Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for April 9-15, 2012
BALMORAL
4/15: 3w, no bias
4/14: 4w, no bias
4/11: 1w, ++ closers
SHARP@BALMORAL
BRIEF’S BOY*** – Was 14 lengths behind early from post 10, paced a big :25 4/5 final quarter to get up
BP’S BIG GIRL – Left three wide from post 9 and was used hard to clear, set a pressured pace against the bias and didn’t tire that badly
JIMENYS STAR – Had post 10 and poor cover, finished solidly
MAID MONEY – Power-brushed to the lead with a snappy second quarter and held off the pocket sitter down the long stretch, game win
RICHESS EMPEROR – Followed cover and finished fast to just miss
FOUR STARZZZZ Z – Had weak cover, stacked wide for the drive and finished powerfully to get up
ONHISHONOR HANOVER – Made a bold middle-move including a :26 2/5 third quarter to take the lead, gave way grudgingly late to the sharp 4-5 winner while clearly second best
MAYWOOD
4/13: 6w, + speed
4/12: 6w, + speed
SHARP@MAYWOOD
COLEFEDERATE – Was uncovered a long way and dug in gamely for the place
PICASSOS BOY – Left from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27 3/5, set the pace under second half pressure and lost by less than a length
ICE MAN COMET’H – Left from post 7 and was used hard to clear in :27, set a blistering pace until yielding at the three quarters and excusably tired
FREEHOLD
4/14: 5w, no bias
4/13: 5w, no bias
4/12: 5w, no bias
SHARP@FREEHOLD
HOLLY’S HALO – Had post 7, followed weak cover and finished sharply for the place in :29 flat
CALMLEE JASON*** - Was parked the mile without cover battling for the lead through hot fractions, paced a :27 2/5 second quarter, held surprisingly well
MONTICELLO
4/12: 4w, no bias
4/11: 6w, no bias
4/10: 9w, ++ speed
4/9: 6w, + speed
SHARP@MONTICELLO
MY EDWARD – Was parked the mile without cover pressing a quick pace from post 7 and held okay
MIGHTY RIVER A – Had post 8 and terrible cover, rallied wide and finished solidly
SNAP OUT OF IT – Was parked a long way without cover from post 7, made up a lot of ground to reach the leader and didn’t tire that badly
YA GOTTA BELIEF – Had post 6 and weak cover, rallied wide and finished sharply
THE RISING N – Had post 7, followed cover and finished well for the show
EDOM UP BLUE BOY – Had post 8, broke before the start, then was first over most of the race, made up a ton of ground to reach the leader and excusably tired
NORTHFIELD PARK
4/14: 5w, no bias
4/13: 5w, no bias
4/10: 4w, no bias
4/9: 8w, ++ speed
SHARP @ NORTHFIELD
GETHERDONE SUE – Was parked the mile without cover from post 6, pressed a quick pace and didn’t tire that badly considering
DOVER
4/12: 3w, no bias
4/11: 5w, + speed, slight bias, mostly first over horses and front runners
4/10: 7w, + speed
4/9: 5w, + speed
SHARP@DOVER
OOH DEAR SAM – Left from post 7 and was used hard to a fast opener, yielded and was shuffled back; price factor in exotics
FOOLS GOLD – Was first over into a :55 1/5 last half and held well
RUSTY’S ALL IN – Had post 8 and was out a long way, brushed wide when his cover weakened and finished sharply to just miss
JOYANNA – Was first over against a tough 3-5 winner into a fast last half and held gamely
FEEL THE THUNDER – Was 8th at the half, rallied wide and finished strongly for the place
REDESTRIAN – Had a tough parked-out trip and was impeded in the stretch to boot, held okay
WESMOKEMPEACEPIPE – Far back early, followed cover 4th over and finished with solid pace
MR SHANKOPOTAMUS – Left from post 7, vacated the pocket to go first over and held well
ALLSTAR PREVIEW – Had weak cover, rallied wide and finished well
MAKE IT BRIEF*** – Left and was cooked in a wicked speed duel forcing a hot pace, held okay
GO BOTH WAYS – Left from the rail and refused to yield setting a blazing pace under pressure, held well
CHESTER
4/15: 4w, no bias
4/13: 7w, + speed
4/12: 4w, no bias
4/11: 8w, + speed
SHARP@CHESTER
STILL ELECTRIC*** – Had weak cover from post 7, rallied wide and paced a :27 4/5 final quarter, sharp
KENDA – Had post 7 and was 7th at the top of the lane, finished fast for the unlikely win
AVOGADRO HANOVER – Left, tucked, brushed sharply and paced a big last half to draw off impressively
ROY ORBISONG – Left from post 7 and was parked to a quick opener, yielded to the powerful winner and chased him, weakened late but held okay for the show
