Harness Racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for April 4 - 7
BALMORAL
4/7: 1w, + closers
4/6: 6w, + speed
ONE LAST CHANCE - Made a sharp brush to take control past the half and held the show over a track that clearly favored closers
RICHESS EMPEROR - Had dull cover, rallied wide around the final turn and finished well
HOLY CHIP*** - Power-brushed down the back, lost cover and continued to the lead making up 7 lengths pacing a :25 4/5 second panel, held sway to make it two straight in a sharp performance
STAMPED BY DESIGN - Brushed to the lead approaching the half, yielded to Holy Chip and was 2nd best
WHIRLWINDIPLOMACY - Grinded first over a long way pacing a :54 1/5 middle-half and weakened as the beaten favorite, but the trip was not easy
MAYWOOD
4/5: 5w, + speed, leavers and first over horses did well both nights
4/4: 6w, + speed
LOLA'S PARK - Third over behind weak cover, rallied wide and finished sharply for the place
SOME HEART THROB - Left from post 8 and was parked to the lead at the half, took on strong pressure through the third quarter and dug in bravely for the win
MACK BRENLIN*** - Had post 7, left, tucked, went up on a long uncovered bid and held okay
STAR GAZED - Left from post 8 and was used hard to the lead in :28 4/5, yielded to the sharp winner at the three quarters and held okay; price factor in exotics from a better spot
THEE TOWN HERO - Got moving early and followed cover, lost that cover and went after the 3-5 favorite, wore him down but weakened in the lane in tough trip; price factor in exotics
PARTY COVE*** - 3yo was tons the best here. He had post 7, went first over approaching the quarter on a long bid, gained 8 lengths to take the lead at the half and drew clear
TOLEDO BEND GATOR - Improving 3yo got moving before the quarter to follow cover, lost cover at the half, paced a quick middle-half while grinding first over and held okay
BAKSIDEBAR NLOUNGE*** - Left from post 6 and squeezed into a tuck at the quarter, pulled with cover at the half, rallied three wide midway through the final turn and finished bravely for the place
WESTERN SLAMMER*** - Pulled at the quarter on a long first over bid, challenged hard and paced a :55 4/5 middle-half in a tough trip and didn't tire that badly considering
MONTICELLO
4/4: 7w, + speed
SMOOTH ERIC N*** - Had post 8 in a race with a modest pace and a poor flow, rallied wide around the final turn and finished strongly against a speed bias
DOVER
4/7: 7w, + speed
LIGHTNING MOON*** - Charged first over from before the half and paced a :26 3/5 third quarter pushing the 6-5 winner, dug in gamely for the place
POSITIVE POST - Had post 7, was 4th over, rallied wide and finished strongly for the show
NORTHFIELD
4/5: 11w, ++ speed
SPARKLING YANKEE - Impeded early and far back from post 8, gained a chunk of ground through the middle-half and held the show over an extremely speed-favoring track
MEADOWS
4/6: 3w, no bias
4/5: 6w, + speed
PHILADELPHIA
4/7: 8w, ++ speed
4/5: 4w, no bias, only day this week that wasn't speed favoring
4/4: 9w, ++ speed, leavers and quarters movers, as usual at this speed favoring track
TAKEMEWITHYOU - Grinded first over pacing a :27 2/5 third quarter and held well for the place
MUSICAL PRINCE*** - Trotter had post 7 and was uncovered a long way, pressed the 1-5 winner and was 2nd best in a solid effort
ACHILLES BLUE CHIP - Broke badly and repeatedly at the start and through the opening half, recovered and finished strongly for the show
MAN HE CAN SKOOT*** - 11 lengths behind early, followed cover third over and finished fast to just miss
JOLTS VIRTUE - Left from post 6 and was parked the mile without cover; tough trip
POCONO DOWNS
4/7: 5w, + speed, leavers did well
4/6: 2w, no bias
KING OF KINGS*** - Left alertly to the early lead, yielded, went first over into a :27 4/5 third quarter and excusably tired
RESTLESS - Left from post 8 and was used hard to a :26 1/5 opening quarter, yielded and held okay
DIAMOND STICK PIN - 8th at the three quarters, circled wide around the final turn and finished fast to just miss
SARATOGA
4/7: 6w, + speed
4/6: 6w, + speed
4/5: 6w, + speed
4/4: 4w, no bias
DUKE OF GANNON - Had post 6, stormed wide around the final turn and was full of pace for the win
UPFRONTSTRIKESGOLD - Left from post 7 and got parked the mile without cover; tough trip
SEAFOOD ANNIE*** - Broke at the start, was 7th at the half, roared wide around the final turn to quickly open up a 6 length lead and jogged
LUDI CHRISTY*** - Left, tucked, went first over into a :28 1/5 third quarter and held well
FREEHOLD
4/6: 8w, + speed
4/5: 4w, no bias
4/4: 7w, + speed
MEADOWLANDS
4/6: 3w, no bias
4/5: 4w, no bias, strong tailwinds
GRAMS LEGACY - Was parked to a quick half, opened up a clear lead but broke stride in the stretch; could be worth a price off that effort
BULLET SPEED - Was parked the mile without cover from post 7 and held okay
CRACKER PULLET - Had post 8, followed weak cover 4th over in a race that had a slow pace, rallied wide and finished willingly
CAROLSTERN - Was parked the mile into the strong winds from post 8, held okay
YONKERS
4/6; 8w, + speed
4/5: 6w, + speed
4/4: 5w, + speed
DONTAKEYOURGUNS*** - Had post 6 and picked up horrible cover, rallied wide around the final turn and finished strongly in :27 4/5
FOX VALLEY HERMIA*** - Had post 7, followed poor cover third over and finished stoutly in :27 2/5 to just miss
WESTERN DAKOTA - Had post 8, followed dull cover 4th over and finished well against the bias
DR C'S Z TAM - Had post 6 and finished with his usual powerful closing kick from a tough spot over a track that favored leavers
SHOOBEE'S PLACE - Had post 6, left, tucked, went first over into a quick last half and held okay
WHACKAMOLE HANOVER - Left quickly from post 7, was shuffled, angled clear late with solid pace
AMERICAN RAGE - Was uncovered a long way from post 6, paced a :27 1/5 third quarter to engage the leader and got up gamely with a :28 final quarter, sharp
*** = extra-sharp preferred plays
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