Harness Racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for August 1-4

BALMORAL

8/4: 0w, + closers

8/3: 4w, no bias

ALWAYS THE SUN - Had post 10 and was far back behind a slow pace, moved out at the three quarters and finished strongly to get up

IF I LOSE - Left from post 9 and was parked to the quarter for the lead, yielded and was shuffled to 6th, finished well late to get the place

LUCKY CRUSADER - 4th over at the half, made a strong three wide move around the final turn to take the lead and held sway with a :26 4/5 last quarter

SHISWELL'S DELIGHT - 10 lengths behind early, power-brushed to the lead pacing a :26 3/5 second quarter and held sway gamely

ROCK GROUPIE - 2yo filly got moving early in the flow, lost cover and went first up after pacing a :26 3/5 second quarter, held well for the place

MAYWOOD

8/2: 6w, no bias, 6 horses did rally off cover trips to win

8/1: 2w, + closers, rare closer-friendly track tonight

ZUMBA - Was third over, rallied wide and finished strongly to just miss

SCOOTNFORDAMONEY - Had post 7, followed cover, rallied wide around the final turn and finished fast to win

WEEKEND UPDATE - Left from post 7 and was used hard to clear in :27 3/5, set the pace and held well

FIVE COUGARS A*** - 12-year-old was parked to a stiff opener, set the pace and dominated

SO BE IT - 8th early, followed cover wide and made up good ground but couldn't sustain his rally while pacing a respectable :28 4/5 final quarter from a tough spot

NORTHFIELD

8/3: 3w, no bias

8/2: 4w, no bias

UMYGEORGIA HANOVER - Paced a :27 3/5 first quarter protecting rail position but ended up third, tried to brush to the lead to a :55 4/5 half and was rebuffed, held okay in a race that set up for closers

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MEADOWS

8/2: 4w, no bias

LONEWOLF CURRIER*** - Left and was parked to the lead in :26 2/5, set a fast pace under second-half pressure including a :26 4/5 third quarter and held okay for the show

SIR RICHARD Z TAM - Left fast from post 7 and was forced to tuck in a :25 3/5 opener, was shuffled back and finished well for the place

PHILADELPHIA

8/4: 5w, no bias

8/2: 4w, no bias

8/1: 5w, no bias, sloppy track

STRANGE HANOVER - Left and was stuck behind a parked-out horse, brushed three wide at the half to clear that one and paced a :27 1/5 third quarter, held okay

LONG LIVE ROCK - Was 8th at the top of the stretch and flew home for the place

POCONO DOWNS

8/3: 6w, + speed

8/2: 8w, + speed

DRAGON TATTOO - Was parked past a :26 4/5 opener for the lead, yielded, brushed back to the lead at the half and gave way grudgingly late

SHARK INGESTED - Paced a :27 first quarter from the rail then went first up pressing a :55 last half and held well for the place behind the bias-aided 4-5 winner

BLACK HAT*** - Had post 7 and shot to the lead in :26 1/5, set a hot clip and drew clear

MEADOWLANDS

8/3: 7w, races 1-12, + speed, races 13, 14, 15 + closers. Track was rated good for races 3 through 6 and fast for the other races. Some rain early in the day and track seemed to be favoring speed and horses that were able to go first over, so outside closers appeared to be racing against a bias but later in the day the weather cooled and a breezed picked up and for the last three races closers rallied from off the pace although it's hard to say with all certainty if the track favored closers for the last 3 races because the pace was very fast in those races but I did rate the last race races as + closers

8/2: 2w, no bias

ROYALTY FOR LIFE*** - Left from post 8 in the first Hambo elimination and was wide into the turn but handled it nicely, took control at the quarter in :26 4/5, controlled the pace and won handily then drew the rail in the final and trotted a similar mile, clearly best of these

HUGADRAGON*** - Left from post 10 in four-way battle for the lead and was parked to the lead past a :26 1/5 opener, set a torrid pace under pressure later in the afternoon when the track appeared much less speed favoring and didn't tire that badly

SARATOGA

8/3: 6w, + speed

8/2: 4w, no bias

8/1: 6w, + speed, off track

MAJORLY BAD - Had post 7, followed cover down the back, finished stoutly to just miss

MAMBO ITALIANO - Left from post 7 and was parked to the quarter, set the pace and continued his dominant form at the $15,000 claiming level

FOR GOODNESS LINDY - Trotter followed cover and finished strongly to just miss from post 7

MONTICELLO

8/1: 7w, + speed, sloppy track

TIOGA DOWNS

8/4: 2w, no bias

8/3: 3w, no bias

8/2: 3w, no bias

YONKERS

8/3: 5w, no bias

8/2: 8w, + speed

8/1: 4w, no bias, sloppy track

MIKELEH - 6th at the half and on a long first over grind, surged to the lead on the final turn and held sway in a sharp win

FOR YOU ALMOSTFREE - Trotter had post 7 and weak cover, finished sharply for the place

MELADY'S MONET - Left with two others and got embroiled in a speed duel, excusably tired

HANDSOFFMYCOOKIE*** - Far back early behind a modest pace while racing against a speed bias, couldn't flush cover and had to grind into contention, paced a huge last half to draw clear

CAROLSIDEAL - Had post 7 and dull cover, finished fast against the bias

MONEY TWITCH A - Went first over into a quick last half and held well

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