CAPOTE – Got the inside post he prefers, quarter-moved and drew off strongly
MEADOWS
4/13: 6w, no bias
4/11: 5w, no bias
4/10: 7w, + speed
4/9: 6w, no bias
SHARP@MEADOWS
OTA B D BEST – Left from post 8 and was used hard forcing a quick pace for the first half, tough trip
ONE LUCKY DRAGON – Finished strongly in :27 3/5, paced a fast last half
SCHOOLKIDS*** - Made two moves setting a hot pace and drew off impressively
GOYA CHIEF – Had a tough parked-out trip in a fast-paced race, held okay for the show
WALL E – 8th at the half, made up a lot of ground into a quick last half in a sharp closing effort
VIRTUAL PRINCESS***- Left alertly from post 7 but got parked past the half before finding a tuck, held surprisingly well in a sneaky good effort
POCONO DOWNS
4/14: 3w, no bias
4/13: 6w, no bias
4/11: 6w, no bias
4/10: 8w, + speed
SHARP@POCONO
ROCKABELLA – Left and got caught in a speed duel through fast early fractions, didn’t tire that badly
POWERFUL PILOT – Set a hot clip under constant pressure, shook off two foes but could not handle the pocket rocket while holding gamely for the place
YOU RAISE ME UP*** – Was parked the mile without cover from post 9 and held gamely
RUNAWAY TRAY*** - Left and was 3 deep then settled back second over while parked from the start, brushed wide to clear tiring cover, took over at the three quarters and held well for the place
FAMEOUS WESTERN – Broke before the start, finished strongly for the place
TOUCH THE ROCK – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over pushing a :26 2/5 third quarter and just missed
GREAT SOUL*** –
Had post 8, was used to a :25 4/5 opener, pulled the pocket to go first over approaching the three quarters and got up gamely at 50-1
ARTIE BACARDI*** – Blasted to the lead in :25 4/5, set a wicked pace under pressure and just missed
SARATOGA
4/15: 5w, + speed, most of the week track favored horses that left or went first over
4/14: 5w, + speed
4/13: 9w, ++ speed, big difference from Thursday, all leavers except one first over winner
4/12: 3w, no bias, horses were able to close
4/11: 6w, + speed
SHARP@SARATOGA
ROCK MAN – Left from post 7 directly outside of the post 6 leaver and was used hard to clear, yielded to the odds-on favorite and held okay
KELTIC SPORT*** – Had post 8, left like a rocket to a 5 length lead and maintained that advantage throughout
YONKERS
4/14: 7w, + speed, 8 leavers won in 12 races, two horses won off cover trips, only three horses won closing off a cover trip all week, track remains intensely inside speed favoring, golden rail, horses seem unable to gain on the outside, only 7 horses won off cover trips in last 116 races (6%) over the past two weeks, this week 81% of the races were won by either the pocket horse or the pacesetter, 42% of the races were won by posts 1 and 2, posts 7 and 8 each had one win and the post 8 win was aided by two breakers, give extra credit to any horses that closed well, especially from outside posts
4/13: 8w, ++ speed, 11 races won by leavers
4/12: 6w, ++ speed, 9 leavers won
4/10: 3w, ++ speed, 9 leavers and two first over horses
4/9: 5w, ++ speed, 9 of 11 races won by leavers
SHARP@YONKERS
WILLIE BOOTS*** – Went down the road setting hot fractions while extending to an 8 length lead and won in fast time for the class
HIGH OCTANE N*** – Down under pacer chased a buzzsaw in U.S. debut and held well, looks like a nice one for Garland and Smith team
TY’S A BIG STAR – Had weak cover, rallied wide and finished sharply for the show while racing against the profound inside speed bias
FOX VALLEY TRIBAL*** – Millionaire 9 year old had post 7, tried to leave but took back, rallied wide from no man’s land and finished strongly; still in razor sharp form
ELUSIVE REWARD – Broke before the start and was far back, gained at every call while following weak cover and racing against a strong bias, finished gamely
SPACE WALK – Had post 6, tried to leave but took an early tuck 6th, followed cover and finished fast
I’M THE GOTO GUY – Paced a :27 2/5 third quarter first over against the 4-5 winner and held okay
FOUR STARZ ROE*** – Had post 7 and was parked the mile without cover, finished strongly to finish second in another monstrous effort
*** = extra-sharp preferred plays