win
*** = extra-sharp preferred plays